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Description:
WIC is a Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children.
WIC helps lower-income women (pregnant, breastfeeding and those who recently had a baby), and infants and children (up to age 5) who are at nutritional health risk.
WIC benefits include: Nutrition evaluation, learning and guidance to improve eating behavior; Access to health care programs plus referral to private and public health care providers; and supplemental, highly nutritious foods such as iron-fortified cereal, milk, eggs, peanut butter and dried beans.
Eligibility:
To qualify for WIC benefits, a person must be either:
- A pregnant woman, a breastfeeding woman, a woman who recently had a baby,
- an infant, birth to 12 months, or a child, up to age 5 years.
- Determined by a health professional to be at nutritional or medical risk,
- Below 185% of Federal Poverty Income Guidelines, and
- Reside in Montana.
WIC is 100% federally funded by the US Department of Agriculture.
How to Apply for WIC -click on link below:
For information on clinic times or to apply for WIC, please call the WIC representative at (406) 433-2207.
Effectiveness:
Here are several facts known about participants in the WIC Program:
- Pregnancy results are improved.
- Fewer low birth weight babies are born.
- Diets are improved.
- Late fetal deaths are reduced.
- Children are better immunized.
- Children do better on vocabulary scores.
- Rates of anemia are reduced.
Savings:
Participation in WIC can lower Medicaid costs for mothers, newborns and the government.
WIC children are better immunized and more likely to have a regular source of health care.
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