Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Program

More Information on:

• Contact Information
• About WIC
• Background
• Funding
• Eligibility Criteria
  

Clinic Information and Locations:

Neligh, Tekamah, Hartington, West Point, Wisner, Wakefield, Creighton, Madison, Pender,  Stanton, Wayne, Plainview, Osmond

To make an appointment for any of these clinics call 1-877-529-2207 (toll free) or (402) 529-3513 between the hours of 8:00 am and 4:30 pm, Monday thru Friday.

We also have clinics in Norfolk and South Sioux City.

To make an appointment in Norfolk please call (402) 844-4422, open Monday through Thursday 8-5:30 and Friday 8-4:30. Beginning May 5th, 2008.

To make an appointment in South Sioux City please call (402) 494-1429, Monday through Thursday between 8-5:30 pm. and Friday 8-4:30.

About WIC:

The following benefits are provided to WIC participants:

• Supplemental nutritious foods 
• Nutrition education and counseling at WIC clinics 
• Screening and referrals to other health, welfare and social services

Food, nutrition counseling, and access to health services are provided to low-income women, infants, and children under the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, popularly known as WIC.

WIC is effective in improving the health of pregnant women, new mothers, and their infants. A 1990 study showed that women who participated in the program during their pregnancies had lower Medicaid costs for themselves and their babies than did women who did not participate. WIC participation was also linked with longer gestation periods, higher birth weights and lower infant mortality

WIC Research Says:

• WIC reduces fetal deaths and infant mortality.
• WIC reduces low birth weight rates and increases the duration of pregnancy.
• WIC improves the growth of nutritionally at-risk infants and children.
• WIC decreases the incidence of iron deficiency anemia in children.
• WIC improves the dietary intake of pregnant and postpartum women and improves weight gain in pregnant women.
• Pregnant women participating in WIC receive prenatal care earlier.
• Children enrolled in WIC are more likely to have a regular source of medical care and have more up to date immunizations.
• WIC helps get children ready to start school: children who receive WIC benefits demonstrate improved intellectual development.
• WIC significantly improves children's diets.

The WIC program stresses that breast-feeding is the ideal form of infant feeding for the first 12 months of life.    WIC staff members provide breast-feeding mothers with support and guidance.  Exclusively breast-feeding mothers receive additional foods.  WIC also encourages participants to visit their physicians for regular health care.  Other referrals are made as needed.

WIC Services:

Nutrition and Health Education:   WIC participants receive nutrition and health education tailored to their needs.  Participants may take part in one-on-one counseling or participate in small classes and receive loaned materials.

How does it work?  WIC checks are issued monthly/bimonthly to WIC participants for the purchase of specific foods at WIC authorized local grocery stores.  Only stores authorized by the Nebraska WIC program provides food high in protein, vitamin c and iron.  These nutrients help prevent anemia, increase the birth weight of infants and provide a maximum potential for their mental and physical development.   

Background:

In 1972, the late Senator H. Humphrey and his colleague, Senator Clifford Case, introduced legislation to institute a nutrition intervention program for pregnant, postpartum and breast-feeding women, infants and children. This program was called the special Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants and Children - The WIC Program. WIC is a preventative program which provides nutrition education and special foods to assist in obtaining an adequate diet for: WOMEN who are pregnant, breast-feeding or recently had a baby. INFANTS through the 12th month of age. CHILDREN one to five years of age. Proper nutrition and health care are very important to the growth and development of children. This is especially true during pregnancy and early childhood. The WIC program can help prevent the early development or progression of serious nutritional problems in pregnant women, infants and children. Studies have shown that for every dollar spent of WIC, up to $4.21 is saved in reduced health care costs. The WIC Program is not intended to provide a complete diet, but to be a good source of the nutrients which are frequently lacking in the diets of the WIC population.

The program is funded through the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Funds are made available to the Nebraska Health & Human Services System which contracts with local agencies, like Goldenrod Hills Community Action, to operate the program. The program in the state of Nebraska is currently being operated by 15 agencies in 93 counties.

Eligibility Criteria:

Those persons qualifying for participation in the Nebraska WIC Program must meet the following criteria established by the Department of Health and USDA:

1. Have an income which meets income guidelines of the program . You are automatically income eligible for WIC if you currently receive ADF, Food Stamps, Kids' Connection or Medicaid.
2. Be a resident of the State of Nebraska.
3. Be determined by a qualified nutritionist and/or nurse, through a health & diet assessment, to be at a nutritional risk.

   Risk factors include anemia, high risk pregnancy, abnormal growth or poor dietary intakes

Eligibility for an individual's participation in the Nebraska WIC Program is reviewed every six months, except for pregnant women, who are certified for the duration of their pregnancy, and infants less than six months of age, who may be certified up to their first birthday.