WIC Team Meets Highest Participation Milestone in Seven Years Thanks to Technological Upgrades

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
July 29, 2024

COLUMBIA, S.C. — The South Carolina Department of Public Health (DPH)’s Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) recently reached its highest participation milestone for the first time in seven years, assisting more than 100,000 participants during the month of May.

DPH’s WIC team served 100,540 participants between the dates of May 1 and 31. This is the first time the monthly WIC caseload met this milestone since March 2017, when they worked with 100,814 participants.

"A key focus of the program is to remove barriers and provide WIC services where people live, work and play,” said Berry Kelly, DPH WIC Director. “The staff work hard and do an outstanding job providing WIC services to so many moms, babies, and young children across the state.”

The team's success is due in large part to its aptitude in maximizing technology to improve service delivery. Among the projects they have championed are: 

• New online application for WIC. The team launched an online application enabling families to create a secure account to upload and update required documentation, including medical and health information and proof of income eligibility, prior to scheduling their WIC appointment. The portal streamlines the application, enrollment and recertification processes for both families and WIC staff and keeps important information easily accessible. 
• WIC mobile app. WIC participants can now access their benefits with the WIC mobile app. Using the app, participants can scan Unit Price Codes while shopping to see if the item is WIC-approved, review their remaining benefits, find locations to shop, locate WIC clinics, view details of upcoming appointments and access additional WIC resources.
• E-Solution for the Farmer's Market Nutrition Program (FMNP). In 2023, the FMNP transitioned from paper vouchers to a mobile app and shopper card. These mobile-friendly solutions make it easier for eligible WIC participants to buy fresh, South Carolina grown fruits, vegetables and herbs to provide healthy food options for their families. The electronic transaction streamlines purchasing for WIC participants and is mutually beneficial for South Carolina farmers.

“Technology has been a key factor in the WIC participation increase,” Kelly said. “WIC participants are super tech-savvy; therefore, we as a program must think out-of-the-box about how WIC services are delivered. WIC has been progressively embedding technology into all aspects of the program. From EBT/e-WIC to online education, interactive texting, use of apps and participant portals, the program is moving into the digital world.”

WIC team leaders Betty Washington, Jessica McDowell, Sadhana Tolani (retired) and Kristin Pillion earned special recognition from DPH leadership as a result of their success in leading their teams to the recent milestone.

WIC promotes healthy birth outcomes and early child development by providing food packages, health screenings and referrals, breastfeeding promotion and support, and nutrition education for low-income pregnant, breastfeeding and postpartum women, infants and children up to five years of age who are found to be at nutritional risk.

To learn more about DPH’s WIC program, visit dph.sc.gov/wic.

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