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 Avaialable: 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.
