Women and children across the United States face the effects of poor nutrition and food insecurity on a regular basis. Each month, millions of low-income women and children who are at risk for inadequate nutrition receive support from the federally funded Special Supplemental Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC). This program provides those in need with nutritious foods, nutrition education and referrals to health and other social service providers free of charge. WIC supports low-income pregnant, postpartum and breastfeeding women, in addition to low-income infants and children under the age of five. The WIC program is correlated with positive outcomes such as lower Medicaid costs, longer gestation periods, higher birth weight and lower rates of infant mortality.

Women and children across the United States face the effects of poor nutrition and food insecurity on a regular basis. Each month, millions of low-income women and children who are at risk for inadequate nutrition receive support from the federally funded Special Supplemental Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC). This program provides those in need with nutritious foods, nutrition education and referrals to health and other social service providers free of charge. WIC supports low-income pregnant, postpartum and breastfeeding women, in addition to low-income infants and children under the age of five. The WIC program is correlated with positive outcomes such as lower Medicaid costs, longer gestation periods, higher birth weight and lower rates of infant mortality.