Many working families qualify for WIC. We offer weekend appointments by phone a few times per month to accommodate WIC families’ busy schedules.

Need to schedule a weekend WIC appointment? Text the keyword for the day you would like to schedule an appointment to 91997. A WIC counselor will call you for your phone appointment between 8:30 am – 1:00 pm on your appointment day.

Weekend Appointments Available This Month

Date	Keyword
Saturday, June 10	APPT10
Saturday, June 17	APPT17

Example: If you would like to be called on August 21st, text APPT21 to 91997.

Questions? Text 91997!

Connect and learn with other parents from the comfort of your home or on the go at WIC online group classes. Group classes are offered in English and Spanish.

Join the class using any smart device. It’s easy! All you need is the phone number on your WIC account and the birthday for anyone who is currently receiving WIC benefits in your family.
See you in the Zoom room!

Classes begin right away at their start time.

Trouble logging on to Zoom?

Text

91997

for help.

Congratulations to Wendy Fung, Breastfeeding Services Manager and Regional Breastfeeding Liaison (RBL) at PHFE WIC, who recently received the Perinatal Advisory Council: Leadership, Advocacy and Consultation’s (PAC/LAC) Mitchell Goldstein Dedication to Community Award! Each year, this award is given to a perinatal health community leader who demonstrates exceptional dedication and commitment to improving pregnancy outcomes.

Wendy has worked tirelessly to provide quality care by managing breastfeeding services at PHFE WIC and advocating for Baby Friendly hospitals. Her commitment to providing educational needs for parents and professionals helps improve the breastfeeding support families receive. With maternal and child health services and leadership team partnerships, she continually works on improving breastfeeding rates throughout the community.

Wendy is one of the founding members of the Asian Pacific Islander Breastfeeding Task Force of Los Angeles County formed in 2017. Her passion is to promote positivity with breastfeeding in Asian and Pacific Island communities within Los Angeles County by educating and supporting parents to help minimize breastfeeding obstacles while overcoming stigma and bias.

Congratulations to Wendy for her advocacy towards breastfeeding and thank you for all the support provided to our breastfeeding parents, hospitals, and professionals in our communities!

In observance of Memorial Day, WIC will be closed on Monday, May 29, 2023.  We will resume WIC services on Tuesday, May 30 from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

For questions, please call (888) 942-2229 or text us at 91997 and we will respond to you as soon as possible.

Thank you,
PHFE WIC

WIC is here to support you and your goals for feeding your baby. Pregnant and breastfeeding families are invited to join breastfeeding support groups on Zoom to connect and learn with other parents. Support groups are offered in English, Spanish, Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, Tagalog, and Armenian.

See our upcoming breastfeeding support groups below. Click the ‘Join now’ button on the day and time of the support group to connect on Zoom. See you there!

WIC Families Get $30 to Spend at the Farmers Market

If you are a PHFE WIC participant, click the button below to reserve your checks. You must reserve your checks before going to the farmers market.

About WIC Farmers Market Nutrition Program 2023

WIC families in California can get checks worth $30 (three checks worth $10 each) while supplies last to buy fruits and vegetables at WIC-certified farmers markets (limit one booklet per family per year). PHFE WIC has 23,000 checks to give out this year! WIC Farmers Market Program is an annual program funded by USDA to support local farmers while helping families enjoy more fresh seasonal fruits and veggies.

Who is Eligible for Farmers Market Checks?

Families who are currently enrolled in WIC are eligible to receive Farmers Market Checks. Not enrolled for WIC? Apply now! Need to renew your WIC account? Text APPT with your preferred date and time to 91997 to schedule an appointment.

Participating Farmers Markets

Make sure to reserve your checks before picking them up from one of the markets below!

Farmers Market	Address	Day
Rosemead FM*	4343 Encinita Ave, Rosemead, 91770	Mondays 4:30 PM - 6:30 PM No WIC 6/19 & 7/3
Norwalk FM*	12700 Norwalk Blvd (Norwalk City Hall), Norwalk, 90650 (Free parking located at AMC/Norwalk Superior Court Parking Garage, 2nd floor)	Tuesdays 9:30 AM - 12:00 PM No WIC 7/4
Torrance FM	2200 Crenshaw Blvd, Torrance, CA 90501	Tuesday, 6/27 ONLY 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Adams & Vermont FM*	1432 W Adams Blvd, Los Angeles, 90007	Wednesdays 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Fullerton FM	340 W Commonwealth Ave, Fullerton, 92832	Wednesdays 9:30 AM - 12:00 PM
Tustin FM	245 El Camino Real, Tustin, 92780	Wednesdays 9:00 AM - 11:30 AM
La Cienega FM	1835 S La Cienega Blvd, Los Angeles, 90035	Thursdays 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Monterey Park FM*	350 S McPherrin Ave, Monterey Park, 91754	Thursdays 3:30 PM- 6:00 PM
Echo Park FM*	1146 Logan St, Los Angeles, 90026	Fridays 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Cerritos FM	Park Plaza Dr (Cerritos Towne Center), Cerritos, 90703	Saturdays 8:00 AM - 11:30 AM
Crenshaw FM*	5730 Crenshaw Blvd, Los Angeles, 90043 (Free parking at 57th & 11th Ave and 54th & Crenshaw)	Saturdays 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
East Los Angeles FM*	4801 E 3rd St, Los Angeles, 90022	Saturdays 8:00 AM - 11:30 AM
Pomona Valley FM*	145 W Pearl St, Pomona, 91768	Saturdays 9:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Torrance FM	2200 Crenshaw Blvd, Torrance, CA 90501	Saturday, 6/24 ONLY 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
West Covina FM*	195 S Glendora Ave, West Covina, 91790	Saturdays 9:00 AM - 12:30 PM

*Farmers market offers an extra $20 for WIC families.

Find more farmers markets to shop with your WIC FM checks using this market finder.

FAQs

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is proposing a rule to improve how families shop for their WIC foods. Currently, WIC families must shop for their food benefits at a WIC-authorized store, and payments must be made in person. The proposed rule aims to improve the WIC shopping experience by removing barriers to online shopping and modernizing food delivery.

What changes to shopping for WIC foods would we see?

When can families start shopping for their WIC foods online?

Being able to shop for WIC foods online would not happen immediately. The commenting period for USDA’s proposed WIC online shopping rule is open until May 24, 2023. The USDA will review all comments before making a final ruling.

A message to WIC participants & community partners

Once per year, you will have a recertification appointment to renew your child’s WIC eligibility. If your appointment is in person at a WIC office, please bring your child(ren) with you and their most recent vaccination history. If you cannot bring your child please bring their recent medical records with height, weight, and anemia test results.

If your appointment is by phone, we will text you a link to upload photos of your child’s medical records on your appointment day.

During your appointment, we will:

• Confirm your family income, or child’s Medi-Cal status
• Talk about your child’s growth and nutrition
• Connect you with other community resources
• Load more food benefits onto your WIC card

WIC counselors are here to educate and empower you to build a healthy future for your family. We encourage you to ask questions and bring up any challenges you are facing. We will do our best to help or connect you with someone who can.

If you need to replace your WIC card, let your WIC counselor know. We are happy to replace it.

Prepare for your appointment

To reassess your eligibility, please provide your family’s proof of income. Let your WIC counselor know if you do not have proof of income.

If your appointment is by phone, we will text you a link to upload photos of your items on your appointment day.

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WIC participants with appointments in person at a PHFE WIC office in April and May can receive coupons for discounted tickets to the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach, CA while supplies last. Appointments must be scheduled in advance. Text 91997 to schedule or reschedule your appointment.

What you need to know about the vouchers:

How can I get aquarium vouchers?

Schedule an appointment at any of our PHFE WIC offices! Any family who has an in-person appointment at a WIC office in April and May can receive one voucher when they attend their appointment.

If you already have an appointment at a WIC office in April or May, make sure to keep your appointment. Need to reschedule? Text APPT with your preferred day and time to 91997.

Not enrolled in WIC yet? Apply today!

Recently applied but did not qualify? Reapply today! Our income guidelines changed on April 1, 2023, and you may qualify now.

In observance of Cesar Chávez Day, PHFE WIC will be closed on Friday, March 31, 2023. We will resume WIC services on Monday, April 3, 2023, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

For questions, please call (888) 942-2229 or text us at 91997.

Thank you!
-PHFE WIC

Starting April 1, 2023, the income guidelines for California WIC are changing. As a result, more families will qualify for WIC and can receive healthy foods, nutrition education, breastfeeding support, and more.

Not enrolled in WIC? Apply now! Families who previously did not qualify for WIC are encouraged to reapply again if they are within the new income limits.

Need to renew your WIC account? Text APPT with your preferred date and time to 91997 to schedule an appointment.

This year’s theme for Women’s History Month is “Celebrating Women Who Tell Our Stories”. In honor of this theme, we are highlighting Sharen Anthony, a friend, colleague, advocate, and public health champion who recently passed away in February of this year.

Sharen Anthony worked with the Public Health Foundation Enterprises Women, Infants, and Children (PHFE WIC) Program for over 31 years. During her tenure at PHFE WIC, she was a WIC site supervisor, a WIC program senior manager, project coordinator, leader on the PHFE WIC Council on Racial Equity, and a WIC representative to many Los Angeles County health and nutrition programs.

She was not only a support for other organizations but a true cheerleader for everyone.

In the early 90s, Sharen conceptualized the extremely successful WIC Empowers Teens program aimed at combating the huge teen pregnancy problem. She selected, trained, and motivated 40 Teen Facilitators, all WIC staff and many of whom had been teen moms themselves.

She was passionate about prevention and a key trainer who took the Beyond 9 CA State-funded Preconception Health Care training program on the road to nearly every WIC program in the state.

In 2006, Sharen spearheaded and later became coordinator of the Health is Wealth PHFE WIC
Employee Wellness Program for more than 500 employees. She recruited a committee and
continued to magnificently lead the employee wellness promotion activities throughout these
past 17 years.

The PHFEWIC Health is Wealth Program served as a model for the California WIC Association’s (CWA’s) WIC Worksite Wellness Program. Sharen served in an advisory capacity for the California WIC Association (CWA) WIC Worksite Wellness Program and was instrumental in establishing PHFE WIC as one of the pioneering WIC Worksite Wellness Certified Programs.

Sharen had a heart for her community as she shared her expertise through her studies in receiving her Master’s degree in Marriage, Family, and Child Counseling (MFCC). She provided internal training and specialized assistance in challenging situations such as child abuse, domestic violence, and homelessness.

In the recent past, Sharen was a liaison with the Los Angeles County (LAC) Nurse Family
Partnership programs.

She also participated in many local initiatives such as:

• LAC Department of Public Health Early Childhood Obesity Prevention Project,
• LAC Healthy Weight for Women of Reproductive Age Learning Collaborative
• LAC African American Infant and Maternal Mortality Prevention Initiative
• LAC Perinatal and Early Childhood Home Visitation Consortium
• Served as a co-chair of the Los Angeles Adolescent Health Collaborative Steering Committee

Sharen participated in numerous workgroups and roundtables focused on teens:

• InterAgency Council on Child Abuse and Neglect’s (ICAN’s) Task Force on Pregnant and Parenting Adolescents
• The Community Network Council
• The Orange County Teen Collaborative Network

Sharen had unique talents to engage, teach and train. She was a certified True Colors trainer and trained all staff including every newly hired PHFE WIC employee on True Colors encouraging strong team dynamics, honoring individual strengths, and building cohesiveness.

Her early interactions with new employees made for the perfect welcome during the onboarding stage. In addition and more recently, Sharen was pursuing a guaranteed basic income pilot to further support African-American and Black pregnant WIC mothers, actively worked on advancing health and racial equity, and boosted employee engagement activities.

Her compassion, kindness, fun-loving spirit, and commitment extended to every individual and part of the WIC Program from WIC families and participants, within PHFE WIC, across many, many California local agency WIC programs, and the California Department of Public Health WIC Division.

She will forever be missed and we here at PHFE WIC and CinnaMoms will continue the hard work and foundation she created.

#womenshistorymonth #phfewic #sharenanthony

If you or your family have been receiving Medi-Cal during the COVID-19 public health emergency, you have stayed enrolled in the program. Starting April 1, 2023, California will start renewing Medi-Cal accounts for eligibility.

Take action today to keep Medi-Cal.

Depression or anxiety after pregnancy and in the first year postpartum is very common. Changes to your body, less sleep, and worries about caring for your newborn can make you feel a mix of emotions which is normal. One in five women will experience symptoms after pregnancy, and it can happen to anyone.

Six things everyone should know about perinatal depression

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LOS ANGELES COUNTY PERINATAL MENTAL HEALTH TASK FORCE
www.maternalmentalhealthnow.org

For referrals and resources, call 211 or (800) 944-4773 | www.postpartum.net
or contact your healthcare provider

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Adapted from Speak Up When You’re Down

By the end of March, millions of Californians will lose the enhanced CalFresh benefits – the CalFresh Cliff. The funds were added during the COVID pandemic to help families buy groceries, and this loss now comes as food prices are quickly rising due to inflation.

Learn how to take action to help families with children under five by immediately connecting them to WIC. The current value of the child WIC food package is approximately $75, and WIC foods are inflation-proof! Attend the webinar and get your questions answered.

Families may qualify for cash-back tax credits worth hundreds or thousands of dollars from the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), Child Tax Credit (CTC), California Earned Income Tax Credit (CalEITC), and Young Child Tax Credit (YCTC) when they file their taxes. Even if you don’t normally file taxes or have low to no income, you may still qualify. Tax credits do not affect your WIC benefits.

What if I need help filing my taxes?

Which tax credits am I eligible for?

See the basic eligibility requirements for each tax credit below. For federal taxes, no additional form is needed to claim these credits. When filing for state taxes, families will need to fill out the California Earned Income Tax Credit Form 3514.

FAQs

By March 2023, millions of California families will experience a sudden decrease in CalFresh (the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP) benefits – the CalFresh Cliff. The emergency funds were previously added by the federal government in 2020 to help families buy groceries during the pandemic, and those additional funds are ending.

On average, families could see a decrease of $82 in monthly benefits, and one-person households could see a loss as high as $258 each month. With the rising cost of food, families are not able to shop for as many groceries with the new amounts they will receive.

CalFresh Families Can Apply for WIC

CalFresh participants who are pregnant or have a child under five qualify for WIC and should participate in both programs. The WIC program does not affect immigration status, show up on credit reports or background checks, and will not hurt employment opportunities.

Find Food Assistance Programs

Use the resources below to find additional food assistance programs near you. Families enrolled in WIC can apply for other food assistance programs and should not include their participation in WIC as part of their income. For families who do not qualify for WIC, you may be eligible for a different program below. If your income or family size changes, call or text us to reapply!

