Last month, a record number of Missourians relied on the WIC program to provide them with basics like milk, eggs and butter.

The increasing number of clients, nearly 142,000 served in October, is putting a strain on local WIC providers and causing concern among state officials.

Glenn Studebaker, WIC communications and planning coordinator, said since the beginning of the fiscal year, the state client list has increased by more than 2,500 people. In Buchanan County, the caseload has increased by about 300 since October 2006.

"Our numbers have been going up all year," said Nancy Taylor, representative with the St. Joseph/Buchanan County Health Department.

The WIC program, or Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, serves those with household incomes below 185 percent of the poverty level. The enrollment requirements have not changed, according to Mr. Studebaker. But what has changed is the price of basic goods, like milk.

"It is our opinion that it is the milk prices that are influencing this," Mr. Studebaker said.

In Kansas City, average milk prices have increased by about $1 since January, according to the United States Department of Agriculture. Mr. Studebaker speculates that this stark difference, along with the rising price of other milk products, has encouraged current WIC clients to stay on the program.

"We aren't seeing record numbers of new enrollees," Mr. Studebaker said. "The big growth is children staying in the program longer."

Local health departments are struggling to keep up with these rising numbers. Ms. Taylor said local WIC caseworkers are handling more clients than ever before. Mr. Studebaker said many local departments are expanding their hours and requesting money to make new hires.

Despite the increased caseload, the program has yet to make cutbacks in its services, Mr. Studebaker said. But if the record numbers continue, it could happen.

"You never know how long these things are going to last," he said. "In August, we saw record numbers. Last month was a record month. If we continue to set records throughout next year, we're going to get concerned."

Mr. Studebaker said the program has reserve funding available, and if reserve funding is exhausted, services will be scaled back.

The state has different "priority levels" when it comes to its clientele. For example, infant clients are of higher priority than child clients and prenatal women are of higher priority than postpartum women. Those with medical issues are also high-priority clients.

For more information about the WIC program, visit the state WIC Web site at www.dhss.mo.gov/WIC.