The federal government of America has approved many food and nutrition programs for women infants and children across the country, to improve their health conditions and aid them if they belong to low-income households.
Like other states of the country, the state of Wisconsin also started a food & nutrition program for women infants, and children. Wisconsin residentship is a must to qualify for the program. The women, infants, and children nutrition program (WIC) was generated to aid pregnant and breastfeeding ladies along with their infants and children who are under the age of 5 years; to stay strong and healthy.
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Eligibility for women infants and children Wisconsin nutrition program (WIC):
- The foremost eligibility requirement for the WIC program is that the applicant must be living in Wisconsin.
- The applicant should be pregnant or a new mother. Breastfeeding mothers can apply as well.
- The applicant needs to prove that they or their child/infant must need nutritional aid for healthy They have to show that the child or themselves are unable to gain nutritional food on their own and need aid from the government to overcome the deficiency.
- The applicant must belong to a household that comes under low income or it should be instead of the income guidelines generated by WIC
- A pregnant lady is counted as double family members
- Students, military families, and families belonging to the working class are eligible to apply. Every application is reviewed separately to provide nutritional support.
Applicants who are already receiving aid from FoodShare, W-2, BadgerCare, Medicaid, or Kinship Care automatically become eligible for WIC. The program utilizes the income criteria similar to these said programs. Fathers, foster parents, and guardians are also eligible to apply for WIC on behalf of their children.
How to Apply for the Women’s Infant and Children’s Nutrition Program (WIC)?
It is very easy to apply for women, infants, and children in Wisconsin-based nutrition programs. You can call the WIC program services office and book an appointment at your convenience. When the appointment call is made from the WIC services office, the applicant will be asked for basic information on the phone; to check whether the applicant qualifies for the said program or not. If the caller is approved for an appointment for the program, then one is further guided on what documents to bring along for the physical interview.
At the physical appointment, a nutritionist under the banner of WIC will review and monitor the health history of the applicant and the children; if any are accompanied. The history of nutrition is discussed in great detail and if the applicant is found eligible then they will further receive counseling and nutritional information regarding the foods they will receive under the program.
The food which is provided; is of great nutritional and health value. The food packages for women, infants, and children nutrition program comprise of:
- Dairy products such as milk, yogurt, cheese, eggs
- Canned fish such as salmon or tuna
- Fruits and vegetables in the form of fresh, canned, or frozen
- Baby food: cereals, meat, fruits, and vegetables.
- Peanut butter
- Canned beans and peas
- Pasta, rolls, and whole-grain bread
- Infant formula
How Do the Women’s Infant and Children’s Nutrition Program (WIC) work?
The women, infant, and children nutrition program is liable to provide the following to the eligible applicants:
- eWIC benefit cards are provided to buy food to keep the applicant women and children strong and healthy.
- Information is provided about eating healthy during pregnancy and breastfeeding whereas tips are provided to breastfeed the child.
- Information is provided on how to intake the WIC foods to improve health.
- Immunization is done for the applicant’s
- Referrals are provided for other programs such as FoodShare, BadgerCare, Medicaid, and Head Start.
People who are living with disabilities, require different measures to apply for the nutritional benefits program. They need to contact the local or state agency to forward their application.
According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Federal Civil Rights Law’s regulations and policies; all the USDA programs cannot discriminate against any applicants based on sex, disability, age, color, race, national origin, or retaliation and reprisal.
Any applicant who feels; one is dealt with discrimination can file a complaint immediately with the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint form to address the matter timely and according to the rules and regulations termed by the agency itself.
The women, infants, and children Wisconsin-approved nutrition program provides aid to low-income households by adding nutritional value to their daily meals. It aids them in improving the health of their children under the age of 5 as well as the new mothers and pregnant ladies.