Study of WIC Participant and Program Characteristics

              COMPLETED
MAR 1 5 l99&
n reo Srotes
Aporrmel'lr or
Ag• cult .. re
Food ono
Consumer
SPrvrce
Olfi::e of
Analysis and
Evaluation
Study of WIC Participant and
Program Characteristics 1994
STUDY OF WIC PARTICIPANT
AND
PROGRAM CHARACTERISTICS
1994
Prepared for
Office of Analyses and Evaluation
Food and C0l'.Sumer Service
U.S. Depanment of Agriculture
3101 Park Center Drive
Alexandria, Virginia 22302
December 1995
Bonnie Randall
Lyria Boast
Laurin Holst
With the assistance of
Frederick deFriesse
Liya IsaJcov
Tracy Olcott
Douglas Taylor
FNS 53-3198-9-002
Prepared by
Abt Associates Inc.
55 Wheeler Street
Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The 1994 study of WIC pantctpant and program characteristics. like irs
predecessors in 1990 and 1992, must be dedicated to our friends and colleagues
in State WIC agencies. They provtde all of the data presented in this repon and
its appendices. We gratefully and humbly acknowledge their cooperauon and
conunend the diligence of the WIC Program m creating and maintairung vaable.
practical client infonnation systems.
Denise Thomas, the project officer at the Food and Consumer Service (FCS), has
been unstinting in providing suppon and guidanc-: and has maintained her sense
of humor for the past eighteen months. Others at FCS who have given
generously of their time and knowledge include: Julie Kresge, Laurie Hickerson,
and Matthew McKeam.
At Abt Associates, Nancy Burstein and Michael Puma provided technical
guidance and useful commento-ry; Eileen McEnaney ably and cheerfully assisted
in repon production.
• I Aclcnowltdrtmtnts 1
J I
The 1994 Study
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Spectal Supplemental Nutnuon Program for Women. Infants. and Children
(WIC) is administered by the Food and Consumer Serv1ce CFCS) of the US
Department of Agriculture (USDA). The WIC Program provides a combination
of direct nutritional supplementation. nutrition educauon and counse!ing. and
increased access to health care and social service providers for pregnant.
breastfeeding, and postpartum women: infants; and children up to the age of five
years. WIC seeks to improve fetal development and reduce the incidence of low
binhweight, short gestation. and anemia through intervention during the prenatal
period. Infants and children who are at nutritional or health risk receive food
supplements. nutrition education. and access to health care services to maintain
and improve their health and development.
To receive WIC benefits, an individual must be categorically eligible; that is. the
person must be a pregnanl. breastfeeding, or postpartum woman; an infant up to
the age of one year: or a child aged one through four years. In addition. each
applicant must be found to be income eligible and at nutritional risk. Eligible
applicants receive supplemental food usually in the fonn of vouchers or checks
which allow them to obtain specific types of food (milk, juice. cereal. for
example) from participating retail grocers.
The WIC Program was established in 1972 by an amendment to the Child
Nutrition Act of 1966. WIC has greatly expanded since its inception. and. m
April 1994, WIC served almost seven million participants at an annual cost of
over three billion dollars.
Public Laws 99-500 and 99-591, enacted in 1986, require FCS to submit bienmal
repons to the Congress on current participant and program characteristics in the
WIC Program. This legislation specifies that each biennial report must include·
• Infonnation on the income and nutritional nsk
characteristics of WlC participants.
• Data on WIC program participants for m1grant fann
worker families.
• Other infonnatlon on WIC pantctpauon that 1s deemed
appropnate by the Secretary of Agnculture.
This publication is the founh repon which has been prepared to meet the
legislative mandate to provide infonnation on WIC panicipants and programs to
the Congress.
The 1994 study of WIC program and participant charactenstics CPC94), like the
1992 study (PC92), is substantially different from earlier effons to collect data on
WIC participants. PC94 employs the prototype reponing system which was
developed by FCS for the 1992 study and which routinizes the collection of
panicipant information from State WIC agencies. Earlier FCS studies of the WIC
Program-in 1984 (PC84), 1988 (PC88), and 1990 CPC90)-were based on
PC94 Encutivt Summary ,;,
nationally representative samples of WIC pan1c1pants and programs. PC94. like
PC92, contains information on a near-census of WIC pan1cipants m Apnl I 994
Participant Records. The current system for reponmg pan1c1pant data 1s based
on the automated transfer of an agreed-upon set of data elements. State WIC
agencies download routinely collected information which is on their existing
automated client and management information systems. State and local WIC staff
use these data to cenify applicant eligibility for WIC benefits and to 1ssue food
vouchers and checks. This Minimum Data Set (MDS), which consists of eighteen
items, was developed by FCS working with the Information Committee of the
National Association of WIC Directors (NAWD).
For the month of April 1994, each State WIC agency submitted MDS data on
either a representative sample or a census of its WIC panicipants. In Apnl of
1994, there were eighty-four State WJC agencies: the fifty States. the District of
Columbia. Guam. Pueno Rico. and the American Virgin Islands. along wnh th1ny
Indian Tribal Organizations (ITOs). All eighty-four WIC agencres prov1ded data
for PC94.
Two of the eighry-four submitting agencies chose to repon on representative
samples rather than censuses of their WIC participants. These States mclude
Connecticut and Montana and account for about 1.3 percent of PC94's participant
records. These data are weighted so that the total numbers of WJC panrcipants
reponed here correspond to the total US WJC population m April 1994.
The State-maintained automated information systems from which PC94 data are
drawn do not always contain complete information on every individual enrolled
in the WIC Program. Unreponed PC94 data may be unavailable for a variety of
reasons which may indicate that participants in any of the not-reponed categories
may be different from those individuals with data reponed. Assumpdol"l'i
regarding missing data vary by the nature of the variable and by the category ol
WJC participant. To account for these anomalies. a uniform strategy has been
adopted for preparing all tables m this repon. Data not reponed are included m
the calculation of percentage distributions for each characteristic. While mcludmg
missing data in the denominators for all calculations tends to place estimates for
each characteristic at a lower bound, th1s approach has allowed consistent
presentation of tabulations throughout the repon. Funher. it assures that all
information needed to calculate upper-bound estimates is readily available m
every table. Caution should be used in companng results across groups; m1ssmg
data must always be considered m gaugmg differences between. among, or across
groups or categones of WIC pan1cipants.
A second note of caution must be sounded here. Because of data quahty 1ssues
in one large State, it is likely that the PC94 estimate of number of one-year-old
WIC enrollees is 0.008 percent high. As a result. the PC94 estimate of number
of WIC infants is about 1.0 percent low.
PC94 Encu1111e Sumnuuy 1v
The 1994 WIC Program
Participant Characteristics
in 1994
Summary of State Programs. The 1994 study. like earlier studies. mcluded a
survey of State WTC agencies which obtamed infonnauon on WIC program
characteristics. This survey was conducted by mail. with telephone followup.
Data were collected on State WIC operaung policies and procedures for mcome
detennination. food package tailoring, food instrument Issuance. and average
monthly food package costs by participant category.
All of the eighty-four State WIC agencies operating in April 1994 completed the
survey questionnaire. During the two-year period between April 1992 and Apnl
1994, little change has occurred in WIC program operations and procedures.
In 1994, WIC services were delivered in the fifty States. the District of Columbia.
Pueno Rico, Guam. and the American Virgin Islands as well as by thiny Indian
Tribal Organizations. These eighty-four State WIC agencies operated 2,129 local
WIC agencies where staff delivered WIC serv1ces at about ten thousand serv1ce
sites. Just about half (49 percent) of all WIC participants receive services in mne
States~alifomia. Aorida. Georgia. Illinois. Michigan. New York. Pennsylvama.
Ohio, and Texas. In fact. more than one-quarter (28.3 percent) of WIC
participants can be found in three states~alifomia. New York, and Texas. This
proponion has grown from 2.5.3 percent in 1992.
In April 1994, 6,907,848 women, infants. and children were enrolled in the WIC
Program-a 20 percent increase over WIC enrollment reponed in 1992. A
caution must be raised with regard to comparing PC92 and PC94 with their near
censuses of WIC enrollees to findings from earlier studies. Previous proJects have
generally reponed program participation as measured by food instrument Issuance.
PC92 and PC94 provide infonnation on all individuals listed as WIC Program
enrollees on management and client infonnation systems maintained by State WIC
agencies. It is likely that, in most States. food instruments were not issued to
small percentages of these enrollees. Some of the increase in WIC participation
from 1990 to 1994 can be attributed to this difference in measurement. Some of
the 1992-to- 1994 growth is the result of targeung cenain States to receive
increased funding in order to serve larger proponions of eligible populations.
Half (.50.2 percent) of WlC participants are children. infants account for 26.8
percent and women 23.0 percent. This d1stnbution contams a slightly higher
propon10n of children than seen in 1990 and 1992 and a somewhat lower
proponion of infants (30.1 in 1992 and 29.8 in 1990). This shift may reflect
declining US binhrates.
Women were funher divided into pregnant (11.9 percent of all participants).
breastfeeding (4.0 percent of all partiCipants), and postpanum (7.1 percent of all
panicipants). The percentage of postpartum participants increased by 2
percentage points from PC92. while the percentage of pregnant WIC panicipants
decreased by 1.6 percentage points. See Exhibit E. I.
PC94 E.rtcutivt Sumnuuy v
Exhibit E.1
Distribution of Individuals Enrolled in the WIC Program
April1994
Poatpllrtum Women
Pregnant Women
Children
N•U07,141
Most (82 percent) of the pregnant women pan.cipating m WIC are between the
ages of 18 and 34 as are high proponions of breastfeeding (83.7 percent) and
postpartum (83.0 percent) "omen. Only I 0 3 percent of women WIC clients are
aged seventeen or younger. Over three-quarters (84 percent) of all infant WIC
participants were cen1fied for WIC benefits during their first three months of hfe.
Child participation decreases as age mcreases-most (40 percent) ch1ld
participants are one year of age.
It is imponant to reiterate here that the findings reponed in this volume must be
interpreted through the lens of unreponed data. For example. with regard to age.
information to calculate this variable was not reponed for 1.5 percent of women.
3.0 percent of infants, and 2.5 percent of children.
PC94 ExtcUIIIIt Summary 111
About the same propomons of pregnant WIC participants enrolled m the program
during their first (38.9 percent) and second (40.1 percent) tnmesters. These
figures represent a 5.2 percentage point mcrease m first tnmester enrollment smce
1992 and a 1.5 percentage pomt decrease m second tnmester enrollment. Data
needed to calculate trimester were not reponed for 10.3 percent of pregnant WIC
participants. In 1992. the not-reponed percentage was 8.8.
Race and Ethnicity. In the 1994 study, as in previous studies. whites made up
the largest percentage of WIC participants ( 42.7 percent), followed by Hispan1cs
(26.1 percent), blacks (25.4 percent), Asian or Pacific Islanders (2.6 percent). and
American Indian or Alaskan Natives ( 1.7 percent). Race/ethnicity data were
reponed for 98.4 percent of WIC panicipants. This distribution indicates small
increases, since PC92, in the percentages of Hispanic and Asian or Pacific
Islanders with corresponding decreases among black and white enrollees.
Household Size. The mean household size of WIC participants m April 1994
was 4.0. a slight increase from the 3.8 average reponed in I 992. The percent of
pregnant women certified as one-person households was 17.8 percent-about the
same as reported in PC92. OveraJI, information on household size was reponed
for 98.9 percent of WIC participants.
Income. Among WIC participants reporting some income. the average annualized
income of families/econom1c units of persons enrolled m the WIC Program m
April 1994 was $9,684, an increase l)f $393 since 1992. This increase in current
dollars is probably a decrease in real dollars, that is, the higher average most
likely reflects inflation rather than increased income. Across participant
categories, breastfeeding women reponed the highest average income at S 1 I .032;
postpartum women exhibited the lowest average income at $9.197. lllese
findings replicate PC92 results. As in I 988. 1990. and 1992, black participants
displayed the lowest average income-$7 ,281 for families or economic umts. a
decrease from $7.329 reported for PC92. As they did in the 1992 study. Asian
or Pacific Islander participants had the highest average annualized mcome at
$11,667. Findings about income must be interpreted with caution given the high
proportion of unreported information. For PC94. income cannot be calculated for
16.4 percent of WIC participants-virtually the same proportion ( 16.7 percent) of
unreported income data as in PC92.
ParticipatioP in Other Programs. WIC legislation allows mcome ehg1biluy
requirements to be met by participation m means-tested programs such as the
Medica1d, Food Stamp, and Aid to Families wuh Dependent Children (AFOC)
Pro gran ~s. In 1994, about two-thirds of WIC participants received benefits from
at least one other public assistance: program. With regard to participation m each
program, 53 percent of WIC clients rece1ved Medicaid benefits; 37 percent
participated in the Food Stamp Program: <md 27 percent of WIC participants
reponed receiving AFDC benefits. Less than one-quarter (22.9 percent)
participated in all three programs, receiving Medicaid. food stamp, and AFDC
benefits. Such data were not reponed for 7.8 percent of 1994 WIC reczpients.
PC94 EztcuJivt SumtNJry vii
These estimates of reported part1cipauon m other programs may well represent a
lower bound. At certification. staff in local WJC agenc1es prov1de infonnauon
on other programs so that some WTC clients apply for these benefits after they are
certified to receive WTC benefits and this mfonnauon on program part1c1pauon
is recorded.
Poverty Status. Compared with the general US population. the WJC population
is distinctly poor, with two-thirds of WJC partiCipants at or below the poverty
line. The sharp contrast between WTC clients and the general population can be
seen in Exhibit E.2 which compares the poverty status of WTC paruc1pants
reporting income to the general US population-three-quarters of WJC enrollees
reporting income are at or below the poverty line. More detailed figures appear
in Chapter Four of this report.
Nutritional Risk. For PC94, States could report up to three nutrnional nsks for
each participant. For women, inadequate or mappropnate nutnent Intake. general
obstetncal risks. hemogloLin or hematocnt measurements below State cntena. and
high weight for height were the predominant risks reported. Children also
showed inappropriate or inadequate nutrient mtake and low blood measures as
their most frequently recorded risks. Just over two-thirds of WIC anfants were
recorded at risk due to the WJC-eligibility of the1r mothers or because the1r
mothers were at risk during pregnancy. At least one nutritional risk was reported
for 98.9 percent of WTC enrollees m April 1994.
Migrant Status. Of parucular interest to the Congress is the participation of
migrant farrnworkers in the WJC Program. Exhibit E.3 shows m1grant
partit:ipation across the States. In April 1994, there were 48,141 migrant WIC
participJnts identified on State WTC enrollment files. Migrant WIC participants
make up less than I percent of the population receiving WIC services. Nearly
half of these parttcipants were enrolled in the WJC Program in Florida and Texas
Migrant women enrollees an WIC tend to' be older than the general WIC
population: this population also reports lower incomes. Average income an the
national WIC population is 20.6 percent higher than incomes reported by m1grant
farrnworker WIC participants. For PC94, State WIC agenc1es reported
anfonnation on migrant status for 99 0 percent of US WIC part1c1pants.
PC94 Eztcutivt Summary 11ii
Exhibit E.2
Comparison of Poverty Levels of WIC Participants to Persons in the US Population
0 ! Q.
().50 51-100 101-150 151·115 fillet 115
Perc.nt of PO¥efty
PC94 Ezccu/111e SumiNJry ix
Exhibit E.3
Distribution of Migrant Farmworker WIC Participants by State
Apri11994
Note
Puerto Rico -1.4%
Peroenteges ere based on total migrant WIC pertldplltlon. Stmu with lett !hen \ percent of the tolal W1C migrant population .,. not lhown.
PCU Encutivt 511"'"""1 z
CONTENTS
Acknowledgements
Executive Summary iii
The 1994 Study . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iii
The 19Q4 WIC Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . v
Panicipant Characteristics in 1994 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . v
Contents xi
Exhibits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xiii
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Program Operations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Panicipant Benefits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Eligibility for WIC Benefits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Program Participation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Previous Studies of WIC Participant and
Program Characteristics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
The 1994 Study of WIC Panicipant and
Program Characteristics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
PC94 Sununary of State Programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...
Organization of This Report . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Overview of WIC Participation and Food Package Costs ...
Food Packages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Demographics of WIC Participants ............. . .. .
Income of WIC Participants ..................... .
Inc11me and Poverty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Poverty Status . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Nutritional Risk Characteristics
Nutritional Risk Criteria . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Nutritional Risks in PC94 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..
Nutrition and Poverty Status . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Anthropometric Values . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Blood Measures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..
Priority Levels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Characteristio of Migrant Fannworker WIC Participants
1
1
5
6
7
9
10
14
14
15
15
27
33
37
42
49
49
54
78
86
94
103
109
Comtnls xi
Appendix A
Appendix B
Appendix C
Appendix D
Appendix E
Appendix F
Appendix G
CONTENTS
(continued)
Summary of State Programs
Food Packages and Instrument Issuance State-by-State Tables
Means-Tested Programs. for Detennining WJC Income Eligibility
Income Documentation and Verification State-by-State Tables
Dietary Intake Policies and Methods Documentation of Nutritional
Risk Criteria State-by-State Tables
Nutritional Ri~k Eligibility Criteria State-by-State Tables
Distribution of Migrant WlC Panic1pants by State
Supplemental Data Set Definitions State-by-State Tables
Conltntl rii
Exhibu E. I
Exh1bu E 2
Exhabu E.3
Exhibit 1.1
Exhibu 1.1
Exhibu 1.3
Exh1bu 2.1
ExhabJt 2.:!
