WIC

WIC is a nutrition program for Women, Infants, and Children. It is a program designed to provide nutrition education and nutritious foods to families. Eligibility for the program is based on income and also on nutritional risk factors. WIC serves pregnant, postpartum and breastfeeding women and infants and children up to age five. It is designed to improve the diet of pregnant women during the critical times that the baby needs special food. Providing proper nutrition to unborn children and infants can make an important and lifelong difference in the health of that child.

The program accomplishes its goals in two ways. First, the certified dietitians of the program review the family's eating habits and counsel them on where improvements can be made. Secondly, nutritious foods are made available. Eligible families are provided assistance through WIC drafts that can be used at approved stores to purchase certain nutritious foods. Participants receive milk, cheese, WIC approved cereal, WIC approved juice, eggs, and peanut butter or dried peas and beans. Infants receive iron-fortified formula and iron fortified infant cereal. Breastfeeding mothers who exclusively breastfeed, also receive additional foods such as tuna, carrots, juice and dried beans or peas.

During the summer, WIC families receive $15 in Farmers' Market checks so they can purchase fresh fruits, vegetables, and herbs at the local farmers' market or local farm stands.

The program staff monitor key health factors by monitoring the weight, heights and hemoglobin of participants, as well as blood lead levels of children. Eight-eight percent of children participating in Jackson County WIC Program had improved hemoglobin over the previous six months after participating in WIC. The combination of high iron foods and vitamin C juice included in the WIC food package improves iron absorption.

Jackson County WIC has a Certified Lactation Educator and a Certified Breastfeeding Educator to provide breastfeeding education and support. The State WIC Program provides the Jackson County WIC Project with manual and electric breast pumps to give to breastfeeding mothers returning to work or school.

For Information about the WIC Program call Jackson County Public Health at 715-284-4301, ext 385.

The following is a link to the Wisconsin State WIC Program: http://dhfs.wisconsin.gov/WIC/index.htm