Women, Infants & Children (WIC)
The Nutrition & WIC Services Section administers one USDA - funded program, the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) . This program provides nutrition education and supplemental foods to income eligible Kansas women who are pregnant, postpartum or are breastfeeding. Services are also provided to infants and children.
The Nutrition & WIC Services Program also provides nutrition support for the variety of programs within the Kansas Bureau of Family Health. The mission of Nutrition & WIC Services is to improve the health status and nutritional well-being of Kansans through access to:
- Quality nutrition intervention services by a registered/licensed dietitian;
- breastfeeding promotion and support
- substance abuse identification, nutrition education, and integration with and referral to other health services.
Who's Eligible?
Kansas residents who are:
- Pregnant
- Breastfeeding, up to baby's first birthday
- Non-breastfeeding mothers, up to six months after baby's birth
- Children under five years old
And who meet WIC income guidelines:
Household income at or below 185% of the poverty level (a household of two can earn $25,900 and become eligiblie; a household of four can earn up to $39,220 per year).
Automatic income eligibility for participants in the Food Stamp Program, Temporary Assistance for Families, and Medicaid Program.
And who have a medical or nutritional need
Examples of nutritional risk factors to determine eligibility:
- A high or low weight for height/length
- A diet inappropriate for age
- A reduced amount of iron in the blood (hemoglobin)
- Medical conditions that jeopardize nutritional status
Many working people don't realize that they are eligible for WIC.
