Thread: WIC program sees big gains in Brewster

May 6, 2008


WIC program sees big gains in Brewster

Marcela Rojas
The Journal News

BREWSTER- Ingrid Ramirez rained kisses on her cooing 6-month-old son, Dillon, as she sat with a nutritionist inside the Main Street offices of Women, Infants and Children discussing their health and eating habits.

The pair appeared to be on track, having had their height and weight checked. The wellness visit, which also includes blood screenings for iron deficiencies and lead, is required of all WIC clients before they are issued federally subsidized checks to purchase specific nutritional foods.

For Ramirez, that means being able to nourish Dillon and herself with iron-fortified formulas, cereals, milk and juices that she might not otherwise be able to afford. Ramirez, 22, arrived from Guatemala, she said, at age 15 with her parents. Her husband is a carpenter while she stays at home to raise her two sons, both born in the U.S.

"This program is very helpful for us because milk is so expensive," Ramirez said. "It would be very difficult for me to get healthy foods if I didn't have this."

The WIC program, run by the Putnam County Health Department, started more than 21 years ago and has recently seen tremendous growth since setting up a permanent location in Brewster in 2006. Last year, there was a 176 percent increase in program participation, attributed largely to the Brewster outpost, said WIC supervisor Lorraine Ciaiola. WIC clinics are also run at the VFW building in Cold Spring, St. John the Evangelist Church in Mahopac and the Health Department's headquarters in Southeast.

WIC serves about 1,000 clients in the county per month, about half of whom are seen in Brewster, officials said. In 2007, a total of 9,519 people were served, and in 2006, 5,409, Ciaiola said.

About 60 percent of that number are Hispanic immigrant women, many of whom are not legal in this country but whose children are, officials said. The program also has a small population of Eastern European clients.

While there are those who strongly criticize illegal immigrants utilizing taxpayer-funded services, WIC is giving mothers the tools to raise healthy children, advocates say.

"The children are U.S. citizens. It is our job and duty to help them," said Dr. Sherlita Amler, Putnam's health commissioner. "We want every child to have the best possible chance for the best possible outcome in life. This is a great way to get them started on the right road."

Indeed, the WIC program is not just a place for families to pick up food vouchers. Foremost is the education families receive on leading healthier lives, Amler said.

"Children learn their eating habits when they're young. It carries with them their whole life," Amler said. "We're teaching long-term health habits."

WIC mothers receive nutritional counseling, cooking demonstrations, medical referrals and information on other social services offered in the community. The benefits of preschool are also explained. Clients typically visit WIC clinics once every three months.

"The children that are in this program do better in school because their parents get proper information," said Ciaiola. "They get a grasp of how the country works. I think that left alone, mother and child would not be as healthy. They really are getting a lot of prevention."

WIC client Olexandra Bodnarshyk said the staff gave her advice about proper nursing techniques and what types of food to feed her 7-month-old son, Markeian, as he grows. Bodnarshyk came from Ukraine four years ago and lives in Southeast. She has a green card, she said. Her husband joined her a year ago.

"They give me food for my baby and for me," said Bodnarshyk, 34. "It's a big help, especially since my husband just came here."

The educational aspect is especially helpful to immigrant mothers who come from countries where access to medical care and wholesome foods are not always available.

"There's more possibility here," said Damaris Salguero, 35, who hails from Guatemala. "There's better opportunity to provide our children with nourishment and education."

Salguero, who has lived in Brewster for 10 years, participates in WIC with her 4-year-old son, Octavio. The program, she said, has been a source of strength for her family.

"It's more than getting the money. They (WIC staff) worry about the health of your children," she said. "They help you during your child's most important growing years."

WIC is for pregnant women, mothers and fathers with children younger than 5. To be eligible, participants must live in New York, be certified by WIC staff and meet federal income standards. A family of four, for example, must not make more than $38,203 annually, according to the most recent guidelines.

On average, a mother with a child older than 2 can take home between $100 and $120 in food checks per month, WIC officials said. If a child needs special formula - which can cost up to $560 for a three-month supply - WIC picks up the entire tab. The program encourages mothers to breast-feed for the child's first year.

Specific food items are listed on the checks, such as two gallons of milk and two pounds of carrots. The checks are funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the New York state Department of Health, WIC officials said.

The value of the program for a mother and child who stay on it from the time the woman is pregnant until her child is 5 is more than $6,000, WIC officials said. Ciaiola explained that for every $3 in food vouchers distributed, Medicaid is saving $2 from the prevention of unhealthy babies being born.

The program is not limited to mothers. Anthony Boscia, 60, of Carmel became a WIC client after he became a foster parent to his four grandchildren. Two of them, ages 2 and 4, qualify for the program. Boscia gained custody of his grandkids after his daughter, their mother, entered a rehabilitation facility for drug addiction.

"It saves you a tremendous amount of money," Boscia said. "I have nothing but high praise for them. You get the nutritious food they recommend and information on other programs people don't know about."

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

http://www.lohud.com/apps/pbcs.dll/arti ... 8805060355

Go to the flea market and see the WIC baby formula resold.

Our tax money going to an IA not feeding an anchor

Jimpasz

If you have actually seen this, it would be great if you could document it with photos and send it to whomever manages WIC.

Is the baby formual commercially produced as WIC only, or does WIC specify which formulas can be purchased. As I don't have kids, I wouldn't know the difference.

This sounds like a small step, but every bit helps in cutting illegals off of frederal aid.

I recently went to the bank to help my 82 year old mom cash her SSI check. Right behind us in line were a couple, mid 30's whom I suspected of being illegal because they couldn't, or didn't speak English, needed help cashing their US Gov check. I glanced at the check and it was for $2,500, and I was shocked. I really wanted to do something, but without knowing if they were illegal, I didn't do anything.

How are funds for WIC distributed, do people gete vouchers, a check, formula stamps (like food stamps)?

By the numbers

WIC's administrative budget (funded by federal and state grants)
2006: $192,705
2007: $399,309
2008: $375,696

Total of redeemed WIC checks
2007: $281,163
2008: expected to exceed $300,000

Source: William Orr, fiscal manager, Putnam County Health Department.

Go to the flea market on Airline Drive in Houston, TX and you can see Mexican Beer being sold there, I am talking about brands not sold here in the USA. Corona bottles with mexican labels!! At this same flea market people will openly sell fake documents, and baby formula!!

Originally Posted by jimpasz

Go to the flea market and see the WIC baby formula resold.

Our tax money going to an IA not feeding an anchor