Therefore, as this new generation becomes parents, incorporating technology in care is more important than ever for WIC programs across the country.” Implementing Healthie into CMCs in California Solutions to Client Engagement ProblemsĪt Community Medical Centers, innovation to bolster child retention and improve long-term relationships with mothers has become centered around technology, and its ability to improve engagement, track outcomes, and help this WIC center “stay ahead of the curve.”Īndrea says, “Contrary to some common assumptions, research shows that current WIC participants – across all income levels and ethnicities – are just as ‘wired’ as the rest of their generation. They may not have the access to proper transportation routes, or simply the time to spend commuting with children to the clinics.
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Not only were the participants struggling, but the WIC centers hired RDs and IBCLCs that were facing 60-90 minute commutes each day, in addition to inclement weather, like floods and rain.įor mothers with young children, many of whom work full time or have highly demanding schedules, making time to come into the clinic can be extremely difficult. Further focus groups revealed that these participants want to receive more nutrition education through online classes and perceive WIC counseling through video chat just as useful as in-person counseling sessions.
Most importantly, the same research showed very clearly that WIC participants are eager to interact with WIC online rather than having to use the telephone or schedule in person appointments at clinic sites. Additionally, more educated mothers were more likely to use the internet to schedule and change their WIC appointments, or to log on to use online nutrition education resources. Interest expressed in remote servicesĪ 2011 USDA Special Project Research, looked at how WIC households in the Western Region States (including California) used social media and the internet studies found that in WIC households, nearly all participants owned cell phones with texting capabilities. We need new ways to reach WIC families.” -Andrea Weiss RD, CLE 2. In 2011, an estimated 1.85 million women, infants, and children were eligible for WIC benefits in California in an average month, but were not receiving WIC. However, the consensus is mixed about what exactly is causing this decline in WIC participation. “There has been much focus on this issue at both the national and state level. Many WIC centers around the country are reporting a decline in participation in their programs. WIC is utilizing Healthie’s telehealth and technology platform to deliver nutrition education and enable their social mission, “safeguarding the health of low-income women, infants, and children up to age 5 who are at nutrition risk, by providing nutritious foods to supplement diets, information on healthy eating, and referrals to health care.” The Problems that WIC Faces 1.
Healthie is proud to partner with the WIC program’s clinic sites. In 2017, we joined forces with WIC-Community Medical Centers (CMC) in California as part of a Telehealth (“TeleWIC”) research study to understand the impact of virtual care programs via a “WIC Video Visits” program. The USDA’s Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women Infants and Children (WIC) contributes to the health and wellness of more than 8 million women and children every year.
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