Mary Bridge WIC program provides safety net for families

When Brenda Anderson was pregnant, she never expected she’d deliver at only 25 weeks.

During those first days in the hospital with her daughter Harley, Anderson learned as much as she could about parenting a preemie. Programs, support teams and medical staff all stepped in with resources to help her growing family.

One of the programs Anderson didn’t expect to hear about was WIC — a federally funded nutrition program that supports families, women, pregnant and breastfeeding people, and children up to the age of 5.

A comprehensive approach

WIC is commonly known for offering food benefits, but the program offers much more. Enrolled families receive nutrition education, breastfeeding support, and infant and childhood development education. WIC also provides wraparound care to connect participating families to other services as needed.

“Some of our WIC participants may be falling through the cracks in terms of getting health care, or preventive medicine like immunizations,” says Lanay Baty, a supervisor for MultiCare’s WIC services. “We can help pull those pieces together and get them into the resources they need.”

In Anderson’s case, WIC stepped in immediately to help supplement Harley’s nutrition needs. The WIC program worked hand-in-hand with Harley’s pediatrician and other specialists to ensure her health, development and dietary needs were met.

WIC participants meet with their WIC certifier/registered dietitian every one to three months, depending on their needs. These check-ins provide a vital touch point for patients and providers.

“Our program is participant-centered learning, so we meet our clients where their needs are,” says Tiffany Eriksen, another supervisor for MultiCare’s WIC services.

For Anderson, a busy working mom, the availability of quick check-ins outside of her work schedule make participating in the program easy. Food benefits are loaded onto a debit-style card, and an app helps busy parents quickly identify which foods in the supermarket are covered under their unique benefit.

As Harley grows, the WIC program grows with her. Children enrolled in the WIC program may remain eligible for benefits until they turn 5 years old. Food benefits and education opportunities are customized to the child’s specific age and needs.

“Historically, participation in WIC has reduced the incidence of low birth weight and iron-deficiency anemia — factors that impact future things like school readiness,” says Baty. “By investing in the care and development of mothers, infants and children, we can lower overall, long-term health care costs and issues.”

Eligibility requirements

Eriksen and Baty encourage individuals who are pregnant to see if they qualify for WIC.

“We often hear that moms don’t realize they may qualify when they’re pregnant,” says Eriksen. “We really encourage people to come to us when they first find out they’re pregnant so we can provide that support in pregnancy and beyond.”

Also, WIC isn’t just for women. Fathers, grandparents, foster parents or other primary caregivers may also register their children for the program.

What’s more, they add, many people are surprised to find out they qualify. The income threshold for WIC is higher than some other food assistance programs. And the WIC program can serve those who need it — one family signing up for the program doesn’t take away space for someone else.

“The WIC program has been fantastic for our family,” says Anderson. “This extra care and attention has really taken the stress and pressure off of us.”

Find out more

You can check your family’s eligibility online or call 800-322-2588 to find out if WIC can help. Eriksen and Baty have worked with many families who may have surpassed the income threshold but qualified for other reasons.