The WIC program has an average of 9.17 million participants every month. Yet, there are many women who are not receiving benefits from this great resource center, and there are many women that are taking advantage and are receiving the benefits when they actually do not need it. I planned an informative trip to one of the many WIC agencies her in Los Angeles, CA. I visited the Van Nuys, CA location multiple times to get a chance to talk to recipients and even employees to get a better view of the program. There are certain guidelines and rules that you should know in order to receive the benefits provided by the WIC agency. The WIC Program is designed to serve only certain categories of women, infants, and children. Participants WIC considers …show more content…
eligible to join are Women who are pregnant or even 6 weeks after child's birth. Postpartum women, meaning six months after the birth of the child or the end of their pregnancy. Women breastfeeding (up to the infant’s first birthday), and infants up age of five. Applicants must be residents of the state in which they are applying for WIC. WIC is a short-term program.
Depending on whether the individual is pregnant, postpartum, breastfeeding, an infant, or a child an individual usually receives WIC benefits from 6 months to a year. After that period of time he/she would need to reapply. Usually, more than 50% of participants reapply because they continue to meet the income requirements WIC offers. WIC has such a vast amount of participants that sometimes they do not have enough money to serve the participants. Therefore, Applicants are required to be placed on a waiting list. WIC agencies use a special system called priority system that determines who will receive the benefits first. The priority system determines the people that have the most serious case of health …show more content…
problems. WIC agencies provide their participants checks that they may redeem at any grocery stores, liquor stores, etc that support WIC. I was shocked to find out that there is such specific nutritional criterion with the foods provided by WIC. WIC promotes healthy eating for their participants and is reviewed periodically to maintain their efficiency. Types of food they offer are Canned Fish, Canned mature beans, cheese, dry beans, peas, lentils, Fruits and vegetables that are dried, frozen and even fresh, Evaporated milk, fluid milk, powdered dry milk, brown rice, whole wheat bread, eggs, tofu and many more. They have a wide variety of choices for different people. WIC not only provides weekly products for their participants, they also provide classes for different things such as Breastfeeding, cooking, and career opportunity seminars, these seminars are extremely beneficial and informative.
I had asked if I can sit and explore in one of the seminars, but I was not allowed to which I understood. There are also workshops for moms who are trying to go back to work or school, informing them the benefits of breast milk over formula, hospital experiences, pumping breast milk, and even caring for your baby. To be eligible for WIC, applicants must have income at or below an income standard set by the State agency .I have been doing my research and I believe that people take advantage of the WIC program and are dishonest about their household income. They lie to be placed in the program to get all the advantages the program offers and free products to support their homes, without spending money. I believe that the program should be stricter and actually let people in the program that are in need. They should know the difference between people who are actually in need and people who are just lying themselves
through. As I visited a several times each time I spoke to different employees. I told them, how I feel which people lie about their income to get into the program and it is unfair. Unfortunately, I did not get much solved. They heard what I said and some employees agreed but they said there is not much that could be done. I had mentioned they should check income in numerous ways to make sure that the people who are in the program truly are in need of it. Throughout my trips, some employees thought I was crazy. I am happy I made an effort and addressed how I felt. Talking to a several recipients and hearing how grateful they are from the program is what made me feel good. Knowing that there is a program that can help so many families in numerous ways is great. Although, my proposal did not end exactly how I wanted it too, I am still thankful that I got a chance to go speak and tell WIC participants and employees how I feel. Seeing the participants truly happy and grateful for this agency made me happy. It may not be fair because people that do not need the program lie about their income to get free and are taking advantage of the great agency, while people who are in actual need and deserve and a spot in WIC cannot get in because there is a waiting list, but perhaps it might change soon. I believe that they took my thoughts into consideration and maybe one day I will see a change, the fact that I tried is what truly mattered.
From the humble beginning of Social Work there have been many people who have tirelessly worked, fought, and dedicated their life advocating for the people in our world who are disadvantaged. Furthermore, many of these people have been women who not only were strong enough to fight for the rights of others, but also had to fight the forces whom thought that women where in some way second hand citizens themselves. These women were brave and determined enough to break out of the box that society placed them in, and stand up for the social injustices that they seen taking place, and try to make a difference. Of the many women from the early days of Social Work none fought harder for social reform than Grace Abbott. Grace Abbott spent her life fighting to enact legislation for the betterment of society as a whole. This work would eventually earn her the nickname “the mother of America’s forty-three million children.”
With more and more people becoming unemployed and applying for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), it is imperative that we understand the benefits as well as problems this causes. Even while researching this topic and talking to some of my family and friends about it, it surprised me the amount of those who do not understand food stamps. Coming from the SNAP website, “Food stamps offer nutritional assistance to millions of eligible low-income individuals and families and provides economic benefits to communities” (United States). This program helps millions of people per year and gives upwards of $75 billion and rising. With the prices of food increasing due to inflation, beneficiaries are receiving around $400 at most per month. Using the Electronic benefit transfer systems (EBT), beneficiaries can buy goods from a grocery store using a credit-card like transaction, which takes the money off of their card. The benefits are received monthly on a specific date and vary in amounts from person to person. One family may receive $300 per month because they have three kids and need the extra money, while another may receive $100 or less depending on financial status. The application process includes completing and filing an application form, being interviewed, and verifying facts crucial to determining eligibility. In the past, these applications did not require a drug screening to get benefits, but more and more states are adopting this. There are many drawbacks to SNAP as well such as taking money from working people’s paychecks every week and people abusing the system. Talking about a very opinionated subject, we must remove bias and answer whether or not the Food Stamp system should be limited.
