A recent performance audit by the Louisiana Legislative Auditor found that the state’s WIC program is hindered by barriers to enrollment, including inadequate outreach efforts and limited access to clinics. The audit revealed that more than half of Louisiana’s WIC clinics failed to meet required outreach standards, and most operated only during traditional business hours.
Key Findings
The audit found that the Louisiana Department of Health did not adequately oversee outreach efforts, and that the state ranked last in the nation for participation in the federal nutrition program. Approximately $111.6 million in unused federal WIC food benefits were returned to the U.S. Department of Agriculture between federal fiscal years 2021 and 2024.
The audit also found that 56 of Louisiana’s 100 WIC clinics failed to report meeting the monthly outreach requirement during federal fiscal year 2025. Additionally, the department’s oversight was found to be weak, with only four of the 56 clinics that failed to meet the outreach requirement being identified.
Recommendations
To improve participation, auditors recommended that the department review outreach reports from every clinic each month, provide clearer guidance on acceptable outreach activities, expand appointment availability outside traditional business hours, increase mobile and off-site services, and continue developing partnerships to help enroll families in community settings.
The Louisiana Department of Health agreed with the recommendations and stated that it will begin reviewing outreach reports from every clinic each month, update outreach policies and clinic toolkits, and continue a statewide initiative aimed at increasing WIC participation by 25% by the end of 2026.
Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.
