Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Wic Program topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
McHenry County WIC coordinator reports improved caseload performance and higher farmers‑market redemption
Summary
WIC coordinator Zach told the Board that assigned caseload rose to 2,727 for FY25 with an achieved caseload near 86% through three quarters; exclusive‑breastfeeding rates reached about 18% in FY25 and the Farmers Market Nutrition Program redemption rate increased to 40.58%.
Zach, the county WIC coordinator, presented performance data and outreach highlights for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC).
Zach said the state-assigned caseload for fiscal year 2025 was 2,727 participants and that the agency’s achieved caseload through three quarters was roughly 86% of that target — an improvement that staff attributed to fuller staffing and enhanced counseling. "We get our federal funds from the USDA and then through Illinois WIC is where we get our assigned caseload numbers," Zach said while explaining how assigned targets are set and monitored.
He highlighted breastfeeding metrics: the program’s exclusive‑breastfeeding rate reached about 18% through fiscal‑year 25’s first three quarters, and total breastfeeding rates have been around 50% in recent years. Zach credited peer counseling and expanded lactation-certified staff for the improvements.
On the Farmers Market Nutrition Program (FMNP), Zach reported redemption rates rose to 40.58% for the most recent season (July–October 2024), above the state percentage; staff said intake and outreach efforts to clients and farmers helped drive the increase.
Board members asked detailed questions about assigned vs. achieved caseload (how participants are counted), eligibility rules, and sources of referrals. Zach explained eligibility includes Illinois residency, categorical criteria (pregnant people, infants up to 1 year, children up to 5), income thresholds (185% of the federal poverty level) and adjunctive eligibility for families on SNAP, Medicaid or TANF. Referrals come from hospitals, Head Start, SNAP offices and community outreach partners.
Members also raised funding stability concerns. Staff said the WIC contract had been renewed for the next fiscal year with a modest increase in funding but noted that broader federal and state budget actions could still affect future grants.
Next steps: staff will continue outreach and monitor modernization efforts (including potential shifts from paper checks to EBT-like systems for market benefits) and report on end‑of‑year caseload and breastfeeding outcomes.
