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Release No. 0396.05

Contact: Jean Daniel (202) 720-7711
Susan Acker (703) 305-2286
 

USDA AWARDS $1.5 MILLION FOR WIC SPECIAL PROJECT GRANTS

WASHINGTON, Sept. 23, 2005 - Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns today announced the award of nearly $1.5 million to four states and the District of Columbia to help states develop, implement and evaluate new ways to deliver services to meet the changing needs of participants in the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program.

"These grants support the Administration's goal of providing a healthy start for women and children through this important program," said Johanns. "WIC is a proven, effective program for pregnant women, new mothers and their infants. It builds a stronger, healthier America by providing nutrition assistance and promoting healthy eating."

The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, better known as the WIC Program, safeguards the health of low-income women, infants and children up to age 5. The program provides nutritious foods to supplement diets, information on healthy eating, and referrals to health care. About 8 million people receive WIC benefits each month.

These annual grants are part of USDA's Food and Nutrition Service Revitalizing Quality Nutrition Services in WIC (RQNS) initiative. The goal of RQNS is to improve and strengthen the effectiveness of WIC nutrition services.

Full grant funding, provided for three years to states for innovative strategies that promote breastfeeding and increase fruit and vegetable intake among WIC children and families was competitively awarded to Oregon, Pennsylvania, Vermont and the District of Columbia. New York received a $15,000, one-year grant to develop its concept paper into a full grant proposal on how to improve eating and physical activity behaviors to combat obesity among WIC participants.

The grant awards are:

Full Grants

  • Oregon ($370,000): "Improving fruit and vegetable consumption of pre-school children."
  • Pennsylvania ($370,000):"Pennsylvania WIC evaluation: guided goal setting as a behavioral change approach to improve nutrition and health of WIC participants."
  • Vermont ($370,000): "'Nurturing families' appetite for fruits and vegetables."
  • Washington, DC ($370,000): "Effectiveness of motivational interviewing counseling techniques to increase fruit and vegetable consumption."

Concept Papers

  • * New York ($15,000): "Fit WIC New York: adopting Fit WIC materials and training to improve WIC services in New York."

For more information on the USDA Food and Nutrition Service and its programs go to www.fns.usda.gov/


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