Women, Infant, and Children Food Program (WIC) (Essay Sample)

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The Great Tang-Song Transformation
The reign of the Tang-Song dynasties was a "turning point" in Chinese history. Before this era, an aristocratic culture placed more value on bloodline than skills in governance. At the apex of society were a small number of old families. The period established a culture of using scholars to manage state affairs for the first time in Chinese history. It helped international trade grow, influencing society through interactions with other cultures. As a result, the economy and urbanization thrived. The Song dynasty was a brilliant and innovative age characterized by rapid economic growth and social and cultural changes compared to the Tang. The changes also led to the expansion of civil-service examinations, the rising prominence of scholar-officials, Neo-Confucianism, the re-definition of gendered space, thriving artistic and literary achievements, and rich urban culture. It was also characterized by poetry, painting, and appreciation of antiques. These changes were central in making the Tang-Song era the most transformative period in Chinese history, moving the country to early modern years.
The Tang and Song dynasties were periods of immense prosperity and innovation for China. During the era, China was transformed socially, economically, and politically. It was a period of transition from medieval to early modern ages. Some of the main changes were among the sociopolitical elite, institutions, political culture, and the economy. During the era, the population of China increased to almost one hundred million people as sections of the society became wealthy. Major cities also emerged with populations of more than one million people each. As a result, China became a rich nation and an advanced country globally.
Tang rule began in 618 and its rulers were responsible for strengthening the central government of China. However, the rule contrasted that of later Tang and the Song dynasty since the leaders were from old families (Morton and Lewis 82). They expanded the network of roads and canals began by the Sui dynasty. There was also a rise in the status of ordinary citizens in the governance of their country. The Tang rulers also introduced the culture of scholar government officials to manage the vast lands (Liu et al. 930). They did this by reviving and expanding the Han dynasty's civil service examination system. The change was accompanied by new land tenure and institutional innovations that reduced the powers of top ministers. The difference pulled the empire together and promoted improvement in agriculture and trade with foreign governments.

