Women, Infants, Children (WIC)
To support that mission, the WIC Program provides nutrition education, breast feeding information and peer counseling. WIC also provides healthy foods, basic checkups, developmental screenings and more to children under 5, infants, and pregnant or breastfeeding moms all over the county. I t is a service we take pride in and one that helps families get a great start.
Even if you or your family members are working, it can be hard to make ends meet. The Women, Infants and Children Program (WIC) may be able to help with the right food and advice on nutrition, health care, immunizations & more.
WIC is the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children. It is administered in Illinois by the Department of Human Services & is funded by the US Department of Agriculture.
WIC helps parents to feed their children properly during critical periods of growth and development. The combination of nutrition education, nutritious foods and other health care services strengthens families long after their WIC eligibility has ended.
That is one of the best parts about this program: it can set you and your family on the right path to good health and nutrition choices both now and in the future. Another advantage? Our peer counselor program. An everyday mom ,just like you, who has breastfed her children is on staff here at the Health Department to answer questions, give advice & offer encouragement to new moms & moms-to-be who are considering breastfeeding
WIC may be able to help you if you:
- are pregnant or breastfeeding
- have an infant or children up to age 5
- are working with limited or no income
- want to improve your family’s health with good nutrition
WIC provides healthy foods such as:
- milk
- eggs
- cheese
- juice
- cereal
- dry beans or peas
- infant formula
But food isn’t all that WIC provides. There’s also:
- breastfeeding information and a peer counselor who has been there to offer assistance and advice
- nutrition and child health information to help you make the best choices for the health of your family
- basic health screenings for your child
- referrals to other services
Additional Information for WIC can be found on the USDA website.