Exhibit 2.3
Exhibit 2.4
Exhibu 2.5
Exhibit 3.1
Exh1bu 3.2
Exh1b1t 3.3
Exh1b1t 3 4
fxhibu 3.5
EXIDBITS
Distnbuuon of Individuals Enrolled m the WIC Program
April 1994 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ....... .
Companson of Poverty Levels of WlC Pamc1pams to
Persons in the US Population . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...... .
Distribution of Migrant Fannworker WIC Participants by State
April1994 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...
Distribution of Local WlC Agencies and WIC Participants
by State .................................... .
WlC Priorities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Minimum Data Set Definitions
Distribution of WIC Participants by PartiCipant
Category in 1994 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Food Package Adjustment and Tailoring Pracuces
Used by States . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..
Food Package Tailoring Pracuces and Use of
Standard Food Instruments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...
Frequency of WIC Food Instrument Issuance Among
State WIC Agenc1es . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Estimated Average Cost of Food Packages by
Participant Category. Region. and State ............... .
Distribution of Age of WlC Participants at
Certification by WlC Participant Category 1990. 1992, 1994 ...
Distnbution of Pregnant Women WlC PartiCipants
by Trimester of Enrollment 1992 and 1994 .......... .
Distribution of Racial and Ethnic Characteristics of WlC
Participants by Participant Category . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..
Distnbution of Racial and Ethnic Characteristics of WIC
Women. Infants, and Children 1990, 1992, 1994 ......... .
Distribution of Racial and Ethnic Characteristics of WIC
Participants by Region . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
VI
IX
X
2
8
11
16
18
19
20
21
28
29
29
30
31
hibits nii
Exhibit 4.1
Exh1bit 4.2
Exhibit 4.3
Exhibit 4.4
Exhibit 4.5
Exhibit 4.6
Exhibit 4 7
Exhibit 4 . ~
Exhibit 4.9
Exhibit 4.10
Exhibit 5.1
Exhibit 5.2
Exhibit 5.3
Exhibit 5.4
Exhibit 5.5
EXJUBITS
(Continued)
Means-Tested Programs Used to Detemune WIC
Income Eligibility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Income Documentation and Verification Policy
Number and Percent of WIC Panicipants with Reponed
Participation m Other Programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Distribution of the Size of Families or Economic Units of
WIC Participants by Panicipant Category . . _ . . . . . . . . . . . .
Mean and Median Annualized Family or Economic Unit Income
of WIC Participants by Panicipant Category . . . . . . .
Average Annualized Family or Economic Unit Income of WIC
Participams by Panicipant Category and Racial or
Ethnic Characteristics . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Distribution of Percent of Poveny Level of WIC Panicipams
by Participant Category . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Distribution of Percent of Poveny Level of WIC Participants
by Participant Category and Racial or Ethnic Characteristics
Distribution of Percent of Poveny Level at Cenification
for WIC Panicipants Reponing No Other Benefit Receipt
Comparison of Poveny Levels of WIC Panicipams to Persons
in the US Population in 1994 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Broad Categories of Nutritional Risk Criteria Developed by
the National Association of WIC Directors ............. .
State Policies for Obtaining Dietary Intake Information
Dietary Intake Methods Routmely Used by States
State Documentation of Nutrnional R1sk Critena . . . . . . . . . . .
Distribution of Number of Nutritional Risk Factors for WIC
Participants Reponed at Cenificauon 1990. 1992, 1994 ..... .
34
35
36
38
39
40
43
44
47
48
50
51
51
52
53
Exhibits .ri"
Exhibit 5.6
Exhibit 5.7
Exhibit 5.8
Exhibit 5.9
Exhibit 5.10
Exhibit 5. 11
Exhibit 5.12
Exhibit 5.13
Exhibit 5. 14
Exhibit 5.15
Exhibit 5.16
Exhibit 5.17
Exhibit 5.18
EXIUBITS
(Continued)
Number and Percent of Women WIC Pan1cipants by Panic1pam
Category, Age at Cenification. and Type of Nutritional
Risk Reponed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
Number and Percent of Infant and Child WIC Panicipants by
Age at Cenification. and Type of Nutritional Risk Reponed . . . . 56
Number and Percent of WIC Panicipants with Specific
Nutritional Risks Reponed at Cenification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
Number and Percent of Women WIC Panicipants by Panicipant
Category with Specific Nutritional Risks Reponed . . . . . . . . . . 58
Number and Percent of Infant WIC Panic1pants with Specific
Nutritional Risks Reponed by Age at Cen1ficauon . . . . . . . . . . 59
Number and Percent of Child WIC Pan1cipants with Spec1fic
Nutruional Risks Reponed by Age at Cenificauon . . . . . . . . . . 60
Number and Percent of Amencan Indian and Alaskan Native
\VIC Panicipants with Spec1f1c Nutritional Risks Reponed by
Panicipant Category . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
Number and Percent of Asian or Pacific Islander WIC
Panicipants with Specific Nutritional Risks Reponed by
Panicipant Category . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
Number and Percent of Black (non-Hispanic) WIC
Panicipants with Specific Nutritional Risks Reponed by
Panicipant Category . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
Number and Percent of Hispanic WIC Panicipants with
Specific Nutntional Risks Reponed by Panic1pant Category . . . . 67
Number and Percent of White (non-Hispanic) WIC
Panicipants with Specific Nutritional Risks Reponed by
Panicipant Category . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
Nutritional Risks Reponed in at least 15 Percent of WIC
Panicipants 1990, 1992, 1994 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
Nutritional Risks Reponed in at least 15 Percent of Amencan
Indian and Alaskan Native WIC Pan1cipants by
Panicipant Category . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
Exhibit 5. 19
Exhibit 5.20
Exhibit 5.21
Exhibit 5.22
Exhibit 5.23
Exhibit 5.24
Exhibit 5.25
Exhibit 5.26
Exhibit 5.27
Exhibit 5.28
Exhibit 5.29
Exhibit 5.30
EXIDBITS
(Continued)
Nutritional Risks Reponed in at Least 15 Percent of Asian and
Pacific Islander WIC Participants by Participant Category
Nutritional Risks Reponed in at Least 15 Percent of Black
(non-HispaniC) WIC Participants by Participant Category
Nutritional Risks Reponed in at Least 15 Percent of Hispamc
WIC Participants by Participant Category . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Nutritional Risks Reponed in at Least 15 Percent of White
(non-Hispanic) WIC Participants by Participant Category
Nutruional Risks Reponed in at Least 15 Percent of Pregnant
WIC Pan1cipants by Age at Certification . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Number and Percent of Women WlC Participants with Spec1fic
Nutritional Risks Reponed At Certification bv Percent of
Poveny ................................... .
Number and Percent of Infant WIC Panicipants with Specific
Nutritional Risks Reponed At Certification by Percent of
Poveny . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .............. .
Number and Percent of Child WIC Panic1pants with Spec1fic
Nutritional Risks Reponed At Cenificauon by Percent of
Poveny . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...
Number and Percent of One-Year-Old Child WIC Participants
with Specific Nutritional Risks Reported At Certification
by Percent of Poveny . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Number and Percent of Two-Year-Old Child WIC Participants
with Specific Nutritional Risks Reponed At Cen1ficauon
by Percent of Poveny . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
73
74
75
76
77
79
80
81
82
83
Number and Percent of Three-Year-Old Child WIC
Participants with Specific Nutritional Risks Reponed At
Cenificauon by Percent of Poverty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
Number and Percent of Four-Year-Old Child WIC Panic1pants
with Specific Nutritional Risks Reponed At Cenificauon
hy Percent of Poveny . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
Ezhiblls xvi
Exhibu 5031
Exhibit 5o32
Exhibit 5033
Exhibit 50 34
Exhibit 5035
Exhibit 5036
Exhibit 5037
Exhibit 5o38
Exhibit 50 39
Exhibit 5040
Exhibu 5 41
Exhibit 5042
Exhibit 5043
Exhibit 5044
EXIDBITS
(Continued)
Distribution of Infant WIC Partacipants Accordang to Selected
Anthropometric Measures: 1990. 1992. 1994
Distribution of Infant WIC Partacapants by Racaal or
Ethnic Characteristics According to Selected Anthropometric
Measures 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 • 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Distribution of Child WIC Participants by Age According to
Selected Anthropometric Measures: 1990. 1992. l994 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Distribution of Child WIC Participants by Age· and Racial or
Ethnic Characteristics According to Selected Anthropometric
Measures 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Number and Percent of Infant WIC Participants at Risk
According to Several Anthropometric Criteraa
Number and Percent of Child WIC Participants at Risk
According to Several Anthropometric Criteria
Nwnber and Percent of Breastfeeding and Postpartum
Women WIC Panicipants at Risk According to Several
87
88
89
90
91
92
Anthropometric Criteria o o • 0 o 0 o o 0 o o 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 . 0 0 0 0 0 0 93
State 1994 Nutritional Risk Eligibility Criteria for Hemoglobin
and Hematocrit Levels Compared with 1989 CDC
Standards for Anemia 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 95
Hematologic Criteria Commonly Used for Determaning WIC
Eligibility 0 0 0 0 . . 0 . • 0 o 0 o 0 0 o o 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 96
Availability of Hematological Data for WlC Participanrs
Percenr of WIC Participants by Partacipant Category wuh
Specific Types of Hematological Measures 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 • 0 97
Number and Percent of Women WIC Participants Falling Below
Several Hematologic Standards 0 0 • 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 98
Number and Pt:rcent of Child WIC farticipanrs Falling Below
Several Hematologic Standards 0 0 0 o o 0 • 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 99
Number and Percent of Anemic Women WIC Partacipants by
Participant Category and Racial or Ethmc Charactemtics 0 0 0 0 0 10 I
Number and Percent of Anemic Child WIC Participants by Age
at Time of Blood Measurement and Racial or Ethnic
Characteristics 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 • • • • . 0 0 0 0 0 0 102
Ezhibits ZVIi
Exhibit 6.1
Exhibit 6.2
Exhibit 6.3
Exhibit 6.4
Exhibit 7.1
Exhibit 7.2
Exhibit 7.3
Exhibit 7.4
Exhibit 7.5
Exhibit 7 6
Exhibit 7.7
Exhibit 7.8
Exh1bit 7 9
EXIUBITS
(Continued)
WIC Priorities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
Priority of All WIC Participants by Pan1c1pant Category . . . . . 105
Priority of Infant WIC Panicipants by Age at Certification . . . 106
Priority of Child WIC Participants by Age at Certificauon . . . . . I 07
Distribution of Migrant Fannworker WIC Participants by State.
April 1994 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110
Distribution of Migrant Fannworker WlC Participants by WIC
Panicipant Category and Age at Certification . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
Mean and Median Annualized Family or Economic Unit
Income of Migrant Farmworke.r WlC Participants
by Participant Category . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112
Distribution of Percent of Poverty Level of Migrant Fannworker
WIC Panicipant~ by Participant Category . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
Nutritional Risks Reported in at Least 15 Percent of Migrant
Farmworker WIC Participants by Participant Category . . . . . . . 115
Number and Percent of Migrant Farmworker WIC
Participants with Specific Nutritional Risks Reponed
by Participant Category . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I 16
Nwnber and Percent of Anemic Migrant Fannworker WIC
Participants by Participant Category . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117
Distribution of Infant and Child Migrant Fannworker WIC
Participants According to Selected Anthropometric Measures 118
Prionty of Migrant Farmworker WIC Participants by
Participant Category . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119
Ezhibils xviii
Program Operations
1. INTRODUCTION
The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women. Infants. and Children
(WIC) was created in 1972 and is admmistered by the Food and Consumer
Service (FCS) of the US Department of Agnculture (USDA). WIC was
established to counteract the negative effects Clf poverty on prenatal and pediatric
health and provtdes a combination of direct nutntional supplementation. nutriuon
education and counseling, and increased access to health care and social servtce
providers for pregnant. breastfeeding, and postpanum women; infants: and
children up to the age of five years. By intervening during the critical prenatal
period. WIC seeks to improve fetal development and reduce the incidence of low
birthweight, shon gestation. and anemta. Infants and children who are at
nutritional or health risk can receive foe d supplements. nutrition education. and
access to health care to maintain and improve their health and development.
The WIC Program was established in 1972 by an amendment to the Child
Nutrition Act of 1966. WIC has vastly expanded since ns inception. and. in
April 1994. WIC served almost seven million panicipants at an annual cost of
more than three billion dollars.
Legislation (Public Laws 99-500 and 99-591), enacted in 1986. requires FCS to
submit biennial repons to the Congress on current panicipant and program
characteristics in the WIC Program. This legislation specifies that each bienmal
repon must include:
• Information on the income and nutritional risk
characteristics of WIC panicipants.
• Data on WIC program panicipation for migrant farm
worker families.
• Other information on WIC panicipauon that IS deemed
appropriate by the Secretary of Agnculture.
This repon is the founh publicauon prepared to meet the 1986 legtslauve
mandate.
WIC services are delivered in each of the fifty States. the Distnct of Columbia.
Pueno Rico. Guam. and the American Virgin Islands. Additionally. in 1994.
thiny Indian tribal organizauons (ITOs) served as State WlC agencies. Over
2.000 local agencies (defined as the organizations one level below State WIC
agencies) provide servtces to pantcipants at an estimated 10.000 serv1ce sHes
Exhibit 1.1 presents information on the number of local service delivery agenc1es
operated by the eighty-four State WIC agencies.
At the federal level. FCS and its seven regional offices provide cash grants to
State WIC agencies for program administration and operations: issue regulations:
and monitor compliance with these regulations. State WIC agencies set
nutritional risk eligibility standards. allocate funds to local WIC sponsoring
agencies. monitor compliarce with FCS and State regulations. and prov1de
Chapllr Ont: Introduction to PC94 I
Exhibit 1.1
Distribution of Local WIC Agencies and WIC Participants by State
State
Nonheast
Connecticut
Maine
Massachusetts
New Hampshire
New York
Rhode Island
Vermont
Indian Township (MEl
Pleasant Po1nt (ME)
Seneca Nat1on (NY)
Mid-At111ntic
Delaware
Distnct of Columbia
Maryland
New Jersey
Pennsy1van1a
Puerto Rico
Virginia
Virgin Islands
West Virgm1a
Southe11st
Alabama
Flonda
Georg1a
Kentucky
MISSISSIPPI
North Carolina
South Carolina
Tennessee
Eastern Band-Cherokee (NCI
MissiSSIPPI Choctaw
Seminole Tribe (Fll
Note
Number of local
Agencies
21
11
37
9
93
14
12
1
1
1
17
7
18
20
25
7
35
1
8
67
48
21
53
23
85
15
14
1
1
Percent of All local Percent of US
Agencies WIC Participants
0 .99 0.95
0.52 0 .42
1.74 1.84
0 .42 0.29
4 .37 7.2'2
0 .66 0 .29
0 .56 0 .22
0.05 o.oo·
0.05 o.oo·
0.05 o.oo·
0.80 0 .22
0 .33 0.31
0.85 1.23
0.94 2.02
1.17 4 .08
0 .33 2.70
1.64 2.09
0.05 0 .09
0.38 0.74
3.15 1.72
2.25 5.10
0.99 3.C3
2.49 1. 7'3
1.08 1.61
3.99 2.57
0.70 i.85
0.66 1.86
0.05 0.01
0 .05 0 .01
0 .05 o.oo·
The est1mate of local WIC agenc1es 1s denved from State enrollment f1les conta1n1ng 1dent1f1ers for local agenc1es charged
With adm1n1stenng WIC serv1ces.
•1nd1cates agenc1es serv.ng less than 0 .01 percent of US WIC.
Ch11pltr Ont: Introduction to PC94 2
Exhibit 1 . 1 (continued,
Distribution of local WIC Agencies and WIC Participants by State
State
Mldw•st
IllinOIS
Indiana
Michigan
Minnesota
Ohio
Wisconsm
.
Southwest
Arkansas
Lou1s1ana
New Mex1co
Oklahoma
Texas
ACL INMI
Cherokee Nat1on lOKI
Chickasaw Nat1on lOKI
Choctaw Nation lOKI
Citizen-Potawatoml (OKI
Eight Northern Pueblos INMI
Five Sandoval Pueblos INMI
lTC - Oklahoma
Otoe·Missouna lOKI
Pueblo of Isleta INMI
Pueblo of San Felipe INMI
Pueblo of Zufi1 INMI
Santo Dommgo INMI
WCO lOKI
Note
Number of local
Agenciea
87
50
52
62
76
63
76
116
104
20
76
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
Percent of All local Percent of US
Agencies WIC Participants
4 .09 3.57
2.35 2.25
2.44 3.31
2.91 1.45
3.57 3.66
2.96 1.57
3.57 1.23
5.45 1.99
4 .88 0.96
0.94 1.02
3.57 8.81
0 .05 0 .01
0.05 0.10
0.05 0.03
0 .05 0 .04
0.05 0.02
0 .05 0 .01
0 .05 0.01
0.05 0 .00
0 .05 0.01
0.05 0.01
0 .05 o.oo•
0.05 0 .01
0.05 0.01
0 .05 0.03
The estimate of local WIC agenc1es IS denved from State enrollment f1les cont111ntng 1dent1f1ers for local agenc1es charged
w1th adm1n1stenng WIC servtces.
