SPOKANE, Wash. – Nov 16, 2011 – It’s a fact, when it comes to the Women, Infants and Children Nutrition Program (WIC) in Spokane County there are many people in the community who don’t know about WIC. 

In Spokane County, 50,926 infants and children under the age of five qualify for WIC services based on income alone. Of those, only 28 percent are receiving WIC services. 

WIC is a nutrition program that provides families with nutrition and breastfeeding education, as well as healthy foods like fresh fruits and vegetables, milk and whole grains. This is one of several key messages the Spokane Regional Health District will stress as part of an educational campaign it will launch this week aimed at those who qualify, but who have not yet enrolled. Under the name Growing Healthy Together, and through its associated Web site, spokanewic.org, the campaign uses real local WIC families to tell the WIC story. 

“The goal of this campaign is to capture those 72 percent that aren’t enrolled,” said Tiffany Muller, SRHD WIC program manager. “Especially during this economic downturn, and as we approach the holidays, WIC is more important than ever. We have room and dollars to help local families—in fact, increases in enrollment will give us a better chance at securing additional funding next year.” 

Said SRHD health officer Dr. Joel McCullough, “SRHD saw a 4 percent decrease in WIC participation (~450 clients) over the past year. This decline not only affects the health of our County’s at-risk population, but negatively affects our economic health as well.” The following are other facts about WIC locally:

• Enrolling is WIC is simpler than ever with SRHD’s new online enrollment feature: spokanewic.org/enroll
• WIC isn’t just for moms and children. It’s for dads and other guardians, and pregnant and breastfeeding women too.
• WIC is both a successful and cost effective program. Every dollar spent on WIC saves health care dollars later. And, WIC contributed more than $120 million in grocery store sales in 2010.
• WIC foods include fresh fruits and vegetables, whole wheat bread and other whole-grain options. Also, infant cereal, iron-fortified adult cereal, baby foods, vitamin C-rich fruit or vegetable juice, soy-based beverages, tofu, eggs, milk, cheese, peanut butter, dried beans/peas, and canned fish.

The Growing Healthy Together campaign features several local families sharing many of these messages and will be visible in many parts of Spokane County including at spokanewic.org; on TV commercials, billboard and bus advertisements, print ads, and promotional items; and at community events. 

More information can be found as part of the FAQ on the Growing Healthy Together site, as well as at www.srhd.org. SRHD’s website offers comprehensive, updated information about Spokane Regional Health District and its triumphs in making Spokane a safer and healthier community.