Do Not Faint - Latest Comments

Re: This Is Irony…

Ellen Lacey — Fri, 28 Jun 2013 13:49:36 -0000

You are doing tough things! And inspiring me <3

Re: This Is Irony…

Kathy Morelli — Fri, 28 Jun 2013 05:51:03 -0000

Hi - I'm so sorry your family is going through this. I see many people who have family members who are mentally ill. It affects the entire family profoundly, as you want to love, and do love, that person, yet there are so many things that are hard to overlook. It's a constant emotional pain, as there are so many losses. Take care and peace to your family, Kathy

Re: This Is Irony…

Chelsey — Thu, 27 Jun 2013 22:29:27 -0000

I just stumbled across this, but I have to say you're probably doing the right thing. When I was young, my dad severed ties with his parents because of his mothers mental illness that she would not get help for. It was heartbreaking for him, but he was fed up with having dealt with it for 40 years and did not want his children (me) to be around them. He stayed true to his word and never spoke to them again for the sake of his own family. I'm proud of him for making that choice as hard as it was. Sometimes the best derision a are the ones that hurt the most.

Re: This Is Irony…

Genevieve — Mon, 24 Jun 2013 19:54:55 -0000

I'm so sorry you are going through this again. Give me a call if you ever need to talk :)

Re: This Is Irony…

Breanne — Sun, 23 Jun 2013 17:44:11 -0000

We have had to distance ourselves from my husbands sister for a very similar reason. She refuses to get help for her mental illness and has become increasingly paranoid, violent, and completely unpredictable. Her parents allow her to behave the way she does without blinking an eye, but we cannot allow her toxic behavior to affect our lives. We especially do not want her around our children. It is vital to keep healthy, loving people in our lives if we ourselves are to grow and flourish in this world.

Re: Proud Welfare Mom: WIC vs SNAP

SlackerInc — Sun, 23 Jun 2013 17:17:20 -0000

Hope so because I support government taking an active role and projecting competence.

Here in Missouri things are moving in the other direction and we still do not have EBT for WIC.

Re: The Good in My Dad

Andrea Eisen — Sun, 23 Jun 2013 16:33:44 -0000

I read your other post, the irony one, so I decided to come by and read this one, too. I'm glad you wrote it, even if right now it's not the truth for you both. Perhaps it will be there as you make your way back to one another if the timing and way of life is right. If he finds all the strengths you see in him and moves forward the way you need him to. (hugs)

Re: This Is Irony…

Andrea Eisen — Sun, 23 Jun 2013 16:32:02 -0000

Sending hugs, my friend. This is so rough, but this sentence right here covers it all for me perfectly: "as a reminder that surrounding ourselves with people who are healthy and kind is a really big help in the healing process. " Yes, so very much. Sending you the strength to get through the three months and to make the right moves at that time. I'm sorry about the negativity and the panic and so forth, and I think you are brave to remove it from your life in this way.

Re: This Is Irony…

Beth Zimmerman — Sun, 23 Jun 2013 16:30:05 -0000

I'm so sorry sweetie but this sounds like the right decision for you!

Re: Proud Welfare Mom: WIC vs SNAP

Brian Castrucci — Sun, 23 Jun 2013 16:26:42 -0000

Agreed. It is not perfect. The new food package is more nutritious and allows soy and tofu in specific packages. EBT cards solve the partial voucher problem that you correctly identified. Not perfect in the least but there are many working very hard to make it better.

Re: Proud Welfare Mom: WIC vs SNAP

Brian Castrucci — Sun, 23 Jun 2013 16:23:37 -0000

Okay, you have the acronym wrong. The answer you provide to why is WIC so complicated is wrong. I imagine it is easier to criticize a program that helps to provides assistance to millions of US families rather than getting the facts right and working for positive change.

Re: Proud Welfare Mom: WIC vs SNAP

DoNotFaint — Sun, 23 Jun 2013 15:27:04 -0000

I find great value in the comments of others. Your comment repeats things I said in my post, which is not super helpful. I also don't see why you need to condescend to me in order to defend WIC. The first message "I'm not judging" -repeated in your comment twice- tells me is that I am being judged. I still have no idea what you were trying to say, except that I should be more forgiving of WIC and its problems. And, well, I refuse to do that.

Re: Proud Welfare Mom: WIC vs SNAP

DoNotFaint — Sun, 23 Jun 2013 15:21:30 -0000

Sometimes, if a comment has a link in it, I have to approve it. I missed the email telling me about your other comment! All fixed, now.

Re: Proud Welfare Mom: WIC vs SNAP

SlackerInc — Sun, 23 Jun 2013 15:02:45 -0000

You're welcome. But what happened to my other comment, in reply to Brian?

