WIC WIC Sight Drafts for FOOD (A draft is like a check) -WILL BE ISSUED TO YOU BY THE WIC PROJECT -YOU WILL USE THE DRAFTS TO PURCHASE FOODS -AT YOUR RETAIL GROCERY STORES These foods are intended to supplement your diet FOR MORE INFORMATION-CONTACT YOUR WIC PROJECT Hon. HERMAN E. TALMADGE, UNITED STATES SENATE, COMMITTEE ON LABOR AND PUBLIC WELFARE, Chairman, Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry, DEAR HERMAN: As a cosponsor of S. 850, I have recently received information attesting to the success of the W.I.C. program in the Penobscot-Piscataquis area of Maine. I am enclosing two letters from Mr. William Shook, Director of Public Health in Bangor, Maine; a letter from Bertha E. Mosher, R.N., Public Health Nurse in Old Town, Maine, and several case histories. I believe that this material demonstrates that the W.I.C. program in Maine has been a powerful factor in improving the diets of previously ill-nourished women and children. And, as Mr. Shook notes in his letter of April 2, "we have never experienced a Federal program such as W.I.C., where so much good has been done for so many people in such a short time, with so little administrative overhead." I hope that this information may be made a part of the record and may prove of use to the Committee in its deliberations on S. 850. Best personal regards. Russell Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. DEAR Mr. PECK: As I indicated in my letter of April 2nd, I am enclosing for Senator Hathaway, further documentation of family members who have exhibited measurable benefits from participation in the Penobscot-Piscataquis County WIC Program. There are five of these summaries enclosed, plus a letter from Mrs. Bertha Mosher, R.N., City of Old Town Public Health Nurse which is self-explanatory. I hope that Senator Hathaway will be successful in saving this valuable nutrition program and that he may use the enclosed information and that forwarded previously to the advantage of all WIC participants. Thank you for your understanding and support. Sincerely, WILLIAM M. SHOOK, Jr., HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND COMMUNITY HEALTH SERVICE, Re WIC program. Hon. LEE METCALFE, U.S. Senate, Washington, D.C. DEAR SIR: Several changes have been noted of women, infants and children participating in the WIC Program. One mother observed through two pregnancies showed decided difference with regard to improved maternal health. The baby was of good birth weight, alert and active. Young children were noted as not having as many colds. Newborns were of good weight, height, length and were alert and active. Many mothers have offered the information that this program was an important factor in planning the family food budget. Increase in food prices occurred while this program has been in effect. Mothers have mentioned that a hardship will be created if the program should become non-existent. Young mothers with one baby have no other means to buy these foods necessary for growth, development and to maintain life. Pregnant women, lactating mothers through the WIC Program have more vitality, better physical. appearance, seem to have less dental problems than mothers who have an inadequate, skimpy diet. One mother wanted to breast feed her baby but had to use formula in addition. After participation in the WIC Program was implemented, the milk supply was established and the supplemental feedings eliminated. The first child of one mother was ill frequently. There was a decided change in the second child born after participation in the WIC Program. It has been an interesting program in which to be involved from the beginning. Funds for this type of program are needed to give babies a good start during the all important formative period of development. With proper nutrition a child can be expected to grow physically, be mentally alert. A healthy child is a happy child. Sincerely, BERTHA E. MOSHER, R.N, G.S., who is deaf is the mother three children ranging in age from 2 to 12. The two younger children were put on the WIC Program June 7, 1974 when one was 18 months and the other three years. The three year old appeared ill with a rash by his right eye and apparent adema of the face. He was quiet and a bit lethargic but did respond to attention from the nurse. The diet lacked milk, leafy green vegetables, and whole grains. She was obviously trying to feed her children well, but according to the Public Health Nurse they were sickly much of the time. The Public Health Nurse has reported that the children's health has improved considereably since they have been on the WIC Program. E. T. is a para 4, gravida 1, mild diabetic. She miscarried twice before having a viable 8 lb. 6 oz. baby girl. During that pregnancy, she was hospitalized and put on bed rest for toxemia. She came on the WIC Program, October 4 when she was three months pregnant. She is short, obese, and her diet lacked vegetables, greens, eggs, and milk. She said she occasionally went on binges eating a whole pie or half a cake. She has been instructed and followed carefully throughout this pregnancy. Information concerning protein intake, carbohydrates, vegetables, grains, etc. is reinforced at each visit. Though her blood pressure was elevated in the second trimester, she was not put on diuretics or a low salt diet, but dietary information was reinforced. At term she is not showing signs of adema, her blood pressure has lowered and her over-all appearance has vastly improved. Her year old baby is also on WIC. She was changed from Bremil to a high iron infant formula. Her health has