A-State's Department of Health Sciences & Risk Management

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Did you know WIC supports over six million participants each month? Our latest student blog explores the history, impact, and future of the Women, Infants, and Children program, and why it matters for community health.

Nourishing Families, Building Futures: The Impact of the WIC Program, by: An

The Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Program was established in 1972 and has helped millions of families since its beginning. Today, it provides supplemental foods, nutrition education, breastfeeding support, and health referrals for low-income pregnant women, new mothers, infants, and children up to age five. More than six million participants are supported through WIC each month. This makes WIC one of the most impactful public health nutrition programs in the U.S. (U.S. Department of Agriculture, 2024).
During my recent dietetic rotations, I was able to visit two WIC clinics, under the guidance of my two amazing preceptors. Before starting, I had heard mixed feelings about WIC—that it could be slow-paced or even challenging. My experience was quite the opposite; thus far in my dietetic journey, it has been one of the most rewarding experiences. It revealed how essential WIC is to supporting families. The following blog will help readers understand the history of WIC, what its function is, its impact, and how individuals and communities can get involved and benefit from its services.

WIC’s Impact
Many people only associate WIC with its food benefits. While that benefit stands true, it extends way beyond just groceries. WIC serves as a lifeline for families in need. WIC and its staff put together nutrition education, individualized counseling, and community support that help parents make good decisions about their children's health. WIC’s services also work together to provide support for families during times of need and in critical stages of life.
WIC often provides participants with monthly benefits. They can use these benefits to purchase foods that support development such as fruits and vegetables, whole grains, milk, eggs, and infant formulas when needed. WIC's staff, registered dietitians among others, offer their guidance. They do so by tailoring it to each family they meet. Many clinics offer lactation specialists who provide counseling, pumps, and ongoing assistance for breastfeeding mothers. WIC also helps connect families to primary care, immunizations, development services, and community programs based on their needs.
Studies show that children who participate in WIC are more likely to have healthy birth weights, improved growth, and better overall dietary quality (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2022). Children between the ages of two and five who participate in WIC for a longer period of time have better diets and consume more foods that qualify for the program, demonstrating the program's long-term benefits (Au et al., 2025). During my time at the clinics, I got to see firsthand how WIC does much more than just provide food, making these statistics come to life.

What I Observed at WIC
The largest challenge I faced during my time at WIC was the communication barriers. Many of my clients did not know any English. This meant I had to use the interpreter line most of the time for communication. That added an extra layer of complexity to counseling sessions because we had to take time to ensure that everyone understood what was happening on both sides. This experience really taught me patience, adaptability, and nonverbal forms of communication.
One of the most memorable cases was that of a very young client who did not speak any English. The situation required me to practice cultural humility, slowing down, and finding ways to connect respectfully that were not always verbal. These experiences reminded me that empathy and compassion transcend language, they are at the heart of effective nutrition care.
Another great moment from WIC had to be when I was able to help a frustrated mom who had a picky eater. I suggested some very simple things: repeated food exposure, role-modeling healthy eating behaviors, and involving her child in food preparation. As I saw her relief and appreciation, it was then that I realized how profoundly nutrition education works. Small pieces of advice can build confidence and create positive changes.
Moments like these reminded me of how WIC empowered rather than overwhelmed families. This is a program that forms the very foundation of preventive nutrition care by ensuring that children have appropriate nutrition for healthy development.

Challenges and Opportunities Ahead
Despite the success of WIC participation, the rate still remains below expectations. Currently, only about 51% of those that are eligible for WIC are enrolled (U.S. Department of Agriculture, 2024). This represents barriers such as limited awareness, transportation issues, and stigma related to public assistance.
These gaps can be closed through increasing outreach via community partnerships, local clinics, and social media campaigns. For instance, the Arkansas Department of Health WIC Program provides nutrition counseling and support for breastfeeding, besides easy access to benefits for eligible families across the state. As nutrition students and future dietitians, we can participate through things like volunteering, leading nutrition education events, and supporting advocacy that calls for modernization of WIC.

