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TextWomen, Infants, and Children Program (WIC) - FAQs
| - What is WIC? | Back |
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WIC is a food and nutrition program funded by the United States Department of Agriculture through the Virginia Department of health. WIC helps to correct or prevent malnutrition in low-income pregnant and breastfeeding women, women who recently had a baby, infants and children up to 5 years old who are at health risk due to inadequate nutrition. WIC provides supplemental food, offers professional nutrition education and makes referrals based on health screening and assessments of need. |
| - How will WIC improve my health? | Back |
| WIC lowers the rate of anemia among participating children ages 6 months to five years. WIC significantly improves children's diets, particularly when it comes to vitamins and nutrients including iron, calcium, vitamin C, thiamin, protein, niacin, and vitamin B6. WIC participation leads to higher rates of immunization against childhood diseases. Pregnant women have adequate weight gain. Premature births are reduced. Low birth weight reduced. Pregnant women get into prenatal care earlier in pregnancy. Consume more of the nutrients essential for optimal growth and development, such as iron, protein, calcium, and vitamins A, C, and D. Experience fewer fetal and infant deaths. Breastfeeding mothers receive education of how to feed their infants and how to monitor for proper growth and development for themselves and their infants/children. |
| -Who is eligible for WIC? | Back |
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Applicants must meet all of the following 4 criteria: 1. Fall into one of the following categories:
3. Income eligible (at or below 185% of Federal Poverty Guidelines or on Medicaid or food stamps) 4. Determined by WIC clinic staff to be at nutrition and/or health risk. Some typical health risks are: low blood iron or anemia; too much or too little weight gain (for pregnant women and children), poor diet, chronic disease, and developmental disabilities. |
| -May I apply if I am not a U.S. citizen? | Back |
| Yes, you may apply. Records are kept confidential. If you are an illegal worker, please refer to income eligibility requirements for acceptable forms of documents to verify proof of income. |
| - What does my income have to be in order to be eligible for WIC? | Back |
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The Virginia Department of Health WIC home Web page provides guidelines for WIC income eligibility. |
| -What serves as proof of income? | Back |
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a. Participation in the following programs: - Medicaid - etc. b. 3 pay stubs / pay check receipts. c. Signed letter from employer stating wages. |
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-I do not receive paychecks from my job, how can I apply for WIC? |
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| A signed statement provided by employer that states WIC applicant's wages. |
| -Does WIC provide medical/health care? | Back |
| No WIC does not provide medical and/health care. WIC however, provides the necessary social/healthcare agency referrals according to the nutrition and health assessment of the WIC client. |
| -Why do I have to get my hemoglobin (iron level in blood) measured? | Back |
| Hemoglobin (level of iron in blood) is measured to monitor efficient intake of iron. Inadequate/Insufficient intake of iron results in anemia. Anemia causes fatigue, etc. When clients are assessed for hemoglobin level and are found below the normal level, they are considered high risk and are brought back to assure level improvement. In addition, if WIC applicant is found to have a low hemoglobin level, they nutritionally eligible for the WIC program. |
| -How much do WIC services cost? | Back |
| WIC services are free to applicants and participants. |
| -What happens when someone applies for WIC? | Back |
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| -What must an applicant bring to an appointment? | Back |
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| -How long is someone certified for the program? | Back |
Depending on their WIC category, participants are certified for a
specific length of time. At the end of the certification period,
participants can repeat the certification process to be recertified.
The general certification periods by WIC category are:
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| -If someone is working, can they apply for WIC? | Back |
| Yes, WIC looks at income, not whether or not someone is working. |
| -Can someone be on WIC and food stamps at the same time? | Back |
| Yes |
| -If someone is no longer eligible for food stamps, are they eligible for WIC? | Back |
| Yes, they may possibly still be income eligible. |
| -If I am homeless, may I receive WIC services? | Back |
| If you are homeless you are eligible to receive WIC services. Homeless are considered high risk and are taken as one of WIC's top priorities for client intake. |
| -How does someone apply for WIC? | Back |
| Contact the nearest WIC agency. |
| -Why was WIC created? | Back |
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In the late 1960s, during the presidency of Lyndon B. Johnson, the federal government focused a great deal of attention on helping low-income Americans. The 1967 National Nutrition Survey revealed that many lower income children suffered from anemia and inadequate growth. These conditions can adversely affect brain size and cognitive ability. The study showed that children got off to a poor start both physically and mentally because they didn't have enough to eat or they didn't eat the right foods. Some children also suffered because mothers did not get adequate nutrition during their pregnancies. In 1972, Congress passed bill sponsored by Senator Hubert H. Humphrey (D.Minn.) to create the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children. Congress funded the program for two years and put the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in charge of it. |
| -Where can I get more information about WIC? | Back |
| Go to the USDA website. |
| - If I am under the age of 18 and live with my parents, do I qualify for WIC? | Back |
| If you are a minor of whom still resides with their parents/legal guardians, you may qualify for WIC if your parents are income eligible and/or provide for less than 50% of living necessities. |
| -How will I know which grocery store participates in the WIC program? | Back |
| Participating vendors (grocery stores) have a WIC sign presented at the front of the store to inform WIC clients that they accept WIC vouchers. At client certification (enrollment into the WIC program) you receive more specific information for which surrounding locations welcome WIC clients. WIC clients also receive special instructions for how to use the WIC vouchers. |
| -What is high risk and/or health risk for WIC eligible clients? | Back |
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For Women
Anthropometric Risks
Risks for Infants and Children
Anthropometric Risks
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