WIC Services Threatened

The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children” (WIC) at CEDA serves over 50,000 moms and babies every month. CEDA WIC generates food vouchers worth over $23,000,000 annually. All WIC vouchers are redeemed at local grocery stores, thus contributing millions of dollars into the local economy.

If Federal WIC funding stops due to the government shutdown, hundreds of thousands of Illinois families will be at risk to lose adequate food and formula.  Additionally, millions of dollars will be lost to the Illinois economy.  If Illinois WIC closes; CEDA WIC closes.

“WIC is an education, prevention and intervention service.  The consequences of a suspended or interrupted WIC program will be devastating to our families,” says Margaret Saunders, Director of CEDA WIC.

Every day CEDA WIC clinics are closed, moms and babies are disconnected from vital services:

• 221 pregnant women are not screened for smoking, drug and alcohol? use; are not referred to prenatal care; infant weight gain goes unchecked; counseling on what to eat during pregnancy is discontinue; and discussions and planning on how to feed and care for baby will not be available.  Pregnant women will be at risk.
• 286 breastfeeding and postpartum women are not supported and assisted with caring for their new baby and or themselves.  New mothers will suffer.
• 570 babies are not weighed, measured, growth checked, feeding practices reviewed, doctor visits reviewed, immunizations discussed.  Babies will be hurt.
•  WIC is the Go To, community based site for very ill babies requiring special formula at discharge for the birthing hospital.  There is no other place to get these very expensive formulas that cost hundreds of dollars a month.
• Food pantries do not carry formula.  There is no other place available to assist formula fed babies.
• 1156 children under age five are not weighed, measured, screened for anemia, growth checked, screened for neglect or abuse, given oral health education, encouraged to develop healthy eating practices for a lifetime.  Children will be neglected.
• $93,000 per week in local food dollars will not be distributed.  Local business will be irreparably harmed.
• Families are no longer connected with Farmers’ Market, Head Start, Energy Assistance, SNAP enrollment, health and dental care, food pantries, domestic violence shelters, homeless assistance, drug and alcohol abuse help.  Families will fail.

For interviews contact: Margaret Saunders, msaunders@cedaorg.net or call 312/545-3023.
For a national perspective on the effects of interrupted funding for WIC, see links below:

http://www.forbes.com/sites/clareoconnor/2013/10/02/government-shutdown-9-million-moms-and-babies-at-risk-as-wic-program-halts/

http://money.cnn.com/2013/10/02/news/economy/shutdown-mothers-wic/