Enhancing WIC Referrals for Military Families Through Informatics and Community Health Workers

Authors: Binny Chokshi, Dakota Davis, Ian Sorensen, Siddarth Sharma, Sidney Zven, Elizabeth Hisle-Gorman

Many military families struggle with food insecurity, yet few use the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program, which provides nutrition support for mothers and young children. This case study describes an effort at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, to boost WIC enrollment using data tools and community health worker (CHW) outreach. CHWs helped identify and refer over 700 eligible families to WIC clinics. While the data-driven system was difficult to maintain, CHWs played a key role in building trust and connecting families to services. The project showed how CHWs can strengthen food security efforts and improve program access in military communities.