WIC Program
What does W.I.C. stand for? WIC is an abbreviation for Women, Infants, and Children and is a supplemental food and nutrition program. WIC is funded by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The program aims to improve the health and nutrition of low-income pregnant women, new mothers, infants, and young children up to the age of five.
The WIC Program offers:
Overall, the WIC program offers a range of benefits that can help improve the health and well-being of eligible individuals.
Overall, the WIC program offers a range of benefits that can help improve the health and well-being of eligible individuals. It provides access to healthy foods and nutrition education, as well as support for breastfeeding mothers, all of which can help promote healthy growth and development.
Still wondering what W.I.C. entails? Here is a brief overview of what the W.I.C. program provides:
- Nutritional Support: WIC provides participants with nutritious foods such as infant formula, milk, eggs, fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and infant cereal. The program aims to ensure that women and children have access to essential nutrients during critical developmental stages.
- Nutrition Education: WIC offers nutrition education and counseling to help participants make healthy food choices and promote overall well-being. This includes guidance on breastfeeding and healthy eating habits.
- Healthcare Referrals: WIC connects participants to healthcare services and screenings. It often collaborates with healthcare providers to monitor the health and growth of pregnant women, infants, and children.
- Income Eligibility: Eligibility for WIC is based on income and nutritional risk factors. To qualify, applicants must have incomes below a certain threshold and meet specific nutritional or health-related criteria.
- Breastfeeding Support: WIC encourages and supports breastfeeding, providing resources, education, and access to breast pumps for eligible mothers who choose to breastfeed their infants.
- Local Administration: The program is administered at the state and local levels, with individual state agencies responsible for implementing and overseeing WIC services within their respective jurisdictions.
- Impact: WIC has been credited with improving the health and nutrition of women and children in low-income households, reducing infant mortality rates, and promoting healthy child development.
WIC plays a vital role in addressing the nutritional needs of vulnerable populations, particularly pregnant women, new mothers, and young children, to ensure they have access to adequate food and receive essential education and support for a healthy start in life.
WIC provides foods that are good sources of many needed nutrients. They include:
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*for breastfeeding women only
WIC clients and family members receive more than food. They get:
- Nutrition Education during Pregnancy
- Nutrition Education for Infants and Children
- Breastfeeding Support
- Assessment of Growth and development
- Food buying tips
- Referral for free immunizations for kids
- Referral to other community and health services as needed
Pre-Screening Tool
The WIC Prescreening Tool can help you find out if you are eligible for WIC benefits.
WIC is available to pregnant, breastfeeding and postpartum women, infants and children up to age five. Foster families with qualifying individuals may be eligible to receive WIC benefits. To participate, these persons must:
- Live in North Carolina.
- Have a family income less than 185% of the U.S. Poverty Income Guidelines. A person receiving Medicaid, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), or assistance from the NC Food and Nutrition Services automatically meets the income eligibility requirement. See the income eligibility chart below.
Income Eligibility Chart (Effective June 1, 2023)
Note: A person who currently receives Medicaid, Work First, or Food and Nutrition Services (Food Stamps) automatically meets the income eligibility guidelines for WIC.
*185% of the Federal Poverty guidelines per the Federal Register.
** A household (or economic unit) is defined as a person or group of persons, related or nonrelated, who usually (although not necessarily) live together, and whose production of income and consumption of goods or services are related. The income of everyone in the economic unit is counted to determine eligibility.
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