Are you struggling to put food on the table to feed your family? WIC may be able to help! WIC stands for Women, Infants, and Children and is a nutritional food program that helps participants eat well and stay healthy. It’s not just for women, however! Adoptive parents, fathers, grandparents, other family members, foster parents and some non-traditional custodial situations may also be eligible to receive WIC benefits for infants in their care.
FACTS:
- Each month in Michigan, 200,000 moms, babies, and children under the age of five receive nutritious foods from the Michigan WIC Program. WIC foods are worth $30 to $112 or more per month for each participant.
- One out of every two babies born in Michigan receives WIC benefits.
- WIC has reduced the percent of low birth weight babies born to women enrolled in WIC from 8.2% to 7.8%
- Breastfeeding initiation rates increased from 48.9% to 54% and the six-month duration rate from 13.6% to 18.0%.
- Children served by WIC have lower anemia rates, improved dietary access, higher immunization rates and are more likely to have routine medical care.
- WIC impacts cognitive development in children. In fact, studies show that children served by WIC have improved vocabulary skills and improved memory.
- For every dollar spent on WIC, over $3.50 is saved in subsequent health care costs.
- WIC is a wise investment, generating important improvements in the health and productivity of children.
- In addition to direct cost savings, WIC services provide essential coordination with other health department services.
- Local communities are supported with more than $120 million yearly when WIC foods are purchased at grocery stores and pharmacies.
Eligibility:
- Pregnant women
- New moms
- Breastfeeding women
- Mom’s who recently miscarried
- Infants 0-12 months
- Children up to age 5
- Adoptive parents, fathers, grandparents, other family members, foster parents, and some non-traditional custodial situations with infants/children in your care
- Must live in Michigan
- Must meet income guidelines
If you are enrolled in Medicaid and/or SNAP, you automatically qualify for WIC.
Find out if you are eligible for WIC here. Already a WIC client? Click here.
Quick Links
DHD#10 WIC
State of Michigan- WIC Website
National WIC Association
Tips for Healthy Eating