988 provides 24/7 free and confidential support connection if you or someone you know is:

• having thoughts of suicide.
• experiencing a mental health or substance use crisis.
• or any other kind of emotional distress including but not limited to,
  • substance abuse
  • economic worries
  • relationships
  • sexual identity
  • getting over abuse
  • loneliness

Just call or text 988 or chat www.988lifeline.org, and a trained counselor will listen, support, and share resources if needed. Options for the deaf and hard of hearing are available too!

You are not alone. There is Hope!

For additional referrals and resources, visit 211LA.org or 211OC.org

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced that Jan Fruits Inc. of Vernon, Ca. is recalling all its cases of 200g/7.05oz packages of Enoki Mushrooms (Product of Taiwan) due to potential Listeria monocytogenes contamination. Listeria monocytogenes can cause serious, sometimes fatal, infections for young children or others with weakened immune systems. Symptoms of Listeria infection include high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. It can also cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.

The product was distributed throughout retail stores in California and Hawaii. WIC families who purchased Enoki Mushrooms should check for the following description and return the package to the place of purchase.

• Description: Taiwan Best Quality Enoki Natural Mushroom
• Size: 200g/7.05oz clear plastic package
• Manufacturer: Changhua County Mushrooms Production Cooperative
• “Premium” (printed in green letters) with two QR scan codes
• UPC: 8 51084 00835 8
• Lot Code: 3779

Consumers with questions could visit the FDA website or contact Jans Fruit Inc. at 323-923-2879 Ext. 3, between Monday – Friday from 7:00am – 3:00pm.

Reckitt, a producer of nutrition products, has voluntarily recalled two small batches of Enfamil ProSobee Infant Formula due to possible contamination of bacteria. The two batches of ProSobee 12.9 oz. Simply Plant-Based infant formula were manufactured between August 2022 and September 2022 and were distributed through retail stores nationwide.

WIC families, who have purchased Enfamil ProSobee powder 12.9 oz containers should check the bottom of the can to identify whether the batch number is affected. The following are the batch codes:

1. Global Batch Code: ZL2HZF
   UPC: 300871214415
   Lot Number: 0670975
   Expiration: 3/1/2024
2. Global Batch Code: ZL2HZZ
   UPC: 300871214415
   Lot Number: 0670979
   Expiration: 3/1/2024

Product Images

Families are asked to dispose formula or return it to the place of purchase for a refund or exchange. WIC families can also contact Reckitt/MJN at 1-800-479-0551 or by email at consumer.relations@rb.com

Please note that no illnesses have been reported, and no other ProSobee Simply Plant-Based Infant Formula batches or other Reckitt/MJN products are affected.

For further questions or concerns, please text us at 91997 to speak with a WIC counselor.

In observance of Presidents’ Day, PHFE WIC will be CLOSED on Monday, February 20.

We will resume WIC services on on Tuesday, February 21 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

For questions, please call (888) 942-2229 or text us at 91997, and we will respond to you as soon as possible.

Families can now use their WIC Card at three local farmers markets in LA County! Shop for fresh produce at Culver City Farmers Market, La Cienega Farmers Market, and Echo Park Farmers Market.

Culver City and La Cienega Farmers Market

$10 Bonus

Spend at least $10 of your fruit and vegetable benefit to receive an additional $10 while supplies last.

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Echo Park and Central Avenue Farmers Market

$10 Bonus

Bring your receipt back to the info booth to get an extra $10 to purchase fresh fruits and veggies while supplies last.

Egg prices are rising, but using your WIC benefits can make grocery shopping easier! There is an egg shortage due to the avian flu and higher costs to produce them. Even though prices are increasing, your WIC benefits stay the same each month. Every WIC participant over the age of one receives one dozen eggs, and fully breastfeeding parents receive two dozen eggs every month.

Check your WIC food balance regularly, and remember to shop for your foods before the benefits end date!

Where can I shop for eggs with my WIC benefits?

Stores that accept WIC will have a WIC logo on the front window. Use the WIC Grocers section in the California WIC App to see which stores near you accept WIC. If eggs are hard to find at large grocery stores, try shopping at smaller WIC-only stores.

What type of eggs can I buy with my WIC benefits?

Not enrolled for WIC? Apply now!
Need to renew your WIC account? Text APPT with your preferred date and time to 91997 to schedule an appointment.

Congratulations to Kiran Saluja, MPH, RDN, the Executive Director at PHFE WIC who recently received the Center for Health Equity, Education, and Research (CHEER) 2022 Lifetime Achievement Award! CHEER recognizes and honors her lifelong dedication and achievements in breastfeeding advocacy.

Throughout her career, Kiran has been committed to the health and nutrition of parents, infants, and children. Her passion and advocacy for breastfeeding stemmed from her own personal inability to breastfeed her first daughter when she was misinformed by hospital professionals. Through WIC, she now helps educate, support, and advocate for women who want to breastfeed and have faced similar situations.

She has served on several committees, including the Board of the National WIC Association (NWA) and even served as Board Chair in 2012. Kiran represented the NWA in 2010 before the U.S. House of Representatives Education and Labor Committee which resulted in the Healthy Hunger Free Kids Act. She has also supported the USDA WIC Breastfeeding Social Marketing campaign at the Institute of Medicine, now known as the National Academy of Science, Engineering, and Medicine, in 2011.

Her most memorable achievements are speaking before Congress, co-founding Breastfeed LA, breastfeeding her own children, and supporting her own daughters with exclusive breastfeeding. Kiran enjoys spending her time with her husband of 42 years, three daughters, and two sets of twin grandchildren. She also enjoys time with friends, walking, cooking, and listening to audiobooks.

Congratulations to Kiran for all the advocacy towards breastfeeding and sharing her vision!

“Breastfeeding should be the default for all moms and especially WIC moms. The education and support necessary to make this happen must be prioritized while at the same time the facts about the mediocrity of formula should be well understood. I am proud of the strides made by the WIC program and know that we have a LOT MORE work ahead of us.” – Kiran Saluja

Join CHEER for a virtual celebration in March 2023! The official date will be announced soon.

If you’re experiencing a power outage, some refrigerated or frozen foods may still be safe to eat. Keep your food safe to prevent foodborne illness. The health risk is higher for pregnant people and young children.

In observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, PHFE WIC will be CLOSED on Monday, January 16, 2023.

We will resume WIC services on on Tuesday, January 17, 2023, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

For questions, please call (888) 942-2229 or text us at 91997, and we will respond to you as soon as possible.

WIC families receive a cash value (CVB) for fruits and vegetables as part of their WIC food package each month. Since June 2021, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has approved an increase to the amount families receive for pregnant and postpartum parents and children over the age of one – the “WIC Bump.”

A recent study by PHFE WIC’s Research Team showed that the CVB increase resulted in a larger variety and amount of fruits and vegetables redeemed. The current increased fruits and vegetables benefit is approved through September 2023.

Families can shop for fresh, dried, canned, and frozen fruits and vegetables in any brand, type, or combination, including organic with their WIC benefits.

Read the full data brief on the study completed by PHFE WIC’s Research Team here.

California Department of Public Health sent a text message to WIC families saying, “CA WIC: due to the bad weather we are having, your WIC benefits may be affected in some areas. Call your WIC office or 1-800-852-5779 for questions.”

Benefits may already be available on your WIC card. Check the food balance screen of the CA WIC app, for questions text 91997.

Appointments are available by phone. Contact your local office or text us at 91997 to schedule an appointment.  

PHFE WIC would like to wish you and your family a Happy New Year!

Our offices will be closed on the following days so that our staff can safely enjoy the holiday.

• Saturday, December 31, 2022
• Sunday, January 1, 2023
• Monday, January 2, 2023

We will resume WIC services on Tuesday, January 3 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. For questions, please call (888) 942-2229 or text us at 91997, and we will respond to you as soon as possible.

Increased Benefits for WIC Families are extended through September 30, 2023

Since June 2021, WIC families have been receiving increased fruit and vegetable benefits – the “WIC benefit bump” because of temporary legislation (America Rescue Plan Act of 2021, Omnibus Agreement in March 2022, Continuing Resolution in September 2022, and the Omnibus Package in December 2022). Before the increase, the WIC food package included $9 for each child and $11 for each enrolled adult to spend on fruits and vegetables. WIC is now advocating to make the WIC benefit bump permanent.

Monthly Fruit & Vegetable Benefits:

$25 each month for children ages 1-4
$44 each month for pregnant and postpartum participants
$49 each month for breastfeeding and chestfeeding postpartum participants

We remain hopeful that Congress will make the increased fruit and vegetable benefits permanent. When that occurs, the additional benefits will be added to WIC cards and viewable on the CA WIC App, and WIC families will be notified about the additional benefits.

WIC Benefit Bump Frequently Asked Questions

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A message to WIC participants & community partners

PHFE WIC will be closed closed on the following days as our colleagues spend time with family and friends:

– Thursday, November 24
– Friday, November 25
– Saturday, November 26
– Sunday, November 27

We will resume WIC services on Monday, November 28 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. For questions, please call (888) 942-2229 or text us at 91997, and we will respond to you as soon as possible.

Thank you for being a part of our WIC family, and we appreciate you.
From all of us at PHFE WIC, Happy Thanksgiving!

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is proposing to change the WIC food package for the first time in over ten years. Some changes proposed include the following:

• keep the increased fruit and vegetable benefit,
• offer more options for whole grains,
• add seafood to children, pregnant and postpartum packages,
• and offer more substitutions for all food packages.

The new changes would also allow families to shop for different sizes for all food categories (except infant formula).

How could the food package change?

When would changes to the WIC food package happen?

WIC food package changes would not happen immediately. The commenting period for USDA’s proposed WIC food package changes closed on February 21, 2023. The USDA will review all comments before making a final ruling. We could see changes to the WIC food package as soon as 2024.

Thank you to our WIC participants, staff, and community partners who submitted a comment in support of the WIC food package changes.

Update February 17, 2023: Formula availability has improved. Learn more about formulas offered by California WIC.

On October 14, 2022, Abbott issued a voluntary proactive recall for some 2 fluid oz Ready-to-Feed formulas. Read more about the most recent recall here.

What’s Going On?

The impacts of the ongoing pandemic and the 2022 recall of certain powdered infant formulas have led to periodic shortages and low stock of major brands of formula in stores. The USDA and California Department of Public Health WIC have added additional options and implemented flexibilities to help connect WIC families with formula. In this article, you will find resources to help you make informed decisions during this difficult time.

Where can I find infant formula for my baby?

Before you shop, download the CA WIC App to find grocers near you that accept WIC. If you do not have access to the WIC app, you can also find a list of WIC-authorized grocers on the California Department of Public Health website.

Other things you can do:

• Call the grocery store before you go to ask if they have infant formula in stock and when they expect their next shipment.
• Use the Walmart Baby Formula Availability Webpage to find available formula options at any Walmart store or online.   
• Try another brand of formula if it’s available. Click on the formula icon in your food balance to see other options you can purchase with your WIC benefits. Babies can usually tolerate other formulas well unless your baby is drinking a special therapeutic formula. In those cases, we recommend consulting with your baby’s healthcare provider.
• If you’re receiving a special formula from WIC or your baby’s health insurance and cannot find your formula at any stores, please contact your local WIC office. Your doctor may prescribe another formula that will work well for your baby.
• If you cannot find baby formula at any store, try calling your baby’s doctor to see if they have in-office samples available.     
• Check your Food Balance on the California WIC app to confirm the type of formula you can buy. Click the formula icon on your Food Balance to see the full list of formulas available to you, or scan the formula with the WIC app to confirm it’s the correct item before checking out.

*Important Information for CA WIC Vendors.

Can I make Baby formula at home?

Do not make your own baby formula at home.

Infant formula is the primary nutritional source for formula-fed infants from birth to 6 months of age or until they start solid foods. Even after starting solids, infants still rely on formula to meet their nutritional needs. The FDA strictly regulates the production of infant formulas. There are requirements for certain nutrients in infant formulas that may not be present in homemade formulas for healthy infant growth and development.

The American Academy of Pediatrics strongly warns against homemade infant formulas. Even a few weeks of poor nutrition can lead to lifelong impacts on development and even result in infant death. In addition, there have been reports of hospitalization of infants suffering hypocalcemia (low calcium) after being fed homemade formula. Some symptoms of hypocalcemia include irritability, muscle twitches, tremors, and seizures.

Do not dilute baby formula. It is strongly advised not to water down infant formula to make it last longer. While it might seem harmless, watered-down formula can lead to infant water intoxication. Some signs of water intoxication include nausea, vomiting, irregular breathing, and weakness. Adding extra water will also diminish the nutritional value of the formula. Find more information on proper infant formula preparation here.

What Are Counterfeit Formulas?

Counterfeit formulas are infant formulas that have been repackaged with a fake label. These could be formulas that have been repackaged with a new expiration date or a completely different formula with unknown ingredients. This can be very dangerous, especially to infants who drink specialty formulas due to allergies or intolerances. To protect infants from counterfeit formulas do not shop from unknown retailers or outside of the U.S. Always lookout for changes in the taste and color of your baby’s formula. If buying by case make sure the lot numbers and the “use by” date on the containers and boxes are the same. Call the manufacturer’s toll-free number with any concerns or questions.

My baby is not here yet, how can I prepare?

Breastfeeding provides added immunity and is the optimal nutrition for healthy development. If you are expecting your baby and considering your feeding options, know that CA WIC has many resources available to help you reach your goal, including one-on-one support from certified lactation educators, breastfeeding support groups, infant feeding helpline, virtual group classes, free lactation consultation appointments, and an electronic breast pump loan program. Breastfeeding parents receive more monthly foods in their WIC Food Package, and are eligible to continue receiving WIC food benefits until their baby’s 1st birthday.

In observance of Veterans Day, WIC will be closed on Friday, November 11. We will resume WIC services on Monday, November 14 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

We are proud to support our Veteran families and staff, and we thank you for your service.

For questions, please call (888) 942-2229 or text us at 91997, and we will respond to you as soon as possible.

-PHFE WIC

WIC is here for parents through every step of their infant feeding journey to educate, empower, and encourage parents to reach their feeding goals.

What is Chestfeeding?

Chestfeeding is when a child is fed human milk from a parent’s chest. It is a term used by many transgender and nonbinary parents who may not identify with the words breastfeeding or nursing. People who identify as female may also prefer the term chestfeeding.

What is the difference between Chestfeeding and Breastfeeding?

Physically, chestfeeding and breastfeeding are exactly the same. Lactating parents can choose the term they are most comfortable with.

WIC is committed to being part of parents’ support systems by providing free phone, video, and in-person services. Contact your local WIC office or text us at 91997.

The 2022 WIC Farmers Market Nutrition Program wrapped up on August 13 after another successful year! Congress began the program in 1992 with funding from the United States Department of Agriculture to bring more fresh fruits and vegetables to WIC families while familiarizing them with farmers markets and supporting the local community. 

PHFE WIC distributed farmers market checks to more than 19,000 families, totaling more than $590,000 worth of fruits and vegetables, this summer!

