WIC appointments are available by phone, video, online, and in-person. [Learn More](https://www.phfewic.org/wic-appointment-options/)
WIC appointments are available by phone, video, online, and in-person. [Learn More](https://www.phfewic.org/wic-appointment-options/)
Las citas de WIC están disponibles por teléfono, video, en línea y en persona. [Más información](https://www.phfewic.org/es/citas-flexibles-de-wic-para-familias-ocupadas/)
Las citas de WIC están disponibles por teléfono, video, en línea y en persona. [Más información](https://www.phfewic.org/es/citas-flexibles-de-wic-para-familias-ocupadas/)
Connect and learn with other parents from the comfort of your home or on the go at WIC online group classes. Group classes are offered in English and Spanish.
Join the class using any smart device following these 3 simple steps!
1. If you don’t already have the Zoom app on your phone or tablet, download it now. You are not required to make a Zoom account, but it’s not a problem if you already have one.
2. Find the class day and time that works best for you.
Class starts at 4:00 PM. Click here to join the class after 3:50 PM. Join now Join a class for pregnant parents! Partners and family members are invited too. Find […]
Click here to join the class after 10:50 AM Join now Join this live discussion on Zoom to interact with other parents from home or on the go. We’ll talk […]
Click here to join the class after 3:50 PM Join now Feel confident feeding your baby for the first time! Join this class to find out how Kelsey managed to […]
If you are on strike, have been furloughed, or your income has been affected by a strike or a furlough, WIC is here to help you make ends meet. WIC assists families by providing healthy foods each month for each person who qualifies for the program. You may qualify for WIC benefits if you:
Are pregnant
Are breastfeeding a baby under the age of one
Care for a child under the age of five
Had a baby within the last six months
Recently experienced a pregnancy loss/termination
And, you have low income.
WIC applications can be completed in person or by phone. Complete the sign up form and a WIC Counselor will contact you within 72 hours to help you start your application. When you are enrolled, you can immediately buy WIC-approved foods included in your food package using your WIC Card, which be sent by mail or picked up at your local WIC office.
Learn more about WIC eligibility and income guidelines and apply for WIC here if you live in Los Angeles, Orange, or San Bernardino Counties. If you live elsewhere, please visit myfamily.ca.wic.gov to find your local WIC office.
A new study conducted by Heluna Health’s PHFE WIC research and evaluation team and colleagues at UC Davis and UC Agriculture and Natural Resources Nutrition Policy Institute suggests that a hybrid service model, which includes remote and in-person services, makes it easier for families to participate in the WIC program.
In March 2020, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) granted federal waivers to states through the US Families First Coronavirus Response Act, providing WIC agencies with various remote service options. Service changes extended certification periods for children, allowed for remote certification, recertification, and food benefit issuance, and approved alternative WIC food package items. Additionally, WIC staff were able to provide virtual nutrition education and breastfeeding support.
Many participants expressed their satisfaction with remote services and said that remote enrollment was easier than in-person enrollment.
I actually found it (WIC appointments) much…easier (than in the past) because I didn’t have to go into the office…especially if you can’t find a babysitter. So I found it more convenient for me, because I have such a busy schedule because of school. It works perfectly for me.
–WIC Participant
Several WIC agency directors agreed that all waivers and changes should continue after the pandemic.
Research findings show that a hybrid service model will draw and retain more families, and allowing for on-site and remote services proves as an efficient alternative for WIC participants and employees.
This August in honor of Breastfeeding Month, ten PHFE WIC staff members were honored for their dedication to providing outstanding breastfeeding education and support to WIC parents. During a virtual ceremony, each award recipient shared their thoughts on the importance of breastfeeding and the ways they personally helped parents overcome challenges and achieve their breastfeeding goals. Learn how these Breastfeeding Award recipients provide a nurturing environment for mothers.
Lactation Consultant Awardee
Jessica V. Estrada, IBCLC
Jessica believes in the importance of support and empathy when aiding mothers during their breastfeeding journeys.
Peer Counselor Awardee
Crystal Rodriguez
Crystal steps up for breastfeeding by engaging with mothers on a personal level and being available to support them whenever needed.
