FNS Documents & Resources

Phase II was a methodological study, conducted in six sites during 2015–2016, to test an approach to determine its feasibility for a national evaluation.

The USDA Food and Nutrition Service’s 1990 WIC Medicaid Study I found that prenatal WIC participation was associated with improved birth outcomes and savings in Medicaid costs. A 2003 study by Buescher, et al., found that WIC participation during childhood was associated with increased health care utilization and Medicaid costs, and concluded that WIC enhanced children’s linkages to the health care system.

The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) intends to request approval from the Office of Management and Budget for a generic clearance that will allow FNS to conduct a variety of data-gathering activities aimed at improving the quality and usability of information collection instruments associated with research and analysis activities.

1939 – The First Food Stamp Program

Enrollment for the WIC Program in April 2002 totaled 8,016,916. Of this total, Hispanics accounted for 3,051,969 (38%), Whites 2,874,155 (36%), Blacks 1,621,914 (20%), Asian/Pacific Islanders 277,965 (4%), American Indian/Alaska Native 114,566 (1%).

Enrollment for the WIC Program in April 2004 totaled 8,586,487. Of this total, Hispanics accounted for 3,362,959 (39%), Whites 2,987,147 (35%), Blacks 1,715,294 (20%), Asian/Pacific Islanders 261,342 (3%), American Indian/Alaska Native 133,191 (2%).

Enrollment for the WIC Program in April 2006 totaled 8,772,216. Of this total, Whites accounted for 4,849,557 (55.28%), Blacks 1,715,433 (19.56%), American Indian 1,344,422 (15.33%), Multiple Race 256,244 (2.92%), Asian 255,629 (2.91%), Hawaiian/Pacific Islander 68,598 (.78%).

Enrollment for the WIC program in April 2008 totaled 9,537,897. Of this total, Whites accounted for 5,753,002 (60.30%), Blacks 1,868,090 (19.58%), American Indian 1,090,454 (11.43%),  Multiple Race 346,819 (3.64%), Asian 256,506 (2.67%),  Hawaiian/Pacific Islander 79,738 (.84%). 

Enrollment for the WIC Program in April 2010 totaled 10,021,138. Of this total, Whites accounted for 6,107,270 (60.94%), Blacks 1,934,966 (19.31%), American Indian 1,054,982 (10.53%), Multiple Race 420,407 (4.2%), Asian 273,040 (2.72%), Hawaiian/Pacific Islander 81,610 (.81%). 

Enrollment for the WIC Program in April 2012 totaled 9,734,468. Of this total, Whites accounted for 5,664,332 (58.2%), Blacks 1,927,548 (19.8%), American Indian 1,191,137 (12.2%), Multiple Race 499,196 (5.1%), Asian 297,724 (3.1%), Hawaiian/Pacific Islander 81,735 (0.8%).