been excellent. B. U. is the mother of two children, born 3/6/74 and 4/22/72. They were referred into the program by the Public Health Nurse, receiving their first vouchers 5/29/74. The family income is well below the poverty level. The children had exzema, the older boy being anemic and eating poorly. The baby was on whole milk and all types of baby foods at 2 months of age. The mother has been counseled on infant and toddler feeding. Suggestions have been made for increasing dietary intake of iron. The PHN has reinforced this teaching on a regular basis. The children's health has been steadily improving; they have fewer colds; and their hemoglobins have improved. A family of 6 living on $87.00/week. The youngest boys, ages 2 and 3, were put on the WIC Program in May 1975. At that time, they had tooth decay, recurring episodes of pneumonia, and various other problems. They had been followed by the Public Health Nurse for some time. Their diet showed a lack of milk, fruit, and vegetables with a reliance on kool-aid, candy, and potato chips, etc. with meals and for snacks. The PHN followed the family, delivering vouchers and counseling on diet. Records show that the children's health has improved since May 1975. There have been no more episodes of pneumonia and recent physical examinations showed them to be healthy with no signs of anemia. V. W. is the mother of twins born 1/25/73 and an infant born 10/4/74. She and the twins joined the WIC Program 8/1/74. Her diet was extremely limited due to lack of funds though what she bought was good with no empty calorie foods. Her diet lacked milk, vitamin C source, sufficient protein, vegetables, fruits, and grains. The twins who had weighed 3 lbs. 14 oz. and 4 lbs. at birth were receiving milk but lacked fruits and vegetables. Her baby has been breast fed but did not gain adequately. She is supplementing with Prosobee and the baby has started gaining. Since being on the WIC Program, the twins have improved in appearance, size and health. While on WIC foods, she has improved in appearance and health and the baby has finally begun improving in physical development. She states WIC has made the difference for her. The state Public Health Nurse Supervisor for the two county area stated that the voucher system employed WIC Program is an educational experience for the participants since they have to read labels in order to use them correctly, thus learning the difference between juice and juice drinks etc. M. B. joined the WIC Program during her fourth month of pregnancy. Her diet was lacking adequate milk, vegetables and grains. She delivered an 8 lb. 4 oz. baby boy 11/24/74. She put the baby on whole milk, refusing to use high iron infant formula, thus making the baby ineligible for the program. By March the baby, fussy from birth, was having respiratory distress and diarrhea which led to hospitalization. By then M. B. was willing to try infant formula feeding which was initiated successfully. The baby has been improving since high iron infant formula feeding was initiated. B. D. joined the WIC Program 6/18/74. She was breast feeding her baby who was under three weeks of age. The baby's birth weight was 7 lb. 8 oz. The mother's diet was limited. She was drinking no milk, eating no lunch, a reasonable supper and occasional poor quality snacks. She had not yet established breast feeding successfully, probably due to inadequate diet and fluids. With counseling and WIC foods, she has been successful in breast feeding. The baby appears healthy and well nourished and extremely alert. The mother's appearance and energy seem improved. S. J., whose husband was a graduate student, joined the WIC Program 5/17/74. She was breast feeding the youngest of her three children, born 10/17/73. The mother was very thin and had been suffering from cold sores and red and swollen gums. The older child, born 4/14/72, had constipation and skin problems. S. J. was using what money was available to provide as nutritious a diet as possible. The diets lacked vegetables, whole milk, and her diet was almost completely devoid of milk. WIC foods enabled her to provide a more nutritious diet for herself and her family. Her health status had improved by the time her husband finished his studies. According to her, the WIC Program was their salvation at a crucial time in their childrens' growth. G. K., born 6/4/72, was put on the WIC Program 6/24/74. Her diet consisted of sugared cereal, canned soups, canned spaghetti, no fruit or fruit juice, minimal protein and inadequate vegetables. Her mother had no money for milk, so was giving the child koolaid to drink. Nine months later the child's diet is much improved; she receives orange juice every day and milk with each meal; protein intake is improved and the nutritionally worthless foods have been removed from the diet. The mother states, "She has seemed to be growing more. She seems better natured from getting more nourishment." Her mother is able to buy more meats and vegetables with money saved by having WIC foods provided. F. K. was an LPN, age 27. She had had four previous pregnancies: one miscarriage, one low birthweight baby, one who died prior to six months of age and one eight year old son with a birth defect. She had previously had toxemia of pregnancy. She was enrolled as a student in a diploma nursing program, scheduled to graduate and take the state board examinations about the time the baby was due. With the WIC foods and nutrition counseling the course of her pregnancy went well. She stayed healthy, attended all classes and passed her state board