WIC is a supplemental food, nutrition education and breastfeeding support program. It serves
low to moderate-income pregnant, breastfeeding and postpartum
women, and infants/children up to age 5 who are at nutritional
risk.
WIC is administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
at the federal level, by the California Department of Health
Services (DHS) at the State level, and locally by public or
non-profit health agencies, non-profit community organizations
or Indian Health Clinics.
In California, the WIC Program provides services in all 58
counties through 82 local WIC agencies. In the County of Orange,
four local agencies serve eligible participants. The WIC Program
managed by the Health Care Agency (HCA) Nutrition Services
Program serves approximately 49,575 participants in Orange
County. Currently, HCA operates 15 WIC clinics in the cities of
Buena Park, Santa Ana, Westminster, Costa Mesa, San Juan
Capistrano, Orange, Fountain Valley, and Anaheim.
The purpose of WIC is to prevent health problems and to improve
the health of program participants during critical times of
growth and development.
WIC is available to pregnant, breastfeeding and postpartum
women, and to infants and young children who meet nutritional
need and income criteria. Nutritional need is determined by
medical and nutritional assessment. To qualify for WIC, a client
must meet all of the following criteria:
Income - Client's family income must be at or less than 185% of
the current federal poverty level. Families with low or
moderate-income levels may qualify.
Residence - Client must reside in Orange County.
Nutrition Risk - Client must have a nutritional risk as
determined by a health professional. The nutrition evaluation is
based on:
