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What is WIC? (women, infants, &
children)
WIC provides extra foods with nutrition education for pregnant or
breastfeeding women, infants who are breastfed or formula-fed, and children up to age 5 to
help safe guard their health. WIC services include referrals to other
health, welfare and social services.
WIC enables parents to feed their children during critical
periods of growth and development. The combination of nutrition education, nutritious
foods, and health care oversight strengthens families long after their WIC enrollment
has ended.
Who is eligible?
To qualify for WIC a family must first meet low
income guidelines, set by the federal government. Income guidelines are based on family
size. For example, a working family of three can earn, before taxes are deducted, up to
$521 a week or $2,182 a month. Any family having a pregnant woman or an infant certified
as eligible for Medicaid is income-eligible for WIC. If your family is
income-eligible, an appointment will be scheduled to determine nutrition eligibility for
enrollment in WIC. At the WIC appointment WIC staff
will provide information & advice about healthy foods. While enrolled in WIC,
monthly checks are issued that can be spent at local grocery stores to buy specific foods
high in nutritional value.
To determine if your family qualifies please call your
local WIC
clinic. For residents of Island County please call Island County Public Health at
either 240.5554, or 221.8490 or 387.0184. For WIC clinics
outside of Island County, please call 1.800.841.1410
What is "nutritional risk"?
Two major types of nutritional risk are recognized for WIC eligibility:
- Medically-based risks (designated as "high
priority") such as anemia, underweight, maternal age, history of pregnancy
complications, or poor pregnancy outcomes.
- Diet-based risks such as inadequate dietary pattern.
Nutritional risk is determined by a health professional
such as a physician, nutritionist, or nurse, and is based on Federal guidelines. This
health screening is free to program applicants.
WIC supports and
encourages breastfeeding!
Where are WIC clinics in Island County?
For North & Central Whidbey residents appointments are
scheduled at the North Whidbey Family Resource Center on the corner of Whidbey &
Regatta in Oak Harbor. You can call this clinic at 240.5554.
For South Whidbey residents appointments are scheduled at
the South Whidbey Community Health Services building, newly opened in January, 1999 on
Maxwelton Road across from the South Whidbey elementary school. You can call this clinic
at 221.8490.
Residents of Camano Island are scheduled at the Camano
Community Health Services building at 127 NE Camano Drive, across from the Camano Annex.
Camano residents please call 387.0184.
Who funds the WIC Program?
At Island County Public Health WIC is funded by the Food &
Nutrition Services of the USDA, the Washington State Department of Health and the Island
County Health Dept.
WIC is not an entitlement program as Congress does not set aside
funds to allow every eligible individual to participate in the program. WIC is
a Federal grant program for which Congress authorizes a specific amount of funds each year
for the program.
Have more questions?
For more information please call your local WIC clinic:
North & Central Whidbey please call 240.5554
South Whidbey residents please call 221.8490
Camano Island residents please call 387.0184
If you are a resident of Washington state, but not in
Island County, please call 1.800.841.1410 for the address & phone number of the
WIC
clinic near your residence.
WIC is an equal opportunity
program. If you feel you have been discriminated against because of race, color, national
origin, sex, age or handicap, write immediately to the Secretary of Agriculture,
Washington, D.C. 20250 |
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