National WIC Association

COVID-19

All content tagged with the term "covid19".


  • Congress Sustains Bipartisan Consensus for WIC, Child Nutrition Flexibilities

    September 22, 2020 - News & Blog
    Earlier this evening, the House of Representatives passed a bipartisan agreement to extend government funding through December 11, 2020. The continuing resolution includes an additional $8 billion in nutrition aid by extending the Pandemic-EBT Program, as well as critical provisions that extend U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) waiver authority for WIC and other child nutrition programs through September 2021. Rev. Douglas Greenaway, President & CEO of the National WIC Association, issued the following statement in response.


  • What Does the USDA Waivers Decision Mean For WIC?

    September 21, 2020 - News & Blog
    After months of constant and bold WIC waiver advocacy and coalition building by NWA, USDA announced an extension of WIC flexibilities until thirty days after the end of the nationally-declared public health emergency. NWA remains committed to assisting state agencies and frontline providers with navigating the federal emergency response and delivering quality services throughout the pandemic.


  • NWA Secures Continued WIC Flexibilities throughout COVID-19 Pandemic

    September 21, 2020 - News & Blog
    This morning, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced an extension of WIC flexibilities until thirty days after the end of the nationally-declared public health emergency. Rev. Douglas Greenaway, President & CEO of the National WIC Association, issued the following statement in response.


  • Want to Fight for the Safety of WIC Families? Join the #WICWaiversWork Campaign

    September 4, 2020 - News & Blog
    Find instructions, examples, and messaging for how you can take action to protect WIC families. #WICWaiversWork


  • WIC Waivers Work: A Message from Rev. Douglas Greenaway

    September 3, 2020 - News & Blog
    WIC providers know that COVID-19 is not going away. WIC clinics populated by young children are not equipped for safe social distancing. In several states where clinics have reopened, services have been disrupted or shut down as clinic staff has been exposed to or contracted COVID-19. We cannot put clinic staff or WIC families at life-threatening health risk.


  • WIC Providers, Medical Community Urge USDA to Immediately Extend COVID-Related Flexibilities

    August 31, 2020 - News & Blog
    The National WIC Association (NWA), the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) jointly call on USDA to act immediately to extend the waivers for the remainder of the COVID-19 emergency. With the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reporting increased risks of severe illness and adverse pregnancy outcomes for pregnant persons who contract COVID-19, it is imperative that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) empower states with all the available flexibilities to ensure the safety of pregnant persons, new parents, and their babies and young children.


  • State Spotlight: New Hampshire WIC Reaches Newly Eligible Families During COVID-19 Pandemic

    August 17, 2020 - News & Blog
    The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in significant job and income loss for families across the nation. Programs like WIC have served as a safety net for an increasing number of newly eligible families. New Hampshire WIC in particular has seen an average increase of 12% in WIC participation.


  • State Spotlight: How South Carolina WIC Creatively Supports Breastfeeding Moms

    August 10, 2020 - News & Blog
    This pandemic has wedged physical distance between families and their support systems, posing significant challenges for new mothers who are navigating parenthood. However, South Carolina’s Breastfeeding Peer Counselors and IBCLCs have found creative ways to connect and support new WIC moms throughout the pandemic. South Carolina’s WIC Director, Berry Kelly applauds the entire SC WIC team and states that "our team has ensured that WIC has remained a steady, consistent nutritional and public health support for mothers, babies, and children."


  • State Spotlight: Oregon WIC and Locals Team Up to Successfully Implement Remote Service

    August 3, 2020 - News & Blog
    Oregon WIC has made it a priority to support, work with, and hear from local WIC providers through the pandemic. Local WIC providers in Oregon have raised the importance of ensuring that decision-making in WIC be grounded in an equity framework, highlighting the need for Congress to extend USDA’s waiver authority for WIC. Tiare Sanna, Oregon’s WIC Director, says that Oregon WIC will "support implementation of remote service in order to prevent undue risk to participants and staff, as long as waivers are granted."


  • WIC Providers in All 50 States, Public Health Organizations Urge Congress to Extend Waiver Authority for the Sake of Health and Safety

    July 31, 2020 - News & Blog
    Over 60 national organizations and over 350 local service-provider agencies from all 50 states are calling on Congress to extend U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) waiver authority for WIC in the next COVID-response package.