 |
The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
|
The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
Terry J. Rosenberg, PhD, Research and Evaluation Unit, Medical and Health Research Association of New York City, Inc., 40 Worth Street, Suite 720, New York, NY 10013, 212-285-0220, trosenberg@mhra.org, Julie K. Alperen, MPH, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 183 Pinehurst Avenue #34, New York, NY 10033, and Mary Ann Chiasson, DrPH, Research and Evaluation Unit, Medical and Health Research Association of New York City, 40 Worth Street Suite 720, New York, NY 10013.
Though WIC was not directly affected by 1996 welfare and immigration legislation, there were reports of declining WIC enrollment. This study explored whether work commitments and immigration status were factors affecting WIC check pickups. The sample included dropouts (188 "follow-ups") and current participants (280 "clients") at a large NYC center. "Follow-ups" were identified by reviewing check registers for "voids", and interviewed by phone. "Clients" were selected during re-certification, and interviewed on-site. Questions included demographics, reasons for not picking up checks, and other program participation. "Follow-ups" and "clients" were similar on some variables: 90% identified as Hispanic; 10% were native-born; and, 50% had less than high school. "Follow-ups" were more likely to live without a partner (43.6% vs. 33.2%, p<.05), more likely to work (47.0% vs. 32.4%, p<.001), more likely to have received WIC themselves, less likely to have had a child on Medicaid, and much more likely to report a work, transportation, or family illness problem that affected WIC participation. Logistic regressions "predicted" who would miss check pickups. Women who ever had a job conflict were 4.5 times more likely to be "follow-ups", while women with children on Medicaid were half as likely to be "follow-ups". Conflicts between work and WIC appointments were strongly related to failure to pick up WIC checks, with work being a TANF requirement for some "follow-ups". Immigration concerns were not related to dropping out. To maintain participation levels, more flexibility in WIC center hours, locations, staffing and benefit distribution (paper checks vs. EBT) are needed.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant will be able to
Keywords: Barriers to Care, WIC
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: WIC - Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: MHRA, my employer, administers the funds for the NYC Neighborhood WIC Program.