4221 - WIC - Make a difference in your child's life

Make a difference in your child's life

For more than 40 years the WIC program has been helping mothers, babies and children get the foods and information they need for proper growth and development.

What is WIC?

WIC is the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children. In Illinois it is administered by the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) and is funded by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Even if you or your family members are working, it can be hard to make ends meet. WIC can help with the right food and advice from trained staff on nutrition, health care, and immunizations.

WIC provides:

WIC helps parents to feed their children well during critical periods of growth and development. WIC services strengthen families long after they leave the WIC program. Parents who are on WIC say:

"Thank you to WIC! My children eat better and they are healthier!"

"I'm happy that the staff takes time to listen about my concerns in breastfeeding my baby"

"It is a good program because they guide us to feed our children healthy foods."

Make plans for an appointment today!

WIC may be able to help you if you .........

* Are pregnant or breastfeeding

* Have an infant or children up to age 5

* Are working with limited income or have no income

* Want to improve your family's health with good nutrition

WIC provides healthy foods such as:

• milk
• eggs
• cheese
• yogurt
• tofu
• fruits and vegetables
• cereal and whole grains
• dry or canned beans/peas
• peanut butter
• iron-fortified infant formula

Are you eligible for WIC?

Four criteria must be met:

* Category - You must be:

A pregnant woman or breastfeeding up to one year after giving birth;

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.

* Income

Your annual household income must be within WIC Guidelines. bit.ly/wicprescreen.

You may have a job and still meet these guidelines.

* Residency

You must live in Illinois

* Medical or Nutrition Health Risk

A screening by a WIC Competent Professional Authority must find that you have a medical or nutritional health risk such as low iron, low weight gain during pregnancy, or opportunities to make improvements in your diet/nutrition.

Save

Nourish

Connect

Grow

Learn

At your first visit to a WIC clinic, please bring the following with you:

* Proof of Identification

  Example: Driver's license, photo ID, birth certificate for your infant or child

* Proof of income

  Example: paycheck stubs, income tax form

* Proof of residency

  Example: utility bill or recent mail with dated postal stamp

WIC does not require proof of citizenship.

In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA.

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program i nformation may be made available in languages other than English.

To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD-3027) found online at: http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by:

(1) mail:  U.S. Department of Agriculture

 Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights

 1400 Independence Avenue, SW

 Washington, D.C. 20250-9410;

(2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or

(3) email:  program.intake@usda.gov.

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

For more information contact the Illinois WIC Program:

Monday - Friday during business hours

1-217-782-2166

To find a WIC office closest to you visit our website at: www.dhs.state.il.us

If you have questions about any Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) programs, you may call the automated helpline 24 hours a day at:

1-800-843-6154

(866) 324-5553 TTY/Nextalk or 711 TTY Relay

---

Programs, activities and employment opportunities in the Illinois Department of Human Services are open and accessible to any individual or group without regard to age, sex, race, sexual orientation, disability, ethnic origin or religion. The department is an equal opportunity employer and practices affirmative action and reasonable accommodation programs.

IDHS 4221 (R-12-21) WIC - Make A Difference  Printed by the Authority of the State of Illinois. 2,000 copies P.O.#22-0649