Volume I: National- and State-Level Estimates of Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Eligibles and Program Reach in 2014, and Updated Estimates for 2005-2013

United States Department of Agriculture Nutrition Assistance Program Report Series Food and Nutrition Service, Office of Policy Support Special Nutrition Programs Report No. WIC-17-ELIG Volume I National- and State-Level Estimates of Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Eligibles and Program Reach in 2014, and Updated Estimates for 2005–2013 September 2017 USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. September 2017 Special Nutrition Programs Report No. WIC-17-ELIG Volume I National- and State-Level Estimates of Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Eligibles and Program Reach in 2014, and Updated Estimates for 2005–2013 Authors: Paul Johnson, David Betson, Lorraine Blatt, and Linda Giannarelli Submitted by: Submitted to: The Urban Institute Office of Policy Support 2100 M Street, NW Food and Nutrition Service Washington, DC 20037 3101 Park Center Drive Alexandria, VA 22302-1500 Project Director: Project Officer: Linda Giannarelli Grant Lovellette The opinions expressed reflect those of the authors and not necessarily those of the Urban Institute. This study was conducted under Contract numbers AG-3198-B-10-0016 and GS-23F-8198H with the Food and Nutrition Service. This report is available on the Food and Nutrition Service Web site. Suggested Citation: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service, Office of Policy Support. National- and State-Level Estimates of Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Eligibles and Program Reach in 2014, and Updated Estimates for 2005–2013, by Paul Johnson, David Betson, Lorraine Blatt, and Linda Giannarelli. Project Officer: Grant Lovellette. Alexandria, VA: September 2017. United States Department of Agriculture This page was left intentionally blank. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The authors gratefully acknowledge the guidance provided by numerous individuals at Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) and other organizations. Grant Lovellette, the FNS project officer, provided guidance throughout the project. Staff of the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Division of FNS has provided insights and review over the course of the project. Staff of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention supplied tabulations of breastfeeding rates from the National Immunization Survey; we owe particular thanks to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention staff member Jian Chen. Our project officer, individuals in the WIC Division, and staff of the Economic Research Service all provided important comments on an earlier version of this report, improving its clarity and accuracy. Dr. Marianne Bitler served as expert advisor and provided valuable insights regarding what updates to the methods should be undertaken. We also thank Dr. Aaron Yelowitz for providing data on earlier adjustment-factor estimation, and we thank staff of Insight Policy Research for assistance related to the WIC Participant and Program Characteristics data. At the Urban Institute, Joyce Morton conducted a portion of the complex programming needed to update adjustment factors, and Rachel Kenney provided expert assistance with editing and 508 compliance. Finally, our work builds on the efforts of several former colleagues. Sheila Zedlewski directed the initial years of an earlier contract between the Urban Institute and FNS, under which the State and territory methods were developed; Michael Martinez-Schiferl developed the technical estimation framework; and Erika Huber contributed to the refinement of those methods. All errors and omissions remain the responsibility of the authors. This page was left intentionally blank. Contents VOLUME I Executive Summary i Methods i Results iii How Many People Were Eligible for WIC in the Average Month of 2014, and What Portion Received Benefits? iii Does the WIC Coverage Rate Vary by Race and Ethnicity? iv Did WIC Eligibility Change from 2013 to 2014? v Since 2005, How Has Eligibility Changed On Average? vi How Does the Coverage Rate Vary over Time? vii Has the Coverage Rate Changed Since 2013? ix How Does the Coverage Rate Vary across Regions of the Country? ix What Portion of All Infants, Children, and Mothers Receive WIC? ix Summary x Introduction 1 Estimation Methods, Including This Year’s Changes 3 National Estimates (without the Territories) 5 Infants and Children, Initial and Adjusted Counts 5 Infants and Children, Eligibility Estimates and Further Adjustments 10 Pregnant Women 17 Postpartum Women 20 Territories 25 States 26 Revised WIC Eligibility Estimates, 2005–2013 28 Estimates of WIC Eligibility in 2014 38 Overview of National WIC Eligibility in 2014 38 Characteristics of WIC-Eligible Infants and Children in the States and D.C. 44 Eligibility in the Territories 48 Comparing 2014 to 2013 53 Regional and State Estimates of WIC Eligibility: 2014 58 Distribution of WIC Eligibility across Regions a