examinations just prior to delivery of a healthy 7 lb. 8 oz. baby girl. O. C., age 33 and pregnant for the fourth time was put on the WIC Program 7/5/74. Her diet was woefully inadequate; in a one day period her total intake was 4 glasses of water, 1 pepsi, 1 glass koolaid, 1 hamburger, 1 piece of pizza. The next day she had 3 glasses of water, 1 tuna sandwich, 1 serving of spaghetti and cookies. She was anemic, obese, and suffering from constipation and skin problems. She was eating poorly herself in an effort to reserve the nutritious foods available to the family for the other children. She was also attempting to regulate her weight by not eating at all; eventually she would become so hungry that she would eat whatever was handy, usually a high calorie food of no nutritional value. She was counseled about the nutritional vulnerability of her unborn child and taught that dieting for weight control during pregnancy was extremely dangerous. She was also taught that weight control would be an ever diminishing problem provided she ate the proper amounts of nutritious foods and avoided "empty calories". She delivered a healthy 8 lb. 5 oz. baby girl on 10/24/74. Since delivery much of her excess weight has been lost and she appears healthy and energetic. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, Attention: Mr. Charles Peck: City of Bangor, Maine, April 2, 1975. The Honorable Senator WILLIAM D. HATHAWAY, DEAR MR. PECK: Thank you very much for your recent phone call and your indication that Senator Hathaway may take special attention to the current plight of Senate Bill S 850; namey, that the U.S.D.A. Section 32 funding provision in this bill was "apparently" inadvertently deleted by members of the Education and Labor Committee, thus potentially lending "instant political unpopularity" to it. Please convey our sincere thanks to the Senator for his strong support of WIC. Below are some details on the program. We are preparing more to follow shortly. The Bangor Health Department has been involved in many Federally-supported programs over the years. Cooperating health and social service agencies in the area have too. I think it is safe to say, however, that we have never experienced a Federal program such as WIC, where so much good has been done for so many people in such a short time, with so little administrative overheaded. On April 1st, we were notified by the U.S.D.A. that a request for client load increase from 1,000 to 1,500 women, infants and children had been approved. The new allowances permit us to serve up to 360 women, 495 infants and 645 children. The funding proportions of the new allocation will be the same. Of a total budget of $225.500 to serve 1,000 clients (approved last November) 87% of these funds are expended on food. Only 10% is allowed for administrative costs. Although another worker must be added now to handle the increased client load, all of the work for processing of the 1,000 clients has been done by three fulltime individuals and a part-time dietary consultant. Only one of these workers presently grosses over $100 a week-the Supervisor-and she grosses less than $140. They are totally devoted and committed to the program, and in truth they have made it work. It is a singularly un-bureaucratic effort. Virtually all outreach and channeling from clients of distant parts of the project area to the clinic sites involve a good deal of added work on the part of agencies allied with WIC, such as Penquis CAP, Eastern Maine Medical Center, State Division of Public Health Nursing, Orono Nursing Service, Old Town/Milford/Bradley Nursing Service, and the City's own Division of Public Health Nursing. Their efforts have been strictly in kind services for which no reimbursements are made. In March 1974, when we were notified of our immediate funding (with literally no forewarning) no service organization whatever existed. Through the efforts of allied agencies, the Health Department and Northeast Food Action, we hired a staff and had an organization by May with 233 recipients enrolled. By February of this year, 930 clients were enrolled logging roughly 50 to 60 client visits per day in two closet-sized offices furnished with four used desks, one loaned calculator, a second hand adding machine and a typewriter. It was not until January that the program got its own phone. Something specific should be said about the dietary consultant for the program. She has been one of the principal and devoted figures. Mrs. Phyllis Williams. She combines the unique qualifications of nurse and dietary expert, and has written articles and a book on prenatal and early childhood nutrition. She gives a great deal of herself to the program and in coordinating the efforts with physicians and other health personnel. The administration of the program is and will remain spartan, but processes by hand (and this must change to preserve the sanity of the staff) over $12,000 worth of food vouchers per month. This then is one of two aspects of cost effectiveness; the daily operation of the program. In terms of what the program is supposed to accomplish, its second measure, the outcome of pregnancy and program effectiveness on infant and toddler health has been reviewed. Essentially and as FNS intended, pregnant women who have been on the program have had a lower incidence of low birth weight babies, compared with a non-WIC group from the same economic level. In Penobscot County for example, the incidence of low birth weight babies for all economic groups is 8%. To women who were on the program three months 52-880 0-75-20 |