WIC Frequently Asked Questions

What is WIC?

• Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children

• WIC provides:

  • nutritious food

  • nutrition education

  • breastfeeding promotion and support

  • referrals to health care

WIC Participants:

• ?Pregnant Women

• Breastfeeding Women

• Postpartum Women

• Infants

• Children up to age 5

Eligibility Guidelines:

• Be at nutritional risk

• Have a low or moderate income

  • a person enrolled in Medicaid, Food Stamps or WAGES automatically meets income eligibility requirements

  • gross income of 185% or less of the poverty guidelines. 

• Reside in Florida

  • citizenship and immigration status are not conditions of eligibility

WIC Background:

• ?The WIC Program started in 1974 through an amendment to the Child Nutrition Act

•  It has grown nationwide to  serve over 7.3 million women, infants and children each month

Program Growth:

• The state of Florida's WIC Program has grown from 6,700 monthly to about 390,000 monthly participants

• WIC is available in all 67 counties with 47 local agencies providing the services

• Two local agencies are private providers, the others are located in county health departments

How is WIC funded?

• 100% funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and is administered by the Department of Health

WIC Saves Money:

• For every dollar spent WIC saves three dollars in medical expenses

How does the WIC program influence outcomes?

• Encourages better prenatal care for women and regular medical care for children

• Improves dietary intake of pregnant women and children

• Reduces the incidence of anemia in children

• Improves the growth of at-risk infants and children

• Reduces the incidence of low birth weight babies

• Improves rates of immunization

Staff Qualifications:

• Licensed and Registered Dietitians who meet State and National qualifications

• Nutrition Educators: Four year degree in nutrition

• Diet Technicians: Two years of technical skills in foods and nutrition

Goals of Nutrition Education:

• To achieve a positive change in the food consumption habits related to the participant?s nutritional risk

• To teach the relationship between proper nutrition and good health

• To promote the optimal use of WIC supplemental foods

• To provide breastfeeding education and support for WIC clients

• To provide nutrition education within the context of the ethnic and cultural preferences of the participant

Breastfeeding:

• Breastfeeding promotion and support is an integral component of WIC

• Breastfed WIC infants have increased from 30% in 1992 to 52% in 1997

• Breastfeeding rates are increasing faster among WIC clients than among the general population

Food Delivery System:

• ?WIC food checks are given monthly, bi-monthly and tri-monthly to participants

• The checks identify the type, brand and amount of food a participant is allowed to purchase

• WIC checks are only redeemable at WIC authorized grocery stores

WIC Foods:

Pregnant, Postpartum Women and Children

• Milk

• Eggs

• Orange Juice

• Cheese

• Peanut Butter

• Cereal

Breastfeeding Women

• Carrots

• Tuna

Infant Feeding:

Breastfeeding

• Carnation Good Start Infant Formulas

  • Includes Special Formulas: nutramigen, alimentum, pedisure, etc. 

WIC Makes a Difference:

• Complete WIC Medical Referral     form with...

  • Current height and weight

  • Current hematocrit or hemoglobin

  • Any identified medical or nutritional problems

Remember, You help WIC make a difference, 
Thank You!