women, infants & children (WIC)

We can't wait to see you!

We have resumed offering in-person services for most visit types. For more information or to make an appointment, please call:

call 217-245-5111 x 129

WIC Staff Available: Mondays 8AM - Noon or 1-6PM; Tuesdays - Fridays 8AM - Noon or 1 - 4PM

what is wic?

Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) is a supplemental food program partially funded by Illinois Department of Human Services that operates as an adjunct to health care for low income pregnant women, postpartum women up to six months after delivery, breastfeeding women up to 12 months after delivery, infants up to one year of age, and/or children up to their fifth birthday from low-income families who are determined to be at nutritional risk.  It is funded by the United States Department of Agriculture

WIC serves as an adjunct to health care to prevent occurrence of nutrition and health problems and to improve the nutritional and health status of participants by providing supplemental foods, nutrition education, and referrals to health care and social service providers and systems. Food supplementation and nutrition education components are combined with health care supervision and access to social services.

The benefits of the WIC Program include:  Food packages or Food Instruments (vouchers, coupons) distributed to participants are designed to provide specific nutrients known to be lacking in the diets of the target population.  In Illinois, distribution is through retail purchase.  Nutrition Education includes: risk factor specific nutrition education as well as breastfeeding education and promotion.  Adjunct to health care the increased and regular use of health care services is expected as an indirect benefit to women, infants and children enrolled in the WIC Program. 

The objectives of the WIC Program are:  To provide participants nutritious foods as a supplement to a normal diet.  To increase participants knowledge and positive attitudes toward nutrition foods.  To encourage early and frequent use of prenatal care.  To foster routine use of well child care for infants and children, including the recommended schedule of immunizations.  To permanently improve the eating behavior of all participants.

COVID-19 Guidance: breastfeeding should continue

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends mothers to continue breastfeeding.  Health officials are still learning about COVID-19.  However, it is well-established that breast milk provides a multitude of benefits including protection for infants against many illnesses.  For women under investigation for COVID-19 or with confirmed COVID-19, WHO recommends that breastfeeding can be initiated/continued and that breastfeeding families should remain together whenever possible.  As is recommended by WHO and CDC, hand washing before breastfeeding or expressing human milk is encouraged by all individuals who come in contact with the infant and precautions should be taken by the sick parent to reduce the risk of virus transmission.  We continue to monitor the WHO/CDC guidance for their recommendations.

 In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity. Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online at: https://www.usda.gov/oascr/filing-program-discrimination-complaint-usda-customer from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted 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; or 2. fax: (833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or 3. email: program.intake@usda.gov This institution is an equal opportunity provider.  https://www.fns.usda.gov/usda-nondiscrimination-statement