The National WIC Association (NWA) is the non-profit education arm and advocacy voice of the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC), the nearly 9 million mothers and young children served by WIC and the 12,000 service provider Agencies who are the front lines of WIC’s public health nutrition services for the nation’s nutritionally at-risk mothers and young children.
Our mission is to inspire and empower the WIC community to advocate for and promote quality nutrition services for all eligible mothers and young children and assure effective management of the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC).
Our vision is a nation of healthier women, children, and their families.
We endorse the American Academy of Pediatrics' Policy Statement on “Breastfeeding and the Use of Human Milk” (2005), which states, “Exclusive breastfeeding is the reference or normative model against which all alternative feeding methods must be measured with regard to growth, health, development, and all other short-and long-term outcomes.” NWA promotes exclusive breastfeeding for infant feeding through the first year of life and beyond, with the addition of appropriate complementary foods when the infant is developmentally ready, usually around six months of age. All WIC staff have a role in promoting and providing support for the successful initiation and continuation of breastfeeding.
We are a proud partner in numerous collaborative efforts to promote the public health nutrition including:
See highlights of our achievements and learn how the association has evolved over the years.
douglasg@nwica.org
The Rev. Fr. Douglas A. G. Greenaway has since 1990 served as President & CEO of the NATIONAL WIC ASSOCIATION, the nonprofit education arm and advocacy voice of the over 9 million mothers and young children participating in WIC – the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children – and the nation’s over 12,200 WIC service provider agencies and clinics. Fr. Douglas is responsible for directing the Association as well as representing the WIC community’s interests to the White House, Congress, the US Department of Agriculture, and other federal agencies and departments. See Douglas's biography.
crichardson@nwica.org
Contact Cecilia for NWA nutrition-related activities and programs including research, position papers, outreach; and Program staff/participant education.
dfrancois@nwica.org
Contact Francois for meetings and events related inquiries; accounts payable/receivable questions, and general office operations inquiries.
rlee@nwica.org
Contact Robert about membership benefits and services; corporate sponsorships; training/educational webinars and Leadership Academy; Association governance; and NWA representation at conferences for presentations and exhibit booth.
mesposito@nwica.org
Contact Martelle for questions related to public policy; NWA’s bibliography, NWA fact sheets, and policy briefs; and advocacy partnership inquiries. Martelle works on WIC advocacy, policy analysis, policy and health research-related communications, and policy innovation projects. Additionally, she represents NWA on several national coalitions and working groups and engages with partners on advocacy strategies and public health initiatives.
slee@nwica.org
Contact Samantha for media inquiries; questions about the website or online community; social media, ePublications, and blog; NWA infographics, print, marketing, and promotional materials.
nlucero@nwica.org
Contact Nayeli Lucero for questions regarding conference registrations and speaker coordinator; membership and payment inquires.
We are governed by a Board of Directors comprising State WIC Directors, Local Agency WIC Directors, State Nutrition Coordinators, a representative of the Indian & Native American WIC State Agencies, and six officers.
We have three interest sections—State Directors, Local Agency, and the Nutrition Services—and twenty-four committees and task forces that help formulate policy for the Association. The Annual Business Meeting authority resides with the Voting Members of the Association.
Our membership dues come from the state treasuries of the 50 geographic and 40 Indian & Native American, territory, trust and commonwealth state WIC agencies, our distinguished Business Council Partners, corporate Sustaining Members and other non-profit organizations. NWA does not receive direct federal funds.
Jacqueline Marlette-Boras, Chair
Theresa Landau, Chair-Elect
Terry Bryce, Chair Emeritus
Stan Bien, Treasurer
Nancy Corbin, Secretary
Douglas Greenaway, President & CEO
Jane Dvorak, Northeast
Michael Welch, Mid-Atlantic
Susan Woodbury, Western
Deborah Eibeck, Southeast
Betsy Clarke, Mid-West
Chris Furner, Mountain Plains
Vacant, Southwest
Sherrie Perry, Native American Coalition
Kathleen Baker, Mountain Plains, Co-chair
Sandra L. Jones, Southwest,
Jackie Charnley, Northeast
Melanie Murakami, Western, Co-chair
Kristen Hanulcik, Mid-West
Paula Garrett, Mid-Atlantic
Nicole Nicholas, Southeast
Margaret Payton, Southwest, Chair
Heather Miranda, Southeast
Gayle Hoxter, Western
Barbara Riley, Mid-West
Linda Kilby, Mid-Atlantic
Susan Wnuk, Northeast
Nancy Sanchez, Mountain Plains
Media contact: Samantha Lee, slee@nwica.org, 202-232-5492
The National WIC Association (NWA) is the non-profit education arm and advocacy voice of the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC), the nearly 9 million mothers and young children served by WIC and the 12,000 service provider Agencies who are the front lines of WIC’s public health nutrition services for the nation’s nutritionally at-risk mothers and young children. The Association's mission is to inspire and empower the WIC community to advocate for and promote quality nutrition services for all eligible mothers and young children and assure effective management of the WIC Program.