"lnd1cates agenc1es serv1ng less than 0 01 percent of US WIC.
Cll11pltr Ont: Introduction to PC94 J
Exhibit 1.1 {continued)
Distribution of Local WIC Agencies and WIC Participants by State
State
Mount•in Pl•ln.s
Colorado
Iowa
Kansas
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
North Dakota
South Dakota
Utah
Wyommg
Cheyenne River Sioux ISO)
NIITDC (NEl
Rosebud Sioux ISDl
Shoshone-Arapahoe (WY)
Standing Rock Sioux (NO)
Three Affiliated INO)
Ute Mountain Ute (COl
We.stern
Alaska
Arizona
Califorma
Guam
Haw au
Idaho
Nevada
Oregon
Washmgton
ITC - Anzona
ITC-Nevada
NavaJO Nation IAZ)
Tot•!
Note
Numb11 of Local
Agencies
40
19
31
108
62
15
28
61
19
17
1
1
1
1
1
14
18
80
1
14
9
5
35
62
3
1
17
2,129
Percent of All Local
Agenc•••
1.88
0.89
1.46
5.07
2.91
0.70
1.32
2.87
0 .89
0 .80
0.05
0.05
0.05
0 .05
0 .05
0.05
0 .05
0.66
0.85
3.76
0.05
0 .66
0 .42
0.23
1.64
2.91
0.14
0.05
0.80
100.0
Percent of US
WIC Participants
1.03
0 .88
0.86
2.10
0.31
0.51
0 .24
0.29
0.94
0.16
0 .01
0.01
0.02
0.01
0.02
0 .01
o.oo·
0.25
1.33
12.19
0.08
0.36
0.48
0 .38
1.11
1.57
0 .13
0.01
0.28
100.0
The estimate of local WIC agenc1es IS denved from State enrollment f1les conta1mng 1dent1f1ers for local agenc1es charged
w1th adm1mstenng WIC serv1ces.
"lnd1cates agenc1es servmg less than 0 .01 percent of US WIC.
Clulpttr Ont: lntrod~.Ktion to PC94 4
Participant BenejiJs
technical assastance to local WIC agency staff. LocaJ WIC servace provaders are
often city or county health departments. but WIC sponsors aJso include hospuals.
maternal and child health programs. and commuruty acuon agencies. The funds
received by locaJ WIC agencies are used to provide federally specafied
supplemental foods to WJC panacipants and to pay administrative costs. ancludmg
the costs of cenifying applicants as eligible and counseling WJC panacapants on
nutritional issues.
In recent years. State agencies have negotiated rebates provided by manufacturers
of infant formula. It is estimated that 40 percent of all infanz formula sold in the
US is purchased with WIC dollars. These rebates are used by State and local
WIC agencies to provide WIC services to larger numbers of eligible individuals.
WJC seeks to improve the health of program panicipants during pregnancy and
the postpanum period. infancy. and early childhood by providing nutmious food
and nutrition educauon as adjuncts to good health care. The benefits provaded
by WIC are briefly described below.
• Food Packages. f ood, food vouchers. or food checks
are distributed to panicipants to provide specific
nutrients known to be lacking in the dietS of target
populations. FCS regulations specafy WIC food
packages that are designed for different categories of
panicipants, including an enhanced package for women
to encourage them to breastfeed their infants. These
packages contain foods that are good sources of the
nutrients most likely to be lacking in the WIC
population's diet-protein. iron. calcium. and vitamins
A and C. The food packages are grounded in the
developmental needs of infants as well as in pediatric
recommendations on infant feeding . Food packages
incorporate the recommended eating patterns for
preschool children and the special additional nutritional
requirements of pregnant and breastfeeding women.
Most States operate retail food delivery systems where
WIC clientS receive food instrumentS to purchase their
supplemental foods at panacipaung local grocery stores.
These checks or vouchers are "food-specific." in that
they can be used only for food prescrabed by health or
nutriuon professionals at local WIC agencaes. These
food items are specified on eo ~ h WIC food mstrument.
In a few geographic areas. iood as delivered to
panicipant homes. or panicipants pick up food at
specified distribuuon points. A small number of States
operate both retail and direct delivery systems. Several
States are assessang the feasibility of electronic issuance
of WIC benefits. Wyoming is demonstrating a joint
CltGpttr Ont: Introduction to PC94 5
Eligibility for WIC
Btntftts
WJC-food stamp benefit delivery system usmg a card
contammg a nucrochip.
• Nutrition Education and Counseling. Nutrition
education plays a crucial role in the WJC Program and
is viewed as an essenual benefit directed toward
achieving positive changes in panicipant knowledge,
attitude, and behav1or about food consumption. FCS
regulations require WJC service agencies to offer to
panicipants at least two nutrition education sessions
during each- usually s1x-momh-cenifir.ation period.
Panicipants may be counseled in one-on-one seumgs.
may attend group classes. or may view films. slide-tape
presentations, or videos on a variety of health and
nutrition-related top1cs.
• Access to Health Can and Social Services. Each WJC
agency is charged with asststing WJC pantcipants to
obtain and use preventive health care servtces. Through
either the provision of on-site health services or referral
to other agenctes, the WJC Program serves as a link
between the pantcipant and an appropriate health-care
provtder or system.
Since 1984, most local WJC agencies have referred
clients to a vanety of social services. Coordination
between WTC and soctal service programs has increased
since WJC regulations created adjunctive eligibility for
WTC benefits based on eligibility for other programs.
During 1994. many local WIC agencies provided
infonnauon on other socaal services such as the Food
Stamp Program. Medicaid, Aid to Families wnh
Dependent Children Program CAFDC), substance abuse
counseling and treatment. and other programs providmg
services needed by WJC clients. T'.e degree to which
local WJC agenctes acuvely facilitate such access varies
with the type of local sponsonng agency and the nature
of the servtce sne at which WIC benefits are delivered.
Eligibility for receipt of WJC benefits is based on four factors: categoncal
eligibility; res1dence within the State agency service area: income eligibility; and
nutritional risk. First. a pan1cipant must be a member of cenam categoncally
eligible groups: women during pregnancy and up to the first stx weeks after
delivery; women up to one year postpanum if breastfeedmg or up to six months
postpanum if not breast feeding; infants up to one year old: and children aged one
through four years. Second. an applicant must document res1dence in the
geographic area served by the State WIC agency.
Chqttr Ont: Introduction to PC94 6
Program ParticipaJion
Third. a panicipant must be income-eligible. The mcome limit for eligibility ts
set by each State agency. However. th1s mcome hrnit may not exceed 185
percent or be less than 100 percent of the Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) poverty income guidelines. which are based on household size. As of
February 1994, at the 185-percent threshold, a person from a family of four with
an annual household income of $27,380 or less would be mcome-eligible for
WIC benefits. All States now set WIC income eligibility at 185 percent of
poveny.
States are also permitted to establish standards and procedures for verification
and documentation required to validate income. Some States require income be
documented with paysrubs. Others allow applicants to self-declare income. FCS
regulations allow a WJC service provider to conclude that a panicipant is
adjunctively income-eligible for WJC benefits through documentation of his/her
panicipation in another means-tested program such as Medicaid. AFDC. or food
stamps.
Fmally, each WIC panicipant must be determmed to be at nutntional risk based
on a m~ical and/or nutritional assessment by a competent professional authority
such as a physician. nutritionist, nurse, or other health professional. At a
minimum. height (or length) and weight are measured and, with the exception of
infants under six months, a hematological test (generally a hematocrit) ts
administered to assess nutritional status. Federal program regulations allow State
and local agencies to develop appropriate screening systems to assess nutritional
risk. According to program regulations, risk can be indicated by such factors as
abnonnal weight gain during pregnancy, a history of high-risk pregnancies, low
birth weight, stunted growth. low weight, obesity, anemia. or an inadequate
dietary pattern. Because no single national set of nutritional criteria exists. WIC
eligibility can vary with location.
The WIC Program must operate within annual funding levels established by the
Congress. The number of panicipants served each year depends on total funds
available as well as on allocation of these funds by FCS to mdividual States. For
each local agency, a maximum case load is determined based on the agency· s
funding level and predicted case load turnover. When a local WIC agency
reaches this maximum panicipation level wuhin ava1lable funding, a system of
priorities is followed in allocating caseload "slots" to eligible applicants. Some
agencies maintain waiting lists of eligible applicants and. as WIC opemngs
become available. fill them from their waiting lists.
To ass1st State and local WIC providers wuh servtce provision. FCS has defined
seven priority levels, based on applicant categoncal status and type of nutnuonal
risk condition. In general the purpose of the extsting priority system is to give
precedence to medically cased nutrmonal nsks over risks based oniy on
inadequate diet. Priorities are presented in Exhibit 1.2.
Chaptlr Ont: /ntroducnon to PC94 7
Exhibit 1.2
WIC Priorities
Priority
II
Ill
IV
v
VI
VII
Description
Pregnant and breastfeed1ng women and mfants, at nutr1t1onal nsk
as demonstrated by anthropometric or hematological assessment or
by other documented nutr~tionally·related medical cond1t1on.
Infants up to six months of age of mothers who participated m WIC
during pregnancy, or who would have been ehgible to part1c1pate
under Prionty I documented med1cal condition. This pnonty may
also be ass1gned to a breastfeed1ng motr r of an mfant who 1s
class1f1ed as Pr~onty II.
Children at nutnt1onal nsk, as demonstrated by anthropometnc or
hematological assessment of other documented med1cal cond1t1on.
At State optiOn, thiS pnorlty can also Include h1gh·r~ s k postpartum
women.
Pregnant and breastfeed1"9 women and Infants, at nutrtt1onal nsk
ac demonstrated by Inadequate d1etary pattem. At State option,
this pnonty can also 1nclude h1gh·r1sk postpartum women.
Children at nutnt1onal r~sk due to Inadequate dietary pattern. At
State opt1on. th1s pnonty can also 1nclude h1gh·nsk postpartum
women.
Postpartum women, not brentfeed1ng, at nutritional nsk on e1ther
medical or dietary cntena-unless ass1gned to h1gher pnortt1es at
State discretion.
Previously certified partiCipants hkely to regress 1n nutrtt1onal status
without contmuat1on of supplemental foods.
ChqtiT Ont: Introduction to PC94 8
Prtvious Studits of
WJC Participant and
Program Characttristics
FCS has completc::J our prev1ou~ studies of WIC panacapam and program
characteristics. Ir 984 (PC 88 (PC88), and 1990 (PC90). FCS and Its
contractors conduc ·J stud• u nationally representative samples of WIC
panicipants. Data re obt lhrough rnatl surveys of State and local WIC
agencies: record abstr 1on t local WIC servtce sues: and. in PC88. imerv1ews
with panicipants and followup data collection on food instrwnem pickup.
PC84. conducted for FCS by Ebon Research Systems. collected data from
twenty-eight State agenc1es. 204 local agencies. 356 service sites. and 6.444
panicipant records. Major findings addressed:
• The distribution of panicipants by panicipant category.
by priority. and by income.
• The nutritional risks of WIC panicipants.
• State and local WIC agency coordination wnh health and
social service programs.
• The methods. frequency. and types of nutntion educauon
provided to WIC panicipants.
PC88, the second study of WIC panicipant and program characteristics. was
conducted by Research Triangle Institute. For this srudy. staff in State and local
WIC agencies collected data and imerviewed a nationally representative sample
of approximately 7,000 WIC clients. A six-month followup data collection effon
detennined the rate of actual pickup of WIC food instruments. State WIC
agencies were surveyed to gather infonnation on WIC Program operations.
PC88 reponed on:
• The distribution of panicipants by panicipant category.
by priority. by panicipation in other programs. and by
family income.
• The nutritional nsks of WIC pan1cipants.
• State and local policies and agency coordination with
health and social serv1ce programs.
• Food package prescriptions.
PC90 served as a transnional study which built on the PC84 and PC88 research
des1gns while mmunizing sample stze to conserve research expenditures. A goal
for PC90. and all future studtes of WIC panicipant charactenstics. is limiting
burden on State WIC agencies to encourage continuing biennial pamcipation tn
the WIC reponing system created for the 1992 study of WIC panicipant and
program characteristics (PC92). For PC90. field researchers from Abt
Associates abstracted data from a nationally representative sample of 2,343
Chapttr Ont: introduction to PC94 9
Tht 1994 Study of WJC
Participant and Program
CIUJracttristics
panicipam records. All State WIC agenc1es were surveyed to obtam mformauon
on WIC Program operations.
The methodology used for PC94 was first developed for the 1992 study. The
1992 study of WIC participant and program characteristics (PC92) was
substantially different from earlier studies with regard to collecting data on WlC
participation. FCS developed a prototype reponing system which allows the
acquisition of all participation data through the automated transfer of an agreed­upon
set of data elements. State WIC agencies download. to diskettes or
magnetic tapes, routinely collected information which is on their existing
automated client and management information systems. State and local WIC staff
obtain these data to cenify applicant eligibility for WIC benefits. to guide
nutrition education. and to issue food instruments. This Minimum Data Set
(MDS) was developed by FCS working with the Information Committee of the
National Association of WIC Directors (NAWD). The MOS. which consists of
eighteen items, appears in Exhibit 1.3.
For the reference month of April 1994. each State WIC agency submitted MDS
data on either a representative sample or a census of its WIC pamcipants. The
final PC94 dataset encompasses information on all individuals enrolled in the
WIC Program as of the reference month. Many studies of the WIC Program
have reponed participation measured by the numbers of individuals who were
issued food instruments during designated time periods. PC94 repons on
enrollment which is defined as individuals cenified to receive WIC benefits for
specific time periods, including individuals who did not claim or use the food
instruments issued during those time periods. State WIC agencies estimate that,
each month, at least 90 percent of wtC enrollees pick up their food instruments.
In April of 1994, there were eighty-four State WIC agencies: the fifty States. the
District of Columbia. Guam. Pueno Rico, and the American Virgin Islands.
along with thiny Indian Tribal Organizations (ITOs) . PC94 data were submitted
by 100 percent of State WIC agenctes. PC94 describes slightly more than 6.9
million panicipants cenified as eligible for WIC benefits in Apnl 1994
Two of the e1ghty-four submittmg agencies chose to repon on representative
samples rather than censuses of the1r WIC panicipams. These States mclude
Connecticut and Montana and account for about 1.3 percent of PC94 's pamc1pant
records. These data are weighted so that the total numbers of WIC panicipams
reponed here correspond to the total US WIC population in April 1994.
The State-maintained automated informauon systems which are the sources of
data for PC94 do not always contam complete mfonnauon on every individual
enrolled in the WIC Program. Note that all of the tables in this publicauon
include columns or rows labeled not reported. The figures presented in these
columns and rows indicate the numbers and percentages of WIC panicipants for
whom States could not provide information on specific items.
Chapttr Ont: Introduction to PC94 10
Exhibit 1.3
Minimum Data Set Definitions
For btenrual repons on WIC panicipant and program charactensucs. the tenn pantctpant means a
person cenified as enrolled in the WIC Program.
The data items should reflect the participant's status oo each item at the time of the most
recent WIC Program certification for the reference month of April 1994. However. as a
convenience to State Agencies that do not maintain historical files and that update the information in
their automated systems during cenification periods. current information that was on the file for
each panicipant in April 1994 was accepted.
1. State Agency ID A unique identifier that pennits linkage to the WIC State Agency where
the panicipant was enrolled.
2. Local Agency ID A unique identifier that pennits linkage to the local agency where the
panicipant was centfied as eligible for WIC benefits.
Service Site ID A unique identifier that pennits linkage to the service site where cenified.
Either Local Agency 10 or Service Site 10 will be reponed according to the level that the
State Agency feels appropriate.
3. Case ID A unique record number for each panicipant which maintains individual
confidentiality at the national level.
4 . Date of Birth Month. day, and year of panicipant's binh.
5. Race/Ethnlcity The classification of the panicipant into one of the five (5) racial/ethnic
categories: white: black; Hispanic: American Indian or Alaskan Native; or Asian or Pacific
Islander. The ethnic categories. white and black. include only those persons who are not of
Hispamc origin.
6a. Certification Category The category-~me of five (5) possible categories under which a
person is cenified as eligible for WIC benefits: pregnant woman: breastfeeding woman:
postparrum woman. not breastfeeding; infant (under 12 months): or child (12-59 months).
6b·c. Expected Date of Delivery or Weeks Gestation For pregnant women. the projected date of
delivery or the number of weeks since the last menstrual penod as detennined at WlC
Program centfication. These data items are used to detennine whether a pregnant woman is
in the first. second. or third trimester of pregnancy.
