About one in four military families struggle to put enough food on the table. A program called WIC helps pregnant women, new mothers, and young children get nutritious food, but many military families don’t know about it or how to sign up. Researchers at Fort Campbell, Kentucky tested a new way to help military families learn about and enroll in WIC. They used computer systems to find families who likely qualified and had trained community helpers reach out personally. This approach successfully connected over 700 military families to WIC services. While the computer system required a lot of work, the personal touch from community helpers made all the difference in building trust and getting families the help they needed.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: Can a combination of computer tools and trained community helpers increase the number of military families who sign up for WIC food assistance?
  • Who participated: Military families stationed at Fort Campbell, Kentucky with active-duty service members. About 1 in 8 families were likely eligible for WIC benefits.
  • Key finding: Using computer systems to identify eligible families combined with personal outreach from trained community helpers resulted in 722 military families being referred to WIC enrollment (407 through computer-based referrals and 315 through in-person outreach).
  • What it means for you: If you’re a military family struggling with food costs, there may be help available through WIC. Personal outreach from community members appears to be more effective than computer systems alone at connecting families to these resources. However, this approach requires significant staff time and resources to implement successfully.

The Research Details

This was a case study, which means researchers looked closely at one specific situation to understand how it worked. The team at Fort Campbell, Kentucky created a new program to help military families find out about and sign up for WIC. They started by using a computer system to look through military family records and identify which families were likely eligible for WIC based on income and family size. Once they identified these families, trained community health workers (people from the community trained to help others navigate health and social services) reached out to them personally to explain WIC benefits and help them apply. As the program grew, the community health workers also did in-person outreach at military events and locations to reach more families.

The researchers tracked how many families were successfully referred to WIC through each method. They also paid attention to what worked well and what was challenging about the approach. The community health workers played a key role in understanding what military families actually needed and adjusting the program to better fit the local community.

Understanding what actually works to help military families access food assistance is important because food insecurity (not having enough money for food) affects about 1 in 4 military households. This is a real problem that can affect children’s health and development. By studying this program, researchers learned what combination of tools and personal support helps families get connected to resources. The findings suggest that while technology can help identify who needs help, personal relationships and trust-building are equally important for actually getting families to enroll.

This study describes what happened at one military base, so the results may not be exactly the same everywhere. The researchers were honest about the limitations of their approach—the computer system required a lot of staff time and work. The study was published in Pediatrics, a well-respected medical journal, which means it went through expert review. However, because this is a case study rather than a controlled experiment, we can’t be completely certain that this exact approach would work the same way at other military bases. The real strength of this study is that it provides practical information about what military families actually need and how to reach them.

What the Results Show

The computer-based system identified that approximately 1 in 8 military families at Fort Campbell were likely eligible for WIC. Using this system combined with community health worker outreach, the team successfully referred 407 military families to WIC enrollment clinics. When community health workers expanded their efforts to include in-person outreach at military locations and events, an additional 315 families were referred, bringing the total to 722 families.

The community health workers proved to be the most valuable part of the program. They helped military families understand what WIC was, answered questions, and guided them through the application process. They also helped identify barriers that were keeping families from enrolling, such as confusion about eligibility, concerns about stigma, difficulty getting to WIC clinics, and lack of awareness about the program.

The researchers found that the computer system alone wasn’t enough. While it could identify eligible families, it took personal contact from a trusted community member to actually get families to take the next step and apply for WIC. The community health workers built relationships with military families and became trusted sources of information.

The study revealed that military families faced several specific barriers to accessing WIC: they didn’t know the program existed, they worried about being judged for needing help, they had difficulty getting to WIC offices due to military schedules and base locations, and they had questions about whether they actually qualified. The community health workers were able to address each of these barriers through personal conversation and support. The program also highlighted the importance of understanding military culture and the specific challenges military families face, such as frequent moves and deployment.

Previous research has shown that WIC is underutilized in many communities, not just military ones. This study adds to that knowledge by showing that military families face unique barriers. The finding that personal outreach is more effective than automated systems alone matches what other researchers have found in different communities. This study is one of the first to specifically examine how to increase WIC enrollment in military populations, filling an important gap in the research.

This study looked at only one military base, so the results may not apply exactly the same way to other bases or military communities. The computer system required a lot of staff time and resources, which may not be practical for all military installations. The study didn’t compare this approach to other methods of reaching military families, so we can’t say for certain that this is the best way. The researchers also noted that the computer system had technical limitations and required significant work to set up and maintain. Finally, the study didn’t follow families long-term to see if they actually completed WIC enrollment or how long they stayed in the program.

The Bottom Line

If you’re a military family struggling with food costs, ask your military health provider, family readiness group, or military community center about WIC. The program is designed to help pregnant women, new mothers, breastfeeding women, and children under 5. There is no shame in using this program—it’s a federal resource created specifically to help families like yours. If your military base has community health workers or family support services, they can help you understand if you qualify and guide you through the application. (Confidence level: High—this is based on the study showing that personal support significantly increases enrollment.)

Military families with pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, or children under age 5 should pay attention to this research, especially if they’re concerned about affording nutritious food. Military base commanders and health administrators should care about this research because it shows a practical way to help their communities. Military family support organizations and community health workers should use these findings to improve their outreach efforts. This research is less relevant for non-military families, though the general principles about the importance of personal outreach may apply to other communities as well.

Once you’re enrolled in WIC, you can typically start receiving benefits within a few weeks. The benefits come as a card (similar to a debit card) that you can use at participating grocery stores to buy approved foods like milk, cheese, eggs, beans, peanut butter, whole grain bread, and fresh fruits and vegetables. You should see improvements in your family’s food security and nutrition relatively quickly once you start using the benefits. However, the process of finding out about WIC, applying, and getting approved typically takes several weeks, which is why having someone to help guide you through the process makes a big difference.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Track your family’s food security by noting how many days per week you’re able to purchase the nutritious foods you want for your family. Set a goal to increase this number after enrolling in WIC, and check it weekly. You can also track the types of WIC-approved foods you’re purchasing to ensure you’re getting the nutrition your family needs.
  • If you’re a military family, use the app to set a reminder to reach out to your military family support office or community health worker to ask about WIC eligibility. Create a simple checklist of documents you’ll need for the WIC application (like proof of income and residency) and check them off as you gather them. Use the app to track your WIC application status and any appointments you need to attend.
  • After enrolling in WIC, use the app to track your family’s food budget and nutrition over the next 3-6 months. Monitor whether you’re able to purchase more nutritious foods and whether your family’s food security improves. Keep notes about any challenges you face using WIC benefits and share them with your community health worker so they can help problem-solve. Check in monthly to see if you’re meeting your nutrition goals for your family.

This research describes one program at one military base and should not be considered medical advice. If you believe you or your family may be eligible for WIC, please contact your military health provider, local WIC office, or military family support services for personalized guidance. WIC eligibility varies by state and is based on income, residency, and other factors. This article is for educational purposes only and does not replace professional advice from healthcare providers or benefits counselors. Always consult with qualified professionals about your family’s specific situation and nutritional needs.