Recent cash-value benefit (CVB) increases could increase fruit and vegetable (FV) access of children in Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). Yet, little is known about impacts of CVB changes on participant access to FVs, participant awareness and satisfaction of CVB changes, and implementation successes and challenges of WIC State agencies (SAs) and local agencies (LAs). The aims of the study include identifying ways to increase FV access for low-income and racially/ethnically diverse children that are at higher risk of negative health outcomes by: 1) Determining if American Rescue Plan and continuing resolution increases to WIC CVB increased access to FVs of child participants; 2) Evaluating facilitators and barriers to SA and LA implementation and participant access of increased CVB; 3) Determining any differences in FV redemptions and facilitators and barriers to redemption by race/ethnicity and urbanicity; 4) Creating a toolkit for SAs and LAs to help increase FV redemption and policy brief of suggested changes to WIC federal requirements.

Start Date: 6/15/2022