7. Date of Certification The date the person was declared eligible for the most current WIC
Program cenification. Month. day and year are provided.
8. Sex For tnfants and children. male or female .
Cltapttr Ont: Introduction to PC94 I I
Exhibit 1.3 (continued)
Minimum Data Set Definitions
9 . Priority level Participant priority level for WIC Program cenification at the time of the
most current WIC Program cenificauon date.
10a·c. Participation in AFDC, Medicaid, Food Stamps The panicipant's reponed panicipation m
each of these programs at the time of the most current WIC Program cenification.
11 . Migrant Status Panicipant migrant status according to the federal WIC Program definition
of a migrant farmworker.
12. Number in Family or Economic Unit The number of persons in the family or economic unit
on which WIC income eligibility was based.
A self-declared number in the family or economic unit may be reponed for panicipants
whose income was not required to be detemuned as pan of the WIC cenification process.
These panicipants include adjunctively income-eligible panicipants (due to AFDC, Food
Stamp program. or Medicaid participation) and those participants deemed income eligible
under opuonal procedures available to the State Agency in Federal WIC Regulations.
Section 246. 7(c)(2)(vii) and (viii) (i.e., means tested programs identified by the State for
automatic WIC Program income eligibility.)
13a-c. Family or Economic Unit Income
l. For persons for whom income is determined during the cenification process, the
income amount that was determined to qualify them for the WIC Program.
2. For descriptive purposes only, for panicipants whose income was not required
to be determined as pan of the WIC Program cenification process, the self­reponed
income at time of cenification. If updated since cenification, the
current self-reponed amount. These panicipants include adjunctively income­eligible
panicipants and those persons deemed eligible under optional procedures
available to the State Agency in Federal WIC Regulations, Section
246. 7(c)(2)(vii) and (viii).
14a-c. Nutritional Risks Present at Certification The three highest priority nutntional risks present
at the current WIC Program cenification.
15a·b. Hemoglobin. Hematocrit or EP Value That value for the measure of iron status that applies
to the current WIC Program cenification. It is assumed that the measure was collected
wuhin 60 days of the cenification date.
16a·b. Weight The panicipant's weight measured according to the CDC nutntion surveillance
program standards tnearest one-quaner ('A) pound).
17a·b. Height The panicipant's height (or length) measured according to the CDC nutrition
surveillance program standards [nearest one-eighth (1/a) inch].
18. Date of Height and Weight Measure The date of the height and weight measures that were
used during the current WIC Program cenification period as of April 1994.
Ch~~pttr On1: Introduction to PC94 12
States were generally able to provide infonnauon on every MDS it..:m for each
pan1cipant. However. PC94 contains data on panicipauon mother programs for
only about 92 percent of the panicipants m the database: data on income were
submitted for 86 percent of the 6.9 million WIC pan1cipants. Five States­Alabama.
Illinois. Indiana. New York. Pueno Rico. South Dakota. and
TeMessee-reponed data on income for less than 70 percent of their WIC
panicipants.
lnfonnation on blood measurements may be absent from the database for reasons
which may be related to the category to which a WIC panicipant is assigned.
For instance. WIC regulations permit clinics to dispense with blood tests for
infants under six months of age, as well as for children who are found to be
within normal ranges at their most recent cenifications.
Unreponed PC94 data may be unavailable for a variety of reasons which may
indicate that panicipants in any of the not-reponed categories may be different
from those individuals with data reponed. As noted above. assumptions
regarding missing data vary by the nature of the variable and by the category of
the WIC panicipant. To account for these anomalies. a uniform strategy has
been adopted for preparing all tables in this repon. Data not reponed are
included in the calculation of percentage distnbutions for each characteristic.
While including missing data in the denominators for all calculations tends to
place estimates for each characteristic at a lower bound. this approach has
allowed consistent presentation of tabulations throughout the repon. Further. u
assures that all information needed to calculate upper-bound estimates is readily
available in every table. Caution should be used in comparing results across
groups; missing data must always be considered in gauging differences between,
among. or across groups or categories of WIC panicipants.
A second note of caution must be sounded here. Because of data quality issues
in one large State. it is likely that the PC94 estimate of number of one-year-old
WIC enrollees is 0.008 percent high. As a result. the PC94 esurnate of number
of WIC infants is about 1.0 percent low.
The specifications for the 1994 study of WIC pan1c1pant and program
characteristics included a nineteen-Item Supplemental Data Set (SDS). Included
in this dataset are such items as binhweight. birth length, source of prenatal care.
and duration of breastfeeding. About 60 percent of the eighty-four reponmg
State WIC agencies provided some SDS data. representing a two-thirds increase
since 1992. However, no State WIC agency provided information on every SDS
item for every panicipant. The most frequently reponed SDS item was food
package code. submitted by fony-four States. Thiny-mne State WIC programs
submitted information on breastfeeding status. and thiny-three States reponed
duration of breastfeeding. The limited amount and incompleteness of SDS data
preclude computation of nauonal estimates. The final appendix to this repon
presents a series of tables reponing State-level data for those States submitting
SDS information. A complete list of SDS items is also included in that appendix.
Chapttr Ont: Introduction to PC94 I J
PC94 SumnuJry of Stale
Programs
Organization of This
Repon
The 1994 study. like earlier studies. mcluded a survey of State WIC agenc1es
to obtain infonnauon on WIC program charactenstics. For PC94. each State
WIC agency was mailed a computer-generated paper copy of its responses to the
PC92 Summary of State Programs (SSP). State respondems were asked to
confinn or revise their 1992 responses. A copy of the Summary of State
Programs (SSP) appears in Appendix A. Data were collected on:
• Operating policies and procedures of State WIC agencies
with regard to income detennination. food package
tailoring, and food instrument issuance.
• Average monthly food package costs by pamcipant
category.
• Nutritional risk criteria established by State WIC
agencies including standards for hemoglobin and
hematocrit values as well as methods for obtaimng
dietary intake infonnation.
• Lists of local WIC agencies or service sites operated by
each State WIC agency.
All of the eighty-four State WIC agencies operating in April 1994 completed
questionnaires. Each of the eighty-four reponing agencies provided infonnauon
on every item in the questionnaire.
Chapters Two through Seven contain tabular presentations which display PC94
data on WIC panicipants and programs. Tables are accompanied by limited text
which is provided only to explain WIC procedures or to distinguish changes.
since 1984, in the characteristics of WIC programs and panicipants. Because
PC94 is a near census of WIC panicip~nr~. standard errors are not needed to
interpret findings presemed here. Cha wo presents infonnation on overall
panicipation in the WIC Program as we,J mfonnauon on WJC food packages
and their costs. In Chapter Three. demographic data on WIC panicipams are
reponed. Chapter Four offers infonnation on State procedures for detenmning
income eligibility along with panicipation data on receipt of benefits from
programs other than WIC; household size: average annual income; and percent
of poveny of WJC households. Chapters Five and Six prov1de infonnauon on
nutritional risk and WIC pnorny groups. Finally, Chapter Seven contains
infonnation on migrant WIC pan1cipants. Data are reponed on age. income.
nutritional risk, and priority.
Note that every table in this publication includes a column or row labeled nor
reported. The figures presented in these columns and rows indicate the number
or percent of WIC panicipams for whom States provided no informauon for
specific items.
ChGpttr Ont: Introduction 10 PC94 14
Food Packtzgts
2. OVERVIEW OF WIC PARTICIPATION AND FOOD PACKAGE
COSTS
During April 1994, there were 6,907,848 individuals enrolled in the WIC
Program. {See Exhibit 2 .1.) This figure is 20 percent higher than the 1992
enrollment level. Some of the growth between 1992 and 1994 can be aunbuted
to the fact that. during this time period. the Food and Consumer Service (FCS)
provided larger appropriations to States in the Western region. These targeted­growth
~ tates include Arizona. California, Florida, Nevada, and Texas.
Additionally, States continued to negotiate rebate contracts wnh infant formula.
and, in some cases, cereal manufacturers. Savings accrued from these rebates
enabled local WIC service providers to offer WIC benefits to previously unserved
eligible individuals.
The proponions of enrollment by WIC panicipant category show some change
in 1994. Since 1992, the proponion of pregnant women has declined from 13.6
percent to 12.0 percent. The proponion of infant enrollees has gone from 30.1
percent in 1992 to 26.9 percent in 1994, while children now account for 50.2
percent-up from 47.5 percent in 1992. These changes may reflect a declining
national birthrate (from 16.3 births per thousand women in 1991 to 15.9 in
1992)1
• They may be the result of income shifts (categorical eligibility), changes
in the numbers of eligibles who apply. or application of the priority system or
increased funding which allows States and their local agencies to serve applicants
with lower priorities, especially children. For PC94, it must also be noted that.
because of poor quality data in one large State. the estimate of number of WIC
infants is about 1.0 percent low. It may be that some proponion of this apparent
decline in WJC infant enrollment can be attributed to erroneous data from this
one State. The proponion of bre~tfeeding women rose slightly between 1992
and 1994 from 3.6 percent to 4.0 percent. There was a substantial increase in
proponions and numbers of posrpanum women receiving WIC benefits-two full
percentage points or 191,500 more women. It may be that the additional funds
in the States targeted for growth permitted WIC to expand its caseload to serve
more non-breastfeeding postpartum women. Panicipation in the categories of
posrpanurn women and children has increased by 2.0 and 2. 7 percentage points.
respectively.
Seven maximum food packages are defined by federal WIC regulations: two for
infants which are age-dependent: one for children or women with special dietary
needs; one for children aged one through four years: one for pregnant and
breastfeeding women; one for non-bre;tStfeeding postpanum women: and an
enhanced package for breastfeeding wor,ten. State and local agencies may tailor
food packages to achieve admimstrati te efficiencies or to meet the nutritional
needs of individual WJC clients. t'.dministrauve adjustments to WIC food
packages include specifying package stze. brand. or form. Nutritional tailormg
often focuses on specifying a form of infant formula or changing food types to
1 Data reported in Cu"~nt Population Surveys, 1991 and 1992. US Bureau of the Ccn:us
birthrates for 1993 and 1994 are not yet ava1lable.
Chapttr 'J'Wo: Ovtmtw of PC94 WIC Partie~palion and Food Pack.agt Costs IS
Exhibit 2.1
Distribution of WIC Participants by Participant Category in 1994
Participant Category Number of Percent of
Participants Category
Women 1,590,762 n/a
Pregnant women 823.604 51.8%
Breastfeeding women 275,158 17.3
Postpartum women 491 ,998 31.0
lnf•nts 1,852.455 n/a
Children 3.464,631 n/a
US WIC 6,907,848
NA 1nd1cates not applicable.
Distribution of WIC Participants by Participant Category
1990, 1992, 1994
Percent of WIC
Participants
23. 1 o/o
12.0
4 .0
7.2
26.9
50.2
Percent of Total WIC Participants
Participant Category 1990 1992 1994
Women 23.9% 22.4% 23.1%
Pregnant women 13.5 13.6 12.0
Breastfeed~ng women 10.41 3.6 4 .0
Postpartum women 5.2 7.2
lnf•nts 29.8 30.1 26.9
ChHdren 46.3 47.5 50.2
USWIC 4,538,112 5,754,003 6,907,849
Note
• In 1990. breastfeed1ng and postpartum women were comb1ned 1nto one reponmg category because of the small sample
of pan1c1pants 1n the 1990 study.
Chapter Two: Ovtmtw of PC94 WIC Participa.tr.on and Food Pac/uJgt Costs 16
address the nutruional risks of spec1fic of pan1cipams. Exhibits 2.2 and 2.3
prov1de information on food package tailoring pracuces reponed by States.
Most WIC pan1cipants rece1ve food Instruments (enher vouchers or checks for
use in retail grocery stores) wh1ch contam 1nformauon on type and amount of
food and may include infonnauon on maximwn allow4lble cost A food
instrument is designated a voucher or check to indicate the State's redempuon
process. States detemune the frequency of issuance for these food instruments.
which are generally produced on automated information systems at standard
intervals. In most States. WJC panicipants pick up food instruments at local
WIC service sites. Information on State issuance appears in Exhibit 2.-t.
State policies and procedures have remained stable since 1988. The trend to
bimonthly issuance continues. Less frequent issuance is seen. by many States.
as administratively efficient as well as less burdensome for WIC recipients.
State-by-State information for Exhibits 2.1 through 2.4 appears in Appendix B
of this repon.
Finally. State-reponed informauon on costs of food packages for April 1994 1s
presented in Exhibit 2.5. These estimated average costs wtre calculated usmg
the State cost data weighted by enrollment data at the panicipant category level .
Thiny-five (or 42 percent) of the eighty-four reponing agencies submitted
estimated rather than actual food package costs. The highest average cost
appears in the Western region with the lowest average food package cost
occurring in the Southeast.
Chapttr Two: Omvitw of PC94 W/C ParticipDIIon and Food Paclulgt Costs 17
Exhibit 2.2
Food Package Adjustment and Tailoring Practices Used by States
State Agenctes
AdjustmentfT alloring Practices Number Percent
Only use muimum e/loweble f«i.,.l foud package 3 3.6%
Adjustment for edmlnlstretlv• efficiency 80 95.2
Brands of food are designated or disallowed 61 72.6
Size of food container rs desrgnated 64 76.2
Specrfrc form of food lwrthin a food group) is specified 57 67.9
Certatn food types lfrom a food category) are eliminated 31 36.9
Other methods lsuch as addrng spec1al foods) 21 25.0
Teiloring for pefticipant nutrition•! ntHKb 81 96.4
Type of m1lk IS spec1fied Ito reduce fat, lactose, or calorresl 62 73.8
Type of cheese 1s spec1fied Ito reduce fat) 24 28.6
Type of cereal 11 spec1fied Ito reduce sucrose) 8 9.5
Spec1f1c forms of formula are specified lready-to-feed or powdered formula) 74 88.1
Amounts of certa1n food types are reduced Ito reduce calorres or nutrrent 43 51.2
intake for we1ght control)
Amounts of certain food types are reduced Ito meet age-related needs) 53 63.1
Quantity of eggs rs reduced Ito reduce cholesterol) 19 22.6
A spec1f1c form of food 1s specrf1ed for the conven1ence of the partiCipant 67 79.8
!powdered m1lk, JUICe concentrate)
Other methods lsuch as substrtut1ons for food allerg1esl 24 28.6
Tote/ reporting Stet• WIC egencies 84 100.0
Not••
Responses are not mutually exclusrve. so percentages do not sum to 100 percent. Percentages rn thrs table are based
on the number 1841 of reponrng State WIC agencres.
WIC food rnstruments hst specrfrc foods up to maxtmum amounts for each month as defmed 1n federal WIC regulatrons
Ch~~pttr TWo: Ovtrvitw of PC94 WIC Partrciplllron and Food Paclutgt Costs 18
Exhibit 2.3
Food Package Tailoring Practices and Use of Standard Food Instruments
.......................... ~ ........................... ....
Stet• Agencies
Standardized Instruments and Tailoring Number Percent
Standard food packages are available for 38 45.2%
specific categories of participants
Standard food instruments can be selected 8 9.5
or combined to create food packages for
participants
Standard food instruments can be tailored 23 27.4
by marking choices or amounts of food
types directly on each food enstrument
Standard food packages or food 10 11 .9
instruments are not used. Each food
package prescription IS individualized
Other methods of food ta1lorang 5 6.0
Total reporteng State WIC agenc1es 84 100.0
Notes
WIC food mstruments hst spec1f1c foods up to maximum amounts for each month as defined m federal WIC
regulations.
For more mformat1on on other methods of food ta1lonng, see Table 2.3A in AppendiX B.
Chapttr Two: Ovrrvrtw of PC94 W/C PanrctptiiJon and Food PacluJgt Costs 19
Exhibit 2.4
Frequency of WIC Food Instrument Issuance Among State WIC Agencies
Issuance Pattern
St•nd•rd frequency of food Instrument lssu•nce
Yes
No
Total reporting State WIC agencies
lssu•nce frequencies•
Every month
Every two months
Every three months
Other
V•rl•tlon •llowed In the frequency of food instrument lssuflnce•
Certarn participant categones must ptck up food
instruments more often
Certatn high-risk participants must pick up food
instruments more often
Congested local agencies issue food instruments less
frequently
Local agencies may choose the frequency wtth which they
issue food mstruments
All food instrum11trts issued with s•me frequency
Note a
State Agencies
Number
77
7
84
61
45
8
7
48
11
34
10
24
19
37
Percent
91 .7%
8.3
100.0
72.6
53.6
9.5
8.3
57.1
13.1
40.5
11 .9
28.6
22.6
44.1
WIC food Instruments list spec1f1c foods up to max1mum amounts for each month as def1ned 1n federal WIC regulat1ons.
• Responses w1th1n thiS set of categones are not mutually exclus1ve. so percentages do not sum to 100 percent
Percentages are based on the number (841 of repon1ng State WIC agenc1es.
• Other Includes: Pan1c1pants 1n remote areas who travel every other month to p1ck up food Instruments; some local
agenc1es ma11 food tnstruments; some local agenc1es allow pan1c1pants to choose the frequency of 1ssuance.
