The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) is a federal nutrition program that protects and improves the health of families with young children. Poor nutrition, poverty, and food insecurity have detrimental impacts on infant, child, and maternal health and well-being. Connecting patients to WIC is an evidence-based strategy to address these issues. Only about one-quarter of eligible 4-year-old children participate in the program. As a health care provider, you are a trusted messenger, so your referral and education regarding WIC can help eligible families, especially those with children between 1 and 5 years old, receive the program’s critical nutritional resources. This resource provides information about WIC and the importance of referring eligible people to this critical Child Nutrition Program.
For more information, view Pediatricians’ Role in Maximizing WIC’s Support of health and Food Security.