When Times Get Tough ... Utah's WIC program can help feed your young family
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No comments [ Add Comment ]By Loretta Park
Standard-Examiner Davis Bureau
LAYTON -- Going to school, holding down a part-time job and caring for three children means money is tight.
That is why Stacey Monson, 36, of Layton, applied to Davis County's Women, Infant and Children program to help supplement her food budget.
She has been using WIC for the past year, ever since she became pregnant with her now-4-month-old son.
"It helps with milk, eggs and cheese," said Monson, who was among several parents with children waiting for their appointment in the Layton WIC office recently.
She now also receives formula for her infant and tells other young mothers about the program, which also helped her supplement the food for her older children when they were toddlers.
"I don't think a lot of people know about it," Monson said.
Many more are learning about the program, which supplements food foryoung families, said Marci Johnson, WIC director with the Davis County Health Department.
"I think the economy is influencing some to come to us," she said.
WIC increased its income guidelines this year so that more families are eligible.
Mindy Box, a registered dietitian with WIC, said also coming in are more people who "didn't think they needed it before."
With milk prices soaring along with fuel prices, young families are seeking ways to make sure their children get fed, Johnson said.
Nationally within the past year, the WIC program has experienced an almost 5 percent increase in participation, according to its Web site, www.fns.usda.gov/wic/.
Utah has seen a 4 percent increase.
The Weber/Morgan Health Department is also seeing an increase.
"A lot of new people are calling that hadn't been in before," said Colleen Jenson, director of the Weber/Morgan WIC program.
August saw 6,960 participants, she said; in July, 6,525 people used the program.
Jenson said most people think the program just provides infant formula, but it provides more than that.
The program does not provide all the food a family may need for a month, but does help with milk, eggs, cheese and cereal. Beginning Oct. 1, 2009, the program will add fruits, vegetables and whole-grain breads, and will increase proteins and fat sources, according to the WIC Web site.
Chris Furner, WIC program manager for Utah, said the additional food is not supposed to increase the cost of the program, "but we don't know what the economy will be like a year from now."
Furner said, based on food-stamp applications, state officials expect to see an increase in participation in the next few months.
"Generally when they increase, we see an increase."
This summer, there has been a slight decrease in participation across the state.
Johnson said that is normal because people get busy and for some reason don't need the program as much in the summer as they do when school starts and Christmas rolls around.
Through WIC, program participants can also take classes on breastfeeding, nutrition, infant care and parenting.
Monson said the classes help because, since she had her last child, new information has come out on how to best care for infants.
Also, dietitians such as Box are educating parents about how to prevent obesity.
Box said she is seeing too many overweight toddlers spending too much time in front of televisions and video games.
Once parents learn how much food toddlers should eat and how important it is to get children outside to play, she said, weight tapers off within a month or two.
Women, Infant and Children program
Clients are seen by appointments only.
* Bountiful/Woods Cross office
596 W. 750 South, Woods Cross
8 a.m.-5 p.m. Mondays and Thursdays
10 a.m.-7 p.m., second Monday of month
292-77803
* Clearfield WIC office
140 E. Center St., second floor
8 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays
10 a.m.-7 p.m., second Tuesday of month
825-0059
* Layton WIC office
360 S. Fort Lane, No. 110
8 a.m.-5 p.m. Mondays-Wednesdays and Fridays
10 a.m.-7 p.m., second and third Tuesdays of month
546-6924
* Weber/Morgan WIC office is as follows:
477 23rd St., Ogden.
8 a.m.-6:30 p.m. Mondays and Thursdays
8 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Tuesdays-Wednesdays
7 a.m.-4 p.m. Fridays
399-7200 or www1.co.weber.ut.us/health/
