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Special Infant Formula Distribution Program

An Effective Practice

Description

Community Action Program of Lancaster County (CAP) provides formula for low-income infants needing specialized infant formula through its Special Infant Formula Distribution Center (SFDC). The agency provides services to six state WIC Programs by operating a centralized infant formula warehouse. Requests are sent from local WIC programs in six state areas to the agency's warehouse, which in turn direct-ships the needed formula to the WIC clinic or participant’s home. Because the SFDC purchases specialized infant formula from several manufacturers at wholesale prices, local WIC programs do not have to pay retail prices.

Goal / Mission

The goal of this program is to provide affordable and easily accessible physician prescribed special formula to babies with special dietary needs due to health problems.

Results / Accomplishments

Average annual savings to currently participating states exceed over $3 million, which has allowed many additional at-risk infants and children to be served.

Equally important are the customer service benefits provided by the initiative, particularly to WIC clients in rural and urban areas. CAP Lancaster provides very timely and convenient service. Formula is usually received within two days of order directly to participant’s homes or local clinics.

About this Promising Practice

Organization(s)
Community Action Program and the PA Department of Health (WIC division)
Primary Contact
Mark Esterbrook, Chief Executive Director
CAP of Lancaster County
PO Box 599
Lancaster, PA 17608-0599
(717) 299-7301
mesterbrook@caplanc.org
http://www.caplanc.org
Topics
Health / Maternal, Fetal & Infant Health
Health / Physical Activity
Health / Medications & Prescriptions
Organization(s)
Community Action Program and the PA Department of Health (WIC division)
Source
Community Action Program of Lancaster
Date of publication
2002
Date of implementation
2013
Location
Lancaster County, PA
For more details
http://www.caplanc.org
Additional Audience
Infants

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  2. Vaccination Programs: Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants & Children (WIC) Settings
  3. CDC COMMUNITY GUIDE: Universally Recommended Vaccinations: Vaccination Programs in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for WIC Settings
  4. The Black Infant Health Program

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Related Content for: Special Infant Formula Distribution Program

An Effective Practice meets the following HCI criteria:

  1. The program description includes at a minimum: the sponsoring organization, program goals, program implementation steps, and outcomes that have demonstrated program success and/or promise in achieving the program goal in one or more localities.
  2. The results from an evaluation of the program include quantitative measures of improvement in outcome of interest (i.e. increase in voter registration, not just delivery of voter registration drive) and/ or the outcome measure is increased or improved compared to the baseline measurement or the control group but the difference is not statistically significant.
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