WIC goes to School

Abstract

In September 1996, a pilot program for pregnant teens was launched in Newark, Ohio in collaboration with the Special Supplemental Foods and Nutrition Education Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) and the Newark City Schools, to lower the incidence of absenteeism and the rate of low birth weight infants. Fifty-four students from Graduation, Reality, and Dual-Role Skills (GRADS), an in-school family and consumer science intervention program for pregnant and parent teens, were enrolled. Since 50% of Newark City High School pregnant teens were absent during the 1995–96 school year due to a visit to a WIC site for an appointment, keeping the student in school was chosen as one goal. Statistics gathered from the local and state level concerning low birth weight (LEW) infants born to teenaged moms indicated that this area also needed to be addressed. Establishing a satellite clinic at the high school provided monthly WIC services without the student having to leave the school. Participants received individual nutrition assessment and counseling by a Registered, Licensed Dietitian (RD, LD). The GRADS teachers and WIC staff acted as support counselors in motivating the students. Evaluation of the diet, total (prenatal) weight gain, infant birth weight, and school attendance were recorded to assess the success of the Ohio in-school WIC Program. Our results indicate that frequent nutrition intervention is an essential component in influencing positive teen pregnancy outcome.