President & CEO Douglas A. Greenaway
Video: President Obama Summons Congressional Leaders to Discuss Shutdown Stalemate
PBS Newshour, October 2, 2013
Video: Shutdown Hits Low-income Food Plan
Associated Press, October 3, 2013
Video: U.S. Gov't Shutdown Halts Food Program for 'Vulnerable' Moms
CTV Canada AM, October 3, 2013
National WIC Association Opposes GOP Effort to Restore WIC Funding
The Huffington Post, October 4, 2013
Shutdown Leaves Program Feeding Women and Infants in Lurch
NPR, October 1, 2013
Shutdown Threatens Nutrition for Mothers, Children
CNNmoney, October 1, 2013
As Government Shutdown Looms, Americans Brace for Possible Disruption, Disappointment
The Washington Post, September 26, 2013
WIC Changes May Have Helped Trim Obesity Among Preschoolers
The Packer, August 7, 2013
Women and Children Caught In Middle of Potato War
NPR, June 19, 2013
Advocates Warn Sequester Could Mean Big Cuts For The Low-Income
NPR, February 26, 2013
Impoverished 4-Year-Olds Put Human Face on Budget Cuts
Bloomberg News, February 22, 2013
Falling Through the Cracks in the Deficit Debate
The Huffington Post, November 8, 2011
Obesity Lessons for Liberals and Conservatives
The New Yorker, August 9, 2013
A Closer Look at Why Child Obesity Rates May be Falling
USA Today, August 7, 2013
Poor Children Show a Decline in Obesity Rate
New York Times, August 6, 2013
The National WIC Association (NWA) endorses the American Academy of Pediatrics' Policy Statement on “Breastfeeding and the Use of Human Milk” (2005), which states, “Exclusive breastfeeding is the reference or normative model against which all alternative feeding methods must be measured with regard to growth, health, development, and all other short-and long-term outcomes.” NWA promotes exclusive breastfeeding for infant feeding through the first year of life and beyond, with the addition of appropriate complementary foods when the infant is developmentally ready, usually around six months of age. All WIC staff have a role in promoting and providing support for the successful initiation and continuation of breastfeeding.
Beech-Nut Nutrition Corporation is partnership minded; we partner with companies and institutions that share our ideals as we recognize that we can accomplish more together than we can alone. Our partnership with The National WIC Association is a perfect example of this. NWA provides us with clear leadership and guidance along the path of supporting WIC. The consensus and singular voice that they represent is a powerful tool in bringing together all parties, agencies, clinics, and manufacturers, for the achievement of a greater good.
General Mills has supported WIC since its inception and has been a longstanding business partner of NWA. We feel strong alignment with the mission of WIC and NWA. We began our longstanding partnership with WIC over 25 years ago when we increased the amount of iron in Cheerios to meet the needs of WIC participants. Today, General Mills manufactures over 150 products that are eligible for the WIC program. From cereals America loves like Cheerios®, Kix®, Chex®, and Wheaties® – to Green Giant® canned and frozen vegetables, Cascadian Farm® frozen fruit and vegetables, Progresso® canned beans and Muir Glen® canned tomatoes – we make delicious products that WIC consumers are proud to serve their families.
As a proud NWA Business Council Partner, HemoCue supports WIC clinics nation-wide in their efforts to screen and monitor anemia. We at HemoCue understand that even mild anemia can result in extreme fatigue and can interfere with ones ability to work, perform daily tasks, or participate in family or social activities. In children, iron deficiency can result in developmental delays, behavioral disturbances, lack of attention and learning difficulties.
Stanbio’s Public Health Team understands the importance of good health to individuals during their early stages of life and to the ones that nurture and support them.
By providing live, personal customer support, we build relationships with each WIC agency to learn their situation and participant culture; we work to offer a reliable, stress free and affordable method to test participants for anemia.
http://www.stanbio.com/products/hemopointsupsup-h2-photometer
As a NWA business partner and member of the WIC community, we pursue opportunities for multiple WIC stakeholders to work together for the benefit of the program. A deep knowledge of WIC concerns allows us to create Kellogg products and nutrition communications to answer WIC needs.
As a NWA business partner, Masimo pursues opportunities to help safeguard the health of the WIC population by identifying participants with low hemoglobin using noninvasive technology. Masimo’s mission of enabling clinicians to detect and treat potentially life threatening conditions is aligned with the NWA and WIC’s mission.
Medela’s primary focus is breastfeeding by helping moms to successfully breastfeed their babies and to do so for as long as they choose. Meeting this goal responsibly is at the heart of everything we do. Medela is proud to be a NWA Business Council Partner. WIC agencies play an instrumental role in educating and supporting breastfeeding mothers and in helping those moms provide breastmilk, the best nutrition, for their babies.
Meredith Parents Network Custom Solutions is dedicated to helping the National WIC Association provide moms with the best information on how to care for their growing families. Leveraging our status as the leading commercial publisher of parenthood content in the country, Meredith acts as a strategic communications partner and consultant to NWA. As a company, we focus on providing all women with information and inspiration to create rich and meaningful lives.
The MOM Brands company manufactures ready to eat and hot breakfast cereals. The company’s focus and success has been built on value. The company produces excellent quality products that are in many occasions consumer preferred for taste and quality and yet cost up to 50% less than the higher priced brands. The company’s desire to be a valued Business Council Partner of the NWA is for the purpose of understanding the unique needs and requirements for WIC products so the company can develop WIC specific products and adjust our mainstream products to adhere to the WIC requirements and the special needs of WIC clients.
MOM's Fresh Foods
19315 E. San Jose Avenue
City of Industry, CA 91748
As a NWA business partner and member of the WIC community, Save-A-Lot helps its customers to live richer, fuller lives by saving them money and time. The time-saving set-up of Save-A-Lot stores, combined with high-quality discount groceries, including fresh meat, poultry and produce, allows us to offer great food at great prices.