The Reduction of Infant Mortality in Illinois
2012 Annual Report
The number of persons served by the WIC and FCM programs during SFY 12 is presented in Table 2. FCM does not keep a separate count of the number of participating postpartum or breastfeeding women. However, under USDA guidelines, these women comprise a separate category of eligibility for the WIC program.
Table 2 - Number of Persons Served in WIC and FCM Programs by Type of Client and Program - SFY2012
|
PROGRAM |
TYPE OF CLIENT |
WIC |
FCM* |
Pregnant Women |
104,959 |
93,045 |
Post Partum Breastfeeding Women |
49,696 |
N/A |
Infants |
167,594 |
136,262 |
Children |
198,308 |
37,328 |
TOTAL |
520,557 |
266,635 |
Source: Cornerstone
* FCM does not have a category of post-partum breastfeeding women.
The caseload of FCM dropped for FY2012. This is in part due to the continuing decrease in state funding. Further, Cook County Health Department (CCHD) withdrew from the program in 2009. In addition several community based organizations and downstate health departments declined to be providers of FCM since then. The primary reason for their withdrawal from the program being finances; the late and slow payment of General Revenue funding hinders agency's abilities to remain viable. Although caseloads were reassigned, the disruption of service delivery is evident in the caseload figures presented in Table 3.
Table 3 - Total Number of Persons Served in WIC and FCM Programs by Program and State Fiscal Year
|
FISCAL YEARS |
PROGRAMS |
2005 |
2006 |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
FCM |
371,487 |
371,676 |
345,769 |
342,428 |
329,658 |
312,389 |
288,159 |
266,635 |
WIC |
516,568 |
514,350 |
519,250 |
532,753 |
549,086 |
553,342 |
538,782 |
520,557 |
Source: Cornerstone
The WIC and FCM programs together reach over 45 percent of all infants and over 81 percent of Medicaid-eligible infants born in Illinois each year. Women who are at greatest risk for giving birth prematurely or having a baby with other health problems are over-represented in the caseload of the WIC and FCM programs. Approximately two-thirds or more of African American, Hispanic, single and teen-aged women who give birth in Illinois each year participate in the WIC or FCM programs; the programs are reaching their intended target population. Refer to Table 4.
Table 4 - Number and Percent of All Live Births and Live Births to WIC or FCM Participants, by Demographic Group Illinois, 2009
|
LIVE BIRTHS |
|
All |
WIC or FCM Participants |
GROUPS |
Number |
Percent |
Number |
Percent |
Percent
of Group
|
White |
125,618 |
75.9% |
51,547 |
68.5% |
41.0% |
Black |
29,280 |
17.7% |
21,003 |
27.9% |
71.7% |
Asian and Native American* |
10,709 |
6.5% |
2,686 |
3.6% |
25.1% |
All |
165,607 |
100.0% |
75,236 |
100.0% |
45.4% |
Hispanic |
40,019 |
24.2% |
25,841 |
34.3% |
64.6% |
Single |
67,017 |
41.0% |
51,524 |
68.5% |
75.9% |
Teen |
15,953 |
9.6% |
13,450 |
17.9% |
84.3% |
Source: Vital Records, Cornerstone
* Includes all other races.