The Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC), provides low-income families with nutritious foods, nutrition education and other social services. Families receiving WIC benefits have fewer premature births and infant deaths, eat higher-quality diets, and are more likely to receive regular medical care.
New research from the University of Washington finds that households participating in WIC are more likely to stay in the program when they redeem a higher share of their benefits in the program’s most popular categories. “Finding ways to identify kids and families that are at risk of dropping out of the program is of high importance,” said Pia Chaparro, a UW assistant professor of health systems and population health and first author of the study. “That’s basically what we’ve identified — a way to flag families who may be at risk of dropping off.”