Chapter J'wo: Overview of I'C94 W/C l'artie~palion and Food l'adctlfe Costs 20
EAielbll 2 .G
Estimated Average Cost of Food Package• by Participant Category, Region, and State
Outt.ye In Doleft for Aptl 1114
Computed Averege for Computed Averege for
RegioniState AI: ,egniN'It lre11tfeedlng ,Oitpertum Allnf11nt1 Allnfenll Totel AI WIC 'ertldp11nt1 AI WIC ,..udpente
Women Women Women Women lef~~NMet•• After Met•• CMdren ... Of ........ Afler Rebete
Norlh•••t
Mean 38 .47 40 64 45.23 36.08 74 85 38.89 38.39 43 08 34 20
Medran 35 88 34.44 48.58 31U7 68.88 21 .58 34.77 40.73 31 .12
Standard de111atron 7 81 11.33 9.39 9 .90 27.01 35.48 8.99 6.50 8 55
Connectrcut 49.47 65.84 57.54 39.42 87.57 43. 14 27.88 44.59 35 21
Marne 31 .39 32.87 37.01 28.18 83.84 20.97 30.70 38.23 28.68
Mass achusella 31.12 34.44 38.25 22.89 67.69 21.49 30.40 39.02 28.52
New Hampshire 30.28" 32.56" JUSt" 26.22" 65.88" 21 .58" 30.95" 38.46" 28.74.
New York 34 85 NA NA NA 72.04 23.68 31 .32 42.10 30.19
Rhode Island 36.88 26.57 54.41 53.80 53.08 4.03 44.14 44.99 32.04
Vermont 45.82" 48.53" 48.58" 39.40° 67.79" 18.18" 38.21" 39 38" 36. 13.
lndran T ownshrp I MEl 39. 13 63.63" 52.37 39.17 44.25 NA 39.13 NA NA
Pleasant Pornt IMEI NA 30.60 38 60 35.25 100.00 90.00 44.20 NA NA
Seneca Natron (NV) 48.30" 60.73" 50.73" 43.44• 138.153" 107.02" 48.87" 67.89 54 . 0~
Mid Alfantic
Mean 35 63 39.98 35.28 26.38 86.62 31 .44 34.43 43.68 31 .60
Medran 34.72 35.16 38.34 25.10 70.82 23.12 33.62 42.61 29.53
Standard de11ratron 7 51 18 85 5 42 5.84 13.08 25.59 7.30 8.77 8.78
Delaware NA 34.95 38.42 27.58 69.57 25 09 32.93 43 72 29 53
Orstrict ol Columb11 37.71" 80.21" 32.41" 18.28" 70.18" 18.42" 35.84" 48.01" 30.48"
Maryland 36.21 38.98 42.90 29.25
I
76.86 22 84 34.20 44 25 28 13
New Jersey 29.70 30.98 31 .41 24.75 73.49 24.79 29.35 40.74 28 28
Pennsyl11ania 33.22 35.36 39.02 22.72 71 .07 17.13 33.52 41 .48 29 96
Puerto Rrco 48.39 NA NA NA NA 98.94 48.24 62.57 54 31
Vrrgrma 42.51 39 80 35.73 35.90 40 94 30.12 42.47 42 51 31 21
Vrrgrn Islands 24.11 25.74 25.42 21 .17 48.85 23.12 23.66 28 95 23 80
West Vrrgrnra 33.20 33.80 36.95 25.45 74.23 22.51 29.75 40 89 28 76
• hllmiltd average monthly cost
NA ond<ueu thai da11 • •• not a va1l1ble
Cllapttr 1Wo: OlltrvtiW of I'CH W/C rarticlpe/IH Mil Fooll fod:llfl C:1111J ll ••
Exhibit 2.5 (continued I
Estimated Average Cost of ~ood Packages by Participant Category, Region, end State
Outteyeln Dolert fot Apdi11!J4
Computed Averege for Computed Average for
Region/Stele AI Pregnent lreeatfeedlng Poatpertum AI lnlent1 Allnlenta To tel AI WIC Pertlclpenta AI WIC Plrtlci$1enta
Women Women Women Women lefote Rebete1 After Rebetea Chlchn lef:He Rebete After Rebelo~
Southe•st
Mean 3S 44 37.25 38 87 26.60 67.86 20.18 34 06 40 49 29 08
Med1an 33.81 33.30 34.18 27.02 7L80 21 .88 31 .89 41 .92 29 09
Standard dev11t1on 9 47 9.22 10.42 4 79 18.99 9.06 8.99 9 93 3 03
Alabama 34 27 NA NA NA 75.03 26 31 31.38 45 OS 30 66
Florida 33.15 39.71 32.75 23.46 76.84 19.93 32.00 44 75 29.26
Georgia 34 06 33.30 33.37 25.97 78.23 18.79 29.25 41 .21 29 02
Kentucky 29.11 32.68 34.70 28.07 82.08 7.38 37.70 41 .92 29 77
MISSISSippi 27 17. 29.09' 32.94. 19.48. 21.88' 21 .88. 22.53' 23 86 23 86
North Carolina 28 54 31.21 34.18 21.14 70.37 22 03 27.80 40 02 26 35
South Carohn1 31.22. 31.67' 31 .10' 31 87' 71 .75' 31 .47' 29 18' 42.99' 28 68"
Tennessee 36.24 38.28 38 26 30 16 70.46 5.67 36 44 44 91 29 09
Eastern Band Cherokee INCI 40 83' 39.80' 50.66' 32.04' 82 16' 30.14' 39.01. 36 75' 35 04'
MISSISSIPPI Choctaw NA NA NA NA NA NA NA 24 32' NA
Sem1nole Trtbe IFLI S9 84 59.61 81 83 NA 71 a4 NA 55 34 59 61 NA
Midwest
Mean 35.88 37 26 38 99 28 59 84.61 25 93 31 57 42 15 29 14
Medtan 36.03 37.57 39 45 28 44 88 36 22 60 33 45 41 92 28 92
Standarti dev11110n 1 76 1.70 3.23 2 90 3.78 10 59 3 32 3 84 3 02
llhno1s 37 57 37 57 37 57 29 83 87.43 27 79 34 30 46 50 33 41
lnd1ana NA 35.12' 35.12' 28.44. 78. 71' 15.77' 30.32' 38 99 25 98
M1ch1gan 36.03' 39.07' 41.32. 28.33' 82.99' 22.60' 33 50' 46 so· 31 30'
Mtnnl'!sota NA 38.61 41 .96 24 21 87.54 43 21 26 29 37 09 26.33
Oh1o NA NA NA NA NA NA NA 41 86' 27 39 '
W1scons1n 34 05 35 94 NA 32 16 86.36 20 27 33 45 41 98 30.45
• hlomeltd evetege monthly cost
NA ondtcllu lhll dill 111 no1 ' ""llblt
Cltapttr Two: O~t~ltllll of~ WIC l'anidpell., .,.~ Foqd PocltDft Costs 11
Exhibit 2 .5 (continuedt
Estimated Average Cost of Food Packages by Participant Category, Region, end State
Outley• In Dobfs fOf Aptl 1194
Computed Averege for Computed Averege for
Region/Stele AU Pregnent Bre111feedlng Poatpertum Alllnfenta AI lnfenta To tel AI WIC Pettlclpenta AI WIC Pertlcipenta
Women Women Women Women lefote Rebetea After Rebet .. Chlkken llelore Rebete After Rebete
Southwest
Mean 34 93 36.03 39 94 30 70 72 49 45.07 34 44 43 60 30 43
Medtan 35 72 38 .52 40 98 31 85 74 09 47 35 35.23 43 12 30 54
Standard devtalton 1 1 ~ 8 .38 9 60 6 32 14.37 17.66 6 45 7 81 11 37
Arkansas NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA
Loutstana 39.oo• 41.00• 41 .00 . 35 oo• 74.60° 12 oo• 34 oo• 47 88 ' 30 51 "
New Mexico 35.59 NA NA NA 64.44 19.50 35.59 41 56 30 54
Oklahoma 27.69• 28.17 ' 30.25. 24.47" 79.19· 23.92' 29.12' 43 t 2 • 20 39'
Texas NA 30.69' NA 23.17. 71 09 ' NA 28 41' 38 65 25 54
ACL WIC INMI 46 09' 43.76' 57 52' 36.98' 44 75 ' NA 40 68' 46 so· NA
Cherokee Natton lOKI 16 99 18.01 18 .01 14 53 78.29 42 29 16 46 26 26 20 76
Chtckasaw Nalton lOKI 35 72' NA NA NA 73 14' 46 67' 34 54' 44 eo· 37 87"
Choctaw Natton lOKI 39 06 ' 39 06 ' 40.60' 37 52 . 103 4 3 ' 69 71. 34 86' NA NA
Ctltzen Potawaton,• lOKI 38 17 ' 38 62 " 44 16. 31 75 • 75 75' 47 65' 41 09 ' 44 92' 40 24 .
Etght Northern Pueblos (NM) 32 75 54 59 44 67 NA 16 11 44 62 41 48 50 61 19 II
Ftve Sandoval Pueblos (NM) 31 16 30 07 32 00 31 43 85 10 69 60 30 10 41 74 38 64
lTC Oklahoma 30 21 31 89 31 86 26.88 68 67 47 35 29 35 42 17 39 01
010e Mtssourta lOKI NA 38 63 ' 40 98' 33 22' 83 04 ' 54 95 ' 43 53' 45 16. 39 95.
Pueblo of Isleta (NMI 38 52 ' 38 72' 40 96' 35 87' 65.30' NA 38 61 ' 34 01 " NA
Pueblo of San Feltpe INMI NA 38.42 44 78 31 85 43.21 NA 35 71 38 75 NA
Pueblo ol Zum INMI 44 78 . 43 78" 51 12. 36 42' 86.54. 59 sa· 39 22' 55 81. 45 82 .
Santo Oom111go INMI 3 1 00' 30.00. 34 oo · 28 oo· 5B.oo· NA 31 oo· 35 85 NA
WCD lOKI 37 17 31.13 46.97 33 41 73 68 48 08 36 25 44 78 38 58
• htonoated ave••ll• monthly cost
Nl\ ondoc•tu th•t data lrt not ••••table
Chqpttr Two: Ovtrvrtw of PCU WIC Pafticiptlliott 111td Fqod Padatt Com 1J
Exhibit 2.5 (continued)
Estimated Average Cost of Food Packages by P.IJrticipant Category. Region, and State
Outleya In Oofle,. fOf Aptt 1994
Computed Average for Computed Average for
Region/State An Pregnant Breastfeedlng Poltpertum AU Infants AI Infants Total AI WIC Pertlclpent1 A" WIC Participanll
Women Women Women Women Before Rebetee After Rebates Chldren llelore Rebate After Rebete
Mount•in Pl•ins
Mean 38 84 41 41 44 05 33 64 71 11 35 40 36 17 41 97 34 31
Medran 37 68 39 75 44 63 33 55 73 74 26 29 35 69 42 26 33 31
Standard :1evtatron 5 20 6 04 6 .35 6 97 18 88 15 28 5 60 6 51 7 26
Colorado 36 34 . NA NA NA 74 07 ' 16 10 ' 35 69 ' 39 59 ' 29 19 .
Iowa 30.7 ' . 34.31 • 33.91 • 24.05 ' 71 17. NA 31 11. 39 02' NA
Kansas 33 87 36 63 39.01 27 73 73.74 NA 32 20 42 26 NA
MtSSOUrt 36.80" NA NA NA 78 27" 23 98' 35 30 ' 46 01 ' 32 96 '
Mon tana 45 33' 45 .64' 45 64 ' 38.07' 66 73 ' 21 39 ' 42 76' 48 52" 38 46'
Nebraska 30 23 31 39 35 63 25 52 67 36 16 13 30 15 38 54 26 71
North Dakota 38 18' 38 44' 50 68' 31 69' 76 76" 26 29' 31 69" 33 17' 23 78'
South Dakota 45 45 ' 46 35 ' 50 87' 39 12" 95 47" 47 76 ' 41 82 ' 54 73. 45 18 .
Utah 37 68 ' 46 84. 39 12. 23 12. 28 45 " 6 45 . 30 08 ' 31 63 ' 26 29 '
Wyomrng 36 52" 43 84 . 49 63 ' 35 40' 69.50" 24 16. 38 22 ' 36 98' 28 76 '
Cheyenne Rtver Sroux ISDI 42 43 39 75 45 68 43 80 69 35 45 91 45 79 49 92 45 20
NIITDC INFI 38 23' 39 70' 44 63' 30.37 ' 77 26' 60 26' 37 11 . 45.81' 28 81'
Rosebud Stoux ISDI 49 61 . 52 oo• 52 oo· 40 oo• 104 oo· 68 96 . 44 oo· 42 92. :3741'
Shoshone Arapahoe IWVI 41 62 49 51 53 26 37.70 89 12 57 35 28 60 35 87 33 31
Standrng Rock Stoux INDI 37 13 39 75 40 55 31 .09 81 88 57.00 35 70 42 95 39 17
Three Afftltated INDI 43 34 43 34 43 34 43 34 43 34 24 00 43 34 49 93 45 59
llte Mountatn Ute ICOI 36 67 33 60 36 75 NA 42.40 35 29 31 41 35 57 33 78
E \ tom• ted 1verage monthly co"
NA tndoclln that dill ate not avaollble
Chapttr Two: O•tnltw of PC94 WIC P~mcipdllott and Food Paclcqgt CoJil U
Exhibit 2.5 (contlnuedt
Estimated Average Cost of Food Packages by Participant Category. Region. and State
Outl1yt In Ool1rt fOf Apdl 1994
Computed Averege for Computed Average for
Regton/Stlte All Pregn1nt Brentfeedlng Postpenum AU Intents Alllnfents Tot•l A• WIC Plnlclpents All WIC Panlctpents
Woman Wom1n Women Women l1f0fl R1b1te1 After Reb1111 Children Before Reb111 After Reb1te
West em
Mean 51 92 43 95 48 47 36 10 77 34 38 31 39 70 52 68 43 34
Med•an 42 00 45 03 46 97 37 25 79.71 25 52 40 32 51 09 43 92
Standard devtatton 36 44 12 72 15 00 10 42 JO 22 27 5(1 13 00 14 43 13 67
Alaska 42 oo• 45.03. 46 75 " 37 25 • 98.28 . NA 50 91" 47 28" 41 24 .
Ar~zona 36 31 " 38 71. 38 71. 31 .52" 80.31 " 35 55" 36 57 " 45 go· 33 9J•
Cdhlornta 42 82 44.43 53 93 37 04 70 28 20.58 34 29 49 41 34 57
Guam 22.00" 20.00" 28.00 " 17.00 " 29.00" 2o.oo · 20.00" 53.66 " 53.66.
lfawau NA NA NA NA NA NA NA 59 16 46 58
Idaho 44 sa· 46 97 . 46 97 " 38 12" 84.80" 157.28 . 44 07" 52 76" 46.40"
Nl'vada 33 30" 35 67 " 36 n · 28 16" 62.21" 22 28 " 26 40" 37 sa· 26 94 .
Orf'gon 34 so · NA NA NA 40 so• s oo· 29 70" 34 oo· 26 30"
Washmgton 68 21" 67 51" 01 so · 55 63" 79 11 . 25 52 " 64 36" 70 83" 53 71 "
lTC Artzona NA NA NA NA NA NA NA 40 25 32 38
lTC Nevada NA 45 73 " 52 15" 39 as • 91 98" 70 07" 45.73. 55 oa· 50 70"
Navato Nation IAZI 143 24 . 51.4 7 . 51 47" 40 30" 13680" as so· 44 97 " 85 91. 73 64 .
fst•mated everege monthly cost
NA mel•ce tes thet date ••• not evittleble
Chapttr 1Wo. Oltn lt lf' of PC94 W/C Pomclpdliop ond Food Pad:agt Costs 2S
BLANK PAGE
3. DEMOGRAPIUCS OF WIC PARTICIPANTS
Demographic nems m the Minimum Data Set are age. mmester of enrollment
durmg pregnancy. and racetethrucny of WTC enrollees m Apral 1994 These data
are displayed m Exhibns 3 1 through 3 5
For both PC92 and PC94. States reponed age data on 98.5 percent of women
enrolled in the WIC Program. Between 1992 and 1994. there were v1nually no
changes an the age distribution of WTC women. Across all categoraes of women.
most are young-82 percent are between the ages of eighteen and thiny-four
However, m 1994, as in 1992, only 12 percent of pregnant women are under the
age of eighteen. The clustenng of infants m the zero-to-three-month-old category
has increased considerably since 1992; nearly 85 percent of all WIC infants fall
into that age group at time of cenification. In 1992. slightly more than three­quaners
of infants were zero-to-three months in age at ume of cenificauon.
Many WTC agencies have Initiated outreach programs to encourage early
enrollment of infants which may account for this increase. The age distribuuor'
of children. on the other hand. has shifted slightly to the older ages. wnh hagher
percentages of children aged three years or older at then most recent
cenaficatlons.