How People Can Get Involved
There are several practical ways for people and communities to get involved with WIC.
1. See if You Qualify: Use the WIC Pre-Screening Tool to see if you or someone you know may qualify.
2. Reach Out to Local Clinics: All 50 states have their own WIC program to support people in their area - for example, the Arkansas Department of Health WIC Program. These programs will usually list clinic locations, services and/or how to make an appointment.
3. Share WIC Information with Others: Many families do not even realize they qualify. Sharing reliable resources on social media or within the local community can help reach more people.
4. Support Nutrition Education and Advocacy: By volunteering, participating in outreach programs, and advocating for modernizing WIC technology and improving program accessibility, community members, students, and health professionals can make a real difference.

Conclusion
WIC empowers families with the knowledge and resources to build healthier lives. It does this by promoting health, food security, and confidence among families. By understanding WIC better, we can help families build better futures and strengthen the community. Being part of that process, even briefly, was deeply fulfilling. I left each day inspired and grateful and a lot more confident in my ability to serve diverse populations through nutrition.
Whether you or someone you know may benefit from WIC, exploring the resources that are available is an important first step. Together, we can continue our support of this valuable program and ensure a chance for every family, regardless of their language, culture, or income level, to succeed in life.

References
Arkansas Department of Health. (n.d.). WIC: Women, Infants, and Children. https://healthy.arkansas.gov/programs-services/community-family-child-health/wic-wo men-infants-children/
Au, L. E., Thompson, H. R., Ritchie, L. D., Sun, B., Zimmerman, T. P., Whaley, S. E., Reat, A., Sankavaram, K., & Borger, C. (2025). Longer WIC Participation Is Associated With Higher Diet Quality and Consumption of WIC-Eligible Foods Among Children 2-5 Years Old. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 125(10), 1443–1457.e1. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jand.2024.11.012
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022). WIC works: Promoting healthy starts for infants and young children. https://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpao/programs/wic/index.html
National WIC Association. (2023). WIC program overview. https://www.nwica.org
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service. (2024). Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) fact sheet. https://www.fns.usda.gov/wic

Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) | Food and Nutrition Service Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock ( ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Our own Dr. Eric West (Nutrition & Dietetics) and Dr. Tiffany Sterling (Nutrition & Dietetics) went through this amazing program last year!

🎉 Honoring Our ACUE Graduates! 🎉
At the Fall Faculty Conference on August 19, we celebrated faculty who completed the Association of College and University Educators (ACUE) Effective Teaching Practices program. These graduates have shown an outstanding commitment to excellence in teaching and student success.

👏 Congratulations to our ACUE Faculty Graduates:
College of Agriculture
• Jonathan Richwine

College of Liberal Arts and Communication
• Abigail Mock
• Jeannie Oliver
• Polin Pan

Library
• April Sheppard

College of Nursing and Health Professions
• Shanon Brantley
• Roslyn Brown
• Kirsten Buck
• Michael Cooper
• Sarah Dearing
• Matthew Harmon
• Kaylie Holland
• Brinda LeGrand
• Jody Nutt
• Tiffany Sterling
• Eric West

University College
• Courtney Bracy
• Toccara Carter
• Shaquita Renelique

Arkansas Biosciences Institute
• Jonathan Stubblefield

Campus Querétaro
• Glenda Marisa Chávez Gallegos
• Nadyra Rodríguez-Arias

Thank you for your dedication to creating engaging, inclusive, and effective learning experiences for our students! 🌟

We are excited to celebrate Dr. Deanna Barymon and Dr. Tiffany Sterling! Happy birthday to our November birthday gals! 🎂🎉

We want to thank those who served our country this Veteran's Day. We are grateful for your sacrifices.

Dr. Richmond (DPEM), Dr. Carpenter (Public Health), Professor Carvell (DPEM), and Dr. Hyman (DPEM) all attended the A-State Catalyst event today!

Dr. Carpenter and Dr. Hyman attended the American Public Health Association annual conference in Washington, DC. They presented research, met new colleagues, and did a little sightseeing!

Happy Bosses Day to our department chair and fearless leader, Dr. Joseph Richmond! Thank you for your guidance, support, and for creating such a positive work environment! We look forward to coming to work every day!

Happy birthday to our DPEM faculty Jon Carvell! 🎂🎉🥳

We had a blast hanging with everyone this morning at Pack Preview!