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• The Special Supplemental Nutrition
Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC)
is a federally funded food and nutrition education
program for pregnant, breastfeeding, and postpartum
women, infants and children under the age of
five who are low to moderate income (up to 185%of
federal poverty level) and at nutritional risk.
Approximately 25% of the WIC participants are
women, 25% are infants and the remaining 50%
are children age one to five. WIC is a short-term
intervention program designed to influence lifetime
nutrition and health behaviors in a targeted,
high-risk population.
• WIC Has a Mission.
WIC gives our most vulnerable population the
best possible start by providing nutrition education
and healthy foods during critical stages of
fetal and childhood development so children
achieve optimal nutritional status before they
start school.
• WIC Provides Healthy Foods
specifically chosen to provide high levels of
protein, iron, calcium and Vitamins A and C.
Examples of foods are milk, cheese, iron-fortified
cereals, juice, eggs, beans/peanut butter and
iron-fortified infant formula.
• WIC Enthusiastically Supports
Breastfeeding as the ideal method of
feeding and nurturing infants.
• WIC is a Federally Funded Program.
WIC is administered by the United States Department
of Agriculture (USDA).
• WIC is the Premier Prevention
Program. The purpose of the WIC Program
is to prevent anemia, poor birth outcomes, such
as infant mortality and low-birth weight, and
to improve the nutrition and health of participants.
Dozens of scientific studies have shown WIC
to be a cost effective and positive public health
intervention.
 •
WIC is National and Local. Nationwide,
WIC currently serves about 7.4 million low-income,
nutritionally at-risk participants. In California,
the nation’s largest WIC Program, 81 local
agencies serve about 1.2 million participants
at 650 local sites.
• The WIC Caseload Reflects California
Diversity. The majority of participants
are Latinos (69%), followed by White (15%),
African American (9%), and Asian (1%).
• WIC is a Nutrition Program.
Unlike food banks and food pantries, WIC participants
receive prescriptive supplemental foods wrapped
around nutrition education and referrals to
attain life-long benefits of good nutrition
and healthy lifestyles.
• WIC Has a Presence in the Community.
WIC Centers are in close proximity to every
neighborhood. They are well located, often along
public transportation lines, and are an important
community asset.
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WIC is Culturally Competent and Family-Centered.
WIC providers are experienced, culturally competent
nutrition and health educators who are skilled
at working with young families, local communities
and special populations. Most WIC staff come
from the community and speak the language(s)
of the community; many are current or former
WIC participants themselves.
• WIC is User Friendly. WIC
participants trust and feel safe with WIC providers,
who operate in an atmosphere of encouragement
and empowerment, with minimal paperwork, no
immigration restrictions, and supportive attitudes.
In a recent report summarized in The Wall Street
Journal (12/13/00), the WIC Program scored second
highest among 30 high impact federal programs
in customer satisfaction.
• WIC Core Services
include individual and group nutrition education,
breastfeeding promotion and education, supplemental
food checks and referrals to health, welfare
and community services.
WIC's Mission:
“To safeguard the health of low-income
women, infants, and children up to age 5 who
are at nutrition risk by providing nutritious
foods to supplement diets, information on healthy
eating, and referrals to health care.”
PHFE WIC Program
(888) 942-2229
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