Data to calculate trimester of enrollment were reponed for 89.7 percent of
pregnant WTC enrollees. Because such data were not reponed for a large
proponion of pregnant WTC clients, findings on trimester of enrollment must be
viewed with caution. Approxunately equal numbers of pregnant WIC
panicipants enrolled in the program during their first and second trimesters. wnh
38.9 percent in the first trimester and 40.1 percent in the second. Between 1992
and 1994. enrollment in the first tnmester increased by five percentage points.
while late (third-trimester) enrollment decreased by 5.2 percentage pomts. This
change is a significant one for WTC. These figures may indicate that WTC's
outreach to pregnant women and promotion of early prenatal enrollment are
successful effons.
Slight differences may be seen an the ethmc compos1taon of the WJC program
since 1992; percentages of Asian and Hispanac WTC enrollees have risen. whale
percentages of black and white (non-HispaniC) enrollees have decreased.
Hispanac enrollment mcreased by rhree percentage pomts across the nauon (from
1.3 million to 1.8 million), w1th larger mcreases m the Mid-Atlanuc and
Southwest regions. This substantial mcrease may reflect WIC outreach to non­English-
speaking populations. II may also reflect nauonal trends. The Bureau
of the Census estimates that the Hispanac populauon res1dent m the US has
mcreased from 9.5 percent of the population an 1992 to 9. 9 percent of the
population in 1994, so the number of Hispanic residents rose from 24 2 mallion
m 1992 to 25.9 million m i994.
Asian enrollment has risen by one percentage pomt. This increase occurred
evenly across the seven FCS reg1ons. With the exception of the Western reg1on.
where Asian enrollment increased by two percentage points.
Chapttr Thrtt: Dtmo8raph1cs of PC9.t WIC Parne~panrs 17
Exhibit 3.1
Distribution of Age of WIC Participants at Certification by WIC Participant Category
1990. 1992. 1994
Participant Category and
Age et Certification
l'regn•nt wom•n
Under 1 5 years•
15 - 17 years
18- 34 years
35 or more years
Age not reported'
BrHitf•edlng wom•n
Under 15 years•
15 - 17 years
18 - 34 years
35 or more years
Age not reported'
Postp•rtum wom•n
Under 15 years•
15 • 17 years
18 - 34 years
35 or more years
Age not reported'
Tot•J wo,.,
Under 1 5 years•
15 - 17 years
18 - 34 years
35 or more years
Age not reported'
/nf•m•'
0 · 3 months
4 - 5 months
6- 8 months
9- 11 months
Age not reported'
Chlldrtm0
1 year
2 years
3 years
4 years
Age not reported'
US WIC
Note a
• Not a reportmg category m 1990
1990
611.483
11 .7%
85.0
3.2
470,256D
1,081 , 739
9.2%
86.8
4.0
1,352.876
78.6%
7.4
9.2
4.7
2,103.497
41.3%
26.7
20.6
10.4
4,538,1 12
1992
Percent by participant category
781 ,029
1.0%
10.9
82.7
4.5
0.9
207,58G
0.2%
3.6
85.0
9.4
1.8
300.498
0.8%
11 .0
81 .5
4.3
2.3
1.289. 11 5
0.9%
9.7
82.8
5.2
1.4
1,732,077
76.2%
5.2
8.4
4.8
5.4
2.732.810
43.9%
24.2
18.5
11.5
1.8
5,754,003
1994
823,604
1.0%
1 1 .2
81 .7
5.0
1.0
275.158
0.2%
4.0
83.7
9.6
2.5
491 ,998
0.7%
9.6
83.0
5.1
1.6
1,590.762
0.8%
9.5
82.5
5.8
1.5
1,852.455
84.2%
3.1
7.2
2.6
3.0
3,464,631
40.0%
24.6
19.9
12.7
2.9
6,907.848
• In 1990. breutfeedtng and postpartum women were combtned mto one reporttng category
' An 1nfant •s deftned as a partlctpant who, at cert1ftcat1on, IS under one year of age and who would be class1fled as a
ch1ld at the age of 366 days
• About 12.8 pet cent ol one-year-old ch1ldren are eleven·month·old Infants who have been recert1f1ed as chtldren About
0 1 percent ol WIC PlrtiCipants who are class1fted as 1nfants are partiCipants who are older than 366 days
Cltt111ttr Thrtt: Dtmorn~phtcs of I'C94 WIC l'tuflapants 18
Exhibit 3.2
Distribution of Pregnant Women WIC Participants by Trimester of Enrollment
1992 and 1994
1992
Trimester of Enrollment Number Percent
Ftrc;t lrtmester 263,050 33 7%
Second trimester 324,571 41.6
Thtrd tnmes ter 124,311 15.9
Trtmester not reported 69,095 8.8
Total pregnant women 781 ,029 100.0
Exhibit 3 .3
Distribution of Racial and Ethnic Characteristics of WIC Participant• by Participant Category
Racial or Ethnic Cheracteristlcs
Amerecan lnd1an or Alaskan Nat1ve
As 1an or Pacific Islander
Black (non·H1s pan1c)
H1s pan1c
Wh11e (non H1s panicl
Race or ethnicit'f not reported
Total
US WIC
Pregnant
Women
15%
2.6
23.9
27.7
43.8
0 .6
100.0
823,604
Breastfeedlng Postpartum
Women Wo~n
Total
Women
Percent by participant category
20% 1 1% 15%
2.7 3.0 2.7
13.4 25.0 22 4
36.1 24.0 28.0
43.9 46.2 44 5
1.9 0 .7 09
100.0 100.0 1000
275.158 491 ,998 1,590, 762
Infanta
1 5%
2.8
26.3
27 9
40.8
08
100.0
1,852,455
Cllapttr Thrtt · Dfmofraplticr of rC9-I K'IC rarriCipanu 29
1994
Number
320.085
330.020
88.370
85. 128
823.604
Children
19%
2.4
26 3
24 2
42.8
2.3
100.0
3.464.631
Percent
38 9%
40.1
10 7
10 3
100 0
Total WIC
Participants
17%
2.6
25 4
26.1
42.7
1.6
100.0
6.907.848
Exhibit 3.4
Distribution of Racial and Ethnic Characteristics of WIC Women, Infants, and Children•
1990, 1992, 1994
Women lnflnta Children
Racial or Ethnic
Characteristic 1990 1992 1994 1990 1992 1994 1990 1992
Percent by pertlclpent cet1gory
Arncr~can lnd1an or 05% 1 7% 1.5% 08% 1.4% 15% 1 2% 2 1%
Alaskan Nat1ve
As1an or Pac1l1c 1 5 1 9 2 7 09 2 3 2 8 08 1 7
lsl.mdcr
Black (non I llspan1ct 25 7 24 2 22 4 26 8 28 2 26 3 29 1 29 2
H1span1c 24 3 26 1 28 0 25 6 26 4 2 7 9 15 8 19 4
While lnon H1span1cl 47 1 45 1 4 4 5 45 4 40 5 40 8 51 7 46 4
Other' OJ t./A NIA 00 NIA N/A 1 1 N/A
Rar P or etlmu.1ty not N/A 1 2 09 NIA I 1 08 N/A 1 I
reported'
US WIC 1,08 1,739 1,289. 115 1,590, 762 1,352,876 1, 732.077 1,852,455 2 , 103 497 2,732,8 10
Notes
• In 1990 rac1al and ethn1c charac t e r~s t lcS wero reported lor the COIIftguous States
b Not a rrportmg cateqorv 1n 1992 and 1994
' Not a rcport1ng catrgorv 1n 1990
( hapttr Thrtt: Otmorrapltics of PC94 W/C Participants JO
Total WIC
1994 1990 1992 1994
19% 09% 1 8% 1 7%
2 4 1 0 1 9 }. (j
26 J 2 7 (j 17B l'.J 1
24 2 20 8 23 0 26 1
4 2 8 48 7 44 3 42 1
NIA 06 N/A N/A
2 3 N/A 1 1 IL
3, 464,631 4538112 5. 754,003 6 ,901 fJ-18
Exhibit 3 .5
Distribution of Racial and Ethnic Characte;istics of WIC Participants by Region
Region
Northeast
Mtd Atlantic
Southeast
Mtdwest
Southwest
Mountatn Platns
Western
US WIC
American
Indian or Asian or Pacific:
Alaskan Native Islander
0 .4 3.8
0.2 1.4
0 .5 0 .9
0 .7 2.1
2.6 09
4.3 1 5
3.9 68
1. 7 2 6
116,916 179,574
Black
lnon-Hiapanlct
25 5
28.8
43.2
29.6
22.2
12.8
7.6
25 4
1, 754,201
Race or
White Ethnlclty
Hispanic lnon·Hispanfct Not Reported
Percent by region
27.9 40.4 1.9
29.8 39.7 0 .2
6.6 48 8 0 .0
8.9 58.1 0 .5
44.2 30.0 0 1
9.9 71 .2 0 2
50 5 24.5 67
26.1 42.7 1.6
1,802,449 2,946,565 108,140
Chapttr 171rtt: Dtmorrapllln of I"CH WIC Pame~pa"ts Jl
Total WIC
780,779
931 ,463
1.348,329
1,091 , 716
987,720
511 ,977
1. 255,861
100 0
6,907.848
Black enrollment decreased bv nearlv two percemage pomts beaween 1992 and
1994 This decrease was seen urulateraJlv across all reg1ons Although this
population showed a propomonate decrease. numbers of black fnon-H1spamc1
WtC panac1pams mcrea..sed shghtly from I 6 rrulhon an 1992 to 1 7 m1lhon an
1994
White enrollment decreased by slightly more than one percentage po1m. w 1th the
largest dechnes occurnng an the Mld·Atlanuc. Mountam Plains. and We!tem
reg1ons. Actual numbers of white enrollees rose from :! .5 mall ion an 1992 to :!. 9
m11lion m 1994
Whale Amerrcan lndaan or Alaskan Nauve pan1c1pauon shov.;s VIrtually no change
at the national level. there were shght decreases-of about one percentage pomt
an both the Moumam Plains and Western reg1ons. ln actual nwnbers. Natave
Arnencan/Aiask.an Nauve enrollment remamed about the same an the Mountaan
Plaans between 1992 and 1994 Paralleling the considerable 1992-to-1994 growth
an WlC in the Western reg1on. WlC enrollees an th1s rac1al/ethmc group
ancreased. an actual nwnbers. from 42.692 an 1992 to 48.978 an 1994-a 15
percent mcrease.
Clt~~pttr Thr11: IHMttfrophiCI of PC94 WIC P~lf'MIIJ 32
4. INCOME OF WIC PARTICIPANTS
Federal regulations requ1re categoracally ehgible WIC applicants to meet mcome
eligibility standards set by State WJC agenc1es Income hmits set by the States
may not exceed 185 percent or be less than 100 percent of the Office ot
Management and Budget (OMB) poveny mcome gu1delines. which are based on
household size. As of February 1994. at the 185-percent threshold. a person
from a family of four w1th an annual household income of S27 .380 or less IS
income-eligible for the WJC Program.
In 1990. State WJC agencies were required to establish procedures for
determining an applicant adjunctively income eligible for WJC benefits if the
individual could document panicipation in such means-tested programs as the Aid
to Families with Dependent Children tAFDC), Food Stamp, or Medicaid
Programs. As of April 1994, a vast majority of State WIC agencies were
implementing such procedures. WJC regulations also allow States to extend
automatic WIC income eligibility to individuals who pantcipate m other State­selected.
means-tested programs which apply income eligibility guadelines that
are in congruence with State regulations on WlC income. Exhibit 4.1 dasplays
information reponed by States on their use of means-tested programs to
determine WIC income eligibility. As reponed m PC92, a substantial majomy
of States apply AFDC. food stamp, and Medicaid panicipauon to deterrrune WIC
income eligibility. In addition. the percentages of states using panicipation m
Supplemental Security Income, Free or Reduced-Price National School Lunch
Program. or other means-tested programs to establish adjunctive eligibility have
increased steadily since 1990.
States are also permitted to establish requirements for documenting and verifying
income. Such documentation can range from a paysrub to self-declaration
State-reponed information on income documentation appears in Exhibit 4.2.
More than one-third of State WJC agencies requare WJC apphcants to document
income. Another third allow applicants to self-<ieclare mcome. In sixteen of the
remammg twenty-four agencaes. documentation of income may be requared by
local WIC agencies.
State-level tables containing information on means-tested programs and mcome
documentation appear in Appendix C.
The reponed 1994 pan1cipauon of WJC clients m other programs appears m
Exhiblt4.3. States reponed program panacipauon mformauon for 92.2 percent
of WJC enrollees. In 1994, two-thuds of WJC recapients. for whom other
program participation is reponed. were receavmg benefits from at least one other
public assistance program at ume of WIC cen1ficat1on. A majoraty (53 percent)
ofWIC clients receaved Med1caad benefits; 37 percent ofWIC chents panac1pated
in the Food Stamp Program: and 27 percent reponed rece1vmg AFDC benefits
Almost one-quaner (22.9 percent) partiCipated mall three programs. receivmg
AFDC. food stamps. and Medicaid benefits. These estimates represent a lower
bound of program participation because the data are recorded at ume of
cenificauon. Staff in local WlC service Sites refer WJC enrollees to other
programs. and this participation is not captured an the estimates presented here
Chopllr Four: /tfcomt of PC94 WIC Parnc1ptum JJ
Exhibit 4.1
Means-Tested Programs Used to Determine WIC Income Eligibility
Program
Adjunctive Income eligibility
AFDC or ADC
Food Stamp Program
Medicaid
Autom11tlc Income eligibility
Supplemental Sccur~ty Income
Free or Reduced Pr~ce NSLP meals
Other programs
No programs
Total rcportmg State WIC agencies
Notes
• In I 994. other programs Included
Extended Med1ca1d
Healthy Start
Head Sta11
Maryland Weatheuzallon Program
Maryland Phermecy Ass1stance Program
Low Income tlorne Energy Ass1stance
Agencies Reporting In 1990 Agencies Reporting In 1992
Number Percent
55 72.4%
44 57.9
61 80.3
17 22.4
15 19.7
14 18.4
7 9.2
76 100
General Pubhc Ass1stance Program
Mich1gan Care
Number
72
72
76
20
16
14
2
83
Food Aed1Str1but1on Program on lnd11n Reservations
Refugee Resettlement Progrem
Child Summer food Program
Percent
86.7%
86.7
91 .6
24.1
19.3
16.9
2.4
100
Agencies Reporting In 1994
Number Percent
73 86.9%
74 88.1
77 91 7
22 26.2
21 25.0
18• 21.4
2 24
84 100
Alter June I , I 990 federal WIC regulations allowed partiCipation 1n the AFOC. Food Slimp, or Med1ca1d Programs to 1nd1cate ad1unctlve 1ncome ehg1b1hty lor the WIC program
Responses are not mutually exclus1ve so percentages add to more than 100 percent Percentages are based on r.umbers of reportrng egenc~es
Cltapttr Four. lncqtret of PC94 WIC Parne~pattiJ J./
Exhibit 4.2
Income Documentation and Verification Policy
State Agencies
Documentation Verification end Requirements Nl~muet Percent
Income documentation requ~red 32 38.1%
Applicant self-declares mcome for econom1c unit 28 33.3
In some cases local agenc1es have d1scret1on w1th regard 16 19.0
to mcome documentation
Income documentatiOn preferred m all cases but not e 9.5
reqUired
Total reportmg State WIC agenc1es 84 100.0
Chapttr Four· lnt:omt of PC94 W/C Panwptvm JS
Exhibit 4 .3
Number and Percent of WIC Participants with Reported Participation in Other
Programs at Certification
Reported receiving benefits trona ... Number Percent of All WIC
A1d to Fam1hes w1th Oedendent Ch1ldren IAFOCI. Food 1,579,145 22.9%
Stamp, and Med1ca1 Programs
AFOC and Food Stamp Programs 85,245 1.2
AFOC and Med1ca1d Programs 175.948 2.5
Food Stamp and Med1ca1d Programs 627.177 9 .1
AFOC only 37,660 0.5
Food Stamp Program only 251 ,180 3.6
Med1ca1d Program only 1,303.825 18.9
Do not partiCipate tn other programs 2.309.740 33.4
No parttctpatton reported 537.929 7.8
US WIC 6,907.848 100.0
Note a
Not reponed md1cates the number and percentage of partiCipants for whom no data regard1ng partiCipation 1n Med1ca1d,
AFDC, and Food Stamps are reponed
Most lndtan Tnbal Organ1zat1ons liTO) pan1c1pate 1n the Food 01strlbut10n on lnd11n ReservatiOns IFDPIRI Program
Although PC94 data spec1f1cat1ons permitted lnd1an WIC programs to repon FOPIR partiCIPation. only three of 30 ITOs
chose to repon these data Of the 60.5 percent, 28,570 1nd1v1duals for whom these data were reponed , onlv 4 3 percent
pan1c1pate 1n the FOPIR program
Chapttr Four: Jncomt of PC94 WIC PMtmptl.lltr 36
/ncomt and Povtrry For the 1994 WIC pantc1pant md program charactensucs study. State agenctes
were asked to repon for each person enrolled m WIC dunng April 1994· s1ze
of fam1ly or econonuc unn: mcome of family or economic urut: and mcome
penod. In many States. rouune collection of such mfonnauon 1s a relauvelv
1 ecem under&dbn~ .)U that .)vme or all of the~e d3t3 art- .,,., r~poned fnr ~pnl
1994 for about 13.8 percent of the almost seven rrullion WIC pan1cipantS States
w1th income informauon rrussmg for over 30 percent of the1r WIC pan1c1pants
mclude: Alabama. lllinots. Indiana. New York. Pueno Rtco. South Dakota. and
TeMessee. For some panicipantS. States reponed "actual" income-that IS. the
figures provided by WJC applicantS. For some applicants detenmned
adjunctively mcome eligible. States mdicated income ranges. Both types of data
have been combined to compute average annualized mcome and to caJculate
percent of poveny. MidpomtS of income ranges were used m these
computations.
