WIC PROGRAM
Supplemental food and nutrition program for pregnant women, breastfeeding women, infants,
and children, up to the age of five.
WIC Services
WIC provides a range of nutrition services in a supportive environment. Contracts are
maintained with local health departments to deliver direct services to eligible Kansas citizens.
(Click here for locations)
WIC achieves positive health outcomes through.......
• Nutrition counseling and education
• Breastfeeding promotion and support
• Nutritious foods - at no cost to participant - worth at a minimum of $54 per month (see
Foods Provided by WIC)
• Immunization screening and referrals
• Health and social service referrals
WIC nutrition staff meet with each WIC participant to .......
• Assess their diet and identify nutritional needs
• Provide individual nutrition counseling
• Determine appropriate foods
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Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)
Research on WIC
WIC produces positive prenatal and birth outcomes
• WIC participation significantly improved hemoglobin and hematocrit values among
pregnant women.
Kennedy et al, Effect of WIC Supplemental Feeding on Hemoglobin and Hematocrit of
Prenatal Patients, J Am Diet Assoc, 1982.
• Prenatal WIC participation significantly improved birth outcomes for all groups of women
- private insurance, self-pay, and Medicaid - in a New York State study.
New York State WIC Evaluation Study, NY State J Med 91 (6), 1991
• WIC participation during pregnancy and infancy is associated with significantly reduced
risk of infant deaths.
Moss et al, The Effect of WIC and Medicaid on Infant Mortality in the United States, Am J
Public Health 88(9), 1988
• Prenatal WIC participation reduced the rate of low birthweight by 25 percent, and of
very low birthweight by 44 percent
Federal Investments Like WIC Can Produce Savings, General Accounting Office, 1992
• WIC participation by 30 weeks gestation was associated with significant reductions in
infant mortality during the first 28 days in four out of five states studies.
Infant Mortality Among Medicaid Newborns in Five States: The effect of Prenatal WIC
Participation, Mathematica Policy Research, Inc., 1993
WIC Improves Children's Health
• Children enrolled in WIC had significantly lower rates of anemia at follow-up visits than
at pre-enrollment visits.
Yip, et al, Declining Prevalence of Anemia Among Low-Income Children in the United States,
JAMA 258 (12), 1987
• WIC participation significantly increased intake of iron and vitamins A, B 2 , B 6 among
preschool children.
Rush et al, The National WIC Evaluation, USDA, 1986
• WIC participation is associated with higher rates of immunization.
Rush et al, The National WIC Evaluation, USDA, 1986
• In Colorado, exclusively breastfeeding a WIC infant saved $160 in the first six months of
life by lowering WIC and Medicaid costs.
Montgomery, et al, Economic benefit of breast-feeding infants enrolled in WIC, J Am Diet
Assoc, 97 (4)1997.
Who's Eligible?
WIC Serves Kansas residents ........
Who are:
• Pregnant
• Breastfeeding, up to baby's first birthday
• Non-breastfeeding mothers, up to six months after baby's birth
• Children under five years old
And who meet WIC income guidelines:
Household income at or below 185% of the poverty level (a household of two can earn
$26,955; a household of four can earn up to $40,793 per year).
Automatic income eligibility for participants in the Food Assistance Program, Temporary
Assistance for Families and Healthwave 19 Program.
And who have a medical or nutritional need:
WIC staff use a wide range of nutritional risk factors to determine eligibility. Examples include:
A high or low weight for height/length
A diet inappropriate for age
A reduced amount of iron in the blood (hemoglobin)
Medical conditions that jeopardize nutritional status
Many working people don't realize that they are eligible for WIC.
WIC Authorized Foods*
For Infants: For Women & Children
Iron-fortified infant formula Milk
Infant Cereal Cheese
Juice Cereal
Dry beans
Eggs
Dry peas
Juice
Peanut butter
* A special food prescription is available for the homeless and children or women with special
health care needs. Women who choose to exclusively breastfeeding also receive tuna and
carrots and additional amounts of juice, cheese and beans or peanut butter. Breast pumps
may be available for women who breastfeed.
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