2011 WIC Special Project Grants

Project Title: Massachusetts WIC Enhanced Referral and Family Support Project

State Agency: Massachusetts

Summary: The aim of the project is to evaluate the use of Family Support Coordinators in locations that do not have comprehensive social service programs. From the USDA Special Project Grant, Getting to the Heart of the Matter, it was found that participants had complex needs that potentially affected their diets. Staff have a difficult time assisting clients’ with issues that fall outside of the scope of WIC, thus, Massachusetts WIC obtained funding for part-time referral coordinators who provide comprehensive service coordination for families with more significant referral service needs.

Project Title: Expanding WIC Services to Head Start Sites in Virginia

State Agency: Virginia

Summary: This concept paper addresses the issue of the overall low rates of child participation as well as the retention of toddlers (children two to four year of age) in the WIC program by targeting children in Head Start and Early Head Start. It also plans to address areas of duplicative services between Head Start and WIC and to improve collaboration between Head Start and WIC.