Evaluating Triple-Issued Food Vouchers As A California Wic Program Marketing Tool

As a provider of low-income food assistance, the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Supplemental Nutrition Program has an interest in using strategies that minimize barriers for persons qualified to receive its services. Participants normally are required to visit WIC offices every one or two months to receive food vouchers (food instruments) appropriate to their specific nutritional needs. These vouchers are redeemable during a specified 31-day period at participating grocery stores. The California WIC Program's new triple-issue policy in some cases permits WIC participants to receive their food vouchers for three months at a time, resulting in fewer office visits. It is expected that this triple-issuance policy will make the WIC program more convenient and improve participation. However, fewer office visits, with less opportunity for face-to-face interaction with WIC staff, could have a detrimental effect on participation.