Footnotes on tables md1cate that. m some States. md1v1duals were reponed to
have zero mcomes. While ava1lable mcome data from aJI States have been
included m thi!l anaJysis. these zeroes have been excluded because. m fony-two
of eighty-four reponmg agenctes. zero does not indicate that the participant has
no income. In some States. zero 1s used to indicate missing data. Most of the
individuals have income. but no descnptive information was collected.
Exhibns 4 5 through 4.9 present data on the income and poveny status of WIC
pan1c1pants during 1994 The mean and median mcomes of WJC enrollees
rematn at low levels.
Average family (economic urut) stze slightly increased from 3.8 persons in 1992
to 4 .0 persons in 1994 <Exhibit 4.4). Most of this mcrease occurred in unns of
six or more persons. The number of WlC pan1cipants reponmg m this category
increased by 29.4 percent smce 1992. Across panic1pant categones. the largest
mcrease m household s1ze occurred for breastfeedmg women. resulting m an
average household s1ze of 4 6 persons. Approxunately 2.0 percent of infants and
children and 4.2 percent of postpanum women are classified as residing m one­person
households These categones include children placed in foster care and
mothers who nuscarry or whose Infants are placed m foster care
Exhibits 4.5 and 4 6 present mean and med1an incomes by participant and ethmc
categories. Data to calculate mean and median income were not reponed for
16.4 percent of WIC enrollees. For the 83.6 percent of WIC enrollees with
income data. average farnily/econorruc unit income across all categones was
$9,684 m April 1994, a 4 0 percent mcrease from 1992. Median mcome m 1994
shows a 2 7 percent mcrease over 1992. Income d1stnbuuons by pamc1pam and
ethn1c categones have changed little smce 1992. The htghest average mcome
conunues to be reponed for breastfeedmg women. the lowest was reponed for
pregnant women-the category contammg the youngest adult WIC pamc1pants
Across ethnic categones. Astan or Pac1fic Islanders reponed the htghest mcomes.
while black panic1pants reponed the lowest. Th~e findings are consistent wnh
income data collected by the US Bureau of the Census.
Ch11pttr Four: lncomr of PC94 W/C PamapGIIts 17
Exhibit 4 .4
Distribution of the Size of Families or Economic Units of WIC Participants by Participant Category
Site of Family Pregnant ar .. stfeeding Total
or Economic Unit Women Women Postpertum Women Women Infanta Children Total WIC
Percent of totel women Percent by category
I !l!U 199" ,qq2 1!)94 1 'l'J2 1!J!J4 1992 1994 1992 1994 1992 1994 1992 1994
1 person' 17 3% 17 8% 0 .9% 0.0% 25% 42% 11 .2% 10.5% 2.0% 1 7% 23% 22% 42% 40%
2 persons 26 7 26 5 15 1 15.6 17.7 19.5 22 8 22 5 16.4 16 J 119 119 15 7 15 5
J persons 24 9 25 0 26.1 27.1 29 0 29.4 26.0 26 7 29 2 29 7 24 6 24 J 26 J 26 J
4 persons 15 2 15 I 21 9 22.1 23 7 22 6 18.2 18.6 24 I 24 6 27 J 27.0 24 J 24 4
5 persons 7 7 7 7 14.2 13 6 1 J 5 12.2 10 1 10 1 1 J 9 14 1 17 J 16 8 14 7 14 5
6 or more " 7 69 13 4 16.5 119 10 9 90 98 12 2 12 I 14 9 16 5 12 8 13 8
persons
Srze not reported 1 5 0 7 8 5 49 1 8 08 2 7 1 5 2 3 I I 1 7 09 2 1 1 1
US WIC 781 ,029 823.604 207,587 275. 158 300.499 491 .998 1,289.115 1.590. 762 1. 732.077 1.852.455 2.732 811 3 ,464 631 5. 754 003 6,907 848
Mt!ln 30 30 39 4 .6 3 8 3 7 3 J 3 5 38 3 8 40 4 4 3 8 40
Notes
Calculations rn thrs table are based on all families or economtc unrts reportrng size Unrts reporting zero members are rncluded tn the srze not reported category
• Mothers who mrscarrv. mothers of rnfants assrgned to foster c are, and mfants and chtldren assrgned to foster care mav be reported as berng rn one person economrc unrts
Cltapltr Four: lncomt of PC94 WIC Porticipanu J6
Exhibit 4.5
Mean and Median Annualized Family or Economic Unit Income of WIC Participants by Participant Category
Pregnant Breeatfeedlng Postpartum Total Total
Women Women Women Women Intents Children WIC
Average (meanl tncome $9,017 $11,032 $9,197 $9,423 $9,315 $9,988 $9,684
Medtan income $7,800 $9,638 $7,752 $8,040 $7,800 $8,248 $8,008
Percent with income reported 82.2% 83 4% 84.8% 83.2% 80.7% 85 3% 83 6%
Percet .t wtth income reported as zero• 3 8 2.8 2.4 3.2 3.3 2.0 2 6
Percent wtfh income not reportedb 13.9 13.8 12.8 13.5 15 9 12 7 13.8
US WIC 823.605 276,159 491,999 1,590, 762 18,524,553 3,464,632 6.907,849
Notes
State and local WIC agenctes may colftct data on weekly, monthly, or annueltncomes. For repor1tng and analysts, annualized tnc'lmes h1ve been computed
Also not~ that tncome calculattons mclude only those parttctpants for whom State WIC lgenctes reported data on mcome, tncome pertod, and s1ze of economtc urut
In 1994, a State WIC agency could report actual mcome for a parllctpent or could report an tncome range Both types of d1ta ate tncluded tn the calculat1ons of mean
and med11n mcomes
• Zero mcomes are e11cluded from mean and medtan tncome calcul1t1ons. In 42 of 84 reporting 1genctes. zero may be used to tndtcate mtsstng tnforrna11011 so that PC!N
cannot dtsttngutsh between households for whom States dtd not report income and households for whom St1tes reported zero income When ent11es of zero are
mcluded, the average mcome across all WIC partiCipants ts t9,362
b Not reported tndtcates the percentage of parttctpants by part1ctpant category for whom no data on tncome , tncome pertod, or Slle of econom1c un1t are reported
Cltapttr Four: '""'"'' of PCH WIC PDrtlcipDnls J9
Exhibit 4.6
Average Annualized Family or Economic Unit Income of WIC Participants by Participant Category and Racial or Ethnic
Characteristics
Reciel or Ethnic Characttrlatic
Pregnant
Women
Breaatfeedlng
Women
Postpartum
Women
Total
Total Women Infanta Children P ertJcipan t s
Amerlc•n lndl•n Of Af•d•n N1ti11•
Average tmeanl1ncome $9,426 110,383 19, 101 $9,680 $9,619 $10,300 $10,007
Med1an mcome $7,800 18,964 17,452 $7,800 17,800 $8,628 $8,326
PPrr.ent with Income reported 86 6% 89 6% 87 0% 86.9% 87.3% 91 2% 89.4%
Percent with income reported as zero• 36 1 7 2.2 2 8 2 2 1 2 1 7
Percent w1th income not reported~ 10.7 8 .7 10.8 10 3 10 5 7 7 8 8
Number of WIC Part1c1pants 12.045 5 ,501 6,655 23.201 27,071 66,645 116,916
Asi•n Of P•ciflc /sf•nder
Average (meanl income $10,731 112,117 111 ,478 $11 ,230 $11 ,300 $1 2, 105 $11 ,667
Med111n 1ncome $9,828 110,992 110,164 S10, 164 110,164 $10,548 t10,308
Percent w1th mcome reported 84 0% 85 0% 90 1% 86 2% 85 2% 89 2% 87 3%
Percent w1th mcome reported as zero• 27 30 2 3 26 2 2 1 3 1 9
Percent w1th Income not reported~ 13 3 12 0 76 ttl 12 6 95 10 8
Number of WIC PartiCipants 21 ,156 7,378 14,681 43,215 62,570 83,789 179,574
Bl•ck (non Hisp•nic}
Average (mean) mcome $7,014 t8,943 $6,862 $7. 168 $6,852 $7,537 $7,281
Med1an 1ncome $5 ,400 17,200 S6,400 $5,400 $5,200 $5,676 $5,400
Percent w1th mcome report11d 79 5% 80 7% 83 9% 81 2% 77 4% 84 9% 82 0%
Percent with Income reported as zero• 4 1 2 3 2 1 3 2 J 8 :l O 2 8
Percent w1th 1ncome not reported~ 16 4 17 1 14 0 15 6 18 8 13 1 15 2
Number of WIC PartiCipants 197.006 36,838 122,948 356,791 486,394 911 ,017 1,754,202
Hispanic
Average (meanlmcome $9,269 $9,703 19,476 $9,423 19,316 $9,459 $9,411
Med1an mcome $8,496 18.964 18,544 t8,640 t8 ,400 $8,320 $8,400
Percent w1th income reported 79 6% 82 4% 84 5% 81 5% 78 5% 83 7% 81 7%
Percent w1th mcome reported as zero• 50 4 8 40 4 7 4 7 36 4 2
Percent w1th mcome not reported~ 15 4 12 8 1 1 6 13 8 16 7 12 7 14 1
Number of WIC Part1crpants 228,286 99.209 1 17,855 445,350 517,398 839,702 1,802,450
(/ropttr Four llfcomt of I'C94 KIC l'omcrpantJ 40
Exhibit 4.6 (continuedt
Average Annualized family or Economic Unit Income of WIC Participants by Participant Category and Racial or Ethnic
Characteristics
Pregnent Breeatfeeding Poatpel1um Total
Reciel or Ethnic Cherecteriatlc Women Women Women Total Women lnfenta Children Pertlctpenta
White (non H!Jpenk}
Avertge lmeanltncome $9, 768 t1 2.613 t10. 135 $10,379 $10,613 $11 ,548 $11 ,04 1
Med1an 1ncome $8,820 112,000 t8,962 t9,288 t9,600 t10.200 $9,804
Percent wtth tncorne reported 85 4% 87 4% 85 9% 85 9% 84 1" 900% 87 5%
P"'rcent wtth 1ncome reported 11 zero• 30 1 8 1 8 24 2 2 1 2 1 7
Percent w1th 1ncome not reported' 11 5 110 12.3 11 7 13 7 89 10 8
Number of WIC Parllctpants 360,454 120,931 227,295 708,680 764,892 1,482,994 2,946,566
Ethnlcity not reported
Average (meenl income t9,870 f10,931 t9,618 $10,042 t1 0.089 $10,589 $ 10,293
Mc.d1an tncome $8,112 t9,800 t7,920 t8,424 $8,292 $8,736 $8,508
Pe cent wnh income reported 60 1% 19 8% 29 9% 36 4% 64 0% 12 9% 22 6%
Percent wtth 1ncome reported es zero• 4 4 08 1 6 23 40 06 1 2
Perce'lt w1th Income not reported' 35 4 79 3 68.5 61.3 32 0 86 5 76 2
Numb[ r ol WIC PllltCiplnls 4,658 6,301 3,566 13,525 14,130 80,485 108, 141
Note a
State 11nd local WIC egeoctes may collect dete on weekly, monthly, or 1nnuellncomu For 11ponitlg 1nd eol lylls, a nnueltzed tncomes h1v1 b11n computed
Also note thet tncome celculaltons 1nclvd1 only those pertic1peots lor whom S1111 WIC 1g1nctes raporled d1t1 on mcome mcome pe11od end Sill of economtc un1t
In 1994, 1 Stele WIC egency could repo1t ectuel lncome lor 1 pertlclpent or could rapon en 1ocom1 renge Both types ol date 111 Included 1n the cek:ul1110ns of mean end med110 lnton.es
'Ze10 mc:omes 111 uc:luded from mun end medien 1ncom1 c:elc:ulatloos In 42 of 84raportlng eg1ncte1, 1110 may b1 used to •nd1clle m1s51ng 1nlorm11ton so th1t PC94 c:1nnot d1sttogutsh between
houuholds lor whom Stetes d1d not 11port lncom1 1nd houuholds lor whom Slltll fiPortld 1110 Income. When entr1es ol 1110 111 1nclud1d, the I YIItge tncome 1crou 111 WIC pertiCIPints 1s
t9,J62
• Not repo11ed 1nd1CIIIS the pe~c:eoteg1 ol perllclpeots by PIIIICiplnl c1tegory lor whom no dele oo Income, lncom1 pe11od. or 1111 ol t c:ooom1c un1t 111 tepotted
Clcopttr Four: l~ttomr of PC94 WIC Portwponts 41
Povtrry Status In Exhibits 4. 7 and 4.8. information 1s presented on percent of poveny level by
pan1c1pant category and by race/ethrucuy Agatn. across all categones. there has
been httle chal'ge smce 1992. w1th almost three-quaners of WIC pan1c1pants
reponmg mcomes at or below 130 percent of poveny. while close to two-thirds
of WIC panicipantS reponed mcomes at or below the poveny line Withan
categones. the percentage of women pan1c1pan1S below the poveny hne has
increased since 1992 by three percentage pomts: Infants display a two percentage
point increase. Again. n 1s imponant to note that these findmgs apply to only
the 83.6 percent of Apnl 1994 WIC enrollees for whom mcome data were
reponed.
Exhibit 4. 9 presents the distribution of percent of poveny for those pamcipants
who repon no panicipauon in the AFDC. Food Stamp. and Med1ca1d Programs.
This group accountS for one-third of the WIC populauon. There are some
differences between this group and the WIC population receiving other benefits
Just under one-half (46.6 percent) of these mdiv1duals are under the poveny lme
as compared with two-thirds of the WIC population reponmg pan1c1pat1on m
public a1d programs.
The poveny of WIC panicipaniS can be seen m the mformauon displayed an
Exhibit 4.10. This table contams data on percent of poveny level for the general
US population, for American families, and for families w1th children under six
years of age National data are drawn from the US Census Bureau's Cu"tnt
Population Survey. In generaL m this country, slightly more than 5.0 percent
of the population falls into the 0-to-50 percent poveny level. The rate increases
to 9.9 percent for families with children under SIX years of age. In 1994, over
one-third (36.3 percent) of all WIC pan1c1pants reponed incomes falling anto the
0-to-50 percent of poveny range.
