Shannon E. Whaley, PhD, Judy Gomez, MPH, RD, and Eloise Jenks, MEd, RD. PHFE Management Solutions WIC Program, 12781 Schabarum Ave, Irwindale, CA 91706, (626)856-6650, Shannon@phfewic.org

Overwhelming evidence shows that children from low-income households face significant challenges in early development, and are least likely prepared to begin school. The WIC Program is one of the few government-sponsored programs specifically targeting the 0-5 population, and is accessed by low-income families throughout the early years. In Los Angeles County (LAC), over 383,000 families visit a WIC Center regularly serving over 91% of WIC-eligible infants in the county. Given WIC’s reach, it represents a logical place for projects that focus on children’s early literacy development. In 2003, the PHFE Management Solutions WIC Program (PHFE-WIC) started the “Little by Little” (LBL) project designed to increase the early literacy development of over 39,000 children at 5 PHFE-WIC Centers in LAC. With First 5 LA funding, this 5-year project seeks (1) to increase home literacy practices of WIC families through the provision of age-appropriate developmental learning tools; and (2) to expand families’ access to childhood programs in local communities by supporting a Literacy Resource Specialist position in each WIC Center. One year following project commencement, progress has been made toward both goals. Families visiting LBL WIC Centers provide a significantly richer home literacy environment and use more community resources supporting early literacy than families from control WIC Centers. In this presentation, project details will be discussed, and the evaluation strategies for monitoring program success will be reviewed. Given the nation-wide reach of WIC, LBL represents a potential model for expansion such that when children graduate from WIC, they’re ready for school.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe a specific program designed to increase the early literacy of low-income children who are seen in WIC Centers.
• Recognize the capacity of the WIC Program to reach the 0-5 population with messages and strategies that increase early literacy.
• Recognize the importance of leveraging funding sources outside of WIC to support early literacy projects.

Keywords: WIC, Literacy

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.