Thank you to all of our community partners for spreading the word, and to farmers market managers, staff, and vendors for their support to help make this a successful season.

The WIC Farmers Market Nutrition Program runs for a limited time each year, and next season starts summer 2023! To make sure you don’t miss out on your free produce, sign up for WIC text messages (send a text with your name and date of birth to 91997) and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

The new Child Tax Credit and other benefits are bigger than ever.

File your taxes for FREE on or before November 15 and claim the Earned Income Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit, and the California Earned Income Tax Credit to get more money for groceries, gas, childcare, and more.

More people than ever before qualify for significant new tax benefits this year through the American Rescue Plan. You may qualify for an income boost of up to $6,600 if you are raising children in your home. This money is not a loan.  People ages 19-24 and 65 and older who work are newly eligible for the Earned Income Tax Credit even if they don’t have kids or don’t usually file taxes. The Child Tax Credit payments do not impact CalWORKs, Medi-Cal, or WIC benefits.

A child born or added to your family, such as adoption, in 2021 could qualify for the full amount of the 2021 Child Tax Credit. Visit ChildTaxCredit.gov

There’s still time! File your taxes to claim your credit, even if you do not normally file taxes. If you received Advance Child Tax Credit payments in 2021, you need to file taxes this year to receive the second half of your money. If you have not received any Child Tax Credit payments, you can file simplified taxes now to get the whole credit. Don’t miss out! Visit GetYourRefund.org to find out more about how to get this tax credit. 

Need help? Call the National Tax Help Hotline at 1-877-907-0937 Monday-Friday, 6 am to 2 pm PST.

On October 14, 2022, Abbott announced a recall of certain 2 fluid-ounce bottles of Ready to Feed liquid formula products. These are NOT formulas provided by California WIC. Abbott has initiated this recall because a small percentage of products have bottle caps that may not be sealed, which could lead to spoilage issues. Spoilage could lead to gastrointestinal problems such as diarrhea or vomiting. These products were manufactured in Columbus, Ohio.

If you have recalled formula, check the lot number located on the side or bottom of each bottle. Use Abbott’s Lot Number tool to find out if your product is included in this recall, or view the full list of included lot numbers.

If you have recalled formula, do not feed it to your baby. For questions about your child’s health, contact their healthcare provider.

Certain powdered formulas were recalled earlier this year. Read more about the Baby Formula Shortage.

Immigrants can now access WIC, health care, food and housing support, and many more public benefits without fear of immigration consequences.

View California’s updated Public Charge Guide, available in the following languages: Select a language Arabic Armenian Armenian Chinese English Farsi Hindi Hmong Japanese Khmer Korean Lao Mien Pashto Portuguese Punjabi Russian Spanish Tagalog Thai Ukrainian Vietnamese

Please help spread the word that the following programs are safe to use and do not affect immigration status for people currently in the US:

• School Breakfast & Lunch Programs
• Head Start
• CHIP (Children’s Health Insurance Program)
• WIC
• Medi-Cal (For children under 21 years old, pregnant women, and for 60 days postpartum)

Please call (888) 942-2229 if you have questions about WIC.

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“To the communities affected by this final rule, let me be clear: WIC’s clinic doors remain open. The final rule does not impose barriers on families for accessing WIC, or women from accessing Medicaid when they are pregnant or for 60 days after delivery. The final rule does not penalize families if their U.S.-citizen child is accessing benefits. We stand at your side, forever committed to our mission of delivering quality nutrition services and breastfeeding support for all families.”

Rev. Douglas Greenaway, President and CEO of the National WIC Association (NWA), in response to the public charge ruling on August 12, 2019.

In observance of Indigenous Peoples’ Day, WIC will be closed on Monday, October 10. We will resume WIC services on Tuesday, October 11 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

For questions, please call (888) 942-2229 or text us at 91997, and we will respond to you as soon as possible.

Thank you!
-PHFE WIC

WIC is more convenient than ever. The beginning of the pandemic sparked a series of changes in WIC services that have helped make the program safer and easier to access. Busy families can choose the appointment method that works best for them, connect with nutrition counselors, and quickly receive healthy foods.

Sign up for WIC today

If you are pregnant or have a child under age 5, please apply for WIC online. We will contact you to confirm your eligibility and complete your enrollment. In-person enrollments can be scheduled at a WIC office near you, and you will receive your food benefits the same day if you qualify. Enrollments can also be completed entirely by video or phone. You will receive your WIC benefits by mail within a few days if you qualify.

Attend appointments at home or at a WIC office near you

Many WIC appointments can be completed by video, phone, in-person, or online.

Throughout your pregnancy and your baby’s first year, you will have appointments with a WIC counselor every 1-3 months. After your baby turns 1, we will reassess their eligibility every year. If your family continues to qualify for WIC, you will have a minimum of four WIC appointments per year. Some appointments will be with a WIC counselor, and some will be classes.

Appointments with WIC counselors are by video, phone, or in-person. Class appointments are online or on Zoom. Let your WIC counselor know at your next contact if you have a preferred appointment method!

If you missed your appointment or need to reschedule, text 91997.

Read more about WIC appointment types

Check your WIC Benefits on the WIC App

Your WIC benefits may have already been added to your card this month. Check your WIC food balance on the WIC app. Remember to shop for ALL of your foods before your benefit end date!

If you do not see benefits on your WIC food balance, or if you need to make a change, text 91997.

Other Resources

• The California WIC Card
• Shopping for WIC Foods
• Breastfeeding Support

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the USDA approved an increase to the Cash Value Benefit (CVB) for purchase of fruits and vegetables for WIC participants. A recent study by the PHFE WIC Research Team finds that participants were highly satisfied and reported increased purchase and consumption of fruits and vegetables.

With the CVB increase, participants reported improved quality and variety of fruits and vegetables purchased.

I thought (the CVB increase) was amazing, because we eat more FV since there’s
been an increase. (Before the increase) we were eating more processed food and I
do not think that my daughter was getting adequate nutrition from eating those
types of foods and she’s a picky eater too. So now that I am cooking vegetables
with every dinner and we’re snacking on FV throughout the day.

-WIC Participant

It (CVB increase) was super good because we managed to buy more variety of FV
and are able to make a salad or make other FV for the children.

-WIC Participant

This increase is temporary and currently set to end September 30, 2022. These findings support maintaining the increased CVB in the WIC food package permanently.

Read the full study published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health here.

A new study by the PHFE WIC Research Team suggests that lactose-reduced infant formulas could have a correlation with a higher risk for childhood obesity. Infants who were given lactose-reduced formulas had a 10% higher risk for obesity at age 2 than infants who drank lactose-based formulas.

Lactose-reduced formulas remove the lactose carbohydrate from cows’ milk and replace it with corn syrup solids. These formulas quickly raise blood sugar and may cause rapid weight gain.

Are Babies Lactose Intolerant?

Marketers encourage parents with babies who cry more frequently than others to buy lactose-reduced formula by using words like “sensitive” or “gentle”. Most full-term babies are born with lactase enzymes that help them digest the lactose found in breast milk and formula. Only a small percentage of babies are lactose intolerant, usually preterm infants who did not develop the enzyme. Lactose intolerance usually develops from ages 3 to 5.

Should I stop giving my baby lactose-reduced formula?

Not at all! If you’re currently giving your baby lactose-free or lactose-reduced formula and baby is doing well, continue to offer what works best for your baby. If you’re noticing that your baby is fussy and want to change formulas, speak to your medical provider before making the switch. There are several reasons why baby may be fussy such as overstimulation, growing pains, or being tired. Learning how to understand your baby’s behavior will help you identify what your baby might need.

Read the full study published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition here.

Longer WIC Participation is Associated with Higher Quality Diet at 5 years of Age

A recent study by PHFE WIC’s research team and colleagues at UC Oakland found that longer WIC participation is associated with lower household food insecurity and higher diet quality.

This study compared children who participated in the WIC program for 1 to 4 years. They assessed diet quality, household food insecurity, and obesity at the end of WIC eligibility at 60 months.

The results showed that children who participated in the WIC program for the entire five years had a 31% lower chance of food insecurity than those who participated for shorter periods. In addition, children who participated for the full five years were also associated with higher overall diet quality.

These findings suggest that the WIC program promotes healthier lifelong habits and provides food stability to low-income families.

Read the full study published in The Journal of Nutrition.

September 8 is International Literacy Day.

The United Nations Education, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) established this day back in 1966. This year’s theme is Transforming Literacy Learning Spaces.

Since July 2021, PHFE WIC has provided over 42,000 total books to 21,600 kids through the Little by Little program (funded by First 5 LA and Books for Kids – California State Grant).

Little by Little is a school readiness program that was first launched at PHFE WIC in 2003 for children enrolled in WIC. These services are currently offered to families in Los Angeles, San Bernardino, and Orange County at our Washington, Indian Hill, Placentia, Chino, and Santa Ana East WIC Offices.

The programs provide parents:

• Informational materials for each developmental milestone
• Books to engage with their child
• Continued support to be their child’s first teacher

Learn more about Little by Little and the information families receive for each milestone.

In observance of Labor Day, WIC will be closed on Monday, September 5. We will resume WIC services on Tuesday, September 6 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

For questions, please call (888) 942-2229 or text us at 91997, and we will respond to you as soon as possible.

Enjoy the weekend and be safe!
-PHFE WIC

A new study conducted by Heluna Health’s PHFE WIC research and evaluation team and colleagues at UC Davis and UC Agriculture and Natural Resources Nutrition Policy Institute suggests that a hybrid service model, which includes remote and in-person services, makes it easier for families to participate in the WIC program.

In March 2020, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) granted federal waivers to states through the US Families First Coronavirus Response Act, providing WIC agencies with various remote service options. Service changes extended certification periods for children, allowed for remote certification, recertification, and food benefit issuance, and approved alternative WIC food package items. Additionally, WIC staff were able to provide virtual nutrition education and breastfeeding support.

Many participants expressed their satisfaction with remote services and said that remote enrollment was easier than in-person enrollment.

I actually found it (WIC appointments) much…easier (than in the past) because I didn’t have to go into the office…especially if you can’t find a babysitter. So I found it more convenient for me, because I have such a busy schedule because of school. It works perfectly for me.

–WIC Participant

Several WIC agency directors agreed that all waivers and changes should continue after the pandemic.

Research findings show that a hybrid service model will draw and retain more families, and allowing for on-site and remote services proves as an efficient alternative for WIC participants and employees.

This research study was published in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Access the research article via Science Direct here: California WIC Participants’ and Local Agency Directors’ Experiences during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic: A Qualitative Examination – ScienceDirect

Learn more about WIC services, and access WIC’s resources for providers.

This August in honor of Breastfeeding Month, ten PHFE WIC staff members were honored for their dedication to providing outstanding breastfeeding education and support to WIC parents. During a virtual ceremony, each award recipient shared their thoughts on the importance of breastfeeding and the ways they personally helped parents overcome challenges and achieve their breastfeeding goals. Learn how these Breastfeeding Award recipients provide a nurturing environment for mothers.

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Lactation Consultant Awardee

Jessica V. Estrada, IBCLC

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Peer Counselor Awardee

Crystal Rodriguez

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WIC Center Supervisor Awardees

Alaina Coffey, MS, RDN

Connie Yin, RD, IBCLC

Cristian Mercado, RDN

Kimberly Martinez, MS, RDN

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WIC Center Staff Awardees

Ivette Perez, CLE

Angelina Lopez

Isabel Gutierrez

Natalie Truong-Nino, BS, CLE

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PHFE WIC Agency Winner

Ivette Perez, CLE

Congratulations to this year’s award nominees and winners! The compassion and dedication you show make you an invaluable part of the PHFE WIC team and our community!

Congratulations to Blanca Vargas, Senior Manager of Operations at PHFE WIC, who recently received the Heluna Health Board of Directors’ Outstanding Achievement Award! This award recognizes individuals, teams, and programs that contribute to a unique, extraordinary, and innovative advancement of Heluna Health’s mission to enhance the health, wellness, and resilience of every community served.

“Outstanding leadership of the PHFE WIC Outreach Department in uniquely challenging times: by pivoting to virtual outreach and her team’s drive to enroll more than 11,000 eligible families in the last year, her tenacity and humanity in reaching out to Afghan refugees and for her legislative outreach efforts.”

– Heluna Health Board of Directors

Over the past six months, Blanca and the PHFE WIC Outreach team worked diligently to enroll Afghan refugee families into the WIC program. These refugees faced many issues, including having no permanent address, lack of transportation, and language barriers. Families were placed at extended stay hotels until permanent accommodations became available. The PHFE WIC Outreach team was able to overcome language barriers with the assistance of caseworkers from refugee organizations who were fluent in Pashto and Dari. Suzanne Kalmbach, Client Services Area Manager, hand-delivered WIC cards directly to families. Outreach staff traveled to where families were staying, and with the support of a translator, signed up 65 refugee families for WIC benefits. Many families traveled as long as three hours to shop for groceries and faced an unfamiliar environment. David Barajas, Outreach Specialist at PHFE WIC, facilitated a live shopping experience to assist them in navigating the grocery store and using their benefits to purchase food.

Special thanks to the PHFE WIC Outreach staff, David Barajas, Emily Mac, Sara Jimenez, Nancy Ballardo, Rosalba Marroquin, Bridgette Kinard, Daisy Moreno, and Grace Huang, for their compassion and perseverance in connecting families to vital resources.

August is National Breastfeeding Month! Join WIC, Health Net, and L.A. Care Health Plan for a live webinar, “WIC: All Your Questions Answered: From Breastfeeding to Formula Updates to Making Referrals!”  on Wednesday August 24, from 12 pm to 1 pm.

Who Should Attend?

• Clinicians (i.e.: MDs, PCPs, OBGYNs, NPs, RNs, MAs)
• Case Managers
• Front and back-office staff

Questions? Email quality@lacare.org

Speakers

Attention WIC and CalFresh participants!

Your safety is our priority. WIC staff will not go to your home and ask for your information. Please protect yourself from WIC Card and CalFresh EBT scams.

Guard your information! WIC staff will only ask for confidential information during WIC appointments. We will never ask for your PIN, or photos of your WIC card or EBT card number. 

Beware of scammers asking for a picture of your benefits card in exchange for a free phone. WIC is not associated with any free phone services. Learn how you can safely apply for a free or discounted phone with California LifeLine.

All WIC services are by phone, online, or provided at our offices. WIC staff will not visit your home or ask for your information at any time other than your WIC appointments.

Keep your PIN safe! Do not share your EBT card PIN with anyone, including store vendors.

Regularly check your WIC food balance. Text 91997 or call 1-844-4MY-FAMILY to report any missing benefits.

Text 91997 to report any suspicious WIC-related calls or interactions.

After 3 long years, the CinnaMoms annual summit returned!

