The other problem that
this writer feels needs addressing is the “WIC only store”. Over the
past decade, this new type of store has emerged. This entity is a store
that only accepts |WIC vouchers as payment, and only stocks WIC
approved items. This allows the recipients, who are on WIC, to use
their vouchers and checks in one convenient location. When one looks at
this idea, it seems like a very good, serviceable, customer orientated
plan. However this will severely hurt the associated food costs to the
program, and severely hinder the number of people this program serves.
The last issue is the change in the food
allowed on the program. We will address the changes to the offerings;
some in this writer’s opinion are a step in the right direction and some
in the wrong. Analysis of problems
The issue with the budget is simple, the
political side wants to cut funding to the program while the
administrative side knows that any cut to their grant will translate to
helping less people. The House proposed cutting this valuable service
by more than $800 million below the current level and reduce their
funding from $6.73 billion this year to $5.90 billion in 2012. This cut
would mean that WIC would deny services to over 400,000 low-income
women and children next year. This cut would break the 15-year
commitment by Administrations and both houses of Congresses to provide
enough WIC funding to serve all eligible women, infants, and children
who apply to ensure that every child has a healthy start to life
(Nueberger, Z.; Greenstein, R.; 2011).
WIC provides nutritious foods, counseling on healthy eating, and health care
referrals to over 9 million low-income pregnant and postpartum women,
infants, and children under the age five who may be at some type of
dietary risk in the future (WIC, 2010). WIC, and many other government
agencies, have had an overabundance of research and studies which have
proven that WIC is highly successful in providing those citizens' it
serves good, solid nutrition and health.
The unfortunate thing is that unlike other key
low-income nutrition programs, such as food stamps, TANF, aid to
dependent children, and the school lunch programs, eligible WIC
recipients have no entitlement to these benefits (Nueberger, Z.;
Greenstein, R.; 2011). If funds are insufficient, eligible applicants
are put on a waiting list for services. If they can be helped, they will
move from the waiting list to service. However, with the amount of
monies that has been cut from their budget, they will not be able to
service the same number of clients.
The exact number of people that will be
effected, of course, is difficult to determine to the exact number
because of many contributing factors. If food prices continue to
increase, at its current rate, then the higher the prices for the foods
that WIC provides will mean that there will be a fewer number of
participants. With the current rate of inflation this country has seen,
it would not be unfair to state that food prices have been rising
rapidly in the last year, and one can expect them to continue doing the
same in the coming year.
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