[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 147 (Tuesday, October 28, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2101-E2102]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                CONGRATULATING ST. JOSEPH'S WIC PROGRAM

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MARGE ROUKEMA

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, October 28, 1997

  Mrs. ROUKEMA. Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate St. Joseph's 
Hospital and Medical Center in Paterson, NJ, on its excellent system of 
WIC clinics and the work the clinics

[[Page E2102]]

have done on behalf of women and children in my State.
  WIC is a proven program that efficiently, effectively, and humanely 
helps children and families by providing food for pregnant women, 
breast-feeding women, and young children. Participants meet with a 
professional nutritionist who assess their nutrition needs, then issues 
coupons that may be redeemed at local supermarkets for products such as 
milk, infant formula, baby food, cereal, and other nutritious food. 
Unlike food stamps, the coupons can be used only for specific 
products--a coupon for a gallon of milk cannot be used to purchase 
snack food or candy, for example. The GAO says that for every $1 spent 
on WIC, America realizes $3.50 in savings on health care costs during 
the most important formative years of childhood. WIC means healthy 
mothers and healthy babies. In this, the most technologically advanced 
nation in the world, we cannot allow children to go to bed hungry.
  In addition, WIC is a major Federal program that has endured none of 
the scandals that have plagued so many programs. It is most efficiently 
run. Yet this program has come under the threat of cuts repeatedly in 
recent years. I have had to fight to eliminate a cap on the number of 
participants and to restore cut funding in the last two Congresses. 
Further attacks on this program will not be left unanswered. Cutting 
WIC is literally a matter of taking food out of the mouths of babies.
  I had the pleasure of visiting St. Joseph's recently to meet with 
both professional providers of services and the women who benefit from 
the program. It is clearly one of the best-run WIC clinics in existence 
and participants truly appreciate the assistance they receive. It shows 
that WIC funding is, in fact, well spent.
  Founded in 1978, St. Joseph's is the largest WIC program in the 
State. With 19,000 clients per month, it serves residents of Bergen, 
Morris, and Passaic counties at 23 facilities across the tricounty 
area. Sites include hospitals, Health Department offices, community 
centers, Head Start programs and other social service agencies--
locations where low-income mothers are present and able to learn of the 
services offered by the program. One clinic is located in a Paterson 
storefront and another is a mobile WIC on Wheels to enhance outreach.
  In addition to its wide variety of locations, St. Joseph's takes 
other steps to make WIC services accessible. The main office in 
Paterson is open three evenings a week and the storefront office in 
Paterson is open Saturdays. If funding becomes available, extended 
hours may be offered at other locations as well. The staff reflects the 
cultural and ethnic mix of the programs participants, including 
speakers of Spanish, French, Italian, and Arabic. Outreach programs are 
conducted with Hispanic and African-American grassroots organizations 
and an Arab community liaison.
  the clinic also promotes breast-feeding with a lactation consultant 
and two lactation peer counselors who visit new mothers in hospitals 
and follow up with telephone calls and home visits as necessary. Breast 
pumps and other supplies are offered at no cost.
  The clinic provides a wide variety of other services, including 
immunization registry and referral; referrals to other health and 
social services agencies such as substance abuse and food pantries; and 
special education programs such as dental hygiene, child safety, and 
parenting. The clinic is also a training site for student nutritionists 
from Montclair State University and other colleges.
  Nationwide, more than 7 million women, infants, and children depend 
on WIC for nutrition assistance. St. Joseph's is one of the most 
outstanding centers in that national network. This is one of the most 
efficient and effective programs our Government has to offer. And it is 
the type of program the government should offer--real help with real 
problems for people unable to help themselves. Never let us take the 
food out of the mouths of babies.

                          ____________________