Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Program

The Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Program is a federally funded nutrition program for women and young children. "WIC is a wonderful supplemental food and health education program for qualifying pregnant, postpartum and breastfeeding women and families with young children," said Ellen Deutsche, supervisor of WIC in El Dorado County. "The program also serves young children cared for by single fathers, grandparents, foster parents, step-parents and guardians who meet program guidelines."

WIC provides nutrition education and health information, breastfeeding support, checks for healthy foods (like fruits and vegetables), and referrals to medical providers and community services. There is no charge to receive WIC services. Individuals or families may qualify for WIC services if they:

• Are pregnant, breastfeeding a baby up to 1 year old, or had a baby in the past six months; or
• Are the primary caretakers of a child under the age of 5; and
• Have a low to medium income and/or receive Medi-Cal, CalWORKs (TANF) or CalFresh (Food Stamps) benefits; and
• Live in California

Newly pregnant women, migrant workers, and working families are encouraged to apply. Pregnant women may apply as soon as they know they are pregnant. To determine if they meet WIC income guidelines, individuals may visit www.wicworks.ca.gov or the California WIC Mobile Website at https://m.wic.ca.gov/