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What is WIC
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WIC is the
Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children.
It is administered in Illinois by the Department of Human Services (DHS)
and is funded by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). WIC
is an equal opportunity provider.
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WIC is a federal nutrition program that provides |
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Nutrition Education, Counseling and Support |
- Through the
nutrition education offered by the WIC program, parents learn about
their own nutritional needs, as well as those of their infants and
children. Participants are taught how to shop for nutritious foods
and how to prepare well-balanced meals to improve the health of the
entire family. Individual nutritional counseling is also provided.
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| Breastfeeding Support |
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WIC encourages breastfeeding as the most nutritious choice for
infant feeding. Our WIC staff has been trained to provide lactation
counseling and support for mothers who choose to breastfeed their
infant.
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| Nutritious Foods |
| WIC provides eligible
participants with a variety of nutritious foods including: |
- Milk
- Eggs
- Cheese
- Juice
- Cereal
- Dry Beans or Peas
- Iron-Fortified Infant Formula
- Breastfeeding mothers may also
receive tuna fish and carrots
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These foods are rich in
protein, vitamin A, vitamin C, calcium, iron and folic acid. |
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| Health Screenings |
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WIC provides free health screenings to all participants to determine
nutritional risk. A nutritional risk is any problem, medical or
dietary, that is caused by or is associated with what you eat.
Examples are poor growth in a child, poor eating habits and tooth
decay. WIC determines nutritional risk by measuring height and
weight, doing a simple blood test and reviewing each participant’s
medical history and dietary intake.
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| Referrals to other services |
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WIC staff have been trained to help participants find the care providers
they need, including doctors and social service agencies. Examples of
possible referral include: |
- Prenatal Care
- Prenatal Smoking-Cessation
Programs
- Family Planning
- Substance Abuse Programs
- Family Case Management
- Lead-Poisoning Screening
- Developmental Screening
- Children With Special Health Care
Needs
- Well-Child Visits
- Immunizations
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Eligibility
Requirements - To qualify for WIC you must
(please read carefully) |
- A Pregnant Woman
or
- Breastfeeding (up to one year
after giving birth)
or
- A New Mother (up to six months
after giving birth)
or
- A Parent, Guardian or Caretaker
who has an infant or child younger than 5 years of Age.
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- Within Income Guidelines
and
- Have a Medical or Health Risk as
determined by a WIC Certifying Health Professional.
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For your first visit to a WIC clinic, please bring the following with
you |
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Identification (examples: driver’s license,
photo ID)
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Proof of pregnancy (positive pregnancy test)
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Proof of income (examples: your last two
paycheck stubs, income tax form, Medicaid or Food Stamp ID or ALL
KIDS Card)
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Proof of residency (examples: your utility bill
or recent mail)
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Proof of birth (birth certificate for your
infant or child)
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Proof of immunizations (shot records)
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Person to be certified (you or your child)
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WIC
does not require proof of citizenship or alien status.
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Must call / walk in to schedule an appointment
To schedule an appointment or ask question pleas call
217.423.6988 - Ext. 1347 or 1303
WIC Hours: Monday - Friday
7:30 A.M. to 11:30 A.M.
12:30 P.M. to 5:30 P.M.
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| Learn more about
WIC
Farmer's Market Program |
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FNS Non-Discrimination Statement |
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