Association for Public Policy Analysis & Management

Most studies of means-tested programs emphasize the costs of program use—in particular, the stigma and stress of negative encounters with bureaucrats. By emphasizing the psychological costs of means-tested programs, studies of bureaucratic encounters seldom examine whether and how means-tested programs can become sources of psychological benefits as a form of social support for low-income families.

A long line of research demonstrates how social support can buffer the negative effects of economic hardship on family processes and child development. Thus, the question of how means-tested programs can support rather than distress low-income citizens is important. Under what conditions can bureaucratic encounters in means-tested programs provide social support? Studies of government-funded child care offer some insights on the socially supportive role of programs—demonstrating the importance of policy incentives, professional development, and staff characteristics in shaping the quality of program experiences. However, these kinds of insights are rarely applied to understand how larger in-kind aid programs can provide social support to low-income families. I take up this question by applying these insights to a novel and understudied case, Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program for Women and Children—WIC.

Surprisingly few studies examine the front-line experiences of WIC participants. Using in-depth qualitative interviews of 45 WIC participants, I provide descriptive insights into the quality of low-income parents’ encounters with the WIC program. I examine how WIC participates come to view services as sources of emotional support, informational aid, and instrumental aid as they navigate motherhood during a critical period of child development.