WIC: Women, Infants, and Children
WIC is the USDA’s Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children. WIC offers many different services for participating families, such as supplemental food assistance (where extra food budget is given to support but not replace current groceries/budget), nutrition education, breastfeeding support, and health and community resources. Side bonus, WIC can help families navigate food allergies while getting access to nutritious foods! Keep scrolling to find out more about:
- Who is eligible (meets the requirements and is allowed to sign up)
- Where to go to start your application
- How WIC can support families with food allergies
Who is eligible for WIC?
Note: If you or your child currently receives Medicaid, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, you are already eligible for WIC!
WIC is accessible to:
- Women who are currently pregnant, postpartum (up to 6 months after the end of a pregnancy), or breastfeeding (up to the infant’s first birthday)
- Infants and children (up to their 5th birthday)
Requirements:
- Must live in the state or territory where you wish to apply
- Must be at or below WIC income limits for the program
- Receive a nutrition assessment at no cost
You can follow the link: https://www.fns.usda.gov/wic/eligibility, to check if you may be eligible for the WIC Program. They will ask about your state of residence and whether you meet WIC criteria or qualify for any federal programs.
Where to apply
Think you and your family may be eligible for WIC? The application process is through your local WIC agency, either by phone or online. Follow this link: https://www.fns.usda.gov/wic/apply, to find the WIC agency in your area and start applying.
Also, visit SignUpWIC.com as an additional resource for families and a way for you to get connected to your local clinic.
How can WIC support families with food allergies?
WIC offers nutrition education to participants, especially those who need help with shopping for children with food allergies. WIC offers counseling with nutrition professionals and other staff.
Furthermore, WIC takes measures such as Nutrition Tailoring for its WIC food packages. Nutrition tailoring is how WIC can change food packages to meet the needs of participants in WIC. After a first WIC nutrition assessment, WIC can allow for switching, taking out, or limiting certain foods. This is extra important for people with food allergies, as it allows families to work with the WIC staff to get the foods that best meet their needs.
For example, are you getting ready to introduce solids to your baby? Work with WIC staff to get the 9 common food allergens included in your WIC food package. Talk with WIC nutritionists and staff on how to make foods baby friendly.
Or, if your child has already been diagnosed with a food allergy, use Nutrition Tailoring to make sure foods that may contain that allergen or may be processed in a facility with that food allergen are not included in your WIC food package.
Check out WIC’s blog, especially this piece done with FAMP-IT: https://signupwic.com/news/famp-it-food-allergies
Stay connected with your healthcare team
WIC is a wonderful addition to your healthcare team. They have resources and staff to help you at every step of the journey, whether during pregnancy, breastfeeding, early infancy, toddlerhood, and beyond. WIC staff can also help you stay connected with your other healthcare team members. They can guide you on what questions you want to ask at your next appointment, or in some cases, update medical providers directly.
Resource for clinicians
Are you a clinician looking for additional WIC information? Check out our clinician site: https://famp-it.org/wic/
