Brownsville has one of the lowest WIC participation rates in New York City — even though need here is among the highest.
Only 47% of eligible Brownsville residents are enrolled in WIC, compared with 77% in the South Bronx, a neighborhood with similar demographics and levels of need.
We’ve been asking:
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- What’s helping families in the South Bronx connect to WIC?
- And what barriers are holding back families back here in Brownsville?
Help us answer those questions and close the services gap.
How providers can help
As healthcare, early childhood, and social service providers, we each play a role in helping families access the support they deserve. You can:
1. SCREEN for Food Insecurity
Ask families:
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- “In the past 12 months, have you worried about running out of food or not having enough money to feed your family?”
- A “Yes” can open the door to WIC.
- More food insecurity questions from the Social Intervention Research & Evaluation Network (SIREN).
2. TALK About WIC
Mention WIC during prenatal visits, well-child checks, developmental screenings, and intakes.
3. REFER Families
Connect caregivers directly to nearby WIC sites to help them find and reach the right office quickly. A list of Brownsville’s nearest offices can be found on UB’s WIC page.
4. SHARE Our Outreach Materials
Download and display the Brownsville WIC Your Way media kit — posters, postcards, and social media graphics ready for your walls, newsletters, and feeds that have been designed for our community with guidance from our community. You can also request a drop off of printed posters and fliers by contacting [email protected].
5. JOIN Our Monthly WIC Working Group
Learn from peers, share feedback from families, and collaborate on system improvements.
Join the WIC Working Group
Interested in partnering with Brownsville families and other local service providers to help eliminate disparities and close the services gap?
United for Brownsville convenes a monthly WIC Working Group of local clinics, early education programs, WIC staff, and community advocates.
Our shared goals:
- Increase awareness of WIC’s benefits through culturally informed campaigns.
- Reduce barriers to enrollment and recertification.
- Improve coordination between WIC offices, providers, and families.
- Build a stronger referral network so no family falls through the cracks.