On June 16th, CinnaMoms hosted our first ever virtual summit. It was filled with inspiring speakers, informative breakout rooms, and incredible moments. We kicked off the summit with a special welcome from our executive director Kiran Saluja, MPH, RDN and danced our way into breakout sessions led by the CinnaMoms team.

Thank you to the amazing partners from Black Infants and Families Los Angeles, Davion Mauldin and LeHenry Solomon, as well as our very own Ruben Lopez, RDN we were even able to hold space for a fatherhood oriented breakout session. Then, following some fun and games, 10 “SuperCinnaMoms” received recognition from our team and Senator Sydney Kamlager for their dedication to the CinnaMoms community.

All of the excitement, camaraderie, and support left attendees feeling Strong and Empowered!

Here are some words that families shared about the summit.

Click here to see all that we did and learn how you can refer families to CinnaMoms.

#cinnamoms #phfewic #virtualsummit #africanamericanfamilies #supportfamilies #june2022

While our staff attend a special event, all PHFE WIC centers will be CLOSED this afternoon beginning at 12noon. We will reopen and resume regularly scheduled WIC services on Monday, August 15, 2022.

For questions, please text us at 91997, and we will respond to you as soon as possible.

Thank you!
-PHFE WIC

Show your support for WIC families by urging Congress to reauthorize and expand services through the Healthy Meals, Healthy Kids Act. This bill aims to improve and widen access to child nutrition programs, such as WIC and the National School Lunch Program, to millions of children across the United States. Read more about the act HERE.

How would this bill benefit WIC participants? Improvements to WIC programs include:

• WIC eligibility for children up to six years old or on the day they begin kindergarten
• WIC eligibility for postpartum women extended to two years
• Allows for one certification appointment for multiple children
• Automatic certification of infants born to pregnant participants
• Expansion of certification period to two years
• Expansion of breastfeeding and peer counseling services
• Funds technology for the Peer Counselor program and fruit and vegetable purchases through the Farmers’ Market Nutritional Program (FMNP)
• …And much more!

Make your voice heard! Tell Congress to support the #HealthyMealsHealthyKidsAct.

PHFE WIC offers in-person office visits by appointment only. We are looking forward to seeing you!

To keep your family and our staff safe, we follow CDC and OSHA guidelines, including:

• Providing masks to those who request them,
• Cleaning high-touch surfaces before each appointment, and
• Limiting the number of participants in the office at one time, and in only designated locations within the office

In Honor of Breastfeeding Month: Join us in August at our Community Resource Fairs!

As of August 1, 2022, California WIC has changed to Similac brand milk-based formulas. Soy formula Enfamil ProSobee will stay the same. Use your WIC App to see your food benefits and check the brand when you shop. The brand, type, size, and number of cans to buy is in your WIC Food Balance.

There are additional options for California WIC families who cannot find formula during the infant formula shortage.

Finding Formula

Find stores that accept WIC, and call the store before shopping to ask if the formula you’re looking for is available.

If you have issues finding Enfamil products, try shopping at large chain grocery stores to find a wider variety of brands and sizes. For more tips, visit Finding Infant Formula.

Which California WIC Formulas are Not Changing?

Infants receiving soy-based formula with their WIC benefits will continue to receive Enfamil ProSobee. WIC will also continue to provide formulas for medical conditions by prescription when needed. These therapeutic formulas include Enfamil Nutramigen, Enfamil NeuroPro Enfacare, Similac Alimentum, Similac Neosure, and Pediasure.

Other Frequently Asked Questions About the California Formula Change

In observance of Independence Day, WIC will be closed on Monday, July 4. We will resume WIC services on Tuesday, July 5 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

We hope you have a safe and sparkling celebration spent with friends and family!

For questions, please call (888) 942-2229 or text us at 91997.

Thank you!
-PHFE WIC

In observance of Juneteenth Day (aka Freedom Day), WIC will be closed on Monday, June 20, 2022. We will resume WIC services on Tuesday, June 21 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

For questions, please call (888) 942-2229 or text us at 91997.

Thank you!
-PHFE WIC

You’re invited to the annual CinnaMoms summit happening virtually this year.

They will have breakout rooms that focus on prenatal, fathers, lactation and postpartum care. From amazing facilitators, raffles, instructor-led dancing and endless amount of knowledge. ⠀

You don’t want to miss this! 😍

Click here to RSVP

For more information about CinnaMoms click here: https://www.cinnamoms.org/

#cinnamoms #virtualsummit #2022

In observance of Memorial Day, WIC will be closed on Monday, May 30, 2022.  We will resume WIC services on Tuesday, May 31 from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

For questions, please call (888) 942-2229 or text us at 91997.

Thank you!
-PHFE WIC

Some WIC families are reporting problems shopping with their WIC cards. These problems are related to card errors at a store checkout and zero food balances in the CA WIC App.

If your WIC card is working, continue to shop for your WIC foods as you normally would.

If you have recently experienced difficulties shopping for your WIC benefits, we are sorry for the inconvenience.

What Should I Do If I See a ‘Card Error’ Message?

Call Shopper Support, Monday to Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM, at 1-800-852-5770 to make a report as soon as possible. You will need the following information to make a report:

• Your WIC card number
• The store location
• Approximate day and time of store visit
• Details of what happened

Why Is My Food Balance Zero? I had benefits yesterday.

If you are within your current benefit period, and you had benefits earlier this month but your food balance is now zero and you did not go shopping, this is an error in the system. Please text 91997 for assistance.

A new study by Heluna Health’s PHFE WIC research and evaluation team and colleagues at the Center for Health Research, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo published in Pediatric Obesity found that promotion of responsive bottle-feeding is an effective way to support WIC parents and reduce the risk of overfeeding and excess weight gain.

Many parents think that crying is always a sign of hunger, and are quick to use feeding to soothing a fussy baby. For this reason, fussier babies tend to be at a higher risk for over-feeding. Parents enrolled in the WIC program receive education that helps prevent this. During pregnancy, WIC participants learn about baby behavior, sleeping patterns, hunger and fullness cues, non-hunger cues, and soothing techniques so they can recognize the difference between signs of over-stimulation, tiredness, and hunger once their baby is born. WIC also teaches parents to feed their babies when they show the earliest signs of hunger, and be responsive to signs of satiation or fullness. This empowers parents to be responsive to their baby’s needs and reduces the risk of over-feeding.

Access the research article via Wiley Online Library here: Strategies to promote responsive bottle-feeding in WIC predict less frequent use of food to soothe and healthier weight status for infants with negative temperaments.

Learn more about WIC services, and access WIC’s educational resources for feeding infants and children.

Update as of March 15, 2022: Congress has reached a bipartisan agreement to extend funding for the WIC benefit bump through September 2022! Read more.

The “WIC benefit bump” which increased the monthly fruit and vegetables benefit for children by about $15 per month, and adults by $30+ per month, remains in place until March 31, 2022. Congress announced a short-term funding extension in February 2022, pushing the Continuing Resolution deadline to March 11, 2022. WIC fruit and vegetable benefits will revert back to $9-11 per month on April 1, unless Congress acts quickly to pass an omnibus.

The “WIC benefit bump” which increased the monthly fruit and vegetables benefit for children by about $15 per month, and adults by $30+ per month, remains in place until March 31, 2022. Congress announced a short-term funding extension in February 2022, pushing the Continuing Resolution deadline to March 11, 2022. WIC fruit and vegetable benefits will revert back to $9-11 per month on April 1, unless Congress acts quickly to pass an omnibus.

Your voice makes a difference to ensure that the WIC benefit bump is extended through September 2022 and beyond. Tell Congress to #ExtendTheWICBump for the millions of families that depend on WIC before the March 11 deadline.

PHFE WIC’s Obama WIC office in Los Angeles hosted Brian Dittmeier, Senior Director of Public Policy at the National WIC Association, and local anti-hunger advocates on February 24 to call attention to the urgent need for the extension of the WIC benefit bump. Speakers and supporters were in attendance from Hunger Action Los Angeles-HALA, Black Infant Health, The Los Angeles County African American Infant and Maternal Mortality (AAIMM) Initiative, Sustainable Economic Enterprises of Los Angeles (SEELA), local grocers, farmers markets.

“When the American Rescue Plan Act was introduced, WIC got a dramatic boost in its cash value benefit. Overnight, [WIC] families realized the amazing array of fruits and vegetables they could now afford to buy” said Kiran Saluja, Executive Director of PHFE WIC, a program of Heluna Health. The increased benefit led to an immediate increase in the purchasing and consumption of vegetables and fruit by WIC participants. Research from the National WIC Association and the National Policy Institute showed that children’s daily fruit and vegetable consumption immediately increased by 1/4 cup when their families received the increased WIC benefit amount. Additionally, 14% of WIC participants surveyed said they would be unlikely to continue participating in WIC if the food benefit levels were to decrease.

#ExtendtheBump Press Conference Highlights

WIC Participant Testimonials

The increase to WIC benefits have impacted millions of families lives nationwide. Share your story on social media using the Hashtag #ExtendtheWICBump!

The American Rescue Plan is investing in ways to modernize WIC by expanding WIC remote services to include video appointments on the doxy.me platform.

Doxy.me is a simple and secure video platform for your WIC appointment.

Individual video appointments on Doxy allow you to engage in face-to-face dialogue with your WIC counselors, from the comfort of your home or on the go. And, no downloads are necessary!

PHFE WIC Peer Counselors and Lactation Consultants have been leading the way with video appointments. We cannot wait to connect with all of our WIC families in this way!

You will need:

• A device that can connect to the internet, such as a smart phone, tablet, or computer with a camera and microphone
• A good internet connection
• An internet browser: Chrome, Firefox, or Safari

How WIC Video Appointments Work

Requesting a WIC video appointment is easy! Text 91997 to schedule your appointment.

The State of WIC 2022 report summarizes WIC’s positive public health contributions across the nation in the past year and provides the framework to build upon the program’s longstanding success.

WIC’s noteworthy accomplishments stretch far beyond WIC families to the community at large. Read the full State of WIC 2022 report to learn more about how WIC will continue to help build a healthier nation.

Learn more about WIC’s impact:

• How WIC Helps California
• How WIC Helps the United States

The FDA is advising consumers not to use Similac, Similac PM 60/40, Alimentum, or EleCare infant formulas due to possible Cronobacter contamination. The first symptom of Cronobacter infection in infants is usually a fever, accompanied by poor feeding, crying, or very low energy. If you have any concerns about your infant’s health, contact the infant’s health care provider immediately.

Products included in this recall have a lot number, located on the bottom of the container, which includes the following:

• the first two digits of the code are 22 through 37; and
• the code on the container contains K8, SH or Z2; and
• the expiration date is 4-1-2022 (APR 2022) or later.

Use Abbott’s web-based tool to check a product’s lot number to determine if the product is part of the recall.

Only one lot of Similac PM 60/40 is included in this recall.

• Lot # 27032k80 (can)
• Lot # 27032K800 (case)

If you purchased recalled formula, do not use the formula and do not throw it away. Contact the store where the purchase was made to return the recalled formula or exchange the formula for a similar type.

If you received a recalled formula through the WIC state order process, visit similacrecall.com or call 1-800-986-8540 for a replacement.

Additional Information for Parents and Caregivers:

• More information on Cronobacter and infant formula is available on CDC’s website and similacrecall.com.
• Contact your doctor immediately if your child is experiencing any of these symptoms.
• Never dilute infant formula.
• Never make or feed homemade infant formula to infants.

PHFE WIC’s winter 2021 customer service survey asked the simple question, “How was your WIC appointment?” In response, thousands of WIC participants replied with heartwarming feedback, testimonials, and words of appreciation. 98% of survey respondents gave the top “great!” rating for their appointment.

Here’s what our participants said about their last appointment:

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To all our participants:

Your feedback and experiences matter to us as we continue to strive to improve our services. It is our pleasure to walk alongside you through your pregnancies, watch your children grow, and cheer you on through this precious time of life.

Thank you for growing healthy with WIC! We can’t wait to talk to you again at your next WIC appointment.

Warm regards from all of us at PHFE WIC!

PS: We love to hear from you! If you’d like to share feedback about your WIC experience, leave a Yelp or Google review for your local WIC office, or contact us directly!

WIC Pump Closet, a partnership between PHFE WIC and Emanate Hospital, provides free electric breast pump loans to WIC participants.

PHFE WIC Regional Breastfeeding Liaisons, Wendy Fung, MS, RDN, IBCLC and Naira Gavurmadzhyan, RDN, IBCLC launched PHFE WIC’s first Pump Closet in partnership with Emanate Hospital in West Covina. Throughout the pandemic, there has been an increased need for more accessible breast pumps for parents of newborns. This project increases health equity by making breastfeeding support more readily available to WIC participants as they are discharged from the hospital after giving birth.

What is the WIC Pump Closet?

This project provides WIC participants with a hospital-grade electric pump when they are discharged after having their baby. By immediately providing participants with a pump, WIC aims to protect the birthing parent’s milk supply in the time before they can get individualized breastfeeding or chestfeeding support from a lactation consultant.

What hospitals are participating?

Emanate Hospital is the debut location for the Pump Closet Project. It was selected because it is within the PHFE WIC service area and serves a high caseload of WIC-enrolled and WIC-eligible patients. It has five Symphony pumps at this time and WIC staff will work to keep the closet stocked.

How can I get a WIC Pump Closet at my hospital?

Please contact Wendy Fung (WenF@phfewic.org) and Naira Gavurmadzhyan (NairaG@phfewic.org) to add a WIC Pump Closet to your hospital. They look forward to expanding this project to more hospitals in the Orange, Los Angeles, and San Bernardino Counties.

What kind of breastfeeding help does WIC offer?

WIC provides breastfeeding and chestfeeding education, free lactation consultations, monthly virtual support groups, and an infant feeding helpline. All WIC services, including breastfeeding and chestfeeding assistance, are free to anyone who is signed up for the WIC program.

Can I get a free breast pump from WIC?

WIC loans medical-grade electric breast pumps to WIC parents who are breastfeeding and chestfeeding. To request a free electric pump, send a text to 91997 or contact your WIC office directly.

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RELATED NEWS:

More about Breastfeeding and Chestfeeding Support
How to Clean Your Breast Pump Kit

Dole Fresh Vegetables, Inc. has issued a voluntary recall for all Dole-branded and private label packaged greens and salads containing iceberg lettuce, processed at its Soledad, CA and Springfield, OH production facilities, due to possible health risks from Listeria monocytogenes.

Products that are impacted by this voluntary recall from Soledad, CA are identified by a product lot code beginning with the letter “B” and a “Best if Used By” date between December 23, 2021, and January 8, 2022.

Products that are impacted by this voluntary recall from Springfield, OH are identified by a product lot code beginning with the letter “W” and a “Best if Used By” date between December 22, 2021, and January 9, 2022.

The Dole recall product lot codes are located in the upper-right-hand corner of the package.

Those who have purchased these products and still have them are urged not to consume the product and discard it immediately.

