WIC question, please help!?

Question

Please answer this question if you have been on WIC or know someone been on WIC before. Thank you so much.

I am a nutritonist, do you think I make more difference in WIC or in private setting (like helping people who want to eat healtier and they paying out their own packet or by insurance.,mainly older adult or adult)

thank you so much~!

sorry for those who already answer the question today. I just tried to get more feedback on this. :-)

Answer 1

I have not been on WIC but am answering from the point of view of being for 12 yrs exec director of a ministry in GA with many clients on WIC.   You will not make the difference for every client.   Some will absorb info they had no conscious intent of learning especially if your teaching is interesting not just dry facts. Some will ignore everything you teach them yet bec of the WIC foods they and their children will have better health.  Some wil llearn willingly but not eagerly and some will pull out of you everything you can teach them and send you learning more because they want so much to do all they can for their children.  You know that but maybe this will help bring it to the surface.   If you have a caseload such that you can actually teach and answer questions not just hand out vouchers and run to the next and next and next then you are making a difference not just nutritionally but in other ways too.

The paying clients will probably pay more attention on average and a greater percentage will probably do what you suggest   BUT for them there are other resources.  Your WIC ladies do not have any other probable place to learn what you can teach. Their children do not have any other person to teach their moms what they need to know so the child can be well nourished,   You know that stats better than I do I'm sure as to the difference early childhood nutritional help can make.   Added to this many WIC moms come from family backgrounds where knowledge of good nutrition either does not exist or is overridden by the need to keep some food and food on the table and in the tummy.  When there is money the unsatisfied needs (incl nutritional needs not being met) lead towards instant gratification ie junk food). Beyond the nutritional aspects WIC workers can make a huge difference bec for many especially the younger moms they may be the firstbto teach them they can be a responsibloe adult,the first to show them respect by treating them as someone who wants the best for their child, the first to help them look beyond problems and see possibilities. If in your work with WIC you are one of the workers who is doing that THANK YOU,

A suggestion if I may, if you want different types of satisfaction and want to see how working with older, better off clients would be why not start a small independent practice perhaps one evening a week or one or two Saturdays a month.  You would then have the opportunity to compare side by side how you feel about each possibility, be getting known in private practice, and building a second source of income and hopefully some savings that can be a safety net for you and your family if there are program cutbacks and agency budget hassels or if the caseload gets too overwhelming.   In trying economic times government agencies get more demand for help and at the same time tend to freeze vacancies and enlarge caseloads.  Additioally you will be able to see if the economy in your area can and will support another nutritionist in private practice.

Answer 2

The WIC program does promote health in infants which is good.  There's another program for adults who are in need of financial assistance.  The latter actually includes anything that qualifies as food.  But WIC promotes health in infants and young children since things like cheese, milk, eggs, beans, rice, etc are what qualify.  

WIC is a government program, as you know, and work as a public health consultant will not pay well (something like 4-5 K).  That might influence you, while making a difference in people's lives comes first.

However, as I said, the program is already health-promoting and it might be a waste of your talents to work as a consultant.  

So I would advocate one of your other options.

Answer 3

no, don't give up on these girls, some don't know the basics of good health. they didn't have someone to teach them how to fix healthy meals for their family. do all you can to show them how to use the food they get to fix nutritious meals. most already get food stamps and don't know what to buy. if you help one girl learn how to feed her family every year. it is worth it. i know how apathy and greed has made those who work at WIC wonder if they are doing any good. but if they are so poor they will sit in those hard chairs for hours on end to get their WIC cards, then give them a reason to sit there. teach them all you can.

Answer 4

I've known people on WIC and I am not sure it helped them eat healthier. They just needed the food benefits, and went through the motions of everything else.  I guess it depends on what you want to do and what type of work you would find more rewarding.