Over the past decade, a declining share of eligible families have participated in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). As a result, more than 5 million eligible people are missing out on the diet, health, and developmental benefits associated with participating in WIC.
Benefits Data Trust (BDT), in partnership with the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP), has harnessed the power of data and text outreach to find solutions that can help close the WIC enrollment gap. BDT and CBPP have released three in-depth reports on how states can use these tools to ensure more families in need have access to the vital resources that WIC provides. To summarize the key findings of the reports, below are one-page briefs that provide an overview.
Matching Data Across Benefit Programs Can Increase WIC Enrollment
Data matching across SNAP and Medicaid is one promising strategy to begin addressing WIC enrollment gaps.
Targeted Text Message Outreach Can Increase WIC Enrollment
Targeted text messaging to people already enrolled in another program like Medicaid or SNAP is one promising strategy to begin addressing WIC enrollment gaps.
Using Data Matching and Targeted Outreach to Boost WIC Enrollment: Lessons Learned From State Pilots
Applying the lessons learned from recent pilot projects testing cross-program data matching and targeted outreach can help states address WIC enrollment gaps.
BDT offers technical assistance to state WIC agencies interested in implementing or enhancing data-driven outreach efforts. If you would like to learn more about this work or how we could support your state, please contact partnerships@bdtrust.org.
You can find the original reports and more information on this work below:
Transforming Benefits Access
Transforming Benefits Access