Free Welfare Policy Essay Sample
The Welfare system started in 1935 in times of The Great Depression especially for African American communities because of poverty. The Welfare helps with school funding, food assistance, housing assistance, and aids those in financial need. It created Social Security and started the modern day federal welfare program with a program named Aid to Dependent Children (ADC). It also strived to improve their employment chances as well as the health care of many individuals. The people are eligible to food stamps and other forms of public assistance.
I shall discuss a subdivision of the welfare program, which is the WIC (women infant children) program. African-American citizens are about 12.4 percent of the population in the USA but 19.6 percent of those who participate in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children are African-Americans as well
WIC provides nutritious foods supplements, nutritional education, and gives people referrals to health care and other social services. I have personal connections with people involved in the program. One beneficiary is my cousin her husband serves in the Army, so she is considered a military mom. At the supermarket, she is strictly limited to the amount of food she can purchase and what size products she can get. The program allows her to get a lot of items in exchange for her WIC voucher, which ensures that she can get what she needs to feed her family. The vouchers expire after a month. With WIC, there are certain specific foods and name brands that can be purchased with the voucher. These foods are eggs, milk, bread, rice, cheese, wraps, beans, tuna, baby formula, fruit, juice, and cereal- healthy cereal like kicks, cheerios, corn flakes, honey bunches of oats and wheat thins. The program has helped African Americans by improving their nutrition, and providing them with a way to get food that they could not afford. The food vouchers provided by this program enable many people to feed their families and ensure their well-being.
One noteworthy aspect of the WIC program is its emphasis on fostering early childhood development through nutrition. Beyond providing essential food items, WIC recognizes the critical role that proper nutrition plays in the cognitive and physical development of infants and young children. By focusing on this aspect, the program contributes not only to immediate well-being but also to the long-term health and success of the next generation within African-American communities. Moreover, WIC operates in tandem with other community resources, creating a network of support for beneficiaries. Local health care providers, community centers, and educational institutions collaborate with WIC to ensure a holistic approach to the well-being of participants. This collaborative effort extends the impact of the program beyond the realm of food assistance, addressing broader societal determinants of health and contributing to community development.
Additionally, the WIC program incorporates culturally sensitive approaches in its educational components. Recognizing the diverse backgrounds within the African-American community, WIC tailors nutritional education to be culturally relevant. This personalized approach not only enhances the effectiveness of the program but also respects and celebrates the cultural nuances of the individuals it serves. Furthermore, WIC has adapted to modern technological advancements to streamline its services. The implementation of electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards has simplified the distribution of benefits, reducing administrative complexities and ensuring a more efficient and discreet process for beneficiaries. This technological integration represents a progressive step in the ongoing evolution of welfare programs to meet the evolving needs of the population.
In essence, the WIC program, within the broader context of the welfare system, continues to evolve and adapt to contemporary challenges. Its multifaceted approach, encompassing nutrition, community collaboration, cultural sensitivity, and technological innovation, underscores its commitment to enhancing the lives of African-American individuals and families across the United States.