Mission
The goal of WIC (women, infants, & children) is to decrease infant mortality in Marion County and to safeguard the health of women, infants, and children up to age 5 who are at nutritional risk by providing nutritious foods, breastfeeding support, promoting healthy behavior changes through participant centered nutrition education, encouraging fatherhood engagement, and connecting families to the community resources they need.
What can WIC offer my family?
Healthy Pregnancy
WIC helps give your baby a healthy start. Contact WIC as soon as you know you are pregnant. Through prenatal education and healthy foods, WIC can help you feed your baby long before delivery
Nutrition Education
When it comes to keeping children healthy, often it’s up to mom, her shopping list, and her imagination in the kitchen. With nutritionists and nurses on hand, WIC helps the whole family eat better.
Healthy Food
At WIC, you learn what to eat while pregnant or breastfeeding, and what to feed your growing kids. You also get WIC benefits that can be used at grocery stores to help provide the right foods for your family.
Health Screenings
WIC will monitor your children’s height, weight, and iron so that you can be sure they are growing strong.
Referrals
The WIC program goes beyond providing families with food, nutrition education, and breastfeeding support. WIC serves as a gateway to healthcare and connects families to the resources they need.
Breastfeeding Support
Breastfeeding may be natural and healthy for both mom and child, but it is not always easy. WIC’s breastfeeding support helps you face this challenging time with:
•breastfeeding counselors and classes
•peer groups and breastfeeding education and support
•breast pumps
•WIC’s highest value food package which includes protein-rich food to ensure you have the nutrients you need while breastfeeding
Can my family enroll in WIC?
WIC is for all types of families — families with married or single parents and those who are working or not working.
If you are a father, mother, foster parent, or other legal guardian of a child under 5 years of age, you can apply for your child.
If you are a woman who is pregnant, breastfeeding, or has a baby up to 6 months old, you can apply for yourself.
WIC has higher income guidelines than SNAP (EBT, Food Stamps) or Medicaid, so even if you don’t qualify for SNAP or Medicaid, you still may qualify for WIC.
What are some healthy foods I can get for my family with WIC benefits?
- Milks (including soy & lactose free)
- Yogurt
- Cheese
- Formula
- Baby Food & Cereal
- Cereal
- Fruits & Vegetables
- Whole Grain Bread & Tortillas
- Juice
- Eggs
- Beans
- Peanut Butter
- Brown Rice
- Whole Wheat Pasta