Chapttr Four: ln.:omt of PC94 W/C PartiCipant, .Jl
E.<hibit 4 . 7
Distribution of Percent of Poverty Level of WIC Participants by Participant Category
Pregnent 8reestfaeding Women Postpenum Total
Women Women Women Infanta Children Totel WIC
Percent of Cumulative Cumuletiva Cumulative Cumulative Cumuletlva Cumulative Cumulative
Poverty level Percent Percent Percent Percent Percent Pet cent Percent Percent Percent Percent Percent Percent Percent Percent
Percent by pet11clpent category
0 06% 06% O.J% OJ% 0 .7% 07% 0.6% 0.6% 07% 07% 05% 06% 05% 05%
50 JO 6 31.2 28.5 28.8 37 6 38 J J2.4 J3.0 36.7 J7.4 36.8 37 .J 36 8 36 3
51 100 27.8 58.9 29 6 58.4 27.4 66.7 28.0 60.9 26 4 63 7 28 6 65 9 27 9 64 2
101 IJO 11 0 69.9 12.J 70.7 10.1 75 .8 11.0 71.9 9J 73.0 10 0 76 0 10 1 74 2
131 160 5.5 75 .5 5.7 76.4 4 .5 80.3 6.2 77.1 3.9 76 .9 46 ao 6 4 6 7a a
151 1a5 58 81 J 5 1 81 4 40 84.3 6.1 82.2 34 80 3 4 J a4 9 4 2 aJ 0
1a6 200 OJ a1 6 0 1 81 6 02 84 6 0 .2 82.5 0 1 80 4 0 1 85 0 0 1 a3 2
201 225 OJ a1 9 0 .1 81 7 02 8i16 0.2 82 7 0 1 80 5 0 1 as 1 01 a3 3
226 250 02 82 0 0.1 81 7 0 1 84 7 0 1 82 8 0 1 80 6 0 1 as 2 0 1 83 4
Over 250 02 82 2 0 1 81 9 01 84 8 02 8J 0 0 1 80 7 0 I as 3 0 1 a3 5
lncom!' reported as Ja 86 1 2 s 84 4 2 4 87 2 32 86 1 3 J 84 1 20 a7 3 26 86 2
zero'
Not reporlecJ' 1J 9 100 0 15.6 100 0 12 8 100 0 13 9 100 0 15 9 100 0 12 7 100 0 1J 8 1000
US WIC 82J.605 275, 159 491 ,999 1,590, 762 1.1:t52,455 J ,464.632 6,907 849
Notes
Povert'( level c alculatrons ere bned on income. lncoJme period, e nd household site u reported by Stela WIC egenctts. II percent or poverty is 11 OOS or below. it appears es tero lOI rn th rs tat.rle
• Zero incomes are e~cluded horn these income calculations In 42 o l 84 reporting agencres. 1110 may be used to lndrcete rnrssrng rnfnrmllron so thet PC94 cannot dr5trngur5h between households lor wltortt
States drd not report rnconre amJ households lor whorn States reported zero Income
• Not reported rndrclles the percentage or partrcrpants by parttcipant ca tegory lor whom no d111 on rncome, Income ptttod, or s11e or economrc unrt ere reported
Cltt~pltr Four: lttcome of PC94 W/C Participants 4J
Exhibit 4.8
Distribution of Percent of Poverty level of WIC Participant• by Participant Category and Racial or Ethnic Characteristics
Pregnent
Women
Cumuletlve
Percent Percent
Amerlcert lrtdillrt or At.1hn
Netlve
0
1 50
51 100
101 130
131 150
151 185
186 200
201 225
226 250
Over 250
Income reporlld 11 zero'
Nol reported•
Tote/ WIC
As/ert or , •cHic lst.nder
10%
36 0
28 4
10 0
52
52
02
04
0 1
02
36
10 7
0 OJ%
1 50 20 8
51 100 390
101 130 11 6
131 150 57
151 185 59
186 200 0 1
201 225 0 4
226 250 0 I
Over 250 0 3
Income reported es zero' 2 7
No I reportPd' I 3 3
Tote/ WIC
10%
36 0
64 4
74 4
79 5
84 7
84 9
85 3
85 5
85 6
89 3
1000
12.045
03%
20 9
59 9
71 5
77 2
83 I
83 2
83 6
837
84 0
86 7
100 0
21. 156
lr111tf11dlng
Women
Cumulethre
Percent Percent
04%
41 2
29 1
10.2
4 3
3 7
02
0.2
0 1
02
1.7
88
02%
21 5
36 1
133
70
65
02
0 1
00
0 1
3.0
12.1
04%
41 6
70 7
80 9
85 2
88 9
89 I
89 J
89 4
89 5
91 2
1000
5.501
02%
.l1 7
57 8
71 2
78 I
84 6
84 8
84 9
84 !I
85 0
87 9
100 0
7,378
Poltpertum Totel
Women Women
Cumulative Cumuletlve
Percent Percent Percent Percent
14%
43 8
28 1
86
34
33
02
02
00
00
2 2
10 8
02%
24 8
42 9
117
58
4 7
0 1
0 1
00
00
2 3
78
14%
45 1
71 2
79 8
83 3
88 5
86 7
86 9
87 0
87 0
892
1000
5,855
02%
24.
177
79 4
85 2
89 9
900
90 1
901
90 1
124
100 0
14.881
09%
38 I
28 0
97
45
4 4
02
03
0 1
0 1
28
10 3
03%
22 1
39 8
11 9
60
56
0 I
03
00
02
28
11.1
09%
39 5
87 5
772
81 8
86 2
86 3
86 7
86 8
86 9
89 7
100 0
23.201
03%
22 4
82 2
74 I
80 I
86 7
85 8
86 0
86 I
86 2
88 9
100 0
43.215
lnfenu
Cllmuletlve
Percent Percent
09%
42 8
27 3
9 2
36
29
0 1
0 I
0 1
02
2 2
10 5
OJ%
28 8
38 9
98
4 1
3 5
0 1
0 I
00
0 1
2 2
12 8
09%
43 8
71 1
80 3
83 9
88 8
86 9
87 1
87 1
87 3
89 5
100 0
27,071
0 .3%
288
877
773
81 4
84 8
84 9
85 0
85 0
85 2
87 4
100 0
52.570
Cltopttr Fot1r: '"""'" of PCU WIC PartiCIJXI"ts 44
Total
Children Pertlctpenl s
Cumuletlve Cumuletlve
Percent Percent Percent Percent
08%
42 9
30 8
92
36
3 5
0 I
0 I
0 I
0 \
I 2
7 7
02%
28 4
43 2
9 2
4 \
3 7
0 1
0 I
00
0 1
1 3
95
0 8% 0 9% 0 9~.
42 9
72 J
81 6
85 4
88 9
89 0
89 2
89 J
89 4
91 2
43 7 42 0
74 5 29 4
63 7 9 3
67 3 3 8
90 8 3 5
90 8 0 1
91 0 0 2
91 1 0 1
91 2 0 1
92 3 1 7
tOO 0 6 8
66.645
0 2% 0 2%
28 6 26 9
71 8 41 1
81 0 10 0
85 2 4 6
88 9 4 1
89 0 0 1
89 1 0 1
89 1 0 0
89 2 0 1
90 5 1 9
100 0 10 8
83.789
100 0
116 916
0 2"•
27 2
68 J
78 3
82 8
86 9
87 0
87 1
8 7 2
8 7 J
89 2
1000
I 79 574
Exhibit 4 .8 (contlnuedt
Distribution of Percent of Poverty level of WIC Participants by Participant Category and Racial or Ethnic Characteristics
tiled fnort HIJptnkl
0
1 50
51 100
101 130
I 31 150
151 185
186 200
201 225
226 250
Over 250
Income 11•porled IS 1ero'
NrJ I repmted'
Totti WIC
HiJptmlc
0
1 50
51 100
101 130
131 150
151 185
186 200
201 225
226 250
Over 250
Income reported 111 zero'
Not rrpurted•
Pregn1nt
VYomen
Cumuletlve
Percent Percent
10~
40 4
23 3
7 2
3 5
35
0 1
0 1
0 I
02
4 1
16 4
01%
28 0
32 7
10 4
4 3
3 7
0 1
01
0 1
01
50
15 4
10%
41 4
64 6
71 9
75 4
79 0
79 1
79 3
79 3
79 5
83 6
1000
197,006
01%
28 1
60 8
71 2
75 5
79 2
79 4
79 5
79 5
79 6
84 6
100 0
228.286
llreutleeding
VVomtn
Cumui1Uve
Perunt Percent
04%
38 3
25 6
88
40
33
0 1
0 1
00
0 1
23
17 1
01%
30 1
32 7
92
34
2~
0 1
0 1
00
00
39
17 8
04~
311 7
64 2
731
77 0
80 3
80 4
80 5
80 6
80 6
82 9
100 0
36,838
01%
30 2
62 9
7'2
75 5
78 0
78 1
78 2
78 2
78 2
82 2
1000
99.209
Po11p1r1um Totel
VYomen VV~n
Cumuletlve Cumuletlve
Percent Percent Percent Percent
09%
51 7
20 1
58
2 5
2 1
0 1
0 1
00
0 1
2 1
14 0
01%
33 7
34 6
94
3 5
29
0 1
0 1
0 1
0 1
40
118
09%
52 8
73 3
79 1
81 5
83.8
83 1
83 8
83 8
83 9
88 0
100 0
122.948
01%
3311
884
7711
111 3
84 2
114 3
84 4
84 4
84 5
88 4
1000
117.855
09%
44 1
22 6
89
3 2
3 .0
0 1
0 1
0 1
01
32
15 8
09%
45 0
87 6
745
111
801
80 8
110 9
81 0
81 2
844
100 0
356.791
01%
30 0
33 2
99
39
3 2
0 1
0 t
00
0 1
4 5
14 9
01%
30 1
63 J
73 2
110
80 3
80 4
110 5
80 5
eo 6
85 1
100 0
445.350
lnlenU
Curnutt live
Percent Ptrcent
1 3%
411 1
18 5
52
2 2
1 II
0 1
01
00
0 1
38
18 8
1 3%
495
879
73 2
75 4
7 7 1
772
773
77 3
77 4
81 2
1000
486.394
01%
34 8
32 0
7 5
24
1 II
0 1
0 1
00
0 1
4 7
16 7
01%
34 7
66 8
741
76 6
78 3
711 4
78 4
78 4
78 5
83 3
1000
511.398
Cllopttr Four: l"comt ofi'C94 WIC PortiCipG,.ts 4$
Tot•l
ChWdren Perticlpenu
Cumulethte Cumul1tlve
Percent Percent Percent Percent
Ot%
49 5
23 0
8 3
28
2 2
0 1
0 1
0 1
01
20
13t
01%
37 0
33 4
78
2 8
22
0 1
01
00
01
3 6
12 7
09~ 10% 1 o•.
49 0
10 7
76 8
79 4
81 7
81 8
81 9
81 9
82 0
84 8
50 3 48 0
734 217
79 1 6 1
82 3 2 6
84 5 2 3
84 6 0 1
84 7 0 1
84 7 0 0
84 9 0 1
86 9 2 8
100 0 15 2
911017
0 1% 01%
37 1 34 6
70 6 33 0
78 4 a 2
81 2 3 0
83 5 2 3
83 5 0 1
83 6 0 1
83 6 0 0
83 7 0 1
87 J 4 1
1000 144
1000
1, 754 ,101
0 , ."'
J47
67 6
75 9
78 9
81 2
81 J
81 J
81 4
81 4
85 6
100 0
839,702 1,802,450
Exhibit 4.8 (continued)
Distribution of Percent of Poverty level of WIC Participants by Participant Category and Racial or Ethnic Characteristics
White (non·Hilpllnlcl
0
1 50
51 100
101 130
131 150
151 185
186 · 200
201 225
226 250
Over 250
ln~:ome reported as zero•
Not reported'
Tot11l WIC
R11cilll d11t11 not r11port11d
0
1 50
51 . 100
101 130
131 150
151 . 185
186 - 200
201 . 225
226 . 250
Over 250
lnt:ome reported es zero'
Not rep orted'
Tot11l WIC
Notu
Pregnent Br .. atf .. dlng Poatpertum Totel
VVomen VVomen VV~en VVo~n
Cum•oletln Cumuletlve Cumufetlve Cumuletlve
Percent Peocent Perunt Percent Percent Percent Percent Perunt
0. 7·~
27.4
26.5
13 5
7 4
84
04
0.5
0 .3
03
30
11.5
07%
28.1
54.6
68 1
75.5
83 9
84 4
84.9
85 1
85.4
88 5
100.0
360.454
01%
18.9
24 1
7 7
4.2
4.3
0.2
0.1
0.1
0.4
4 .4
35.4
l .1%
19 0
43 1
50 8
55 0
59 3
59.5
59 7
59.7
60 1
64.6
100 0
4,658
0.5%
25 .0
28 .8
16 4
8 .3
7 8
0.2
0 .2
0 .1
0.2
1.5
11 .1
0 .1%
6.6
8 1
2.9
1.1
1.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
00
08
79.4
0 .5%
25.4
54 2
70 6
78.9
86.7
86 9
87.1
87 2
87.4
88.9
100 0
120,931
0.1%
66
14 8
17.7
18 8
19 8
19 8
19 8
19 8
19 8
20 6
100 0
5,301
0.9%
33.1
26 5
12 8
6 2
5.7
02
0.2
0 1
0.2
1.8
12.3
0 .9%
34.0
60.5
73.3
79.5
85.2
85.4
85.6
85.8
85.9
87.7
100."
227,295
0.1"
12.1
119
3.1
1.3
1.5
00
0.0
0 .0
00
1.6
68.5
0.1%
122
24 .1
27.1
28.4
29.9
29 9
29 9
29.9
29.9
31 .5
100.0
3,566
0 .7%
28.8
26.9
13.8
7 .2
7.4 •
0.3
0 .3
0.2
0 .3
2.4
1 .7
0.7%
29.5
56 4
10 2
77.4
84 8
85.1
85.5
85.7
85 9
88 3
100.0
708,680
01%
12 3
146
4.6
2.2
2.3
0 .1
0.0
0.0
02
2.3
61 .4
0.1%
12 4
27 0
31 .6
33 8
36.1
36 2
36.2
36.2
36 4
38 6
1000
13,525
Totel
lnfentl Children Pertlclpents
Cumuletlve Cumuletlve Cumullllve
Percent Perunt Percent Percent Percent Percent
0.7%
31 .4
26.8
13.1
6 1
5 .5
0.2
02
01
0 .2
2.2
13.7
0 .1 ..
24 1
25 2
7.8
33
2.7
00
0 .1
0.1
0 . I
40
32.0
0.7%
32.0
58.8
71 .9
78.0
83.5
83.6
83.8
83 9
84.1
86.3
100.0
754,892
0.1%
24 8
50.0
57.8
61.0
63 7
63.7
63.8
63.9
64 0
68.0
100.0
14,130
0 .4%
30.9
29.7
14.1
7.1
7.1
0.2
0 .2
0 1
0.2
1.2
8.9
0 4% 0.6%
31 .3 30.5
61 0 28.3
75 .2 138
82 3 6 .9
89 3 6 8
89.5 0 2
89 7 0 2
89 8 0.1
90 0 0.2
91 1 1 7
100 0 10 8
0 6 ~~
31 1
59 3
73 I
80 0
86 7
87 0
8 7 2
87 3
87 5
89 2
100 0
1,482,994 2,946.566
00%
4.8
55
1 4
0.6
06
00
00
0 .0
00
06
86 5
00%
48
10 3
11 .7
12.3
12 9
12 9
12 9
12 9
12 9
13.5
100 0
80.485
OO'Yo
83
92
2 6
1 2
1 1
00
00
00
0 .1
1 2
76 2
o o ·~'«»
84
17 6
20 2
21 3
22 4
22 5
22 5
22 5
22 5
23 8
1000
108.141
Poverty level calculahons are based on InCOme. 10come peuod. and household arre ., reporled by State WIC agancl81 II peftant ol pover1y os 11 00!» or below, tt IPPIIII es ltro 101 in this table
• ZefO 111comes are ucludld lrom t'-1<1 income clllculetione. In 42 of 14 repclf1tng agencl81. re~o may be ulld to lndtcate mi111ng inlonnrttoon 10 that PC94 tennot disttngulah between households lo• whom States d1d not r61JUtl 1101.111108 "'"'
households for whom Statu reported raro income
• Nut reponed 1ndtcates the perce11tage of parllcipants by por11t1p1nt cotego•y 101 whom no dall on oncome. inc.,... pe,.od, Of 1111 ol econorn1c un<l ••• reo0111d
ClltJpl" Four: lttcom• of PC94 WIC Pa,'!!ripents 46
Exhibit 4.9
Distribution of Percent of Poverty Level at Certification for WIC Participants Reporting No Other Benefit Receipt•
Percent of Poverty laval Braaalfaading Poatpenum
Pregnant Women Woman Women Total Woman Infanta Children Total WIC
Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent Number Parcel t Number Percent
Percent by participant utagory
0 2,572 0 .8% 327 0 .3% 1,191 0.8% 4.090 0.7% 5.506 09% 6,174 06% 15,770 07%
1-50 60,645 19.4 19,242 1 7.0 26,995 17.9 106,881 18.5 143,626 22.5 184,190 16.8 434,697 18.8
51 -100 82,645 26.4 32,581 28.8 43,667 29.0 158,793 27.5 182.913 28.7 301 ,541 27.5 643,247 27 8
101 -130 51,369 16.4 21 ,085 18.6 27,612 18.3 100,066 17.3 103,251 16.2 201 ,858 18.4 405,175 17.5
131 -150 29,845 9.5 11 ,261 9.9 14,716 9.8 55,822 9.7 50,683 7.9 113,136 10 3 219,541 9 5
151 -185 32,370 10.3 10,467 9.2 13,572 9.0 66,410 9.8 44,726 7.0 113,039 10.3 214,175 93
186-200 631 0 .2 126 0.1 212 0.1 969 0 .2 690 0.1 1,334 0 1 2,993 0 I
201-225 597 0.2 118 0 1 179 0.1 893 0 .2 636 0.1 1,210 0 1 2,740 0 I
226-260 278 0 .1 61 0.1 76 0 .1 414 0 .1 328 0 1 617 0 1 1 359 01
Over 250 656 0.2 200 02 140 0.1 996 0 .2 1,070 0.2 2,008 0 .2 4,073 02
Income reported as zero' 26,808 8.2 6,738 60 10,942 7.3 43,489 7.5 51 ,264 8.0 50,638 46 145,291 63
Not reported' ,5,518 8 .2 11 ,044 98 11 ,380 7.6 47,942 8.3 53,773 8.4 118,965 10 9 220,680 96
Total WIC 312,833 100 113,249 100 150,682 100 576,765 100 638,365 100 1,094,610 100 2,309,740 100
Note a
• Thts table excludes tndtviduals for whom no data regarding paructpatton in AFOC, Food Stamps, • • .J Medtcaid are reported.
' Zero incomes are excluded from these income calculations. In 42 of 84 reporttng agencies, zero may be used to ~ndicate mtssing informatton so that PC94 cannot dtstingUt