No other Dole products, including fresh fruit and field-packed fresh vegetables, are part of these voluntary recalls and are safe to consume.

Customers with retailer and consumer questions about the voluntary recalls can contact the Dole Consumer Response Center at 800-356-3111, Monday-Friday, 8:00 am to 3:00 pm Pacific Time.

LISTING OF PRODUCTS SUBJECT TO SOLEDAD, CA RECALL

Product Description	UPC Code
Dole 10oz Very Veggie	0-71430-01008-2
Dole 11oz Greener Selection	0-71430-00965-9
Dole 12oz American	0-71430-00933-8
Dole 12oz Garden Salad / Salade Du Jardin	0-71430-01135-5
Dole 13.25oz Country Ranch Kit	0-71430-01730-2
Dole 13oz Southwest Kit	0-71430-01701-2
Dole 16oz Value Size Shredded Lettuce	0-71430-84616-2
Dole 24oz Value Size Garden Salad	0-71430-01136-2
Dole 3lb Garden Salad	0-71430-01138-6
Dole 5.8 oz Chicken Club BLT Salad Bowl	0-71430-00123-3
Dole 6.05 oz Avocado Ranch Salad with Chicken Bowl	0-71430-00125-7
Dole 6.25 oz Backyard BBQ Salad with Chicken Bowl	0-71430-00124-0
Dole 6.25 oz Santa Fe Style Salad Bowl	0-71430-00118-9
Dole 7.25 oz Turkey & Bacon Country Cobb Salad Bowl	0-71430-00120-2
Dole 7.65oz Café Chef Salad Bowl	0-71430-00115-8
Dole 8oz Shredded Lettuce	0-71430-01065-5
Dole 9.1oz Peppercorn Ranch Chopped Kit	0-71430-00093-9
Dole 9.8oz Chopped Teriyaki Pineapple Kit	0-71430-00100-4
HEB 12oz American Salad	0-41220-35500-6
HEB 8oz Shredded Lettuce	0-41220-35521-1
HEB 9.5oz Premium Ranch Kit	0-41220791569-0
Marketside 7.45 oz Premium Avocado Ranch Bowl	6-81131-37735-5
Marketside 11.75 oz Multi-Serve Southwestern Style Salad Bowl	6-81131-42361-8
Marketside 12oz Classic Salad	6-81131-32894-4
Marketside 12oz Crisp Greens	6-81131-35503-2
Marketside 1lb Shredded Lettuce	6-81131-53209-9
Marketside 24oz Classic Salad	6-81131-32895-1
Marketside 6.35 oz Santa Fe Style Bowl	6-81131-42363-2
Marketside 6.81 oz BLT Salad Bowl	6-81131-37736-2
Marketside 7.25 oz Chef Salad Bowl	6-81131-35506-3
Marketside 7.25 oz Cobb Salad Bowl	6-81131-35507-0
Marketside 8oz Shredded Lettuce	6-81131-32896-8
Presidents Choice 12.25oz Ranch Kit / Le Choix du President Ranch Kit de Salade	0-60383-00493-4
President's Choice 12oz Garden Salad / Le Choix du President Salade Jardiniere	0-60383-22268-0
President's Choice 13oz Sesame Ginger Kit / Le Choix du President Sesame et Gingembre	0-60383-02320-1
President's Choice 13oz Southwest Salad Kit / Le Choix du President Sud-Ouest	0-60383-02319-5

LISTING OF PRODUCTS SUBJECT TO SPRINGFIELD, OH RECALL

Product Description	UPC Code
Dole 10 oz Very Veggie / Ranache de Legumes	0-71430-01008-2
Dole 11 oz Greener Selection / Selection de Verdure	0-71430-00965-9
Dole 12 oz American / Melange Americain	0-71430-00933-8
Dole 12 oz Garden Salad / Salade du Jardin	0-71430-01135-5
Dole 13 oz Asian Island Crunch / Croustillante Des Iles Asiatiques	0-71430-01721-0
Dole 13 oz Southwest Salad Kit	0-71430-01701-2
Dole 13 oz Southwest Salad Kit / Salade du Sud-ouest	0-71430-01711-1
Dole 13.25 Country Ranch Kit	0-71430-01730-2
Dole 16 oz Shredded Lettuce	0-71430-84616-2
Dole 2 lb Garden Salad	0-71430-01137-9
Dole 24 oz Value Size Garden Salad	0-71430-01136-2
Dole 8 oz Shredded Lettuce	0-71430-01065-5
Dole 9.1 oz Peppercorn Ranch / Ranch et Poivre	0-71430-00098-4
Dole 9.1 oz Peppercorn Ranch Chopped Kit	0-71430-00093-9
Dole 9.8 oz Chopped Teriyaki Pineapple Kit	0-71430-00100-4
Dole 9.8 oz Chopped Teriyaki Pineapple Kit / Teriyaki A L'ananas	0-71430-00182-0
Kroger 12 oz American Blend	0-11110-91041-7
Kroger 12 oz Classic Garden	0-11110-91036-3
Kroger 12 oz Veggie Blend	0-11110-91048-6
Kroger 24 oz Classic Garden	0-11110-91037-0
Kroger 8oz. Shredded Iceberg Lettuce	0-11110-91613-6
Little Salad Bar 10 oz Caesar Salad Kit	4099100 087000
Little Salad Bar 10.65 oz. Chopped Caesar Kit	4099100263923
Little Salad Bar 12 oz Garden Salad	4099100082982
Little Salad Bar 8 oz Shredded Lettuce	4099100087963
Little Salad Bar 9 oz Italian Salad	4099100083194
Marketside 12 oz Classic Iceberg Salad	6-81131-32894-4
Marketside 12 oz Crisp Greens	6-81131-35503-2
Marketside 16 oz Shredded Lettuce	6-81131-53209-9
Marketside 24 oz Classic Iceberg Salad	6-81131-32895-1
Marketside 8 oz Shredded Lettuce	6-81131-32896-8
Presidents Choice 12 oz Garden Salad / Le Choix du President Salade Jardiniere	0-60383-22268-0
Presidents Choice 12 oz Mixed Greens / Le Choix du President Melange de Legumes- Feuilles	0-60383-00188-9
Presidents Choice 12.25 oz Ranch Kit / Le Choix du President Ranch Kit de Salade	0-60383-00493-4
Presidents Choice 13 oz. Sesame Ginger Kit / Le Choix du President Sesame et Gingembre	0-60383-02320-1
Presidents Choice 13 oz. Southwest Salad Kit / Le Choix du President Sud-Ouest	0-60383-02319-5

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Reference

U.S. Food & Drug Administration. Dole Fresh Vegetables, Inc. Announces Voluntary Recall for Certain Salads. https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/dole-fresh-vegetables-inc-announces-voluntary-recall-certain-salads-processed-its-springfield-oh-and?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery#recall-announcement. January 7, 2022.

Health and safety amendments from Proposition 12 (2018) require all eggs sold in California to be cage-free. California WIC participants can now purchase only large, white, cage-free eggs using their WIC benefits.

Any brand of large, white, cage-free chicken eggs is allowed to be purchased with WIC benefits.

WIC benefits can not be used to purchase other egg sizes or colors, powdered or liquid eggs, or specialty eggs that are organic, pastured, vitamin-enriched, low cholesterol, or DHA-enriched.

Check your WIC App for information on all WIC-approved foods.

For the most recent list of foods able to be purchased using WIC benefits, visit MyFamily.WIC.ca.gov.

Yes! Men are welcome at WIC. WIC recognizes the important role that fathers, grandfathers, stepfathers, and other guardians play in caring for kids. Fathers and other caregivers of kids under five are encouraged to enroll and bring kids to appointments, attend nutrition and health education sessions, and use their checks in grocery stores that accept WIC.

Immunizations help protect you, your loved ones, and everyone around you from serious illness and even death. WIC encourages all infants, children, and adults to follow the Centers for Disease Control’s (CDC) vaccination recommendations to help keep all families healthy.

In addition to routine immunizations for pregnant and postpartum people, WIC recommends following the CDC’s advice for the COVID-19 vaccine before, during, and after pregnancy.

The CDC and American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommend that all individuals get vaccinated for COVID-19 who are:

• Pregnant
• Trying to get pregnant, or may become pregnant
• Recently postpartum
• Breastfeeding or chestfeeding

Pregnant and recently pregnant people are at an increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19 and may be at risk for preterm birth. The COVID-19 vaccine can help protect you and your baby. It has been found to prevent COVID-19 infection, severe illness, and death. Growing evidence about the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine shows that the benefits of the vaccine outweigh any known or potential risks of vaccination during pregnancy.

Talk to your doctor if you have questions about getting the COVID-19 vaccine.

How to Get Vaccinated:

Visit VaccinateLACounty.com and click on “How to Get Vaccinated” to find a location near you.

No appointment is needed at many locations. Vaccines are free and you don’t need insurance. You will not be asked about your immigration status.

You can also call the Vaccine Call Center at 833-540-0473. The call center is open daily from 8:00 am to 8:30 pm and can help you:

Find a vaccination location in your neighborhood

Arrange transportation to and from a vaccination site

Request vaccination at home if you are homebound

For more COVID-19 vaccine resources from the LA County Department of Public Health, download this guide: COVID_8.25.21 (lacounty.gov)

We care about your experience shopping for food with your WIC benefits. If you need to replace a lost WIC card, or your WIC card isn’t working, we are here to help! Learn how to get a WIC card replacement, report an issue with a grocery store, and learn more solutions to common problems with spending WIC benefits.

Solutions to Commonly Reported WIC Shopping Issues

My WIC card is not swiping at checkout

If your WIC card did not work at the grocery store, there are a few reasons why this could happen. Before you use your WIC card the first time, set up your PIN by calling 1-844-469-3264. Make sure it’s something you can remember. You’ll use this PIN every time you use your WIC card.

When checking out at the store, if a PIN is entered incorrectly three times, the card will lock. It will automatically unlock at midnight. If you forgot your PIN, call 1-844-469-3264 to reset it.

It is also important that the cashier knows that you plan to use your WIC card. Tell the cashier right away that you will be using your WIC card, and put your WIC foods down before any other foods. If your card has problems swiping, this may mean that the card has become demagnetized. Contact us for a replacement, and we will mail you a new card.

The cashier said my foods were not WIC-approved

Use the WIC Food Scan button in your WIC App to verify that a food is WIC-approved and available with your benefits. If it is, ask to speak to the grocery store manager. The grocery store may need to update its database with that food.

If the manager is unable to resolve the issue, please call Shopper Support at 1-800-852-5770 to make a report. Have the following information ready:

• The store location
• The approximate day and time of visit
• Product description (brand and size)
• Any other details ready.

If you are reporting a food that was in stock but you were unable to purchase it with your WIC benefits, please take a picture of the label, ingredients, and barcode.

I lost or misplaced my WIC Card

We are happy to replace your WIC card for any reason. If your card was lost, stolen, or misplaced, let us know right away so we can freeze your account and prevent anyone else from spending your benefits. Requesting a new card is easy. Fill out the WIC Card Replacement Form and we will let you know when a new card is on the way.

I forgot to buy my WIC foods before the last day

Check the California WIC app for your benefit start and end dates.

I can’t make it to the store before my benefits expire

At this time, online grocery shopping and delivery apps do not accept the WIC card as payment. However, you can give your WIC card to a trusted family member to shop for your WIC foods for you.

I’m going out of town

Grocery stores all over California accept the WIC card, so you can use it when you travel anywhere else in the state! Check the California WIC app for other WIC grocers near you. Many WIC items are shelf-stable. Stock up during times you may not need them so you will have them on hand when you do need them.

The grocery store did not have WIC foods

Many grocery stores accept the WIC card. Check the California WIC app to see all the places you can shop with WIC benefits. If a grocery store that accepts the WIC card is out of stock of an approved food item, please contact us with the grocery store name, address, and food item you wanted to purchase, so our WIC vendor liaisons can investigate.

Additional Resources

Learn About Little By Little School Program

Little by Little School Readiness Program is an early literacy program for infants and children up to age five. LBL has tools to answers parents’ questions, discover new activities, learn about children developmental milestones, and much more.

WIC is a USDA-funded program that provides healthy foods to low-income pregnant and postpartum people, infants, and children up to age 5. WIC reaches nearly half of all infants born in the U.S. The WIC foods are loaded electronically onto a WIC benefits card with monthly amounts allocated for each food. Fruit and vegetable amounts are issued as a “Cash Value Benefit” (CVB) that can be used to buy any variety of fruit or vegetable.

In June 2021, the 2021 American Rescue Plan Act increased the WIC CVB amounts for all adults and children receiving WIC from $9 and $11 to $35 for four months. Congress extended the increased amounts at $24 for children and $43 or $47 for adults, depending on breastfeeding or chestfeeding status, through March 31, 2022.

(NPI & PHFE WIC, 2021)

(NPI & PHFE WIC, 2021)

This translates to an increase of over $50M across the state of California in WIC purchases of fruit and vegetables during the four months. This increased spending creates a domino effect of benefits that goes beyond just WIC families. Not only does it benefit WIC families and their communities, but also the communities where produce is grown and sold.

The increased amounts of fruit and vegetables help WIC families and benefit every low-income community in each state across the entire country. Congress must act to continue this increase beyond March 2022.

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Adapted from Nutrition Policy Institute & PHFE WIC (2021). More Veggies and Fruit for WIC families is a WIC for California and the Nation. LA WIC Data. https://lawicdata.org/2021/12/more-veggies-and-fruits-for-wic-families-is-a-win-for-california-and-the-nation/.

On November 23^rd, 2021, a bipartisan bill called More Options to Develop and Enhance Remote Nutrition in WIC Act, or MODERN WIC Act, was introduced. This bill would make permanent revisions to WIC certification requirements, sustaining the flexibilities that helped families gain access to the program during the pandemic.

For social distancing purposes during the pandemic, WIC agencies were allowed to complete certifications over the phone, and the requirement for WIC providers to measure a participant’s weight and height was waived. These flexibilities helped many WIC program participants and new applicants overcome the barriers to WIC services that in-person requirements can create.

Barriers to completing in-person certifications include

Child participation has increased 20% at PHFE WIC, and 8% nationwide since March 2020, showing how important virtual WIC services were during the pandemic.¹ The MODERN WIC Act will continue virtual services, expanding access to families who qualify.

The Modern WIC Act proposes the following:

WIC program applications to be completed over video conferencing or telephone with health assessment data submitted to WIC within 90 days

Food benefits to be remotely added to participant WIC EBT cards

More investment in WIC technology to help with online appointments and education

The MODERN WIC Act will allow WIC providers to continue as they always have: to help families access healthy foods.

Read NWA’s full press statement here, and click here to view a fact sheet on physical presence at WIC.

