CALIFORNIA WIC FACTS:

What is WIC?

WIC is the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, a 100% federally funded program that provides nutritious food (via prescriptive vouchers), individual counseling, and health care referrals to high-risk, low-income (up to 185% of poverty) women and children up to the age of five. The purpose of the WIC program is to prevent poor birth outcomes, such as infant mortality and low birth weight, and to improve the nutrition and health of participants. Dozens of scientific studies have shown WIC to be a cost-effective and positive public health intervention.

Who is Served by WIC?

Nationwide, WIC currently serves about 7.4 million low income, nutritionally at-risk participants with a $3.9 billion budget. In California, 82 local agencies serve about 1.24 million participants at 650 local sites, with a FY 1999 food budget of $515 million. Approximately 23% of the participants are pregnant and post-partum women, 23% are infants and 54% are children ages 1-5.

Who Is Left Out of WIC?

Because WIC is not an entitlement program, not all participants can be served. Limited funding prevents millions of low income nutritionally at-risk women, infants and children from receiving program benefits. The Department of Health Services estimates that there are over 1.77 million women, infants and children in need of WIC benefits. Thus some 530,000 participants are shut out of the program due to limited funding.

What About the Infant Formula Rebates?

Since August 1, 1998, California has had a sole-source contract with Mead Johnson Nutritionals (Bristol-Myers), for the provision of infant formula (Enfamil) at a reduced price, via a system of per-can rebates. This rebate, along with rebate contracts with juice and infant cereal manufacturers allow the California WIC program to save $199 million per year, and add 319,000 participants to the program who would not otherwise be served.  These rebates are an effective way to contain food costs and thus reach more participants.

What About State Funding for WIC?

Fifteen states across the country have provided their WIC programs with supplemental funding so more eligible participants can be served. In five states (New York, Pennsylvania, Illinois,

Massachusetts and Texas), the legislatures have provided from $6 million to $42 million enabling WIC to reach substantially more low income, nutritionally at risk pregnant women, infants and young children. Over the last ten years, legislation that would supplement California’s federal WIC monies has been repeatedly but unsuccessfully carried by a number of legislators. The Wilson administration worked hard for increased federal funding for WIC, but did not support state supplemental funding.  Governor Davis has routinely opposed supplemental funding.

Legislative History of attempts to supplement WIC federal funds:

1985: AB 2991 (Bates) $5 M supplement, vetoed.

1986: AB 2144 (Bates) Overspend contingency, died in committee due to opposition.

1987: SB 1497 (Torres) Overspend contingency, vetoed.

1988: SB 1756 (Torres) Supplemental funding, died in committee due to opposition.

1988: AB 1380 (Waters) State match for farmer's market pilot, vetoed.

1990: SB 2038 (Bergeson) Supplemental funding; signed but funds vetoed.

1991: SB 714 (Roberti) Supplemental funding; held over due to opposition

1993: SB 604 (Hart) Overspend contingency authority, no funds in bill; vetoed.

1995: AB 1528 (Murray) State funds to match federal WIC farmers' market, died.

1998: Budget Item $400,000 augmentation to match federal funds for farmers' market, vetoed

1999: Budget Item $850,000 augmentation to match federal funds for farmers' market, vetoed

What Happens When WIC Funding Is Limited?

When a state reaches the maximum number of participants that it can serve with its annual budget, individuals applying for program benefits are served on a "highest need" basis in compliance with a six-tiered priority system. The WIC priority system ranks most pregnant women and infants before children -- including children with documented health problems. When funding is limited, WIC agencies must turn away some eligible applicants who are in lower priority categories. For example, anemic children may not be served, in order to make room for pregnant women. In California, chronic and serious underfunding has, in the past, resulted in fewer children participating in the program. This situation has greatly improved in recent years.

What are the Key Issues Facing WIC?

Full Funding and Growth. Although WIC is popular with the President and Congress, new federal budget constraints mean that WIC may once again face funding and caseload challenges.  In the last few years, Congress has "level funded" the program and has provided no funding for program expansion. Constant vigilance and advocacy will be needed to ensure that the goal of "full funding" for WIC by the year 2001 is achieved, and that California can meet the needs of all who are eligible.