Public Health - Dayton & Montgomery County

The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) is a highly successful nutrition education program.

Eligibilty

The Ohio WIC Program serves families up to 185% of the Department of Health and Human Services poverty income guidelines. The somewhat liberal guidelines make it possible for many working families to quality for WIC services.
WIC participants are issued coupons at each visit to purchase specific foods at local grocery stores that are contracted to accept WIC coupons. WIC foods are high in one or more of the following nutrients: protein, calcium, iron, fiber, and vitamins A and C. These are the nutrients frequently lacking in the diets of the program’s target population. Different food packages are provided for different categories of participants.

The new WIC food package, which was implemented in October, 2009 includes many healthy changes. Participants may receive milk (low fat only for anyone over age 2), eggs, juice, peanut butter, cereal, canned and dry beans, canned tuna or salmon (fully breastfeeding women only), whole grains, and fruits and vegetables. Infants receive infant formula in amounts that are based on the amount of breast milk the infant receives as well as the infants’ age. Infants over six months also receive infant cereal, jarred baby food fruits and vegetables. Special infant formulas and certain medical foods may be provided when prescribed by a physician or health professional for a specified medical condition.

Common Questions

What food benefits do WIC participants receive?

In Ohio, WIC participants receive vouchers to purchase specific foods each month which are designed to supplement their diets. WIC foods are high in one or more of the following nutrients: protein, calcium, iron, fiber, and vitamins A and C. These are the nutrients frequently lacking in the diets of the program’s target population. Different food packages are provided for different categories of participants. The new WIC food package, which was implemented in October, 2009 includes many healthy changes. Participants may receive milk (low fat only for anyone over age 2), eggs, juice, peanut butter, canned and dry beans, canned tuna or salmon, whole grains, and fruits and vegetables. Infants receive infant formula in amounts that are based on the amount of breast milk the infant receives as well as the infants’ age. Infants over six months also receive jarred baby food fruits and vegetables. Special infant formulas and certain medical foods may be provided when prescribed by a physician or health professional for a specified medical condition.

Who is eligible?

Pregnant or postpartum women, infants, and children up to age 5 are eligible. They must meet income guidelines, a State residency requirement, and be individually determined to be at “nutritional risk” by a health professional.

What is “nutritional risk”?

Two major types of nutritional risk are recognized for WIC eligibility: 1) Medically-based risks (designated as “high priority”) such as anemia, underweight, maternal age, history of pregnancy complications, or poor pregnancy outcomes. 2) Diet-based risks such as inadequate dietary pattern. Nutritional risk is determined by a health professional such as a physician, nutritionist, or nurse, and is based on Federal guidelines. This health screening is free to program applicants. Beginning April 1, 1999, State agencies use WIC nutrition risk criteria from a list established for use in the WIC Program. WIC nutrition risk criteria were developed by FNS in conjunction with State and local WIC agency experts. WIC State agencies are not required to use all of the nutritional risk criteria on the new list. FNS will update the list of criteria, as necessary, when new scientific evidence shows, after review by FNS and other health and nutrition experts, that the condition can be improved by providing WIC program benefits and services.

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