The Gretchen Swanson Center for Nutrition was funded by Healthy Eating Research to conduct a study exploring how the policy changes in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) cash value benefit (CVB), or fruit and vegetable money, during the pandemic impacted the WIC program and child access to fruits and vegetables. From October 2022 to February 2023, GSCN interviewed WIC State and local agency staff and caregivers of WIC participants from across the country. WIC staff included those from Indian Tribal Organizations (ITOs), U.S. territories, rural local agencies, and large urban local agencies. Similarly, interviews with caregivers of WIC participants included representation across several racial and ethnic groups from both rural and urban areas. WIC State redemption data also was analyzed to determine if the CVB changes increased access to fruits and vegetables among child participants. Findings are summarized in a Policy Brief, and the accompanying Toolkit was developed to support WIC agencies.

• Policy Brief: “I was grateful for what I got, but it just seemed like $9 wasn’t enough.” WIC staff and families’ experiences during the WIC fruit and vegetable policy changes
• Toolkit: From Policy to Participants: WIC State and Local Agency Implementation Toolkit for the Cash Value Benefit