WIC

Description

The Michigan WIC Program provides nutrition education, food supplements, and referral for health and social services to low-income pregnant, breastfeeding, and postpartum women, infants, and children under age five who are at nutritional risk.  The program is administered by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) through Michigan's Department of Community Health.

Services

Eligibility for the program is based on income (Michigan WIC Income Guidelines) and nutritional need and re-established approximately every six months.   Participants receive:

• Nutrition assessment services, including a review of height, weight, hemoglobin, health and nutrition history, and dietary intake, to establish nutritional need

• Breastfeeding guidance and support

• Food supplement which target foods containing key nutrients often lacking in the diets of women and children: milk, cheese, eggs, dried beans/peanut butter, iron-fortified cereal, and 100% fruit juices high in Vitamin C; breastfeeding women receive an enhanced food package that also includes tuna and carrots; whereas bottle-fed infants receive iron-fortified infant formula (all infants receive iron-fortified cereal and juices after 4-6 months of age)

• Referral for health and social services (WIC services are collocated with pediatric and prenatal services wherever possible)