Arizona counties may drop WIC nutrition program over lack of funds, public health group warns
A program that helps provide nutrition to lower-income families with children under 5 is at risk of losing funding.
Arizona Public Health Association’s Will Humble says Congress has not updated financing or made any changes to the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children in 13 years.
Humble says county health officers have told him they are considering dropping WIC due to the financial shortfall.
"Congress just needs to reauthorize the program and get it off of autopilot. And it’s just been on autopilot for 13 years and counties tell me it’s about to crash. But it hasn't happened yet, it’s just the warning lights are blinking," Humble said.
Humble says the program also needs modernization updates such as to allow for online food shopping.
