Chock Linda R, Hayes Donald K, Tomiyasu Danette Wong
WIC Services Branch Chief, Family Health Services Division, Hawai'i Department of Health, Honolulu, HI (LC).
Hawaii J Med Public Health. 2014 Sep;73(9):295-300.
The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) is a proven, cost-effective investment in strengthening families. As part of the United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) 15 federal nutrition assistance programs for the past 40 years, WIC has grown to be the nation's leading public health nutrition program. WIC serves as an important first access point to health care and social service systems for many limited resource families, serving approximately half the births in the nation as well as locally. By providing nutrition education, breastfeeding promotion and foods in addition to referrals, WIC plays a crucial role in promoting lifetime health for women, infants and children. WIC helps achieve national public health goals such as reducing premature births and infant mortality, increasing breastfeeding, and reducing maternal and childhood overweight. Though individuals and families can self-refer into WIC, physicians and allied health professionals have the opportunity and are encouraged to promote awareness of WIC and refer families in their care.
妇女、婴儿和儿童特别补充营养计划（WIC）是一项经证实的、具有成本效益的加强家庭的投资。在过去40年里，作为美国农业部（USDA）15项联邦营养援助计划的一部分，WIC已发展成为美国领先的公共卫生营养计划。对于许多资源有限的家庭来说，WIC是他们获得医疗保健和社会服务系统的重要首个接入点，在全国以及当地服务了约一半的新生儿。通过提供营养教育、促进母乳喂养、提供食品以及转介服务，WIC在促进妇女、婴儿和儿童的终身健康方面发挥着关键作用。WIC有助于实现国家公共卫生目标，如减少早产和婴儿死亡率、增加母乳喂养以及降低母婴超重率。虽然个人和家庭可以自行申请加入WIC，但医生和相关健康专业人员有机会并受到鼓励来提高对WIC的认识，并将他们所照顾的家庭转介至该计划。
