Food Stamps And Wic Research Paper

Running Head: FOOD STAMPS AND WIC

Food Stamps and WIC
Welfare Reform and the Effect on the Family

Tracey Denise Battle

Strayer University

FOOD STAMPS AND WIC

With the problems going on with unemployment in the US, we need to help the poor but we also need to monitor those who are receiving the help. To eliminate the frauds or those who are not trying to find work There is too much abuse and scamming with food stamps to even tolerate that program, it 's corrupt and throws money away (Dave, 2009). WIC was established in 1972 as part of an initiative to help improve the nutrition of low income women and children (USDA, 2008a). The program was formerly known as the Special Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants, and Children.
The name was changed in 1994 under the Healthy Meals for Healthy Americans Act (USDA, 2008a). Only the name change and the program was essentially the same as it was in the past. However, with a small amount of intervention WIC and Food Stamps could return to the ethics that created them. The (USDA, 2008b) states the following: "Under this program, the state provides vouchers for participants to use at authorized food stores. Vouchers can only use them for foods that are considered nutritionally sound for the mother and child. The program plays an essential part in helping to lower Medicaid costs for women and children in the program. Since its beginning, the program has helped to lower Medicaid costs, and has been linked to longer gestation periods, higher birth weights, and lower infant mortality.”

FOOD STAMPS AND WIC
Welfare reform and the Effect on the Family This government sponsored program significantly improves low-income families’ ability to purchase food through using your (Electronic Benefits Transfer) card which is the identification card for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program / Food Stamp Program, which is issued the first three days of every month. The SNAP/ Food Stamp Program are state and local welfare offices. SNAP benefits are provided by the federal government and administered by the Department of Transitional Assistance. Residents of the Commonwealth who participate in SNAP are families with children, elders and disabled. Many are the working poor with limited income or those who are temporarily unemployed. The Food Stamp Program was established to help find a way to end hunger and improve the health of families around the world (USDA, 2005).
Applying for food stamps is an extensive process. A personal interview is required for each household and the application process may be different in each state. Usually, one would contact the local food stamp office to attain an application.
Many factors determine the eligibility of receiving food stamps. Those who generally work for low wages, are unemployed, receive welfare, are elderly or disabled and live on a small income, or are homeless are eligible for the program. More specifically, eligibility requirements depend on how many assets one has, and the amount of income one acquires. Under the food stamps rules, all types of incomes are accounted for to determine eligibility. That includes earned income and unearned income such as other public assistance programs or SSI. Most households must meet both gross and net income limits. (2008c) stated, "This is the highest share of the U.S. population on SNAP/food stamps," said the anti-hunger group Food Research and Action Center, using the new name for food stamps, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program [SNAP]. "Research suggests that one in three eligible people are not receiving ... benefits."
People that need these services are denied while others take advantage of these programs. The actual evaluation of the programs is consistent with other evaluations that have been done of long term programs, such as Medicare and Social Security that have been run by the government. It seems that government intervention is needed in some areas, but that the programs are rife with mishandling. The food stamp program needs an overhaul because too many people are being denied that need the service (Beretta, 1998). It is a program that has many flaws, but it is needed because it is a mainstay for many families who rely on it for food for themselves and their children.
WIC 's goal is to decrease the risk of poor birth outcomes and to improve the health of participants during critical times of growth and development.
Women also have a better chance of a eating healthier. This translates into enormous savings in health care dollars.

Currently WIC regulations tracking the basic legislation describe the “general intention and extent” of the WIC program as follows:

“Section 17 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966, as amended, states in part that the Congress finds that substantial numbers of pregnant women from families with insufficient income are more of a risk with respect to their physical and mental health.”

Pre-conceptual care also plays an important role for those couples who have been unsuccessful in conceiving. Factors such as low sperm count, polycystic ovaries, genitor-urinary conditions, sexually transmitted diseases (e.g. Chlamydia), Candida, hypothyroid, anorexia, hormonal imbalances and stress can all interfere with fertility (The Food Doctor 2003). Women enrolled in WIC during pregnancy and postpartum periods delivered infants with higher birth weights in a subsequent pregnancy. The women who received postpartum services had higher hemoglobin levels and lower risk of maternal obesity at the onset of the subsequent pregnancy (Food Nutrition Department,
2009).

Some studies found that the programs did have issues, but that these were minor as compared to the benefits (Beretta, 1998).
The food was nutritious, even though most of the study participants tested low in one or more nutrient. There was also a dearth of dietary fiber on most of the meals meaning that the meals need to be a little bit healthier (The Chronicle, File).
FOOD STAMPS AND WIC
However, the fact that this may be the only meal that the family is able to afford is a good indication that the program is helping people out.
In light of this, the debate usually ends with people saying that Food Stamps is a valued but poorly formulated program. Food Stamps, along with other public assistance programs often mimic this same conclusion. Welfare programs have great value overall as far as helping families in need, but often they function to support people staying on public assistance longer than necessary due to ridiculous rules like making a penny over the income guidelines.

Bibliography

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USDA. (2009). Supplemental nutrition assistance program. Retrieved from http://www.fns.usda.gov/fsp/rules/Legislation/history/PL_95-113.htm

Black, M. M., Cutts, D. B., Frank, D. A., Geppert, J. A., Skalicky, S., Levenson, P. H., Casey, C., Berkowitz, N., Zaldivar, J. T., & Cook, T. J. et al. (2004). Special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children participation and infants’ growth and health: A multisite surveillance study. Journal of American Academy of Pediatrics, 114(1): 169 - 176. R. Perez-Escamilla, A. M Ferris, L. Drake, L. Haldeman, J. Peranick, M. Campbell, Y. K. Peng, G. Burke, and B. Bernstein (2000). Food stamps are associated with food security and dietary intake of inner-city preschoolers from Hartford, Connecticut. Journal of Nutrition, 130(11): 2711 - 2717. Donald R., Habicht, J. P. & Barbara D. (2005). Household participation in the food stamp and WIC programs increases the nutrient intakes of preschool children. The Journal of Nutrition, 129(3): 672 - 679. Mairead, R., Meejung, C., Yang, D. H. & Robert G. (2005). Food Stamp and WIC Take-Up and the relationship between take-up and TANF Recidivism among Illinois TANF leavers. Working Papers, No. 56. Retrieved from, http://econpapers.repec.org/paper/harwpaper/0506.htm Rogers, E. (2009). Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System: Kids Care Program, Food Stamps, WIC and More (AHCCCS). Retrieved from, http://healthfieldmedicare.suite101.com/article.cfm/ahcccs_arizona Social Security Administration (2008). Food Stamps and Other Nutrition Programs. Retrieved from www.socialsecurity.gov
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