Kiran Saluja, MPH, RDN
Executive Director
As we reflect on 2023, I am amazed by our staff’s perseverance and remarkable adaptability as we remain committed to offering our community the best customer service, empathy, and support. For fifty years, WIC has been a pillar of support for parents and a conduit to other valuable resources like diapers, children’s books, immunizations, rent relief programs, and more. As 2023’s economic environment spurred an increased need for WIC services, we focused on meeting the growing demand for WIC by growing our team of frontline staff and offering high quality and convenient nutrition education and breastfeeding support sessions by phone, online, and in-person at our WIC offices across three counties. I am most privileged to work with our wonderful WIC staff whose care and respect for our WIC participants is at the heart of what makes WIC the premier preventative health and hunger prevention program.
Infants, children, and parents received services
Infants, children, and parents participated
Title
Total touchpoints by PHFE WIC
$160 Million
In WIC benefits issued to parents and children
500+
Nutrition, pregnancy, and breastfeeding support groups facilitated virtually
$690,000
Worth of fruits and vegetables distributed to families through the WIC Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program
410
Food boxes given to WIC families through our partnership with the Clementine Mobile Food Trolley
1.79 Million
Diapers given to
38,500 babies and children
90,000+
Books distributed at all WIC locations in partnership with Little by Little, Books for Kids, and The Ella Fitzgerald Charitable Foundation
Every August, WIC celebrates National Breastfeeding Month in support of breastfeeding education and access. In 2023, more than 1000 individuals attended our community resource fair, where they received diapers, books, breastfeeding supplies, and connected with local organizations providing additional community health resources.
$200,000
Los Angeles Jewish Community Health Foundation
$100,000
LA Care GAAINS II Grant
$25,000
Kaiser Permanente Community Health Grant
CinnaMoms now has a place for moms to rest, nest, and connect! In June
2023, CinnaMoms Crenshaw opened as a safe space to provide mothers,
birthing people, and their families with a fun, supportive, and encouraging
environment and access to community resources. CinnaMoms Crenshaw
was designed by and for Black and African American mothers and the
community surrounding the Obama WIC center.
11
Research articles published
- Anderson CE, Yepez CE, Whaley SE (2023). Lower redemption of monthly Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children benefits is associated with higher risk of discontinuing program participation. Public Health Nutrition. doi: 10.1017/S136898002300201X
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Anderson CE, Au LE, Yepez CE, Ritchie LD, Tsai MM, Whaley SE (2023). Increased WIC Cash Value Benefit is associated with greater amount and diversity of redeemed fruits and vegetables among participating households. Current Developments in Nutrition. doi: 10.1016/j.cdnut.2023.101986
- Anderson CE & Whaley SE (2023). Surveillance of Infant Formula Shortages Using Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children Administrative Data. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior. doi: 10.1016/j.jneb.2023.10.014.
- Nobari TZ, Nau CL, Crespi CM, Koebnick C, Li X, Whaley SE, Wang MC (2023). Linking WIC Program and HMO administrative data to study the impact of WIC participation. Children and Youth Services Review. (In Press.) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2023.107284.
- Tsai MM, Anderson CE, Whaley SE, Yepez CE, Ritchie LD, Au LE (2023). Associations of Increased WIC Benefits for Fruits and Vegetables with Food Security and Satisfaction by Race and Ethnicity. Preventing Chronic Disease. (In Press.)
- Yepez CE, Isbell AM, Anderson CE, Whaley SE (2023). Factors associated with caregiver reporting of developmental concerns in low-income communities. Infants Young Child. (In Press).
- Yepez CE, Anderson CE, Frost E, Whaley SE, Koleilat M (2023). Sleep duration is associated with household food insecurity and sugar-sweetened beverage intake among WIC participating children ages 0-5. American Journal of Health Promotion. (In Press.)
- Whaley SE, Anderson CE, Tsai MM, Yepez CE, Ritchie LD, Au LE (2023). Increased WIC benefits for fruits and vegetables increases food security and satisfaction among California households with young children. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jand.2023.05.018.
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Anderson CE, Whaley SE (2023). Use of interactive texting is associated with higher odds of continued WIC participation during the COVID-19 pandemic. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jand.2023.05.008.
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Yusuf HM, Koleilat M, Whaley SE (2023). Prevalence and Predictors of Substantial Postpartum Weight Retention Among Participants of the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) in Southern California. American Journal of Health Promotion. https://doi:10.1177/08901171221148840
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Chaney AM, Ritchie LD, Whaley SE, Tsai MM, Randel-Schreiber HR, Yepez CE, Sabatier S, Young A, Meza M, Au LE. (2023). Racial and ethnic comparisons in satisfaction with services provided by the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children in California. Nutrients. http://doi.org/10.3390/nu15020447.
Blanca Vargas, Senior Outreach Manager at PHFE WIC, was featured on Univision in an interview, in which she encouraged families to apply for WIC, explained why families should apply, and addressed concerns about an impending government shutdown.
The PHFE WIC Outreach team met with local and state legislators to discuss WIC’s essential role in improving our community’s nutrition and public health system. Legislators learned about WIC’s positive impact nationwide, and recent legislation enacted, such as breastfeeding support laws and paid family leave.
PHFE WIC was awarded the National WIC Breastfeeding Award of Excellence
by the USDA Food and Nutrition Services. This award recognizes local WIC agencies
that have provided exemplary breastfeeding promotion and support activities.
Rhonda Clayton
Rhonda Clayton was awarded the 2023 Changemaker Award by the California Breastfeeding Coalition. This award helps “uplift and celebrate active contributions and work in the community and field of chest/breastfeeding.”
Wen Ting (Wendy) Fung, MS, RDN, IBCLC
Wendy Fung received the Mitchell Goldstein Dedication to Community Award for her exceptional dedication and commitment to improving pregnancy outcomes at PHFE WIC and in the community.
Shannon E. Whaley, Ph.D
The Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior (JNEB) awarded Dr. Shannon Whaley the Platinum Author Recognition Award in recognition of exceptional publication records in the Journal and for the high frequency of publication of excellent manuscripts during the last 10 years.
Kelly Bennett, MBA, RDN
Kelly Bennett was presented the 2023 Outstanding Achievement Award by Heluna Health’s Board of Directors. Kelly is recognized for her outstanding leadership, innovative thinking, commitment to our families, and inspiring ideas to advance WIC and Heluna Health.
Four Peer Counselors were awarded the CDPH/WIC Lactation Training Scholarship and participated in the “Grow Our Own IBCLC Program” (GOOP) through Riverside County WIC. We thank California WIC for this scholarship opportunity and ongoing support.
3
Racial Equity trainings
8
Breastfeeding education modules
Thank you to all of our staff and community partners who share our commitment to improving the health, well-being, and resilience of parents and children in our communities.
In 2024, we celebrate the 50th anniversary of WIC. With the growing demand for WIC services, we rededicate ourselves with renewed energy, compassion, and dedication to serving parents and young children in our community.
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