The Annie E. Casey Foundation
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Pennsylvania

Statistics on children, youth and families in Pennsylvania from the Annie E. Casey Foundation and Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children

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Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children

Change Indicator

Women, Infants, and Young Children (WIC) - Participants and eligible population in Pennsylvania

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Why This Indicator Matters

The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) is a federal assistance initiative that provides nutritious foods, nutrition education, breastfeeding support, and healthcare referrals to low-income pregnant, postpartum, and breastfeeding women, as well as infants and children up to age five who are at nutritional risk.[1] Research indicates that WIC participation is associated with several positive health outcomes, including improved birth outcomes, enhanced maternal and child well-being, improved child development, and increased access to preventative care.[2] Healthier infants, more nutritious diets, and better healthcare access subsequently leads to higher academic achievement and economic well-being.[3] Nationally, WIC serves nearly 40% of all infants born in the United States, however, overall participation rates have been declining along with the coverage rate of those eligible.[4], [5] These trends are consistent in Pennsylvania, where WIC participation decreased by 21%, overall 50,000 enrollees, between 2016 and 2020.[6] This downward trend represents a need for enhanced outreach and program adjustments to ensure that vulnerable populations continue to receive essential nutritional support.  Please visit PA WIC for more information.

[1] Food and Nutrition Service. (2024). Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). U.S. Department of Agriculture. https://www.fns.usda.gov/wic

[2] Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. (2022). Maternal and Child Outcomes Associated With the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. https://effectivehealthcare.ahrq.gov/sites/default/files/product/pdf/cer-253-maternal-child-outcomes-wic.pdf

[3] Neuberger, Z. (2021). WIC Works: Addressing the Nutrition and Health Needs of Low-Income Families for More Than Four Decades. Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. https://www.cbpp.org/research/food-assistance/wic-works-addressing-the-nutrition-and-health-needs-of-low-income-families

[5] Food and Nutrition Service. (2024). National and State Level Estimates of WIC Eligibility and Program Reach in 2021. U.S. Department of Agriculture. https://www.fns.usda.gov/research/wic/eligibility-and-program-reach-estimates-2021

[6] Thriving PA. (2021). A Time to Thrive: Growing Pennsylvania WIC’s Impact on Children and Families. https://www.papartnerships.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/A-Time-to-Thrive-WIC-Policy-Brief.pdf

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Definition and Source

PROVIDER

Definition

The number of participants and coverage rate of enrolled pregnant women, breastfeeding women up to one year postpartum, women up to six months postpartum who are not breastfeeding, children birth through age 5, and foster children benefiting from the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC).

Data Source

PPC analysis of information from the Pennsylvania Department of Health's Bureau of WIC and Division of Health Informatics for the ThrivingPA campaign.

Last Updated

July 2025