Expanding WIC To Reduce Food Insecurity

This presentation proposes an Enhanced WIC Program designed to reduce food insecurity among pregnant women in Durham, Wake, and Orange Counties by expanding support beyond traditional WIC services. The program combines monthly nutrition education, individualized counseling, community health worker support, and partnerships with local food pantries and farmers' markets to address barriers such as transportation, limited food access, and resource navigation. A one-year pilot with an estimated annual budget of $450,000 would serve 300–500 pregnant women and evaluate outcomes, including food security, nutrition knowledge, birth outcomes, and participant satisfaction to determine the program's effectiveness and potential for future expansion.