On November 8, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) released a Request for Information (RFI) seeking stakeholder input on the development of a new Modernization and Delivery Resource Center within the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). The WIC Resource Center will utilize $390 million dollars appropriated under the American Rescue Plan Act to bolster outreach, innovation and program modernization efforts with the goal to increase program participation. WIC operates through 1,900 local agencies at 10,000 clinic sites, many of which are county health departments, to provide nutrition services to low-income pregnant and post-partum women, children, and infants.
According to FNS, the primary goal of the Resource Center is to increase WIC's participation rate through an improved enrollment and participant experience, and to reduce disparities in program delivery. The RFI seeks input from stakeholders, including local agencies, on questions related to strategies, priorities and best practices. County officials interested in responding to the RFI may do so until December 8, 2021, via the Federal Rulemaking Portal.
NACo applauds efforts to increase the options available to state and local administrative bodies in streamlining applications and administrative processes within WIC, which is an important support for vulnerable county residents.
Additional Resources
- Counties and Early Childhood
- Congress Introduces Wise Investment in Children (WIC) Act
- Tracking COVID-19 relief for Human Services and Education Programs
