Jill said:  "You don't suppose somebody might lie and say there are still
breastfeeding at night just to get WIC do you? ... That's what food stamps are
for if she is unable to feed herself adequately..."

In a word...yes.  My day job is to establish orders of paternity and child
support so custodial parents will be less likely to need AFDC & food stamps, and
to reimburse the AFDC program from payments on arrears made by the non-custodial
parents.  I know that the vast majority of the moms you work with are telling
you the truth.  But you can be sure there are a few who work the system to get
ANYTHING free, to get more than they qualify for, & sometimes to sell/trade the
food stamps.  I work about 1500 to 2000 cases and I find about about a dozen who
can't/won't give info on the absent parent and about 2-3 liars a month; and one
certifiable AFDC fraud about every 3 months.

Anyway Jill, and all the other WIC RDs, LCs & PCs, thanks for the good work you
do as educators & counselors for BF.  I like the idea of giving the enhanced
food packages as long as mom isn't claiming the free ABM and the other food pkgs
when she is feeding both BrM & ABM.  I can't tell you how many moms I referred
to our local WIC when I worked in our local county hospital (and I still do as a
child support caseworker and as an LC.)  Most were embarrased at the thought of
asking for govt help, but when it's a matter of getting not just the right
balance of foods, but enough food, they decided to get help until they get back
on their financial feet.

Phyllis Adamson, BA, IBCLC
Prvt. Prac. - Glendale, AZ
[log in to unmask]