Since its inception in 1974, the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) has been an important source of nutrition education, breastfeeding support, nutritious supplemental food, and health care referrals for low-income women during and after pregnancy and for infants and children up to age 5 in the United States.

Through good nutrition, WIC helps ensure optimal health outcomes for pregnant women, new mothers, and families with infants and young children. As Vermont’s premier public health nutrition program, WIC’s nutrition education, breastfeeding support, and healthy foods support thousands of women, infants and children every year to eat well, learn about good nutrition and stay healthy.

For more about Vermont WIC, visit our website at: http://healthvermont.gov/family/wic

Pregnant women, new mothers, infants and children up to age 5 can enroll in WIC if their household income is less than $863 per week for a family of four, or if they are receiving Medicaid or Dr. Dynasaur, SNAP or Reach-Up. Women and children must live in Vermont and meet income and nutrition guidelines to be eligible for WIC. Fathers, grandparents and foster parents may apply for children who are in their care. Over half the new babies and 40 percent of pregnant women in Vermont access WIC for healthy food, nutrition education and breastfeeding support.

WIC saves lives and improves the health of nutritionally at-risk women, infants and children. The results of studies conducted by FNS and other non-government entities prove that WIC is one of the nation’s most successful and cost-effective nutrition intervention programs. Since its beginning, the WIC Program has earned the reputation of being one of the most successful federally-funded nutrition programs in the United States. Collective findings of studies, reviews and reports demonstrate that the WIC Program is cost effective in protecting or improving the health/nutritional status of low-income women, infants and children, including

• Improved birth outcomes and savings in health care costs
• Improved diet and diet-related outcomes
• Improved infant feeding practices
• Immunization rates and regular source of medical care
• Improved cognitive development
• Improved preconceptional nutritional status