Native Americans have seen significant declines in the rates of anemia, growth stunting, underweight, and maternal and infant mortality over the last quarter of a century. FRAC's report concludes that WIC has contributed to these substantial improvements in nutrition and health. WIC has made a difference through providing nutritious supplemental foods and nutrition education, and working with other programs to improve access to health care. Participants receive a monthly food package to augment basic resources. The package is tailored to meet their special dietary needs.
Poverty is a principal factor in causing food insecurity, hunger, malnutrition and undernutrition.
Forty-three percent of Native American children under the age of five are living in poverty. Over 72 percent of the Native American participants in WIC have incomes below the federal poverty level, the highest proportion of any group participating in the WIC Program. Federal WIC funds are dispensed to communities through state agencies. Indian and Native American WIC Programs, also known as Indian Tribal Organization WIC programs, function as state agencies for the Indian Nations, administering WIC programs primarily on tribal lands. While these programs are funded by federal WIC dollars, tribes often contribute significant resources of their own in the form of office and clinic space, and some cover additional costs such as salaries for breastfeeding education coordinators.