County Executive, PA Acting Health Secretary Celebrate WIC 50th
Published on May 01, 2024
County Executive Innamorato, and Pennsylvania Acting Health Secretary Dr. Bogen Celebrate 50th Anniversary of WIC Program
(Pittsburgh) – Today County Executive Sara Innamorato, Pennsylvania Acting Health Secretary Dr. Debra Bogen, Pennsylvania WIC Chief of Nutrition and Breastfeeding Services, Tiffany Carper, and 200 WIC participants, staff, and supporters gathered in Wilkinsburg to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC).
Since its implementation via the U.S. Department of Agriculture in 1974, WIC has helped millions of low-income families and people who are nutritionally at risk. Allegheny County has a unique place in the history of WIC: The Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD) opened the second WIC office in the entire country in May 1974. ACHD was the first in the state to start issuing financial support to mothers seeking assistance.
County Executive Sara Innamorato said: “I’m proud that 50 years after opening the second WIC office entire country, this program continues to thrive and produce excellent results for thousands of families each month. Our estimates are only about half of the eligible families are Allegheny County are enrolled in this program, which means families who could use some help are not getting it. Today we want to get the word out that a time when lots of families are struggling with high bills and the cost of food that the WIC program is here to help.”
Acting Secretary Dr. Bogen said: “As a pediatrician, I have seen firsthand the benefits of the WIC program for children and families. Every day in WIC programs across the Commonwealth, families receive support for nutritional, age and culturally diverse foods, breastfeeding and nutrition support and education, and referrals to service in their communities. Evaluations of the WIC program have consistently shown that participation results in better pregnancy and child health outcomes. I am honored to help kick off the celebration for a program that, after 50 years, continues to evolve to meet the needs of Pennsylvania women, infants, and children.”
WIC provides certain health foods to help ensure good nutrition for families and children from infancy up to the age of 5. Over its 50 years in existence, WIC has been proven to reduce premature births, reduce fetal and infant deaths, increase pregnant women’s consumption of key nutrients, increase immunization rates, and more. As of 2023, more than 6 million families are enrolled in WIC nationally. In March 2024, more than 188,000 individuals were enrolled in Pennsylvania. Of those 11,000 live in Allegheny County. Allegheny County has the second highest number of individuals participating in WIC in the state, only behind Philadelphia County.
ACHD has 11 WIC clinics throughout the county and a mobile clinic that can travel directly to neighborhoods that have limited transportation access. ACHD also offers telehealth services to families and has translated WIC materials into six different languages. Enrollment in the program is up nine percent over last year, but with only half of eligible families in the county enrolled there is continued room for growth. ACHD is grateful for the support for WIC from our local foundation community including the Hillman Foundation and the Public Health Improvement Fund (PHIF) which focuses on increasing utilization and accessibility of WIC benefits to more families. These funds allow ACHD to operationalize the mobile unit and will increase the number of small businesses that offer WIC authorized foods.
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