What's New!

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New WIC foods are coming in October 2009 to support healthy habits. Click on the following link for more information http://www.fns.usda.gov/wic/benefitsandservices/foodpkg.HTM

Click on the following link for the Connecticut WIC Food list effective October 1, 2009 CT WIC Food list 10_2009.pdf

Click on the following link for the Food and Formula Item listing effective October 1, 2009 Food & Formula item listing.pdf

For information on the Connecticut Department of Public Health American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) program for Women, Infants and Children click here: http://www.ct.gov/dph/cwp/view.asp?a=3115&q=436370

The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children – better known as the WIC Program – serves to safeguard the health of low-income women, infants, & children up to age 5 who are at nutritional risk by providing nutritious foods to supplement diets, information on healthy eating, and referrals to health care.

Who is eligible?

• Pregnant women (through pregnancy and up to 6 weeks after birth or after pregnancy ends).
• Breastfeeding women (up to infant’s 1^st birthday).
• Nonbreastfeeding postpartum women (up to 6 months after the birth of an infant or after pregnancy ends.
• Infants (up to 1^st birthday). WIC serves 45 percent of all infants born in the United States.
• Children up to their 5^th birthday (Fathers, grandparents, foster parents or other guardians may apply for WIC for their children).

What are the eligibility requirements?

• Must meet the income guidelines, which are set at or below 185 % of the federal poverty income limit (WIC counts an unborn infant as a household member). 
• Be at nutritional risk; WIC uses 2 broad categories of risk: medically based such as low birth weight and diet based, such as poor eating habits.
• Must live in Connecticut (WIC does not require proof of citizenship or alien status and participation in WIC will not affect your immigration or naturalization status).

What does WIC offer?

•   Talking with a nutritionist
•   Watching and discussing a video
•   Playing a game
•   Learning a recipe

Breastfeeding Promotion and Support :

Encouragement, advice and instructions on nursing babies are available to all participants. Breastfeeding women get a special food package and breast pumps may also be available. WIC’s role is to educate participants as to why breast milk is the best for babies, how to juggle work and nursing, how to involve fathers and to link participants with sources of breastfeeding counselors such as La Leche League. 

Nutritious foods:

A nutrition professional prescribes food checks to participants. Food packages vary according to the participant. For example, tuna fish and carrots are given to exclusively breastfeeding mothers. Families on WIC take the checks to an authorized store to buy the food. WIC foods are selected because they provide certain nutrients such as iron, protein, and calcium that are critical in periods of growth and development.

Referrals to Health and other Social Services:

As a gateway to health care WIC prides itself in giving appropriate referrals to a variety of services such as Food Stamps, Head Start, medical and dental services, substance abuse programs, child care and much more.

Other Nutrition Services:

WIC also educates clients on the importance of immunizations, on preventing lead poisoning and the harmful effects of tobacco and substance use on health and growth. Between July and October, WIC participants receive coupons to buy fruits and vegetables at local farmers markets; this is a joint initiative between the Connecticut Department of Agriculture, Farmers Market Nutrition Program and WIC.