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Territory received $30 million for WIC in the last five years
The US Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) reports that a little over $30 million was awarded to American Samoa over the last five fiscal years under the federally funded Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program.
The report is based on the latest data as of May 23, 2008 and covers all states and territories that received federal funding for fiscal years 2003-2007 for the WIC program.
WIC is administered locally by the Department of Human and Social Services (DHSS), and provides federal grants to supplement food, health care referrals, and nutrition education for low-income pregnant, breast-feeding, and non-breastfeeding post-partum women, as well as infants and children up to 5 years old who are considered to be at nutritional risk.
FNS reports that a little over $30.99 million was awarded to American Samoa. A total of $23.43 million was allocated for “food costs” while $7.57 million was set aside for “nutrition service and administrative costs.”
FNS says that the costs for nutrition service and administration include, among other things, certifying participants’ eligibility, nutrition education, breastfeeding promotion, healthcare coordination and referral, financial management, program integrity, and systems development and operations.
According to the report, the average monthly benefit per person, from lowest to highest, ranges from $57.26 in FY 2006 to $61.68 in FY 2003.
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