For immediate release: July 8, 2004 (04-081)

Contacts: Karen Valenzuela, WIC Program 360-236-3700
Clarissa Lundeen, Communications Office 360-236-4078

WIC invites public comment on services to women and children
Last year’s comments led to increased organic food choices for many WIC families

OLYMPIA ¾ Each year, 260,000 women and children in Washington receive food, nutritional education, referrals, and breastfeeding information from the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program. The Department of Health annually seeks public input on the program, and this year is especially interested in assessing opinions about the foods, breastfeeding support programs and customer service options that are available to WIC clients.

The easiest way to offer your comments is to visit the WIC Web site. It features information for WIC clients and the general public about eligibility to enter the program, available services, clinic locations, foods available to clients, registration forms and breastfeeding information.

"Last year we got a lot of requests to provide more organic choices for WIC clients. At that time, the only organic choice was milk," said WIC program director Kim Wallace. "Because of those comments, WIC was able to add more organic choices, including fresh carrots for breastfeeding women, certain brands of baby cereal, organic dried beans, peas and lentils."

WIC provides benefits for nearly half of the babies born in Washington and reaches families most in need of preventive health services including prenatal care, immunizations, family planning, and tobacco cessation programs.

The WIC program will accept comments until August 1, 2004. Information about submitting comments is available on the WIC Web site (http://www.doh.wa.gov/cfh/WIC). Call toll-free, 1-800-841-1410, e-mail stateplan@doh.wa.gov, or write the WIC State Plan Coordinator, P.O. Box 47886, Olympia, WA 98504-7886.

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