Need to Foster Optimal Use of Resources in the Special Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)

摘要

The WIC Program for fiscal year 1984 provided supplemental food and nutrition counseling to 3 million women, infants, and children who met income criteria and were judged to be at nutritional risk. Because WIC has to operate within congressional funding levels--$1.36 billion in fiscal year 1984--only about one-third of those eligible can be served. GAO found that improved program management is needed to derive maximum effectiveness and benefits from each federal dollar spent on WIC. Specifically, the Department of Agriculture's Food and Nutrition Service needs to emphasize to state and local WIC agencies the need to target program benefits to those in the most vulnerable groups--generally considered by WIC professionals to be pregnant and breastfeeding women and infants.