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References

1. Senators Introduce MODERN WIC Act, Bipartisan Fix for Physical Presence. National WIC Association. https://www.nwica.org/press-releases/sens-gillibrand-marshall-introduce-bipartisan-bill-to-strengthen-remote-wic-services#.YbJPA1XMJpg. November 23, 2021.
2. Striking The Balance: Unlocking Remote WIC Services after COVID-19. National WIC Association. https://s3.amazonaws.com/aws.upl/nwica.org/physical-presence.pdf?eType=EmailBlastContent&eId=003395f0-195e-4759-bb52-cc294f90a17f. October 2021. Accessed December 6, 2021.   

Canned beans are now available to WIC families with their benefits!

Keep canned beans on the shelf for a quick weeknight meal. Add canned beans to soups, salads, burritos, tortilla wraps, stews, rice bowls, and more. Find tasty recipes using canned beans and other WIC foods at Health eKitchen at www.wichealth.org.

Check your WIC app for the most recent information about approved foods. For more information, visit MyFamily.WIC.ca.gov.

WIC is hosting diaper giveaway and pump return events throughout November to help families safely return electric breast pumps or baby scales that are no longer in use!

Please hold on to your electric breast pump or baby scale if you are still using them.

All families with infants and children that wear diapers are invited to the diaper giveaway! Supplies are limited and will be distributed on a first come first serve basis.

See the November schedule of diaper and pump events listed below. Questions? Text us at 91997.

WIC Center	Address	Date & Time
8th Street WIC	2120 W. 8th St. Los Angeles, CA 90033	Nov 10th 10 am to 2 pm
Obama WIC	3667 Crenshaw Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90016	Nov 16th 11:30 am to 2 pm
Santa Ana East WIC	1701 S Grand Ave, Santa Ana, CA 92705	Nov 17 10 am to 2 pm

The 2021 WIC Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program will come to a close on November 30th after another successful year! Congress began this program in 1992 with funding from the United States Department of Agriculture to bring more fresh fruits and vegetables to WIC families while familiarizing them with farmers’ markets and directly supporting the local community. 

This summer PHFE WIC distributed farmers’ market checks (vouchers) each worth $28 to 23,000 families for a total of $644,000 worth of fruits and vegetables!

WIC Families: Spend your checks before November 30th

To find farmers’ markets that accept the WIC vouchers, visit FMFinder.org and search for markets that accept WIC & Senior FMNP, or use California WIC’s Farmers’ Market search tool here.

Farmers’ Market vouchers will expire on November 30, 2021.

Thank you to all of our community partners for spreading the word, and to farmers’ market managers, staff, and vendors for their support and commitment to the program.

The Farmers’ Market program is for a limited time only each year! The next WIC FMNP season starts summer 2022. To make sure you don’t miss out on your free farmers’ market produce next summer, sign up for WIC text messages (send a text to 91997) and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

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Visit fmfinder.org or m.wic.ca.gov to find a farmers’ market near you that accepts “WIC & Senior FMNP”.

Welcome to WIC! If you are new to WIC or re-enrolling after two years, please watch this video.

What should I expect at my first WIC appointment?

• An eligibility assessment
• A review of the WIC program
• A nutrition assessment for each family member that is enrolling

If you qualify for WIC benefits, you will receive a WIC card that you can use to buy food each month.

11/2/2021 – There have been updates to this post.

WIC families are happier and healthier than ever, thanks to the summer fruit and vegetable cash benefit increase.

WIC participants have shared that this increase has allowed them to purchase healthy foods despite increasing produce prices, and provide consistently healthy meals with more variety.

Read what WIC families are saying about how this increase has benefited them, and why they would like it to continue.

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See this fact sheet from the National WIC Association for additional information on the push for the WIC benefit bump extension.

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A message to WIC participants & community partners

We need your help! In addition to spending all of your fruit and vegetable benefit this month, please share how the increase has benefited your family or families in your community to emphasize to Congress (Appropriators in the House and Senate) how impactful this increase is before September 30th.

On Twitter tag: @SenatorLeahy, @SenShelby, @SenatorBaldwin, @JohnBoozman, @rosadelauro, @RepKayGranger, @SanfordBishop, @chelliepingree

On Instagram tag: @senatorleahy, @senatorshelby, @senatorbaldwin, @johnboozman, @reprosadelauro, @repkaygranger, @chelliepingree

This August 25 -31, we celebrate the 9th annual Black Breastfeeding Week.

This year’s theme is The Big Pause: Collective Rest for Collective Power.

As we honor Black breastfeeding and the power of rest, we want to use this opportunity to highlight and acknowledge all of those involved in WIC’s sister program CinnaMoms. They have made a positive impact on Black parents and families and been part of our community’s breastfeeding support system.

CinnaMoms has been creating a safe space and community for Black/African American families since 2015. Twice each month, members come together in virtual support circles to learn and share their experiences with breastfeeding, chestfeeding, parenting, and health.

CinnaMoms support circles are hosted on Zoom on the 1st and 3rd Thursday every month. Click here to learn more and join our next support circle.

In celebration of Black Breastfeeding Week, Diversify Dietetics nominated PHFE WIC’s Dr. Toncé Jackson, Ed.D., MPH, RDN, CLE for their RDN Spotlight.

Toncé is the Senior Health Equity Manager at PHFE WIC in Los Angeles County and Co-founder of CinnaMoms. In these roles, she been able to help change the Black/African American families experiences in breastfeeding, by creating a safe space for families to come and just be themselves.

Click here to read more about her journey in the Dietetics world.

#cinnamoms #phfewic #blackbreastfeedingweek #bigpause

In honor of National Black Breastfeeding Week, PHFE WIC is partnering with SGV African American Infant and Maternal Mortality (AAIMM) Community Action Team and the Pomona Wellness Community to hold a Fresh Produce and Baby Item Drive-Thru Giveaway Event on Wednesday, August 25 from 12-2pm.

Baby items, breast pumps, resource materials and fresh produce will be given to registered individuals.

Click here to register by Monday, 8/23 at 11:30 a.m.:  bit.ly/2021SGVBlackBreastfeedingWeek  

Participants must register and provide proof of registration upon arrival to receive the breast pump and baby items. Families may show the confirmation email on their phone or bring a printed copy. This will be used to match the registered family with their items.

Fresh produce will be available for all families (no registration required, however, supplies are limited. First come, first served). 

Click here to register!

#blackbreastfeedingweek #phfewic #pomonavalley #AAIMM

August 15-21 we celebrate the inaugural Asian American, Native Hawaiian, & Pacific Islander breastfeeding week.

This year’s theme is “Reclaiming Our Traditions“. PHFE WIC is committed to supporting the community in reclaiming the tradition of breastfeeding by providing professional individualized breastfeeding support in our WIC participants’ native languages.

Congratulations to CHEER Champion Wendy Fung

In celebration of the inaugural Asian American Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Breastfeeding Week, the Center for Health Equity, Education, & Research (CHEER) nominated PHFE WIC’s Wen Ting (Wendy) Fung, MS, RD, and soon-to-be IBCLC as a CHEER Champion.

Wendy is the Breastfeeding Services Supervisor at PHFE WIC in Los Angeles County and Co-founder of Asian & Pacific Islander (API) Breastfeeding Task Force. In these roles, she helps moms to overcome breastfeeding challenges and strives to establish connections with other organizations to improve breastfeeding support, encourage moms to persevere with their breastfeeding goals, and promote exclusive breastfeeding.

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On Wednesday, August 4, 2021, PHFE WIC hosted a live Zoom event with community organizations from San Jose Mother’s Milk Bank, Eisner Health LA, Emanate Health, and Mighty Little Giants.

They shared information about the Milk Banks in the community. Pauline Sakamoto, MS, RN, PHN of San Jose Mother’s Milk Bank presented the history of Milks Banks and the process of donating milk. She shared that participants will go through a simple health screening before they drop off their milks for donation. 

Jessica Wade, NS, CLES, Certified Doula, CEO and Founder of Mighty Little Giants shared her own experience receiving donor breast milk with her son. While, Magdalena Estrada, MPH, CHES, IBCLC, LCCE of Eisner Health LA Milk Depot and Annette Benavides, MSN, RNC-OB of San Gabriel Valley Milk Depot introduced their Milk Depot and the Milk Collection Events.

We were so thrilled to learn from all of our speakers and excited for the future of milk banks.

Check out more information about the organizations here; Eisner Health, Emanate Health Family Medicine Residency Program, Mighty Little Giants, and Mothers’ Milk Bank San Jose.

Click below to check out the recording of the event.

Upcoming Milk Collection Events

The Eisner Health LA Milk Depot will be having a Milk Collection Event on August 28, 2021.

The San Gabriel Valley Milk Depot will be hosting a Milk Drive & Health Fair on September 17, 2021.

Both events will include gifts and raffles.

Thank you to all our speakers and those who joined the event!

Some additional information about our speakers.

#phfewic #mothersmilk #esinerhealth #emanatehealth #mightylittlegiants #milkbank

Written by: Jocelyn Cortez, PHFE WIC Dietetic Intern

It’s common for a new parent to be worried about breastfeeding or chestfeeding. Parents may wonder if it will be painful, question their body’s abilities, or wonder where to go for immediate support.

Parents in traditional cultures lean on aunts, cousins, and neighbors for help. Support systems are critical for new parents. WIC is committed to being part of our community’s support system. PHFE WIC counselors include Certified Lactation Educators and International Board Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLCs) with the training and experienced to provide expert individualized breastfeeding support and guide and encourage parents through their feeding journey.

We are here for you!

In honor of Breastfeeding Month, one of PHFE WIC’s lactation consultants, Jessica Estrada, IBCLC sat for an interview with dietetic intern Jocelyn Cortez to talk about her career journey, WIC insights, and her advice for expecting parents.

About Jessica Estrada, IBCLC

Jessica started her lactation support career in her role at WIC as a Breastfeeding Peer Counselor in 2010, providing nutrition and breastfeeding education to clients during their pregnancy and hands-on support once the baby was born. She then earned her International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) credential through UC San Diego in December 2019 and continues to share her breastfeeding and chestfeeding expertise with WIC families today.

Jessica’s passion for her lactation career has grown throughout her journey in WIC. As a mom herself, the challenges of being a first time mother and her experience with breastfeeding have called her to be a guide to other parents. She knows that there is misinformation on the internet and not having the proper guidance can contribute to falling away from one’s breastfeeding goal. Jessica continues to teach breastfeeding classes and serve clients with common breastfeeding concerns like latching difficulties, breastmilk production, using a breast pumping, monitoring babies’ weight gain, and hand-on support to help parents meet their feeding goals. She is also involved in a Physician Rotation Program at WIC where she teaches medical students about baby behavior and breastfeeding feeding patterns along with recommendations that teach the visiting medical interns about the breastfeeding world.

What does a Lactation Consultant do?

JE: A Lactation Consultant is a professional who specializes in the field of breastfeeding. We help mothers that are having breastfeeding problems. There may be many reasons a mother needs support, some examples but not limited to helping a mother with plugged ducts, mastitis, thrush, and helping babies that are unable to latch a baby to the breast or unable to maintain a latch. Right now because of the COVID-19 pandemic we are conducting virtual counselings to screen clients prior to working with our clients in person to assure the baby is latching well and assuring our mothers that the baby is gaining a healthy weight and thriving while the baby is being breastfeed.

Why should someone see a lactation consultant?

JE: If you need help, contact WIC ask for breastfeeding guidance with a lactation consultant. WIC gives you access for free consultation with a lactation consultant. Any questions a parent has about latching, breastmilk supply, or returning to work, WIC can help. In my profession, I reassure new mothers about the normal course of breastfeeding and parenting a new baby. If doctor referrals or follow-ups are necessary, we provide additional support in those areas as well.

How can a WIC parent connect with a lactation consultant?

JE: WIC has an infant feeding helpline number available to our clients with any breastfeeding questions. Certified Lactation Educators and Lactation Consultants (breastfeeding specialists) answer your breastfeeding questions and can schedule an in-person visit if needed. The hours are Monday – Friday from 9:00 am – 5:30 pm Pacific time at (888) 278-6455.

What is the secret to increasing milk production?

JE: The best way to ensure a great milk supply is to breastfeed frequently. There are no foods that mom must eat or avoid. We recommend that mom makes healthy choices when possible but in general enjoy her normal diet. The secret is breastfeeding every time the baby shows early hunger cues–10 or more times in 24 hours, which is about every 2-3 hours or sooner. The key is to stimulate the breasts often to increase the milk supply. When parents have milk supply questions, we can often reassure them by weighing their baby and discussing the baby’s hunger cues and feeding history.

What makes milk production decrease?

JE: Milk supply decreases when breastfeeding frequency decreases or when the baby is not breastfeeding effectively. Some medications are contraindicated during breastfeeding due to their effect on milk supply. In these cases we recommend that moms work with their healthcare provider to find an alternative medication to protect milk supply and support the parents decision to breastfeed or chestfeed.

Do C-sections cause lactation problems?

JE: Sometimes parents who have had a C-section benefit from some extra help with ideas for positioning their babies for comfort and supporting their breast milk production. We recommend monitoring the baby’s weight and number of soiled diapers, and reaching out to WIC soon after the baby is born so that we can identify issues and connect parents with with an IBCLC quickly. Connecting with WIC early helps protect the parent’s milk supply and get off to a great start with feeding.

What else do you want to share with parents?

JE: Do not feel embarrassed to reach out for help! At WIC we want to help you meet your feeding goals! Plan for breastfeeding to go smoothly, and it probably will! Your baby will be born with amazing instincts that will help breastfeeding get off to a good start. Nurse frequently and get help early. Every drop of breastmilk is a gift!

#phfewic #IBCLC #lactation #breastfeedingmonth

The economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic continues to affect low-income households that were already struggling with poverty and hunger before the health crisis. In just one week in June, nearly 2.7 million California residents did not have enough to eat, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s Household Pulse Survey. This includes more than 1.36 million households with children. In Los Angeles County, 1 in 5 people struggled with food insecurity before the pandemic, and that number has since risen to 1 in 4 county residents.

On Monday, August 2, 2021, PHFE WIC’s 8th Street WIC office hosted Joel Berg, CEO of Hunger Free America as part of an 8,000-mile coast-to-coast journey this summer to shine a light on the continuing national hunger crisis, to meet with those working on the front lines of hunger, and to advocate for long-term public policy solutions to food insecurity.

Anti-hunger advocates from PHFE WIC, Los Angeles Food Policy Council, Hunger Action Los Angeles-HALA, LA Food Bank, CalFresh, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, The Annenberg Foundation, Hollywood Food Coalition, the LA Mayor’s office, LA County Office of Sustainability spoke to the press and joined a round table discussion about the barriers to accessing available anti-hunger programs, and systemic solutions.

Systemic Solutions

The American Families Plan, if passed by Congress, would make a huge investment in low-income families and children and dramatically decrease child poverty and hunger.

The re-introduced HOPE Act Bill would allow for the creation of a streamlined system to make it easier for people to apply for and access benefits through a single portal.

