WIC for women and children
If you are a woman who is pregnant, recently gave birth or have a child who is 5 years old or younger, you may be able to get food and nutrition help through WIC, the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children.
WIC helps pregnant women, new mothers and children with healthy food, nutrition and health screenings.
The WIC program provides a range of healthy foods, including baby food, fruits and vegetables with Vitamin C, dairy, whole-grain foods and more. WIC uses an Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card to deliver benefits. It's like a debit card and is used in the same way.
WIC also provides iron-fortified infant formula. If your baby has certain medical conditions, your doctor may prescribe a special kind of formula and WIC may be able to help you buy it. WIC can also help with free health screenings and nutrition counseling. If you need it, you could receive breastfeeding counseling and assistance, prenatal and pediatric health care referrals, immunization screening and substance abuse referrals.
Eligibility for WIC
To qualify, you must be a low-income woman who is pregnant, recently gave birth or is breastfeeding. For a child to qualify, they must be 5 years old or younger. Your family must meet income requirements to qualify for WIC. You can take a look at this chart comparing your income level and family size to get a sense of your eligibility.
You must also be a resident of Ohio and be facing nutritional or medical risk. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has a WIC Prescreening Tool that you can use to see if you might be eligible.
How to apply for WIC
If it looks like you meet these requirements, next you must get a free health screening from a medical professional.
To find your local WIC office to make an appointment for your screening, call (800) 755-4769 or visit the Ohio Department of Health website and download the WIC Clinic Directory. You can also print the WIC Program Application, fill it out and mail it to the WIC clinic in your area. The clinic will contact you to set up an appointment.
At the appointment, a doctor, nurse or nutritionist will determine if you have any medical risks. Risks can include poor diet, anemia, being underweight, being pregnant at 35 or older, a history of pregnancy complications or other medical challenges.