Vulnerable PA Children Are Eligible for WIC Up to Age Five But If Birthday Forces Late Start to School Then Children Are Without Vital Food Aid For As Much As a Year / Casey Plan Would Give States Flexibility to Let Children Remain Eligible for WIC Until Sixth Birthday, Ensuring No Child Loses Assistance Because of When Their Birthday Falls / Annually Thousands of PA Kids Fall Into WIC Gap
Washington DC- U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA), detailing county by county data, unveiled a plan to close the ‘WIC Gap’ a policy that kicks young Pennsylvania children off of vital nutrition assistance before they enter school. Vulnerable children in Pennsylvania and across the nation are eligible for the Women Infants and Children (WIC) program up to age five at which point it was assumed many enter public school where they may qualify for school breakfast and lunch programs that continue to supplement their intake of healthy food choices. However, a child’s birth date impacts their eligibility to enter school. A significant number of children remain ineligible for school well past their fifth birthday – sometimes for as much as a year. Casey’s legislation, the Wise Investment in our Children (WIC) Act would allow States to extend eligibility for children to age six in order to close the gap.
“When children have the right nutrition early in life they’re healthier, do better in school and ultimately are better off when they enter the workforce,” Senator Casey said. “By expanding WIC to age six we close that gap and ensure children have a strong health and nutrition foundation. No child should be placed at a nutritional disadvantage simply because of when their birthdate falls.”
Extend Eligibility for Children to Age 6
WIC provides nutrition assistance to children up to age five, at which point many enter public school where they may qualify for school breakfast and lunch programs that continue to supplement their
intake of healthy food choices. However, a child’s birth date impacts their eligibility to enter school. A significant number of children remain ineligible well past their fifth birthday – sometimes for as much as a year. Continuing WIC nutrition services assures a continued strong health and nutrition foundation, preparing children for school entrance, getting them ready to learn, reducing childhood
obesity and other chronic diseases. The WIC Act would allow States to extend eligibility for children to age six.
Extend Certification Periods for Infants
According to medical experts, the first two years of life are a key timeframe to invest in the health of a child. WIC certification procedures require WIC applicants to present documentation of family
income for those individuals who are not certified from other programs (like Medicaid), present proof of residency and physically present themselves at certification, for which the appointment can
take 2-3 hours. By allowing WIC certification for infants for up to two years (instead of the current one year), Congress has the opportunity to eliminate duplicative paperwork and focus WIC on
health, nutrition, breastfeeding, immunization, and pediatric referral services that will make a significant difference in the lives of lower income infants and young children. This change will allow better nutrition services coordination, increase opportunities for nutrition intervention, assure improved breastfeeding duration, improve coordination with healthcare services, reduce duplicative
and invasive blood work for infants and toddlers, provide for more counseling time and time with high-risk infants and toddlers, and streamline and reduce paperwork for clients, clinics, and health
care providers. The WIC Act would give States the option to certify infants for two years.
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