Calling all prospective mothers, families, and caretakers alike. Does your family struggle to make ends meet when it comes to grocery expenses? Has the skyrocketing price of groceries taken over your budget? WIC is here for you!
What is WIC?
WIC is a federally funded nutrition program for women, infants, and children. The Idaho WIC program knows that your family’s health is important, and its goal is to help you and your family thrive by promoting healthy lifestyle choices. WIC benefits are for pregnant women, new mothers, infants, and children up to their 5th birthday. WIC was specifically created to respond to national concerns of malnutrition.
You may be asking, aren’t WIC and SNAP the same? WIC is different than SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) also known as Food Stamps, and being in one program does not affect your ability to participate in the other.
WIC helps families by providing:
- WIC cards to buy healthy supplemental foods from local grocery stores (authorized Idaho WIC vendors)
- Nutrition education
- Guidance in finding healthcare and other community services
- Breastfeeding information and support
What kinds of food do I have access to through WIC?
Authorized foods include fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, milk, eggs, juice, baby food, and much more.
Find the complete list of tasty, nutritious foods here.
Numerous studies show that WIC is effective and helps:
- Lower premature birth rates
- Increase birthweight in newborn babies
- Decrease number of fetal and infant deaths
- Reduce the possibility of low iron (anemia)
- Increase immunization rates
- Improve diet quality and increase access to regular health care
What about Breastfeeding?
While many people have heard about WIC and the food benefits it provides, another service WIC provides is breastfeeding education and support.
Idaho WIC provides services to help Idaho remain one of the top breastfeeding states in the nation. Here is what WIC can provide:
Peer counseling: Breastfeeding peer counselors have experience breastfeeding their own children and understand the questions and joys that come with breastfeeding. They are there to answer questions and cheer mothers on.
Professional breastfeeding support: WIC provides free clinic and phone consultations with trained breastfeeding professionals and registered dietitians.
Supplemental foods for breastfeeding women: Breastfeeding women receive the deluxe WIC food package with additional food and variety.
Breastfeeding equipment: When needed, WIC will supply breast pumps and other equipment to help women provide breast milk for their babies.
Am I Eligible for WIC?
In order to qualify for WIC, participants must meet the following eligibility requirements:
- Be a resident of Idaho
- Meet income guidelines
- Women who are pregnant or have had a baby or miscarriage in the last 6 months
- Women who are breastfeeding a baby under 1 year of age
- Parents, step-parents, guardians, or foster parents of infants and children up to their 5th birthday
If you or family members participate in certain other benefit programs, such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Medicaid, or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), you automatically qualify for WIC as well.
Fathers and grandparents of children under the age of 5 are encouraged to enroll their children in the WIC program. A parent or guardian may bring their children to appointments, receive nutrition education, and redeem benefits for their children.
What are next steps?
After making an appointment at a WIC clinic near you, you can expect the following:
- WIC staff will review income, residency and identification information with you. At that time, you will be notified if your family is eligible for WIC services.
- If eligible:
- Trained WIC staff will conduct a health screening for all family members applying. This includes a finger stick blood test to check iron status, height and weight measurements, and ask questions about your health and diet.
- At the end of the appointment, you will receive food benefits and a WIC card that you may use that day.
How can I apply?
- Find your local WIC clinic
- Contact the WIC clinic to set up your first appointment
- Determine what to bring to your first appointment
Online Applications
Online applications are also accepted through Eastern Idaho Public Health.
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