WIC Center Supervisor Awardees
Alaina Coffey, MS, RDN
Alaina and her team aim to address the reasons why mothers quit breastfeeding. Resources such as support circles, peer counseling, lactation consultants, and CinnaMoms support circles are used to help mothers make an informed choice on infant feeding.
Connie Yin, RD, IBCLC
Connie believes all families should have an equal opportunity to learn about and make an informed decision on breastfeeding. She and other staff members offer mothers hands-on support to help them succeed.
Cristian Mercado, RDN
Cristian emphasizes the importance of breastfeeding and early education during the first and second trimesters and shares resources offered by WIC.
Kimberly Martinez, MS, RDN
Kimberly and her team provide breastfeeding support to prenatal women by focusing on early guidance. Staff members support parents by listening to their concerns and creating a success plan that will guide them along their journeys.
WIC Center Staff Awardees
Ivette Perez, CLE
As a WIC employee of nearly 32 years, Ivette steps up for breastfeeding by using her own experiences to assist families. She breastfed her own child for three years and currently provides breastfeeding support for her daughter, who has a 1-year-old son.
Angelina Lopez
Angelina has been with WIC for 13 years. She helps mothers reach their breastfeeding goals by creating a safe space and being available to discuss their experiences and concerns.
Isabel Gutierrez
Isabel has worked as a health counselor at WIC for 38 years and has aided breastfeeding mothers for 20 years. She puts herself in their shoes when mothers share their challenges, provides an environment free of judgment, and helps them come up with breastfeeding solutions specific to their circumstances.
Natalie Truong-Nino, BS, CLE
Natalie draws from her own experiences when providing support to mothers, as she has gone through many challenges during her breastfeeding journey. She attributes her own breastfeeding success to WIC, her colleagues, and her family.
PHFE WIC Agency Winner
Ivette Perez, CLE
Congratulations to this year’s award nominees and winners! The compassion and dedication you show make you an invaluable part of the PHFE WIC team and our community!
Congratulations to Blanca Vargas, Senior Manager of Operations at PHFE WIC, who recently received the Heluna Health Board of Directors’ Outstanding Achievement Award! This award recognizes individuals, teams, and programs that contribute to a unique, extraordinary, and innovative advancement of Heluna Health’s mission to enhance the health, wellness, and resilience of every community served.
“Outstanding leadership of the PHFE WIC Outreach Department in uniquely challenging times: by pivoting to virtual outreach and her team’s drive to enroll more than 11,000 eligible families in the last year, her tenacity and humanity in reaching out to Afghan refugees and for her legislative outreach efforts.”
– Heluna Health Board of Directors
Over the past six months, Blanca and the PHFE WIC Outreach team worked diligently to enroll Afghan refugee families into the WIC program. These refugees faced many issues, including having no permanent address, lack of transportation, and language barriers. Families were placed at extended stay hotels until permanent accommodations became available. The PHFE WIC Outreach team was able to overcome language barriers with the assistance of caseworkers from refugee organizations who were fluent in Pashto and Dari. Suzanne Kalmbach, Client Services Area Manager, hand-delivered WIC cards directly to families. Outreach staff traveled to where families were staying, and with the support of a translator, signed up 65 refugee families for WIC benefits. Many families traveled as long as three hours to shop for groceries and faced an unfamiliar environment. David Barajas, Outreach Specialist at PHFE WIC, facilitated a live shopping experience to assist them in navigating the grocery store and using their benefits to purchase food.
Special thanks to the PHFE WIC Outreach staff, David Barajas, Emily Mac, Sara Jimenez, Nancy Ballardo, Rosalba Marroquin, Bridgette Kinard, Daisy Moreno, and Grace Huang, for their compassion and perseverance in connecting families to vital resources.
PHFE WIC Outreach Team
Show your support for WIC families by urging Congress to reauthorize and expand services through the Healthy Meals, Healthy Kids Act. This bill aims to improve and widen access to child nutrition programs, such as WIC and the National School Lunch Program, to millions of children across the United States. Read more about the act HERE.
How would this bill benefit WIC participants? Improvements to WIC programs include:
WIC eligibility for children up to six years old or on the day they begin kindergarten
WIC eligibility for postpartum womenextended to two years
Allows for one certification appointment for multiple children
Automatic certification of infants born to pregnant participants
Expansion of certification period to two years
Expansion of breastfeeding and peer counseling services
Funds technology for the Peer Counselor program and fruit and vegetable purchases through the Farmers’ Market Nutritional Program (FMNP)
…And much more!