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Click here to view the livestream of the press conference.

Good news! The Home Visiting Family Support Program is now enrolling families. This program pairs you with a trained professional who provides pregnancy and parenting guidance, access to social services, job resources, and more!

Who is Eligible?

Pregnant and parenting women, low income families with children under the age of 5, and individuals receiving cash aid (CalWorks).

What is the program’s goal?

The Home Visiting Program’s goal is to provide support and expertise to help parents expand their parenting skills and access key resources for medical, mental health, and child development concerns. In addition, families will also receive resources such as housing, food, counseling services, and other services.      

How to enroll:

To enroll, please call (213) 639-6436 or (800) 427-8700 (Press 4, Option 2)

One year ago, WIC’s monthly breastfeeding support groups transitioned to an online platform to keep WIC participants safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. These meetings help parents navigate the challenges and successes of breastfeeding, and have been invaluable to families who have not been able to have hands-on support during this trying time.

Online breastfeeding support groups have been successful in six different languages: English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Chinese, Korean, and Armenian. They help families across all of these languages ease into parenthood and breastfeeding by holding space for parents to ask questions and share their experiences. Parents learn from one another through their own stories, while they lean on International Board Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLC) and WIC nutritionists for additional guidance.

Parents have shared that online support groups are easier to attend because they do not have to travel, and they have been particularly beneficial throughout this last year while home visitations were difficult.

The support group helped me learn how to position my baby at the breast to latch so I could still learn to breastfeed even when no one could give me one-on-one help because of COVID.

Danielle, PHFE WIC Participant

Are you pregnant or breastfeeding? Click here to learn how to join a group!

Thank you breastfeeding support group WIC staff for hosting these online support groups, and for continuously providing the best care to WIC families!

The CinnaMoms African American Breastfeeding and Motherhood Support Program is an accessible and welcoming service to parents that goes beyond PHFE WIC core services.

CinnaMoms is currently on their 3rd quarter of support circles. They offer culturally relevant information facilitated by qualified team of African American Certified Lactation Educators, Lactation Consultants, Nutritionists, and Breastfeeding Peer Counselors.

In partnership with Kaiser Permanente Baldwin Hills, CinnaMoms invites you to join a virtual breastfeeding support group held every first and third Thursday of the month, beginning January 2021.

The overarching goal is to increase virtual breastfeeding support for African American women and families. Throughout the year, the virtual support circles will feature guest appearances from Lactation Consultants throughout the region.

RSVP using this link here: https://www.cinnamoms.org/events

#cinnamoms #phfewic #KP #breastfeeding

The National WIC Association (NWA) held its annual conference virtually on June 15-17th, 2021. This conference aimed to engage with its 1,500+ attendees, connect on WIC-related topics, and inspire attendees to strengthen their communities. The conference incorporated diversity and inclusion throughout the sessions and emphasized equitable access to nutritious foods and breastfeeding support to all WIC families.

PHFE WIC directors attended the conference to expand their professional skills and knowledge base about nutrition, breastfeeding, leadership, and much more to help PHFE WIC better serve its families.

Read about the PHFE WIC directors’ conference highlights and memorable quotes below!

“Big highlight for me is that staff from USDA shared that the 2017 WIC Food Package recommendations have now started through the regulatory process, hooray! We can expect to see proposed changes posted in the Federal Register by the end of 2021 so that all of us can make our public comments so let’s get ready to do that!  While this does not mean we’ll have a revised food package this year, it’s wonderful to hear we are now on the road to changes ahead and increased choices for our WIC participants.“

Highlight from Shannon Whaley, PhD, Deputy Director of Research and Evaluation

“I really enjoyed attending the 2021 NWA Conference!  I especially loved the session called “FNS Tools and Resources,” and I was happy to hear that the new USDA BF Curricula training is ready and should be coming out to Local Agencies soon!  This new platform with the tiered learning levels will give us new tools to train staff on breastfeeding in creative and fun ways!“

Highlight from Cindy Clapp, MS, RDN, IBCLC, Deputy Director of Breastfeeding Services

“What do leaders look like?  You cannot find a leader by their title or even the letters by their name; you find a leader among their team because they live the mission.  Leaders see the value in setting and reaching goals but also understand there is no win unless every team member crosses the finish line.“

Memorable quote by Margaret Page Saunders, MS, RDN, LDN at CEDA WIC Program shared by Anne Kennedy, MS, RDN, CLE, Deputy Director of Client Services

WIC recognizes the important role that fathers, grandfathers, stepfathers, and other guardians play in caring for kids. Dads are a source of so much selfless love, unconditional support, and timeless wisdom for the WIC family.

Despite the WIC name, fathers, grandfathers, stepfathers, father figures, and other guardians have always been a part of the WIC family. WIC celebrates and appreciates the nurturers and caregivers, mothers, fathers, grandparents, and guardians of our children.

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As public health professionals serving a diverse population of pregnant, breastfeeding, and postpartum women, new parents, and their families, we at WIC acknowledge that racism is a public health crisis that directly affects our work and the families we serve. Systemic racism affects many communities, especially Black mothers and infants, whose chances of surviving pregnancy and birth are disproportionately lower than their white counterparts. This has invigorated our commitment to dismantling systemic racism and fostering an anti-racist and socially just environment.

Actions We Are Taking

For our participants:

• CinnaMoms was created in 2015 as a special space to promote and support breastfeeding while celebrating the traditions and culture of the Black families at PHFE WIC. CinnaMoms hosts monthly virtual support circles to facilitate culturally relevant and meaningful connections and discussions about maternal and postpartum health, support systems, and beliefs.

• Black Breastfeeding Week (BBW) was August 25-31st. The 2020 celebration took place virtually with the theme of “Revive, Restore, and Reclaim.”
  • For more information about CinnaMoms, visit www.cinnamoms.org/
  • Instagram: @CinnaMoms_

• PHFE WIC has partnered with Los Angeles County African American Infant and Maternal Mortality (AAIMM) Doulas and Frontline Doulas to connect black women with free doula services.
  • To learn more about these projects and doulas visit:
    • www.frontlinedoulas.com/hotlineintake
    • www.blackinfantsandfamilies.org/dph_doulas

For our staff:

• In July 2020, the Council on Racial and Equity (CORE) was assembled at PHFE WIC to evaluate and inform next steps for racial justice within our organization.
  • This team informed a list of short, medium, and long-term goals for educational trainings, professional development, and exploring inclusivity in all avenues of the agency.
  • CORE collaborated with other WIC agencies across Southern California during Black Breastfeeding Week to address breastfeeding barriers that Black families face.

• PHFE WIC has ensured interview panelists were racially diverse while hiring.

• Our parent company, Heluna Health has formed a cross-agency Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Workgroup to address systemic racism.

• In June 2021, staff celebrated and commemorated Juneteenth with a special educational presentation created by members of CORE.

• On May 25, 2021, PHFE WIC staff gathered virtually for the Inaugural Day of Remembrance to remember the names of Black people killed by police, and reflect on how we plan to move forward in our anti-racist journeys individually and as an organization.

• PHFE WIC staff attended California WIC Association’s Annual conference May 3-7, 2021. The theme was “Strengthening and Supporting California’s Families”. Staff heard Arthur James, MD, FACOG speak on Equity in the Opportunity to Survive the 1st Day of Life…a dream deferred.

• Following the Global Cultural calendar developed by Heluna Health’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Workgroup, PHFE WIC staff created and shared presentations to educate and celebrate Chinese New Year, Black HIstory Month, Arab American Heritage Month, Women’s History Month, Hispanic Heritage Month, Cesar Chavez Day, Harriet Tubman Day, Juneteenth, and Greek and Irish Heritage Month.

• In November 2020, all PHFE WIC staff attended a virtual implicit bias workshop with Dr. Bryant Marks. As part of the workshop, staff took an implicit association test to become aware of their own biases. The workshop gave actionable ways to work toward racial equity.

• In August 2020, staff attended the virtual California WIC Association conference where Sarah Fanta, Supervising Nutritionist and member of the C.O.R.E Advisory Committee, interviewed Austin Channing Brown.
  • Austin Channing Brown is a speaker, writer, and media producer, who provided inspirational leadership on racial justice in America and is the author of I’m Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made of Whiteness.

• In July 2020, PHFE WIC held an all-staff meeting with the topic of cultural sensitivity, racism, and recognizing and preventing micro-aggressions lead by PHFE WIC Senior Health Equity Manager Dr. Toncé Jackson
  • All staff watched four video conversations on race and completed a thought-provoking worksheet to help process information and enhance learning.
  • The group explored micro-aggressions and micro-affirmations through dialogue, videos, and examples.

• In June 2020, Dr. Melissa Franklin of First 5 LA and Ms. Wenonah Valentine held a support group/healing space for Black staff as an opportunity to process, reflect, mobilize, and recommend next steps for the agency.

• Juneteeth education for all staff
  • In June 2020, Staff independently viewed a PowerPoint presentation that included facts about Juneteeth, Black historical and current information, and links to the National African American Museum (NAAM) website.

This is only the beginning. Please check back periodically to learn about our most recent efforts to build equity and justice in our organization and community.

PHFE WIC, a program of Heluna Health joins the celebration of Juneteenth, the oldest national anniversary of the abolition of slavery. U.S. President Joe Biden signed a bill on Thursday, June 17 designating ‘Juneteenth,’ or June 19, a federal holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the United States.

Read Heluna Health’s statement recognizing and celebrating Juneteenth here.

Read more about what we are doing at PHFE WIC to educate our employees and foster racial and health equity in our workplace and community.

The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, signed by President Biden in March 2021 in response to COVID-19, allocated $490 million in additional funds to enhance WIC benefits for four months. These funds are going directly to WIC families in the form of increased fruit and vegetable benefits from June through September 2021.

During these four months, a family with a pregnant parent and two children receives $105 monthly for fruits and vegetables in addition to all their other WIC foods.

WIC families can use their increased fruit and vegetable benefit to buy dried, canned, frozen, and fresh fruits and vegetables that meet the WIC authorized requirements found on the Shopping Guide.

For new or returning WIC participants, signing up is easy! Text APPLY to 91997 or visit phfewic.org/apply.

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A message to WIC participants

Monthly WIC food benefits are good for 30 days and benefit expiration dates can be found on the CA WIC App Food Balance page or by calling 1-844-469-3264.

Questions? Text us at 91997!

In 2020, WIC expanded the list of approved foods to offer a greater selection of options for families. This was in response to the short supply of food on many grocery store shelves during the pandemic.

The COVID-19 expanded list of approved foods will no longer be available after June 1, 2021.

Use the California WIC App or the WIC Authorized Food List Shopping Guide to make sure you purchase the right foods on your food balance.

We strongly encourage you to use the WIC Food Scan feature in the California WIC App when shopping for your WIC foods.

On June 11, the National WIC Association (NWA) published a report entitled, The WIC Food Package: Impacts and Recommendations to Advance Nutrition Security. The report provides the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) with NWA’s recommendations for an enhanced WIC food package. USDA plans to reevaluate WIC’s food packages in the fiscal year 2022.

Highlights of NWA’s Recommendations

• Increase the Cash Value Benefit (CVB) across all child and adult food packages.
• Allow substitutions of non-dairy alternatives that meet nutrient requirements.
• Allow Substitutions for allergies, sensitivities, vegetarian and vegan diets.

Click here to see the full report.

Rev. Douglas Greenaway, President & CEO of the National WIC Association (NWA), issued the following statement:

“The WIC food package is the carrot that brings moms, their babies, and young children to WIC. There, they find nutrition professionals who deliver invaluable nutrition supports and connect them to crucial health care and social services. Together, these supports save America and American taxpayers valuable healthcare dollars to the tune of $2.48 for every dollar invested in WIC. Where else can you get that kind of a return? But the carrot is no longer enough. To make the juice worth the squeeze, families need a whole basket of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, eggs, and other healthy foods. Now is the time to make meaningful investment in the best hook to get more moms and their families into WIC – doubling the value of the WIC food package.

President Biden’s fiscal year 2022 federal budget doubles down on the Administration’s ongoing commitment to building nutrition security, starting with the nutrition needs of the pregnant and postpartum women, babies, and young children served by WIC. The American Rescue Plan Act’s temporary expansion of the value of the WIC food benefit has brought historic investment in access to healthy foods for WIC families this summer, and NWA wholeheartedly supports the White House’s proposed extension of this increase through fiscal year 2022. Still, the bumped up fruit and vegetable benefit needs to continue long after the shadow of COVID-19 is gone. Enhancing WIC access and benefits are the most straightforward steps to building stronger nutrition security for millions of families. “With increased investment, NWA is confident that doubling WIC’s food benefit will bring more families closer to the nutrient recommendations in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans – a critical step to further reduce rates of childhood obesity, bring down healthcare costs, and set up our children for future life success. This report and its recommendations point policymakers toward real solutions to expanding the value of the food package, ensuring that WIC families get real value for their efforts, and that America gets the full bang for investing in WIC families.”

Calling all WIC Families! PHFE WIC invites you Dad’s chat as we celebrate Father’s day on June 18 at 5:30 pm. Our chat will feature guest speakers and gift raffles for attendees! Text “Dads18” to RSVP.

Big things are happening at WIC! Thanks to the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, every WIC participant 12 months and older will get $35 each month for fruits and vegetables from June through September 2021.

Join us to learn how your actions can support this temporary benefit increase to become a permanent healthy. We look forward to answering all of your question about WIC and the temporary benefit increase.

Tuesday, June 15 at 10:00am PDT

Click here to register for this free live webinar

Congratulations to the inaugural class of PHFE WIC IBCLC internship graduates! Internship graduates are PHFE WIC staff who have shown a passion for helping parents breastfeed successfully.

For the past 13 months, 5 interns completed the UCSD lactation course over 2 quarters, completed supervised practice hours, trainings, and mentoring with WIC lactation consultants. Graduates are now eligible to sit for the exam to become International Board Certified Lactation Consultants.

We are so proud of this next generation of future IBCLCs and we know that this investment in our staff will pay dividends as they empower and support the parents in our community with their breastfeeding expertise.

Read what each of the interns had to share about their internship experience below.

The Future of WIC’s IBCLC Internship

The next cohort of 4 IBCLC interns began their internship in April 2021. The internship is anticipated to continue yearly to support the education and professionalization of our staff.

WIC encourages families to stay up to date on vaccinations. We check in regularly with WIC families about their child’s immunization status, provide resources from credible sources, and empower parents to talk to their doctors.

WIC follows the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) vaccine recommendations for all populations that it serves. Learn more here about recommended vaccines per age group for children.

The CDC’s easy-to-read vaccine chart can help you learn what vaccines are recommended for each age and why each are important for keeping your child healthy.

Have questions about your child’s immunizations? Talk to your child’s pediatrician. Scheduling and attending well-child appointments at the recommended times can ensure your child’s immunizations stay up to date.

