WIC Program: Background, Trends, and Economic Issues, 2009 Edition

摘要

The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) was created to safeguard the health of low-income women, infants, and children ages 1-4 who are at nutritional risk. WIC provides supplemental food, nutrition education, and referrals to health care and other social services. Almost half of all infants and about a quarter of all children ages 1-4 in the United States participate in the program. WIC is the U.S. Department of Agricultures third-largest food and nutrition assistance program, with Federal expenditures of $6.2 billion in fiscal year (FY) 2008.