Make your voice heard! Tell Congress to support the #HealthyMealsHealthyKidsAct.
Connect and learn with other parents from the comfort of your home or on the go at WIC online group classes. Group classes are offered in English and Spanish.
Join the class using any smart device following these 3 simple steps!
1. If you don’t already have the Zoom app on your phone or tablet, download it now. You are not required to make a Zoom account, but it’s not a problem if you already have one.
2. Find the class day and time that works best for you.
Class starts at 4:00 PM. Click here to join the class after 3:50 PM. Join now Join a class for pregnant parents! Partners and family members are invited too. Find […]
Click here to join the class after 10:50 AM Join now Join this live discussion on Zoom to interact with other parents from home or on the go. We’ll talk […]
Click here to join the class after 3:50 PM Join now Feel confident feeding your baby for the first time! Join this class to find out how Kelsey managed to […]
If you are on strike, have been furloughed, or your income has been affected by a strike or a furlough, WIC is here to help you make ends meet. WIC assists families by providing healthy foods each month for each person who qualifies for the program. You may qualify for WIC benefits if you:
Are pregnant
Are breastfeeding a baby under the age of one
Care for a child under the age of five
Had a baby within the last six months
Recently experienced a pregnancy loss/termination
And, you have low income.
WIC applications can be completed in person or by phone. Complete the sign up form and a WIC Counselor will contact you within 72 hours to help you start your application. When you are enrolled, you can immediately buy WIC-approved foods included in your food package using your WIC Card, which be sent by mail or picked up at your local WIC office.
Learn more about WIC eligibility and income guidelines and apply for WIC here if you live in Los Angeles, Orange, or San Bernardino Counties. If you live elsewhere, please visit myfamily.ca.wic.gov to find your local WIC office.
A new study conducted by Heluna Health’s PHFE WIC research and evaluation team and colleagues at UC Davis and UC Agriculture and Natural Resources Nutrition Policy Institute suggests that a hybrid service model, which includes remote and in-person services, makes it easier for families to participate in the WIC program.
In March 2020, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) granted federal waivers to states through the US Families First Coronavirus Response Act, providing WIC agencies with various remote service options. Service changes extended certification periods for children, allowed for remote certification, recertification, and food benefit issuance, and approved alternative WIC food package items. Additionally, WIC staff were able to provide virtual nutrition education and breastfeeding support.
Many participants expressed their satisfaction with remote services and said that remote enrollment was easier than in-person enrollment.
I actually found it (WIC appointments) much…easier (than in the past) because I didn’t have to go into the office…especially if you can’t find a babysitter. So I found it more convenient for me, because I have such a busy schedule because of school. It works perfectly for me.
–WIC Participant
Several WIC agency directors agreed that all waivers and changes should continue after the pandemic.
Research findings show that a hybrid service model will draw and retain more families, and allowing for on-site and remote services proves as an efficient alternative for WIC participants and employees.
This August in honor of Breastfeeding Month, ten PHFE WIC staff members were honored for their dedication to providing outstanding breastfeeding education and support to WIC parents. During a virtual ceremony, each award recipient shared their thoughts on the importance of breastfeeding and the ways they personally helped parents overcome challenges and achieve their breastfeeding goals. Learn how these Breastfeeding Award recipients provide a nurturing environment for mothers.
Lactation Consultant Awardee
Jessica V. Estrada, IBCLC
Jessica believes in the importance of support and empathy when aiding mothers during their breastfeeding journeys.
Peer Counselor Awardee
Crystal Rodriguez
Crystal steps up for breastfeeding by engaging with mothers on a personal level and being available to support them whenever needed.
WIC Center Supervisor Awardees
Alaina Coffey, MS, RDN
Alaina and her team aim to address the reasons why mothers quit breastfeeding. Resources such as support circles, peer counseling, lactation consultants, and CinnaMoms support circles are used to help mothers make an informed choice on infant feeding.
