This brief examines the health impacts of dropping out of WIC and reasons families report becoming disconnected from the program in Minnesota. This research demonstrates the strengths of WIC and provides recommendations for building on those strengths in order to ensure that children receive essential nutrition throughout early childhood.

To improve retention in WIC, Children’s HealthWatch recommends strengthening communication about age eligibility, considering expanded evening and weekend hours at WIC offices, and supporting changes at the federal level to expand options for electronic/telephone appointments, nutrition education, and recertification.