A Model Practice must be responsive to a particular local public health problem or concern. An innovative practice must be -
Please state the Responsiveness and Innovation of your practice
The DOH Manatee WIC program used collaboration with an existing partner to focus a specific population – WIC families with limited access to fresh produce. The WIC program certification process includes an income component set at 185% of the poverty level. Fresh fruits and vegetables should be consumed daily for good health, especially during times of growth; pregnancy, infancy and childhood to age 5. Families with limited income and transportation, residing in a food desert in Manatee County do not have access to this basic need.
The target groups in WIC clients in Manatee County were initially pregnant women and children who were overweight/obese. The initial collaboration agreement between the Food Bank of Manatee and DOH Manatee WIC Program was to increase the availability of fresh produce to participants of the Breastfeeding class. This class provides pregnant women with education about breastfeeding, infant feeding and the support the WIC program in Manatee can provide, such as breastfeeding peer counselors, a breastfeeding hotline and loaner breast pumps. Participation in this important class was lower than desired as reflected by attendance records and rate of infants who were ever breastfed.
Overweight/obese children risk early onset of chronic health conditions such as heart disease and diabetes. During individual WIC nutrition counseling we learned that lower income families were not likely to use WIC produce benefits to try new fruits and vegetables. Instead the $9 allotment was used on familiar items such as potatoes, bananas and apples. Families were encouraged to select produce that was in season to help extend their benefit with more variety. The collaboration with the Food Bank of Manatee allows families to introduce new fruits and vegetables to children, encouraging the intake of nutrient-rich foods.
In DOH Manatee WIC Program the overweight/obese nutrition risk code was assigned to 54.9% of the breastfeeding women. Indicators reveal that 61.1% of the pregnant women were overweight or obese at pre-pregnancy, 8.3% of children were obese and 10.9% of children were overweight. Including more nutrient-dense vs. calorically-dense foods can improve the diet of those who are overweight or obese. This collaboration allows an increased access to nutrition- dense foods to families with lower income, limited transportation and residence in a food desert.
This innovative practice improves access to fresh fruits and vegetables. Each Wednesday and Friday morning, a line forms in anticipation of the Food Bank delivery. The produce, which many times is organic, arrives at the WIC clinic and is displayed in an area adjacent to the lobby. It is overseen by WIC staff who first prepare bags of produce for each scheduled attendee of the Breastfeeding class. Clients in line receive a bag to fill with produce of their choosing. Children often assist parents in selecting the items they wish to try. This collaboration between the Food Bank of Manatee and DOH Manatee WIC Program has allowed more than just WIC benefits to be offered to our families. Clients learn about new fruits and vegetables and recipes are shared. Many families participate every day the produce is offered and share that without this practice they would not be able to serve fresh vegetables to their families on a regular basis. One mother was excited to select mushrooms – a luxury for her as she loves them but is reluctant to spend her limited income on something her family has not tried.