Planning to have a baby soon? Check out the CDC’s recommendations about vaccines before, during and after pregnancy.

Thinking about getting the COVID-19 vaccine? WIC recommends following the CDC’s advice that states all pregnant, postpartum, and breastfeeding individuals be vaccinated against COVID-19. WIC encourages you to talk to your doctor about getting the COVID-19 vaccine, although a discussion with your healthcare provider is not required to get vaccinated.

Find free or low-cost immunizations near you!
Immunizations – Free & Low Cost (LA County)
Immunizations – Free & Low Cost (Orange County)
Immunizations – Low Cost (San Bernardino County)

Our greatest asset is our staff. They provide our WIC families with high quality nutrition counseling, breastfeeding support, referrals, and food benefits each and every day. This year, for the second time, all PHFE WIC staff attended the California WIC Association (CWA) virtual conference to further enhance their skills and knowledge.

The CWA virtual conference, Resilience: Supporting and Strengthening California Families, was held May 3rd through May 7th, 2021. It was full of insightful and applicable information delivered by incredible speakers.

Staff learned about topics including:

• Health equity
• Lasting habits
• The safe introduction of meat to babies
• The connection of culture, trauma, and breastfeeding
• Leadership and emotional resiliency
• Perinatal mental health
• And more!

We are excited to continue to connect with families remotely and apply the knowledge that we gained at the conference to better support and strengthen all WIC families!

Read about staff’s favorite parts of the conference:

“It was a great pleasure to attend CWA’s virtual conference this year!  There couldn’t be a more perfect word than “Resilience” for this year’s theme given the events that have taken place over the last year.  I learned so much that could be applied not only to my career as a WIC Nutritionist, but also in my own personal life.  From learning about leadership and emotional resiliency to learning about how culture, trauma and breastfeeding are connected; CWA covered a wide range of topics and the speakers did a fantastic job at presenting these topics with obvious passion and keeping their virtual audience engaged.” – Fabiola Anguiano (WIC Nutritionist)

Moms hold a very special place in our hearts at WIC. They are on our staff, our participants, our leaders, and our partners in the community. Moms are a source of so much love, support, insight, strength, and inspiration for the WIC family.

We wish you the happiest Mother’s Day! WIC celebrates the nurturers and caregivers, mothers, fathers, grandparents, and guardians of our children.

Calling all WIC Men and Dads! PHFE WIC is proud to have hosted its first virtual Dad’s chat event on April 22, 2021. Fathers from California to Texas joined and discussed the challenges they have experienced as father during the COVID pandemic. Challenges discussed ranged from social struggles to comfort food struggle. Fathers shared their approach for the day-to-day challenges that arouse from the pandemic. The event provided the positive reinforcement that fathers are not alone and through power of communication, can overcome the daily obstacles.

With the first virtual Dad’s chat event successfully in the books, we welcome you to text “Dadchats” to receive notifications and reminders of future Dads Chat events. This is event is open to all fathers and soon-to-be fathers. A special thanks to Ruben Lopez, RDN for hosting an amazing Dad’s chat for our fathers!  

In celebration of Black Maternal Health Week (April 11-17th) we hosted a virtual support circle sponsored by Kaiser Permanente on April 15th.

Our CinnaMoms staff and other community partners like Watts Health WIC, Northeast Valley WIC, and Public Health Alliance discussed the importance of postpartum visits. Also the signs of postpartum health scares and what to do when they occur, and celebrating Black Mother Joy.

During the discussion of celebrating Black Mother Joy, our very own staff Bethany and Ericka recited an original poem to uplift our participants called, “A Gift”. In celebration of #BlackJoy, we launched an Instagram Campaign. Using #CinnaMoms4Life for participants to post a picture that defines their joy.

To bring more attention to Black Maternal Health Week, the White House also released a statement addressing the Black Maternal Health Crisis. This press-release expounded on the initial steps that the Biden-Harris Administration will take through policies aimed for racial and health equity that will improve Black Maternal Health.

Here at PHFE WIC we are proud to be part of the national effort on ending this public health crisis. With the additional welcomed support from our Executive Branch of Government, it will end.

#BlackMaternalHealthWeek

Celebrating #WomensHistoryMonth for the month of March our parent agency Heluna Health highlighted some wonderful women that have created change in public health, and will continue to move agendas forward!

Click here to read the article:

In Honor of Black Maternal Health Week (April 11-17^th), join us as we celebrate the joy of Black motherhood. We will let our voices be heard; HEAR Us. We gather to demand quality care to keep our families healthy and thriving. Since 2015, CinnaMoms has been dedicated to creating spaces where breastfeeding is welcomed, improving maternal and infant health outcomes, and mental health awareness amongst our Black families at PHFE WIC. 

CinnaMoms continues to advocate for Black families in a virtual environment via Zoom, every first and third Thursday of each month. We have Sister Chats to discuss hot topics related to breastfeeding, health, family, parenting and celebrating our Blackness. Other topics discussed are self-care, nutrition, mental health, advocacy, and much more. To celebrate the greatness of our village, we end each support circle with a Dance Party! We do this because #BlackMamasMatter, #BlackBabiesMatter, and #BlackLivesMatter.

Visit our website www.cinnamoms.org or follow us on social media @cinnamoms_ to check out our upcoming support circles, announcements, and events!

Free diapers are being provided to families across Los Angeles and Orange County while supplies last. Brands and sizes available vary by location. Please wear a mask and follow social distancing protocols when picking up diapers.

Los Angeles County

Agency Name	Address	Appointment Needed	Phone Number	Pick Up Day & Time	Details & Requirements
All Peoples Christian Center	822 E. 20th St. Los Angeles, CA 90058	No	(213) 747-6357	Friday, 9:30AM - 1:00PM	While supplies last
Foothill Unity Center	790 W. Chestnut Ave. Monrovia, CA 91016	No	(626) 358-3486	Monday, 1:00PM - 3:30PM / Wednesday & Friday, 9:00AM - 11:30AM	Photo ID, Drive thru/Walk thru
Foothill Unity Center	191 N. Oak Ave. Pasadena, CA 91107	No	(626) 584-7420	Tuesday, 9:00AM - 11:30AM / Wednesday & Friday, 1:00PM - 3:30PM	Proof of address/income, Birth Certificate(infant/child), while supplies last
Inland Valley Hope Partners	209 W. Pearl St. Pomona, CA 91768	No	(909) 622-3806	Monday - Thursday, 9:00AM - 3:00PM	Birth Certificate(infant/child)
Inland Valley Hope Partners	660 N. Mountain Ave. Claremont, CA 91711	No	(909) 622-3806	Tuesday & Thursday, 12:30PM - 4:30PM	Birth Certificate(infant/child)
Inland Valley Hope Partners	110 E. Third St. San Dimas, CA 91773	No	(909) 622-3806	Monday & Wednesday, 2:00PM - 4:00PM	Birth Certificate(infant/child)
Inland Valley Hope Partners	904 E. California St. Ontario, CA 91761	No	(909) 622-3806	Monday - Tuesday, 9:00AM - 3:00PM	Birth Certificate(infant/child)
Meet Each Need with Dignity	10641 San Fernando Rd. Pacoima, CA 91331	Yes	(818) 897-2443	2nd & 4th Wednesday, 9:00AM - 11:00AM	Pre-registration needed
Salvation Army - Bellflower Temple Corps	9664 Cedar St. Bellflower, CA 90706	Yes	(562) 804-0808	Monday - Thursday, 2:00PM - 4:00PM	Must call prior to distribution
Salvation Army - Stillman Sawyer Family Services	820 Lomita Blvd. Harbor City, CA 90710	No	(310) 835-1986	Monday, Wednesday, Friday, 9:00AM - 3:00PM	Birth Certificate(infant/child), Photo ID, Food Pantry & diapers
St. Francis Center	1835 S. Hope St. Los Angeles, CA 90015	No	(213) 747-5347	Tuesday, 10:00AM - 12:00PM	Pre-registration needed
St. Margaret's Center	10217 S. Inglewood Ave. Inglewood, CA 90304	Yes	(310) 672-2208	Wednesday, 9:00AM - 3:00PM	Must call prior to distribution
Silverlake Community	2930 Hyperion Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90027	No	(323) 663-3151	Wednesday, 5:00PM - 6:00PM	Birth Certificate(infant/child), Proof of address
My Friends House	3533 W. 58th Pl. Los Angeles, CA 90053	No	(323) 292-4939	Wednesday, 9:00AM - 11:00AM	Will serve first 100 persons
Bread of Life - Washington	5175 1/2 W. Washington Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90016	No	(323) 939-4716	Wednesday, 11:00AM - 12:30PM	Drive thru
Bread of Life - Avalon	701 East 88th Pl. Los Angeles, CA 90012	No	(323) 939-4716	Thursday, 1:00PM - 3:00PM	Drive thru
Houses of Light	19359 Londelius St. Northridge, CA 91324	No	(818) 998-2931	Wednesday, 11:30AM - 12:30PM & Saturday, 6:00AM - 7:30AM	Drive thru only, while supplies last
JFS/SOVA	16439 Vanowen St. Van Nuys, CA 91406	No	(818) 988-7682	Monday - Thursday, 10:00AM - 1:30PM	Pre-registration needed
Immanuel Presbyterian	668 S. Catalina St. Los Angeles, CA 90005	No	(213) 389-3191	Monday - Friday, 8:00AM - 12:00PM	Birth Certificate(infant/child), Photo ID
Hope Chapel	6015 W. Ave. J8 Quartz Hill, CA 93536	No	(661) 943-1074	1st & 3rd Friday, 9:30AM - 11:00AM	Must call prior to distribution
Sowing Seeds	1350 Arrow Hwy. La Verne, CA 91750	No	(909) 293-7735	1st & 3rd Wednesday, 8:00AM - 12:00PM	Entrance Gate 17 Fairplex, While supplies last
Hope Chapel Foursquare	2420 Pacific Coast Hwy. Hermosa Beach, CA 90254	No	(310) 374-4673	Wednesday & Friday, 9:00AM - 12:00PM & 1:00PM - 4:00PM	Complete information form, Drive thru

Orange County

Agency Name	Address	Appointment Needed	Phone#	Pick Up Day & Time	Details & Requirements
Together We Rise	580 W. Lambert Rd. Ste. A. Brea, CA 92821	Yes	(714) 784-6760	By appointment only	Foster Families only - Social Worker referral
ICNA Relief	14522 Goldenwest Ave. Westminster, CA 92683	Yes	(714) 399-4572 ext. 231	2nd Thursday of each month	Orange County residents receiving CalFresh or Medi-Cal ONLY. Must call prior to distribution
Helping Others Prepare for Eternity H.O.P.E.	11022 Acacia Parkway Ste. C Garden Grove, CA 92840	Yes	(714) 539-4357	By appointment only	Must call prior to distribution
Families Forward	8 Thomas Irvine, CA 92618		(949) 552-2727	Monday - Thursday, 10:00AM - 2:00PM	Pre-registration needed
El Modena Family Resource Center	18672 E. Center Ave. Orange, CA 92869	Yes	(714) 532-3595	By appointment only	Must call prior to distribution for eligibility requirements
Friendly Center	147 W. Rose Ave. Orange, CA 92867	Yes	(714) 771-5300	By appointment only	Must call prior to distribution
Family Assistance Ministries	1030 Calle Negocio San Clemente, CA 92673	No	(949) 492-8477	Monday - Friday 10:00AM - 3:00PM	Must call prior to distribution. Serving select areas

April 5-11 is National Public Health Week!

This past year has shown us how important public health is to all of us. WIC plays a critical role in public health by supporting, nourishing, and uplifting our community’s parents and young children to set our nation’s families up with better health and healthy habits for life.

WIC’s Impact on Public Health

The COVID-19 pandemic disproportionately affected women and families with young children. PHFE WIC saw a 24% increase in WIC program participation between February 2020 and January 2021. This translates to tens of thousands of infants and young children connected to no-cost healthy foods and more community resources each month.

WIC participants have healthier birth outcomes. The nutrition education, healthy foods, referrals, and support from WIC during pregnancy has a direct and well-documented impact on pregnant parents and babies.

Babies of WIC participants have higher average birth weights, lower incidence of low and very low birth weight, lower rates of prematurity, and lower rates of infant mortality.

Birthing parents who participated in WIC during pregnancy have lower rates of preeclampsia, and lower rates of excessive gestational weight gain.

Children who participate in WIC are more likely to be up-to-date on their immunizations, are more likely to have access to health care and medical home, have lower rates of anemia, show improved cognitive development and academic achievement, and exhibit lower rates of obesity.

WIC helps parents reach their breastfeeding goals. Breastfeeding rates of WIC participants have increased by 43% since 2002.

Nutrition education from WIC positively affects eating habits. The National WIC Infant and Toddler Feeding Practices Study-2 showed that 70% of WIC caregivers reported that they changed their feeding practices because of something that they learned at WIC. Parents who participated in the study also reported that the nutrition education, information and advice they received from WIC is as important to them as the food.

WIC is a wise investment. A 2019 study by Niangono, et al. showed that every $1 spent on WIC during pregnancy resulted in mean savings of $2.48 ($1.24-$6.83).

The deadline to file your taxes has been extended to  Monday, May 17, 2021!

Free File Income Tax Resources

Free tax filing assistance is available through the IRS’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program for people who qualify.  Check out these free tax prep resources and see if you qualify here.

4 Tax Credits for Parents

1. Child Tax Credit

Updates to the current Child Tax Credit (CTC) allow families to receive a $3,000 annual benefit per child, ages 6 to 17, and $3,600 per child under 6.  The payments are temporary and expected to start in July through December 2021.  In the past, families with low income did not receive the full benefits.  Now, you don’t have to be employed to receive CTC.  Additional information about the Child Tax Credit, visit IRS.gov.  Click here to see if your child qualifies for the Child Tax Credit.

2. Federal Earned Income Tax Credit

The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is a federal tax credit for working people who have earned a low-to-moderate income and must have a Social Security number.  If you qualify, you may see a reduced tax bill or a bigger refund.  Click here to see if you qualify.

3. California Earned Income Tax Credit

If you made $30,000 or less last year, you may qualify for the California Earned Income Tax Credit (CalEITC).  This credit could help reduce your tax bill or increase your refund, and Social Security number is not needed.  If you are eligible for CalEITC and have a child under the age of 6, you may also qualify for the Young Child Tax Credit.

4. Young Child Tax Credit

If you qualify for CalEITC and have a child under the age of 6 as of the end of the tax year, you may also qualify for the Young Child Tax Credit (YCTC) and receive up to $1,000 through this credit.

Note: Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) holders only qualify for the CalEITC and the state YCTC, not the federal EITC.

We at PHFE WIC are heartbroken by the troubling rise in anti-Asian sentiments and violence, and we stand in solidarity with the Asian American and Pacific Islander communities.

To our Asian participants, coworkers, community—you are cherished and welcome at WIC. We are committed to supporting and uplifting families of all rac