Improving nutrition and infant health through WIC: opportunities during and beyond a public health crisis

Improving nutrition and infant health through WIC: opportunities during and beyond a public health crisis

Collection:
Health Policy and Services Research
Series Title(s):
HealthWatch (United Hospital Fund of New York)
Author(s):
Scaffidi, Sarah, author
Gilman, Matlin, author
Myers, Nathan, author
Contributor(s):
United Hospital Fund of New York, issuing body.
Publication:
[New York, NY] : United Hospital Fund, September 2021
Language(s):
English
Format:
Text
Subject(s):
Food Assistance
Food Insecurity
Infant Health
Medicaid
COVID-19
Infant, Low Birth Weight
New York
United States
Genre(s):
Technical Report
Abstract:
Food insecurity is a harrowing reality for many New Yorkers, and the COVID-19 pandemic has both exacerbated the scope of the problem and posed new challenges to those burdened with social need. Racial inequalities in income, housing, employment, and food access only serve to heighten these risks for Black and Hispanic/Latino communities. Nutrition assistance programs are available for low-income mothers and their infants, but the pandemic has exacerbated the historical barriers preventing many eligible families from receiving such assistance. This issue brief explores why Medicaid plans and providers may wish to focus on food insecurity as a critical opportunity for improving infant health and reducing associated health costs. The brief examines low birthweight as one key outcome of food insecurity and considers innovative strategies for leveraging the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) to support Medicaid-enrolled families during the COVID-19 crisis and beyond.
Copyright:
Reproduced with permission of the copyright holder. Further use of the material is subject to CC BY license. (More information)
Extent:
1 online resource (1 PDF file (20 pages))
Illustrations:
Illustrations
NLM Unique ID:
9918351273806676 (See catalog record)
Permanent Link:
http://resource.nlm.nih.gov/9918351273806676