Re: Proud Welfare Mom: WIC vs SNAP

DoNotFaint — Sun, 23 Jun 2013 14:57:15 -0000

Thank you for reading and commenting. Every "me too" helps so much.

Re: Proud Welfare Mom: WIC vs SNAP

SlackerInc — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 22:45:37 -0000

Brian, I actually agree with the idea of restricting government assistance to healthy foods. I do think it's a shame that people can buy soda and snack cakes with SNAP/food stamps (and btw, one of my best friends works in a state assistance office and he still calls them food stamps regardless of the official name change).

But the OP is right about not only the processed "frosted" cereals, but even moreso about juice. Juice is an actively unhealthy substance, and this is pretty much scientific consensus nowadays:

http://www.cbsnews.com/2100...

One more thing. It is ridiculous that when using the fruit/vegetable voucher, if you buy less than ten bucks worth you get no credit for the difference; yet if you go a penny over you cannot cover the difference yourself but instead have to put something back!

Re: Proud Welfare Mom: WIC vs SNAP

SlackerInc — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 22:31:35 -0000

We are former SNAP users and still current WIC users (our economic situation has improved but we are still lower-middle class) and can totally relate to all that.

Re: Proud Welfare Mom: WIC vs SNAP

Katrinka Stewart — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 10:38:34 -0000

Unfortunately, because of this - http://urbanlegends.about.c...
It's frustrating that people allow one dishonest person to cloud their judgement over government programs in general.

Re: Proud Welfare Mom: WIC vs SNAP

Brian Castrucci — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 02:25:24 -0000

Well, I did read it. Several times. Attempted to clarify points that needed it and reinforce others. Not a condemnation of what you were stating, but as you said you are not an expert. Unfortunately, while I am able to find value in your comments, you do not share that in the comments of others.

Re: Proud Welfare Mom: WIC vs SNAP

DoNotFaint — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 01:16:26 -0000

Oh, Brian. It always saddens ME when people leave comments on my space without even reading what I have written, here. My first clue that you wrote this without even reading my post is that you spell out what the acronyms stand for as a "point of clarification." I say what they stand for AND LINK TO THE USDA in the second paragraph. I also mention using the farmers' market option and how helpful it is, but that my office has yet to receive its vouchers in the middle of JUNE.

1) Read before commenting. It's just good manners.

2) This is not a website devoted to educating the public on how these programs work in general, and I state right there at the beginning that I'm not a professional. My information is correct, but the point of this space is to express my opinion. That opinion, informed by my experience with an independent nutritionist specializing in pregnancy and early childhood (I could afford to consult her before I lost my job and ended up depending on WIC) is that WIC encourages poor nutritional habits. Point of fact: at least three of the cereals we are allotted in giant proportions are FROSTED. As a point of clarification, that means "covered in sugar."

3) Finally, by 2020, when the program has eliminated its checks, my kid will be SEVEN.

4) Please do come to the Shop & Stop in Hamden, Connecticut and try to find a soul who gives a damn about WIC signage. I invite you to try.

5) It really looks like this list is a description of the job you claim to have done. Perhaps you should send it to your successor.

6) READ A BLOG POST BEFORE COMMENTING ON IT.

Re: Proud Welfare Mom: WIC vs SNAP

Brian Castrucci — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 00:54:46 -0000

It always saddens me when people discuss and criticize the WIC program often with incorrect information. The program is not perfect, but, as a former state WIC director and more than six years of experience with the program, I just wanted to provide education and perspective. No judgment is meant here. I have spent my entire career, until recently, working in governmental public health – maternal and child health to be exact. I dedicated my life to helping my fellow citizens, so please read no judgment here; only information and perspective.

Before, I go into too great of detail let me start with a clarifying point – WIC stands for the Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children; SNAP for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Two key words common in each program is SUPPLEMENTAL and NUTRITION. I point out these two words because neither program is meant to provide the sole nutrition for a family or person or infant or combination thereof and there is a supposition of nutrition. With that said, here are some other points I would like you to consider when assessing the program. Let me also offer a call to action – this is our program. It is the people’s program. Much of what the states must do is dictated by USDA, but where there is flexibility (see point 5 below), we should have it. Engage your state WIC director; see if there is a WIC advisory committee. Get involved. I know, we all have limited time available, but if it is important to you, there are ways to get involved. Many of us who work or have worked in my case in government believe it to be a noble professional and a privilege to serve our fellow citizens. You want a better program, a more thoughtful program that balances the needs of our citizens with the purpose of the program.

