The federal Women, Infants and Children program got a reprieve from federal shutdown cuts through early December. But even as the government moves closer to reopening, WIC families in Minnesota are still affected by the uncertainty.
Here are some key questions and answers to what’s happening with this service that provides vital nutritional and health benefits to more than 100,000 low-income women, infants and young children in Minnesota.
1) What’s the state of the WIC program in Minnesota?
WIC clinics continue to operate and plan to continue as long as they can during the shutdown. WIC got funds from the U.S. Department of Agriculture a few weeks ago that will help them continue operating through early December. But that only stabilizes the program for a short time.
“I think we've just been sort of trying to manage things from the state side and looking at projections and communicating out as much as we can, to keep people informed so that we can minimize any confusion or misunderstanding,” said Kate Franken, Minnesota Director of WIC.
There's also been confusion about SNAP and WIC, which are two different services. WIC is specifically for women and children under 5 years old. SNAP — the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program — is used for other families and older children. Many people, though, use both SNAP and WIC benefits for food assistance.
When families were told SNAP wouldn’t be available this month, some thought WIC also wouldn’t be available.
Earlier this week, Gov. Tim Walz and Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison confirmed that SNAP will be paid out through November. WIC was never affected.
2) What would have to happen for WIC to stop offering services?
WIC provides food benefits and nutrition education, referrals to other services and breastfeeding support. If the shutdown continues past December, services might need to be stopped — something Franken said could really hurt kids and families.
A “prolonged federal government shutdown puts babies and young children at risk, and I think that's important for everyone to understand,” Franken said. “If participants lose access to critical WIC services and food benefits, it could lead to negative health outcomes for newborns and young children.”
3) How is the uncertainty affecting families?
Shay Hall is a single mother in the Twin Cities who uses WIC to feed her three kids. She said she’s been panicking over the last few weeks, even with the information that her WIC benefits would be preserved.
“I say panic because I work really, really hard. And I'm not just a parent who sits around and do(es) nothing, who doesn't try. And I'm also a single parent, so there's only one income in my household,” she said. “So for me, the panic and the nervousness (is) around not being able to give my kids the proper nutrition that that they need.”
She uses WIC to get fresh fruits and vegetables for her kids. She also has kids with dietary restrictions, and WIC helps her purchase the special foods they need to stay healthy.
During the shutdown, Hall said she’s been grateful to WIC and community food shelves for helping her meet the needs of her family.
4) What can people expect from WIC moving forward?
WIC clinics across the state are preparing for an increased use of WIC benefits, although Franken said that is yet to be seen. However, WIC clinics across the state are still accepting new applications.
If people have questions, they should call their local WIC agency and check for any updates on the Minnesota Department of Health’s WIC website.