In addition, it offers individuals with disabilities guidance with integrated employment. At the same time, WIOA has been harmful to person’s with disabilities because it has played a role in dynamics of oppression and has not done enough to make certain individuals who are considered “sheltered” are offered equal employment and equal compensation. I have learned if you are not a part of the solution, then you are a part of the problem and WIOA can do more to make certain justice is served and more equality is exercised. Moreover, we can all combine our efforts to advocate and get involved with organizations that are committed to assisting WIOA in improving its organization for all job seekers, workers, and
know how essential this is to a new born baby and the difference it makes to breastfeed. The
In conclusion, WIC is a very benefiting program for low income families. We now have a knowledge on where WIC originated from and the history of WIC, Who qualifies for WIC and the eligibility requirements, how WIC is funded, and what the benefits of qualifying for WIC are.
Originally, the program benefits were restricted to people who were aged 65 years old and older. However, now women and men who are 62 years old can receive these benefits. Furthermore, the program changed over time, and is now also known as the Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance
North Carolina’s Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program is one of the primary forms of Medicaid. TANF is also called Work First, which is based on the premise that parents have a responsibility to support themselves and their children. Through Work First, parents can get short-term training and other services to help them become employed and self-sufficient later on, but the responsibility is theirs to find the actual job. Most families have two years or less to move off Work First Family Assistance and after that they are completely on their own. According to a document found on Civic Report, the sixty percent of the rise employment among single mothers is due to the fact the money they are given is not enough to support their families.
Women, C. R. (2007). Women Experiences of Social Programs for people with low income. CRIAW-Fact Sheet, 1-12.
Welfare Recipients-False Positives, False Negatives, Unanticipated Opportunities. Women’s Health Issues, Vol. 12(1), pp. 23-31, Retrieved from http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S1049-3867(01)00139-6
This particular class was conducted on a Saturday and covered the labor process, options for labor support, comfort measures, and breastfeeding. The class began with the discussion of the anatomy and physiology of an expecting mother. Then progressed to the stages of labor. Furthermore, the complications of delivery and pregnancy were discussed, this took approximately four hours. Lunch was at noon and piloted for thirty minutes. After lunch, comfort measures were reviewed, for about two hour. A forty-five minutes natural childbirth video was played that incorporated the Lamaze techniques. Then the instructor had the mother sit on the floor on yoga mats to practice the recommended breathing techniques for approximately thirty minutes. The final hour was dedicated to breastfeeding and questions the students
...earned dollars are not contributing to help the rightful recipients, but instead it is going straight to the pocket of individuals that are abusing the system and could care less about violating the law. Committing any welfare fraud is illegal and whoever chooses to break the law will be punished. “The Department of Human Services (DHS) may hold an administrative hearing, bring criminal charges or ask you to voluntarily sign a disqualification agreement if you are suspected of fraud. You will have to pay DHS back and will also be disqualified from receiving benefits for 1 to 10 years” (“Welfare” 2). Bringing criminal charges on recipients that are misusing and abusing the system is fair. It is a serious matter that needs to be taken seriously. It is stealing from the tax payers and taking away assistance from individuals that doubtlessly need the assistance.
...hey may not have anything to eat or feed to their families. The program should be called off unless the whole issues that it has brought are addressed. The Housing First Approach it uses funds the incorrect way.
Approximately two-thirds of the uninsured in our country live in low income families, approximately 8.5 million of those are uninsured low income women, thus making up 19 percent of the uninsured populatio...
The SNAP policy may require certain recipients to work, attend employment training workshops or other specialized work seminars. This requirement may be waived in certain states or counties within the same state. Also, there are special waivers for household members that are
After seeing this mother, doing the research and seeing how valuable breastfeeding teaching really is, I realized that my preconception related to breastfeeding was way off and my respect for mothers who try to breastfeed and continue to try throughout difficulties without giving up has increased substantially. It is so important to encourage a mother and help her out through the difficulties and challenges she faces through breastfeeding. It may help the mother to know that she is not alone and breastfeeding difficulties are quite common in the beginning but it gets easier with time. I feel that I have learned a lot about breastfeeding difficulties and techniques after being able to go in with a lactation consultant and doing this reflection. I have found that there are many valuable resources for the breastfeeding mother. At the time of this situation, I did not know there was a breastfeeding clinic and a number that you could call if you had any questions, which would really benefit my patient or any patient with breastfeeding questions. It is quite unfortunate that a lactation consultant was not working on Saturday because this mom could have really benefit from one. However, there is healthy and home, a community health division, with workers who are able to help with breastfeeding, including lactation consultants and are able to