West Virginia Rural Health Education Partnerships/Area Health Education CentersWest Virginia Rural Health Education Partnerships/Area Health Education Centers

WIC service learning project


Women's, Infants and Children's Program (WIC)

Description of the Project:

WIC is the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children. WIC was established in 1972, as a pilot project following a national survey that found anemia and inadequate growth to be common among American children in low-income families. In 1974, WIC was established as a discretionary program, available throughout the United States. WIC is primarily funded through the United States Department of Agriculture. It is administered by the West Virginia Bureau for Public Health, Office of Nutrition Services.

Purpose:

To monitor behavioral and nutrition risk factors related to infant mortality, low birth weight and children's health and growth among WV WIC participants.

What we expect from you:

  1. Review Eligibility and Income Guidelines
  2. Observe intake and processing of an applicant
  3. Observe Nutrition Counseling
  4. Participate in Nutrition Education Class
  5. Complete Nutrition Risk Criteria
  6. Review Dietary Assessments
  7. Attend Breastfeeding Peer Counselor Training
  8. Recite high risk hemoglobin values

Healthy People 2010 Objectives Directly Addressed through this Project:

View the WV Healthy People 2010 Website with all objectives by clicking here

Target Audience:

Pediatric children and their parents

Learning Outcomes:

At the end of this service-learning project, I will be able to:

  1. Explain behavioral and nutrition risk factors related to infant mortaility, low birth weight and childrens health and growth among WV WIC participants.
  2. Describe how this project fits into West Virginia's public health agenda as articulated in the WV Healthy People 2010 Objectives.

ASSIGNMENT

Review the following questions and choose 3 questions, or come up with your own question, you are interested in exploring more about while participating in this project.

  1. What are the eligibility and income guidelines for WIC?
  2. What steps are involved in intake and processing of an applicant?
  3. What are the nutrition recommendations for infants/newborns?
  4. What are the criteria used in assessing nutrition risk?
  5. What are the benefits of breastfeeding?
  6. What are the appropriate hemoglobin values for pregnant women and infants?
Click here to choose and submit your questions.

 

Once you have completed your service-learning project, return to the module and click here to complete your reflection exercise.

WIC