Women, Infants & Children (WIC) is a federally funded program that faced great threat in lieu of the federal government shut down. It also revealed the American Public's lack of knowledge regarding the program and its history. This presentation has been created with the hope that it will raise awareness about the noble efforts of WIC.

1. WOMEN, INFANTS & CHILDREN
A Brief History

2. What is the Special Supplemental
Nutrition Program for Women,
Infants & Children (WIC)?

3. WIC is a federally funded program.

4. It provides supplemental nutrition
for the nation’s most nutritionally
vulnerable women, infants &
children.

5. Why was WIC created?

6. In 1969, a group of physicians met
with policy makers in Washington
D.C. at the Whitehouse Conference
on Hunger.

7. At this meeting, MDs expressed
their concern regarding their lowincome, pregnant patients who
were coming in their offices with
high risk pregnancies.

8. Many of these issues could be
resolved through adequate
nutrition.

9. These physicians agreed that these
mothers & their children could
benefit from supplemental food &
nutrition guidance.

10. By 1972, WIC
was created.

11. Who qualifies for WIC?

12. 1. Pregnant women.
2. Women who have been
breastfeeding for less than one
year.
3. Women who are less than 6
months postpartum.

13. Infants – 0-1 years old.

14. Children up to 5 years of age.

15. Participants must also have a
household income below 185% of
the U.S. Poverty Income
Guidelines.

16. Or participate in an adjunctively
eligible program such as SNAP
(formerly known as Food Stamps).

17. How is
supplemental
nutrition
provided?

18. Supplemental nutrition is provided
in the form of checks or on an EBT
card.

19. Clients are able to use these
checks/EBT cards at WIC approved
vendors.

20. WIC clients cannot purchase any
food that they please.

21. Clients must purchase foods that
have been specially determined to
meet their specific nutrition needs.

22. But WIC is
much more
than
supplemental
food product.

23. WIC encourages breastfeeding and
provides breastfeeding education
& support for its participants.

24. Because breast
milk is the best
thing for baby.

25. WIC also
provides
referrals to
healthcare.

26. And WIC provides nutrition
education for its clients.

27. In other words, WIC helps to save
lives by improving the nutritional
status of its clients thereby
providing hope for a brighter
future for all participants.

28. WIC = A Great Program