WIC - Women, Infants, and Children

The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) is a federal nutrition program funded by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

We offer the following services at no cost to our clients:

• Healthy foods
• Nutrition education and counseling
• Breastfeeding education and support
• Referrals for health care, immunizations and community services

WIC is now on EBT

WIC provides services to: Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding or have recently been pregnant; infants; children under the age of 5.
Income Eligibility: You are income eligible if you are currently receiving Medicaid, Temporary Cash Assistance (TCA), or Food Assistance. Other households may be income eligible if their total household income is equal to or less than the amounts shown in the table below:

Revised 5/5/2014

What To Bring to Your Appointment:

• Bring EACH family member who is applying to receive WIC services.
• Bring proof of ALL income for everyone in the household (before taxes and deductions are taken out). Income includes such things as: salaries, child support and alimony, foster care payments, interest withdrawn, unemployment compensation, and military earnings; OR, if you receive Medicaid, Temporary Cash Assistance (TCA), or Food Assistance, you are income eligible for WIC. (If you do not receive Medicaid or TCA, but other members of your household receive these benefits, you may be income-eligible for WIC.) WIC staff can verify your enrollment in these programs. However, it is helpful to bring the current "Notice of Case Action" letter, which is proof of eligibility for one or more of these programs.
• Bring ONE proof of where you live (no P.O. boxes). The document must be current and show your name and address. Items that are allowed include a utility bill, bank/insurance statement, or driver's license. You must be currently living in Florida, but you don't have to be a U.S. citizen.
• Bring ONE proof of identification for you and ONE proof of identification for any infant or child applying for WIC, such as a birth certificate, driver's license, crib card, military ID, photo ID, Social Security Card, or hospital record.
• For EACH woman, infant, and child applying for WIC, you will need:
  • A recent height and weight measurement (no older than 60 days), and
  • hemoglobin or hematocrit blood test results (not required for infants under 9 months).
  • Ask your doctor or health clinic to fill out this health information on a WIC Medical Referral Form. Or, the WIC office will help you get this health information.
• Bring the Social Security Number for each person applying for WIC, if available.
• Bring the immunization (shot) record for each child.

WIC provides various nutritious food packages for pregnant and breastfeeding women, infants and children. Please click the link to see the various foods that are provided.

Florida WIC Foods Pamphlet - 2.06 MB PDF

Baby Foods Supplemental Sheet, 7/14 - 1.34 MB PDF

*NOTE: WIC is a supplemental food program, it does not provide all the food or formula you may need*

For additional information please visit the  Florida Department of Health WIC Homepage.

Breastfeeding Program

 The WIC program promotes breastfeeding as the normal way of feeding and nurturing your child. There are very few situations in which you cannot breastfeed your child.  Babies and mothers are born with behaviors that help with breastfeeding- they are born to breastfeed.  When babies do not breastfeed, they are at higher risk for certain illnesses and conditions. In the same way, mothers who do not breastfeed also have an increased risk of certain conditions. All of the WIC staff have learned the basics of breastfeeding and want to support you in meeting your breastfeeding goals. As part of our support, we offer prenatal infant feeding sessions.

The WIC program understands that the choices you make about caring for your child are personal ones that only you can make.  We support you in making your own decisions by providing you with factual information and loving support.  

Our Breastfeeding Peer Counselors are available to help you both in the clinic and by phone. They are also available by phone after clinic hours and on weekends.  Please call our WIC office for more information about breastfeeding and some of our Frequently Asked Questions.

Contact information:
Main Office - 850-875-7200 ext. 2
Marilyn Thomas, BPC - 850-251-4247

Resources

Breastfeeding Made Simple
Kelly Bonyata, IBCLC
La Leche League International
Florida Breastfeeding Coalition

Farmers Market Program

Gadsden County also participates in the Farmer’s Market Nutrition Program which takes place in the spring and summer. This program allows you to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables from local farmer’s markets.