Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)

WIC is the federal Women, Infants, and Children program funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and operated by the Washington State Department of Health (DOH). WIC is a public health prevention program that reduces low birth weight, improves immunization rates and promotes breastfeeding .

WIC serves working families, families receiving Apple Health (Medicaid), and foster children, and improves the health and nutritional status of pregnant women, new mothers, infants and children under the age of 5. WIC provides health screenings, nutrition education, nutrient-rich foods , breastfeeding support, and referrals to other health and social services.

Almost half of all babies, one-third of pregnant women and one-quarter of children under the age of 5 in Washington state are in the WIC program.

Through WIC, your patients can receive:

• Monthly checks for healthy foods like cereal, fruits and vegetables
• Health screenings and referrals
• Ideas on how to be more active as a family
• Nutrition advice for children with food allergies
• Kid-friendly recipes
• Education about the special benefits of breastfeeding
• One-on-one meetings with a nutritionist at no cost

Here’s how you can help

Many eligible families miss out on WIC because they believe their income exceeds the WIC income standard.

Give WIC materials to the families you serve:

• Request and complete a Department of Health Opt-In Form (from your Network Relations consultant) for free WIC brochures that will be shipped directly to your office
• Order free WIC counter cards and posters for your office from WithinReach
• Refer families to a nearby WIC clinic
• Encourage families to find out if they are eligible by encouraging them to:
  • Call the Family Health Hotline at 1-800-322-2588
  • Text "WIC" to 96859
  • Search ParentHelp123’s Resource Finder  

Note: This information is contained in the WIC materials that you can order online.