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Women, Infant, and Children Food Program (WIC)
Introduction
The United States government has enacted various financial aid programs in the last two decades to promote the overall well-being of the vulnerable and less privileged individuals in society. Women, Infant, and Children (WIC) food program is one such program. WIC is a supplemental nutrition program targeting low-income families at risk of lacking nutritional food during critical pregnancy, infancy, and early childhood. It provides screening, referrals to health care institutions, nutrition education, and other social services to eligible people. It achieves these objectives by first providing citizens with supplemental nutritious food from the WIC clinics. Most state programs provide recipients with vouchers that they can use at authorized food stores. It is a federally funded program through state grants. However, it is optional for state governments to participate in the program. When they do, they contribute thirty percent of the grants they request. Numerous state and local organizations cooperate in providing the benefits. Thus, WIC is a federally financed program to provide relief to vulnerable households to guarantee the health of expectant mothers, infants, and young children.
Intent
The primary objective of WIC is to give vulnerable families access to nutritious food during pregnancy, infancy, and early childhood. The program is federally funded and administered by USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS). The program is the central component of the Nation's food and nutrition assistance system in the United States. In 2000, the federal cost was almost $4 billion, making it one of the country's most extensive food assistance programs (Hoynes et al. 813). WIC was established in 1972 by amending section seventeen of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966. After a two-year pilot, the program became operational in 1974. It has grown significantly since its inception in 1972 and provides relief to many households.
WIC targets parents and children who were living in poverty from its inception. It provides them with supplemental food packages, nutrition education, and referrals to health care and social services. WIC provides participants with supplemental foods high in nutrients lacking in their diets. Food choice depends on cultural appeal, availability, and administrative feasibility. The food package is not supposed to meet the intentional needs of the participants (Ludwig and Miller 159). WIC regulations specify the maximum quantities of supplemental food. Nutrition education is available to all participants. The education is to stress the relationship between proper nutrition and good health.
Lack of proper nutrition has adverse effects on children and lactating mothers. Hunger among children and expectant mothers’ causes malnutrition and poor prenatal outcomes. Hunger is a risk factor for low birth weight, congenital impairment, functional limitations, and developmental delays among infants. Low-income women are more likely to avoid attending perinatal and prenatal care and increase the risks of premature delivery, low infant birth weight, and infant mortality (Joyce et al. 278). Therefore, WIC seeks to preempt these challenges and provide a gateway for women and infants to enter the healthcare system.
Providing pregnant women nutritious food gives them the necessary nutrients to carry their pregnancies to term and raise healthy children. Micronutrients, minerals, and vitamins are accessible through proper diet in the baby's development during pregnancy. A pregnant woman's body requires different nutrients that only adequate nutrition can provide. Women in low-income communities may enter pregnancy while malnourished, and their health conditions may deteriorate due to nutrient deficiencies. Therefore, women receive nutritional supplements, such as zinc to reduce the chances of preterm death, Folic acid, and vitamin D to increase birth weight, among other critical interventions that clinics provide their participants in the program. Nutritional deficiencies in children are a significant health problem globally, and that is why Congress continues to finance the program to alleviate suffering in society (Figlio et al. 235). Nutritional deficiency can cause long-term health problems, such as anemia due to iron deficiency, obesity, rickets, and goiter among children. Therefore, it is essential to develop preventive measures to protect mothers and children in advance.
Numerous organizations come together to administer the program. At the federal level, the administrator is the Food and Nutrition Service. Approximately forty-seven thousand authorized retailers administer it. It operates in fifty state health departments, thirty-four Indian Tribal Organizations, five territories (Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Guam, and Northern Mariana), and the District. Approximately two-thousand local agencies and more than ten thousand clinics help the program reach the target populations. The services are provided at country health departments, schools, Indian Health Service facilities, and hospitals. Other WIC services are mobile clinics, migrant health centers and camps, and public housing sites.
Furthermore, the WIC program provides low-cost or free breakfast and lunches in residential childcare facilities (Food and Nutrition Service). Besides, WIC channels federal grants to different states to offer healthcare referrals, food, and nutritional education to illiterate groups. Since its establishment, WIC has reached millions of women and children. About half of children born in America are served by the program, although the enrollment rates have declined (Food and Nutrition Service). Consequently, the program needs modernizing to enable mothers returning to work to participate (Figlio et al. 235). The WIC program was initiated to enhance the health of postpartum, low-income pregnant and breastfeeding women and children at a dietary risk. The program provides nutritious foods to women and children to complement diets. Healthy eating information and support for breastfeeding are offered in WIC. Children and women with underlying healthcare issues are referred to affordable and competent facilities. WIC mothers are enlightened on the best infant feeding diets and practices to help them live healthy lives even after leaving the program.
Technical Details
Eligible persons involve pregnant, breastfeeding, and postpartum mothers during the first six months of delivery. The process starts with a prescreening exercise where a person fills in a form online to understand if they are eligible to apply. If an individual meets the critical for consideration, they make an appointment with the WIC agency near them. Applications can be made anywhere, and eligible members are automatically adopted in the program. The plan's benefits are available in WIC clinics, where the applicants are assessed before being served (Figlio et al. 236). The assessment is done at no cost at WIC clinics, and the children's age should not exceed five years.
Healthcare professionals evaluate the applicants to gauge the extent of their nutritional risk. State agencies have been implemented to determine the eligibility of participants, authorize vendors, and provide other services and benefits (Food and Nutrition Service. The income eligibility varies in different states, although the federal threshold ranges between 100% and 185% of the set guidelines (Food and Nutrition Service). Apart from the federal government, the program is funded through grants and donations from well-wishers. The USDA monitors the flow of resources directed to the WIC program at the state and national levels.
The program is large and complex and it may not be easy to create efficiency at all levels. Issues of the composition of the package also arise. Other potential limiting issues are program accessibility, eligibility standards, and possible fraud and abuse of the program. These challenges hurt the prospects of deserving persons from accessing it (Figlio et al. 235). The challenges indirectly affect other groups,

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Women, Infant, and Children Food Program (WIC) (Essay Sample)

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