Connie Yin, RD, IBCLC
Connie believes all families should have an equal opportunity to learn about and make an informed decision on breastfeeding. She and other staff members offer mothers hands-on support to help them succeed.
Cristian Mercado, RDN
Cristian emphasizes the importance of breastfeeding and early education during the first and second trimesters and shares resources offered by WIC.
Kimberly Martinez, MS, RDN
Kimberly and her team provide breastfeeding support to prenatal women by focusing on early guidance. Staff members support parents by listening to their concerns and creating a success plan that will guide them along their journeys.
WIC Center Staff Awardees
Ivette Perez, CLE
As a WIC employee of nearly 32 years, Ivette steps up for breastfeeding by using her own experiences to assist families. She breastfed her own child for three years and currently provides breastfeeding support for her daughter, who has a 1-year-old son.
Angelina Lopez
Angelina has been with WIC for 13 years. She helps mothers reach their breastfeeding goals by creating a safe space and being available to discuss their experiences and concerns.
Isabel Gutierrez
Isabel has worked as a health counselor at WIC for 38 years and has aided breastfeeding mothers for 20 years. She puts herself in their shoes when mothers share their challenges, provides an environment free of judgment, and helps them come up with breastfeeding solutions specific to their circumstances.
Natalie Truong-Nino, BS, CLE
Natalie draws from her own experiences when providing support to mothers, as she has gone through many challenges during her breastfeeding journey. She attributes her own breastfeeding success to WIC, her colleagues, and her family.
PHFE WIC Agency Winner
Ivette Perez, CLE
Congratulations to this year’s award nominees and winners! The compassion and dedication you show make you an invaluable part of the PHFE WIC team and our community!
Congratulations to Blanca Vargas, Senior Manager of Operations at PHFE WIC, who recently received the Heluna Health Board of Directors’ Outstanding Achievement Award! This award recognizes individuals, teams, and programs that contribute to a unique, extraordinary, and innovative advancement of Heluna Health’s mission to enhance the health, wellness, and resilience of every community served.
“Outstanding leadership of the PHFE WIC Outreach Department in uniquely challenging times: by pivoting to virtual outreach and her team’s drive to enroll more than 11,000 eligible families in the last year, her tenacity and humanity in reaching out to Afghan refugees and for her legislative outreach efforts.”
– Heluna Health Board of Directors
Over the past six months, Blanca and the PHFE WIC Outreach team worked diligently to enroll Afghan refugee families into the WIC program. These refugees faced many issues, including having no permanent address, lack of transportation, and language barriers. Families were placed at extended stay hotels until permanent accommodations became available. The PHFE WIC Outreach team was able to overcome language barriers with the assistance of caseworkers from refugee organizations who were fluent in Pashto and Dari. Suzanne Kalmbach, Client Services Area Manager, hand-delivered WIC cards directly to families. Outreach staff traveled to where families were staying, and with the support of a translator, signed up 65 refugee families for WIC benefits. Many families traveled as long as three hours to shop for groceries and faced an unfamiliar environment. David Barajas, Outreach Specialist at PHFE WIC, facilitated a live shopping experience to assist them in navigating the grocery store and using their benefits to purchase food.
Special thanks to the PHFE WIC Outreach staff, David Barajas, Emily Mac, Sara Jimenez, Nancy Ballardo, Rosalba Marroquin, Bridgette Kinard, Daisy Moreno, and Grace Huang, for their compassion and perseverance in connecting families to vital resources.
Show your support for WIC families by urging Congress to reauthorize and expand services through the Healthy Meals, Healthy Kids Act. This bill aims to improve and widen access to child nutrition programs, such as WIC and the National School Lunch Program, to millions of children across the United States. Read more about the act HERE.
How would this bill benefit WIC participants? Improvements to WIC programs include:
WIC eligibility for children up to six years old or on the day they begin kindergarten
WIC eligibility for postpartum womenextended to two years
Allows for one certification appointment for multiple children
Automatic certification of infants born to pregnant participants
Expansion of certification period to two years
Expansion of breastfeeding and peer counseling services
Funds technology for the Peer Counselor program and fruit and vegetable purchases through the Farmers’ Market Nutritional Program (FMNP)
…And much more!
Make your voice heard! Tell Congress to support the #HealthyMealsHealthyKidsAct.
