(Havre) – According to an article from the United States Department of Agriculture WIC is said to be vastly underutilized across the nation. New Media Broadcasters sat down with Tami Schoen director of the Hill County WIC Department to ask why WIC is underutilized.
“So, I think part of it is maybe just not realizing. we do feel there are a lot of people who possibly have that eligibility through the Medicaid, Snap, or TANAFF programs and I do feel that some of that is just not knowing that those things make you automatically eligible for WIC maybe not know exactly what WIC serves. So, we do provide a large education-based program for during pregnancies, after pregnancies, and then for kiddos based off of nutrition education. We do a lot with breast feeding and then also a lot during pregnancy and then infant/childcare, self-care, those kinds of things. So, I guess I just really feel it’s a lack of education as to knowing who’s eligible and what we do with WIC.”
We also asked if it was a good thing or a bad thing WIC was underutilized.
“Right, and so just depends. You know I guess we feel that it’s a great program that offers that double benefit not only in the food benefits but also in the education portion of it and so we would love to see it more utilized. So, I guess that I would feel that fact if it is underutilized because of lack of information about it or knowledge about it than that would obviously be a bad thing. We’d hope that anyone that is eligible or even thing or wonder about it that you would come in check into the program or if you just have questions about it always to give us a call and ask.”