1) Complexity. WIC is complex. Not just for the participants, but for the vendors as well. No one likes the long, complicated process it takes to process WIC at checkout. WIC vendors can use signage, stickers, etc. to try to make purchase using WIC as easy as possible, but that is the choice of the vendor. WIC is further complicated because of between state nuances that are exceptionally troubling for vendors working across states – Kroger, Publix, Food Lion, etc. Everyone would like WIC to be less complex; easier like SNAP. WIC is not easy because the food package is regimented. The WIC food package changed in 2009 to conform with recommendations from an Institute of Medicine (IOM) panel. There is greater variety. Increased focus on fruits and vegetables. Greater incentives for breastfeeding. Nevertheless, still very complex. However, while SNAP provides increased choice, it also provides an estimated $2B to $4B annual subsidy to the soda industry (http://www.cnbc.com/id/4045..., http://www.thenewstribune.c.... That’s’ the tradeoff. Complexity with nutrition based on scientific guidance or free choice that benefits those who are responsible, at least in part, for one of the worst health crises in American history – obesity. For those who would like to buy organics on SNAP, I agree with you. More fruits and vegetables, I agree with you. High dollar, nutritious food, I agree with you. Soda, snack cakes, Ramen noodles, I do not agree with you there. Remember, SNAP, like WIC, is supplemental. The supplement, in my opinion, should be used for those foods that provide the greatest nutrition.

2) Vouchers are going away. There is a USDA mandate that all states have EBT (electronic benefit transfer) by 2020. This will eliminate the checks, but not the complexity.

3) Least expensive options. In the article, the complexity of WIC is blamed on “negotiations between the states and manufactures.” This is not true in any of the states with which I am familiar. There is a price survey that the vendors (supermarkets) complete where WIC is seeking to reimburse only the lowest priced foods. This is important because WIC is NOT AN ENTITLEMENT PROGRAM, while SNAP is AN ENTITLEMENT PROGRAM. This is an important distinction because not everyone eligible for WIC can receive it. If funding is not available, WIC can institute waiting lists or close enrollment. SNAP must serve all eligible. So, there is an incentive for WIC to keep costs low. On the vendor side, no one ever knows the maximum allowable amount on a voucher. This is determined by the state. Should a vendor exceed the maximum allowable – again, which they do not know – they risk their voucher being rejected which then often nets them a loss on the merchandise, but a returned check fee. So, this is the “incentive” to the vendor to limit the foods its makes available to WIC participants.

4) Contract formula rebate. Only one formula can be purchased by WIC participants in each state. Why? Because each state gets a rebate from the formula manufacture that gets the exclusive contract in the state. This is done by competitive bid in each state and the money from the rebate helps to fund the program. So, one could find it hypocritical that a program designed to promote breastfeeding is receiving money based on the amount of contract formula sold in the state.

5) Famers’ market options. Many farmers’ markets are starting to accept WIC and SNAP. This is a very positive way the program can support local, smaller agriculture and provide access to the freshest produce.

6) Vendors. There are many more vendors for SNAP than for WIC. The reason is that to participate in WIC the vendor must have a specific quantity of non-WIC foods available. This is what keeps the convenience store types out of the WIC business. The ability to accept WIC is worth a substantial amount to a vendor. If a cashier is not respectful, report that vendor to your state WIC office. This should be taken seriously and should be a major training point for all cashiers. If vendors have no signage, ask them to get some.

Re: Proud Welfare Mom: WIC vs SNAP

DoNotFaint — Sun, 16 Jun 2013 10:57:30 -0000

I live in a one-bedroom apartment on a busy street in a city with no yard or roof access. Just saying.

Re: Proud Welfare Mom: WIC vs SNAP

Jonathan Pollard — Sun, 16 Jun 2013 09:43:35 -0000

SNAP covers organic seeds, just saying

Re: Proud Welfare Mom: WIC vs SNAP

DoNotFaint — Sat, 15 Jun 2013 23:17:38 -0000

It's really hard to tell tone from comments, and using a general "people" often means that a passive-agressive insult is coming. The number of people who abuse the system is so very tiny.

I write about my experience, because I'm not qualified to write about the system as a whole. But the details are meant to represent the greater problem: people who need help with the basics are shamed and doubted and jump through a million hoops. Even if you did mean to just point out something about buying organic, I will not "chill" about something this basic and important.

Re: Proud Welfare Mom: WIC vs SNAP

DoNotFaint — Sat, 15 Jun 2013 23:11:51 -0000

It's a good point: never ok to take it out on the cashier! "Keep centered and keep smiling" is great advice, because it does no one any good at all to get upset in the store. It's my policy in general to be nice to low-wage earners, but I do try extra hard to be nice to people who have to deal with the headache from the other side. I hope I didn't come across as too hard on the store employes.