WASHINGTON — Anita Mitksun is a mother of six children. She was able to put food on her table thanks to the federal government’s Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, known as WIC.
“Honestly, I often don’t know how I would have done without WIC,” Mihtukwsun said.
Mihtukwsun also works as a WIC clerk, helping others apply to the program.
“If you’re not getting enough nutrition, you’re not going to be able to concentrate. You’re not going to make great choices. You’re not going to sleep well,” she said. “It just affects everything.”
In a show of widespread support for the program, lawmakers on Capitol Hill struck a bipartisan agreement this year to provide an additional $1 billion in funding. This funding allowed WIC to cover additional costs without reducing benefits or participation.
Julia Means, a registered nurse in Milwaukee, said she encourages eligible pregnant women she works with to enroll in WIC.
“You definitely need healthy foods during pregnancy,” says Means. “And we want to raise our children with the ability and knowledge to know what healthy food is.”
Georgia Machel, interim president and CEO of the National WIC Association, calls WIC a “national treasure,” especially at a time when America faces rising food costs, poverty rates, and maternal mortality rates. called.
“Over the past 50 years, we estimate that WIC has served more than 270 million participants,” Machel said.
Still, Machel said he believes there is more Congress can do to support WIC over the next 50 years.
“We want full support for the modern WIC Act, which will allow WIC participants to remotely enroll and receive benefits remotely. It was a basic benefit, but now it’s permanent and it’s going to be a game-changer for so many people.It really reduces the barriers to access by allowing families to participate.” she said.
Barriers to access may include not having transportation or taking time off from work to sign up in person.
Machel also expanded WIC eligibility to children up to age 6 instead of 5, allowing postpartum mothers to participate in the program for two years instead of one to ensure there is no gap in services before kindergarten. I’m thinking of making it.
Mr Mitksun said it would be “phenomenal”. She said she noticed how children became less eligible as they got older and how that affected the amount of food available to the household. Her two youngest sons are still enrolled in her WIC, and her family continues to cook with her WIC-approved foods.
“It all starts with good nutrition,” Mitkusun said.
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