WIC Office Near Me

For many mothers, WIC is a program that serves to help safeguard the health of their children by providing nutritious foods, support, and referrals to health care. Without this program, many women would lack the resources necessary to help themselves and their very young children.

Are you interested in finding a WIC office near you? Simply browse WIC office near me on the map below and find a list of WIC offices located within a close proximity to your current location. Need a bit more information on WIC? Read on for interesting facts, trivia, and more!

WIC Office Near Me – Find it on the Map

WIC Office Near Me – WIC Office Trivia

Who is eligible for WIC?

Though WIC can be a tremendous resource for women who are facing financial or medical hardships while taking care of young children, not every woman qualifies for WIC assistance. This can lead to some confusion as to who qualifies and who is considered ineligible for WIC. Consider these facts as you search WIC office near me. According to the USDA, pregnant, postpartum, and breastfeeding women, along with infants and children up to age 5 are eligible for WIC if they meet income guidelines. All those who apply must also meet state residency requirements, and be individually determined as a “nutritional risk” by a health professional. In order to be eligible on the basis of income alone, an applicant’s gross income must fall at or just below 185 percent of the US poverty income guidelines. A family of one must make $22,311 or below, a family of two must make 30,044 or under, and a family of three must make 30,044 or under. Of course, this rate can vary by state, with some offering additional benefits or guidelines for all those that apply. If you’re uncertain as to if you meet eligibility requirements, check with your state WIC Office and find out if your eligible based on income, medical necessity, or both.

Your local WIC office can help you and your child get on the way to good health!

What exactly is nutritional risk?

One factor that you should keep in mind if you don’t qualify based on income or status is nutritional risk. Children, pregnant, postpartum, or breastfeeding women may all qualify based on two major types of nutritional risks. The two types recognized for WIC eligibility are: medically based risks and diet based risks. Medically based risks include ailments such as anemia, being significantly underweight, maternal age, history of pregnancy complications, and poor pregnancy outcomes. These can only be determined by a health professional such as a nurse, nutritionist, or a physician. Diet based risks are those that are the result of an inadequate dietary pattern. If it is deemed that you or your child are malnourished, under nourished, or simply not receiving adequate nutrition from the foods you’re consuming, you may be eligible for assistance. Knowing if you meet these criteria is dependent on a health screening or appointment with a health professional. The WIC office will not take your word for it and you will need to present proper documentation upon applying. If you’re not sure what steps to take while searching WIC office near me, contact your local doctor or WIC agency and inquire as to what might be required to apply.

WIC Office Near Me – WIC Office Facts

Millions Helped Monthly

Programs such as WIC might be misunderstood by those who deem it a handout, but anyone in the know realizes that these programs are vital to the health and wellbeing of American women and children. According to government statistics, the number of women, infants, and children helped by WIC each month is at a staggering 7.7 million. That’s 7.7 million women and children who would otherwise lack the resources necessary to thrive in in the current social and economic environment. WIC is a saving grace for those who are employed but are still struggling to make ends meet or care for themselves or their children in a proper manner. As you search WIC office near me, consider what WIC assistance might mean to you. Do you feel as if the program is misunderstood by those who are in the upper echelon of wealth?

Supported Foods

As you search WIC office near me, you’re likely wondering what kind of foods you may purchase while on the WIC program. Every food offered has been deemed nutritionally sound and beneficial to overall health and well being by the USDA. As of 2016, WIC Foods include infant cereal, iron fortified adult cereal, vitamin c-rich fruits and vegetables, 100% vitamin enriched juice drinks, milk, cheese, peanut butter, canned beans, canned peas, and canned fish are all solid options. Soy based beverages, fruits and vegetables, baby foods, tofu, whole wheat bread, and other whole grain options have also recently been added in order to meet the nutritional guidelines set by medical professionals. The foods you choose to purchase will be wholly dependent on your personal nutritional needs or the needs of your child. For example, the diet of a pregnant woman will likely differ in many ways from the diet of a child under 5. Same goes for breastfeeding women or infant children. At this current time, WIC recognizes breastfeeding as the best source of nutrition for infants but also understands that not every woman can do so. This means that under WIC, iron fortified infant formulas and special formulas that may need to be medically provided will also be supported.