Supplemental Nutrition Education and Food Program for Women, Infants & Children (WIC)
About HCA WIC
Welcome to the HCA WIC Program! 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. The purpose of WIC is to prevent health problems and to improve the health of program participants during critical times of growth and development. Click here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xI9ZEnX7tTK to see what WIC is about.
The WIC Program managed by the Health Care Agency (HCA) Nutrition Services Program serves approximately 31,850 participants in Orange County. Currently, HCA operates 12 WIC clinics in the cities of Anaheim, Buena Park, Santa Ana, Westminster, Orange and Fountain Valley.
For WIC Information and Appointments Call
1 (888) YOUR WIC or
1 (888) 968-7942
Who is Eligible?
To qualify for WIC, applicant must meet all of the following criteria:
1. Participants must be in one of the following categories:
- Pregnant woman
- Breastfeeding woman
- Postpartum woman up to 6 months(if not breastfeeding) or 12 months (if she is breastfeeding)
- Infant
- Child under 5 years of age
2. Applicant's family income must meet 185% of the current federal poverty guidelines. Families with low or moderate-income levels may qualify. Click here for the WIC Pre-screening Tool via the "Am I Eligible?" links on: http://www.fns.usda.gov/wic/
3. Applicant must be a California resident who works or resides in Orange County.
4. Applicant must be at nutritional risk as determined by a health professional. The nutrition evaluation is based on:
- Height, weight, growth assessment
- Hematocrit or hemoglobin to screen for anemia
- Health history and diet assessment
WIC Services
WIC provides the following services:
- Nutrition Education
- Food Checks
- Breastfeeding Support
- Assistance Finding Other Community Resources
Nutrition Education
WIC participants learn about their specific nutritional needs and the nutrients necessary during important growth periods, including pregnancy, infancy and young childhood. Group classes or individual counseling take place at each visit to learn topics on nutrition or health for participant and family members to be healthy Breastfeeding support, as well as normal baby behavior information is provided also.
On-Line Nutrition Education-Participants that are unable to come to the WIC site and are offered the option to complete a nutrition class on-line at home, can visitwww.wichealth.org to learn and complete nutrition education for WIC to receive a certificate and get their food checks.
Farmers' Market Nutrition Program - OC HCA WIC participates in the Farmers' Market Nutrition program every year during the summer months. Participants may receive additional checks to redeem at WIC-authorized Certified Farmers' Markets these checks for locally-grown fresh fruit and vegetables. The checks are given to us in limited amounts and are allocated to WIC sites nearby popular farmers' markets. Call 1(888) YOUR WIC for more information.
Food Checks
WIC participants receive monthly food checks for specific foods prescribed to meet their individual needs. Here is a list of WIC foods that you may receive:
- Whole grains and iron-rich cereals
- Milk (cow or soy-based)
- Cheese or Tofu
- Eggs
- Peanut butter
- High Vitamin C juice
- Fruit and Vegetable check
- Iron-Fortified Infant formula
- Baby Food
- Additional baby food for infant if mom breastfeed him/her
- Additional food for mom if she is exclusively breastfeeding baby
Breastfeeding Support
WIC moms are encouraged to breastfeed. Education and support with materials such as breast pumps may be provided. Certified Lactation Educators are available to help with questions about breastfeeding.
Assistance Finding Other Community Resources
The WIC program refers and coordinates with other services, such as immunizations and "Well-Child" clinics, prenatal programs, and drug and alcohol treatment programs among others to assist participants in knowing where and how to obtain health care. Information referrals for other social services are made routinely.
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