 Despite Higher Food Costs, WIC Will Keep Serving Alaska Children and Families June 22, 2002
"There is nothing more important than making sure Alaska's families get the food they need to grow up healthy and strong," Livey said. "WIC staff have worked hard to get better nutrition to as many eligible women and children as possible within the federal dollars available and are exploring other funding options, but I told them today people are not going to lose WIC services. For instance, there is supplemental funding pending in Congress right now." In a letter earlier this week, WIC staff told community coordinators that existing clients wouldn't be re-certified for food coupons and that they and any new applicants would be placed on waiting lists until the new federal fiscal year begins Oct. 1. Higher-than-expected food prices have already nearly exhausted this year's WIC funding, the letter said. WIC in Alaska annually serves about 25,000 pregnant and breastfeeding women and young children at risk of not getting proper nutrition. The program is entirely federally funded, and managed by the state Health and Social Services department in conjunction with local health departments, Native organizations, hospitals and clinics. More than 350 Alaska communities offer WIC services. Alaska received about $13 million this year from the federal government to pay for food through the WIC program. However, prices for some food items WIC purchases in large quantities have increased dramatically. For example, infant formula is up 24 percent, juices 23 percent and infant cereal 19 percent. Despite cost-containment measures implemented months ago by WIC staff, the program could be $800,000 short by the end of the federal fiscal year if federal supplemental funding is not approved. Livey said his agency is already working with Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens, a longtime advocate for WIC. Stevens is working to secure additional funds in a supplemental funding bill Congress is considering for WIC programs in all the states. In addition, Livey said, Health and Social Services is looking for other funding to temporarily cover the projected WIC shortfall. His agency also has been in contact with federal WIC managers at the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
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