Women, Infant, Children Programs - Community Action Programs (CAP) of Lancaster County, PA

Women, Infants and Children Program
Supplemental Food and Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children

Overview

Funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Health, the Women Infants and Children (WIC) Nutrition program is considered one of the most successful federally funded nutrition programs. WIC is committed to improving the health of eligible pregnant women, new mothers, and children by providing nutrition education, breastfeeding support, healthy foods, and referrals to health and social programs during the critical stages of fetal and early childhood development.

Studies conducted by the USDA Food and Nutrition Services and other non-governmental entities have found several areas of success and cost effectiveness of the nutrition intervention. See below for examples.

WIC reduces fetal death, infant mortality, low birth weight rates and increases the duration of pregnancy and weight gain in pregnant women.
WIC services positively influence the nutrient intakes of women and children, significantly reducing anemia and improving children's diets.
Participation in WIC dramatically improves the Healthy Eating Index Scores for the household.
Improved rates of: childhood immunizations, use of health care services and the health status of infants and children.

Nutrition education is the core of the WIC program. WIC provides wholesome foods, nutrition counseling support and education to set the stage for a lifetime of nutritional well being for mothers, children, and the entire family.

WIC also provides food vouchers to eligible mothers for their children and infants made payable to stores throughout Lancaster County. Based on individual needs, participants can receive:

Women and Children
- Milk
- Cheese
- Eggs
- Peanut butter
- Dried or canned beans
- Whole grains (whole wheat breads/rolls, brown rice, oats, or soft tortillas)
- Fruits and vegetables
- Soy beverages and tofu

Infants

Infant cereal
Infant fruits and vegetables
Infant meats
Iron-fortified formula if needed
Specialized infant formula for babies at risk with special nutritional needs

Farmer's Market Nutrition Program

Another source of WIC recommended foods is the the Farmers' Market Nutrition Program (FMNP). The WIC program established FMNP to provide fresh, nutritious, and unprepared foods (like fruits and vegetables) from farmer's markets to eligible women and children determined to be nutritionally at risk. Again, WIC staff issue vouchers from June through September when fresh produce is readily available through preapproved farmers' markets.

Breastfeeding Support

The WIC program places heavy emphasis on the benefits of breastfeeding because it is a critical public health concern. Mother's milk should be the main source of nutrition for infants. Although feeding formula is culturally normal, the health risks are numerous. Feeding formula places infants at greater risk for:

Respiratory and ear infections
Allergies
Gastroenteritis
Obesity
SIDS
Lower IQ
Chronic diseases such as diabetes, asthma and childhood cancers

Not breastfeeding places women at greater risk for:

Breast and ovarian cancer
Obesity
Osteoporosis
Anemia

WIC provides pumps for participants who need them, as well as breastfeeding counseling for all nursing mothers on the program.

Program Qualifications/Income Guidelines

Qualifications for acceptance in the program:

Applicant must be a resident of Pennsylvania
Have a medical or nutritional risk
Have a household gross income that does not exceed 185% of U.S. Poverty Income Guidelines (see income chart below); with unborn child (ren) included in family size
Applicants currently on Medical Assistance, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families and SNAP (former Food Stamp program) are eligible, but income documentation is required
Women who are pregnant, or had a baby in the past 6 months or 12 months if breastfeeding
Infants and children under age five, including foster children

WIC INCOME GUIDELINES

Family Size	(Approx.) Monthly	Annually
1	$1,678	$20,147
2	$2,267	$27,214
3	$2,856	$34,281
4	$3,445	$41,348
5	$4,034	$48,415
6	$4,623	$55,482
7	$5,212	$62,549
8	$5,801	$69,616
For each additional family member, add:	$588	$7,067

WIC does not require proof of citizenship or alien status.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Are WIC services free?
A: WIC services are free to women, infants and children who have nutrition risk and meet income guidelines.

Q: What does WIC consider as income?
A: Applicants are required to bring in proof of all sources of income for the entire household for verifying income eligibility. Examples would be current employment pay stubs, Social Security benefits, SSI benefits, Public Assistance (Medical Assistance, Cash Assistance and/or Food Stamps), Alimony or Child Support payments, Unemployment Compensation, Worker's Compensation, and other cash income. A teen living with parents must bring in total household income. WIC does include the income of both parents, including stepparents and boyfriend's income, whether they are all living together as a family unit or separately from parents. WIC encourages applicants to phone the office with any questions regarding income eligibility.

Q: What about fathers and grandparents?
A: Fathers can enroll their child/ren and bring them to appointments, attend nutrition education classes and redeem food vouchers, which is a great help in keeping WIC children healthy.

Grandparents who have custody of grandchildren under five may apply on their behalf.

Q: What is a proxy?
A: A proxy is a designated person who acts on behalf of the WIC parent/caretaker to come to WIC to pick up food vouchers and/or to go to the grocery store to redeem them.

Q: Why is WIC considered one of the most successful federally - funded nutrition programs?
A: Studies conducted by the USDA Food and Nutrition Services and other non-governmental entities have found that the several areas of success and cost effectiveness of the nutrition intervention. See below for examples.

WIC reduces fetal death, infant mortality, low birth weight rates and increases the duration of pregnancy and weight gain in pregnant women.
WIC services positively influence the nutrient intakes of women and children, significantly reducing anemia and improving children's diets.
Participation in WIC dramatically improves the Healthy Eating Index Scores for the household.
Improved rates of: childhood immunizations, use of health care services and the health status of infants and children.

Office Locations

Lancaster City

Columbia

Ephrata

Quarryville