PHDMC | - Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)

No Appointment Necessary! All Montgomery County WIC Clinics are walk in for your convenience!

What is WIC?

WIC was established as a permanent program in 1974 to safeguard the health of low-income women, infants, and children up to age 5 who are at nutritional risk. This mission is carried out by providing nutritious foods to supplement diets, nutrition education (including breastfeeding promotion and support), and referrals to health and other social services. Read this for more information.

How WIC Helps

WIC supplemental foods have shown to provide wide ranging benefits. They include longer, safer pregnancies, with fewer premature births and infant deaths; improved dietary outcomes for infants and children; improved maternal health; and improved performance at school, among others. In addition to health benefits, WIC participants showed significant savings in healthcare costs when compared to non-participants. Learn more about how WIC helps.

What food benefits do WIC participants receive?

Food assortment

The foods provided through the WIC Program are designed to supplement participants’ diets with specific nutrients. WIC authorized foods include infant cereal, baby foods,

iron-fortified adult cereal, fruits and vegetables, vitamin C-rich fruit or vegetable juice, eggs, milk, cheese, soy-based beverages, tofu, peanut butter, dried and canned

beans/peas, canned fish, whole wheat bread and other whole-grain options. For infants of women who do not fully breastfeed, WIC provides iron-fortified infant formula. Special infant formulas and medical foods may also be provided if medically indicated. Learn more about food benefits.

Program benefits include more than food.

WIC benefits are not limited only to food. Participants have access to a number of resources, including health screening, nutrition and breastfeeding peer support, immunization screening and referral, substance abuse referral, and more. View videos about a WIC visit and how to redeem WIC benefits.

Am I eligible?

Pregnant, postpartum, and breastfeeding women, infants, and children up to age 5 who meet certain requirements are eligible. These requirements include income eligibility and State residency. Additionally, the applicant must be individually determined to be at “nutrition risk” by a health professional. Find out if you might be income eligible for WIC benefits, and print paperwork to complete prior to walking-in a clinic of choice.

What to expect at your first visit:

Check in and receive paperwork to fill out. Or, save time by printing your paperwork from the above link and complete it before you arrive.
Your ID, income and residency will be verified by staff to determine eligibility.
A staff member will take weights, heights, and check hemoglobin levels of each participant.
A Nutritionist will talk to you about your family’s eating habits, nutrition goals and the foods that will be provided on your WIC Nutrition Card (WNC).
Your WNC will be loaded and future walk in times will be determined.
If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, a Breastfeeding Peer Helper may be available to answer any questions you may have.

Focus on Breastfeeding

Baby finger

Even though breast milk is the most nutritious and complete source of food for infants, nationally less than 30% of infants are breastfed at 1 year of age. A major goal of the WIC Program is to improve the nutritional status of infants; therefore, WIC mothers are encouraged to breastfeed their infants. Pregnant women and new WIC mothers are provided breastfeeding educational materials and support through mother centered guidance. Explore the benefits of breastfeeding and find helpful resources here or view infographic.

WIC Facts

If you participate in another assistance program you may be automatically income-eligible for WIC.
Breastfeeding mothers are eligible to participate in WIC longer than non-breastfeeding mothers and receive more foods.
More than half of the infants in the U.S. participate in WIC.
WIC participants support the local economy through their purchases.
WIC works with farmers markets to help increase participant access to provide fresh, locally grown fruits and vegetables. Find out more.

Voter Registration at WIC Clinics

The National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) of 1993, Public Law 103-31, provides that WIC clinics serve as voter registration assistance sites throughout Ohio. Applicants can register to vote at any WIC clinic in their communities, or registration can be completed through the online services of the Secretary of State’s office.

In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA.

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.

To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD-3027) found online, and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by:

Mail:

U.S. Department of Agriculture
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410

Fax: (202) 690-7442

Email:

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

Resources
Infant Formula Change

Resources
Infant Formula Change

Resources

Help Me Grow
Breastfeeding information
Lead Testing
WIC Health
A site created for WIC Participants to learn more about parent wellness and child feeding issues.

Infant Formula Change

Ohio WIC is required by the USDA to have a contract with an infant formula company for standard infant formulas, in order to save money. Every 3-5 years all formula manufacturers have the opportunity to bid through a sealed bid process for the formula contract. In order to be the best possible steward of taxpayer dollars, the winner of the contract goes to the lowest cost bidder.

Our primary formulas for issuance to most infants will be:

Gerber Good Start Gentle (Stage 1 only) is a standard milk-based, iron-fortified formula available in powder, concentrate, and RTF for use in routine infant feeding. The product provides 20 calories and .30 mg iron per fluid ounce. The product contains Comfort Proteins®, and a blend of Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), prebiotics, probiotics to promote GI health, brain, and eye development. It is also a non-genetically modified organism (non-GMO). No prescription will be necessary for this product. (Replaces Similac Advance)

Gerber Good Start Soy (Stage 1 only) is a standard soy-based (lactose-free), iron-fortified formula available in powder, concentrate, and RTF for management of galactosemia, milk or lactose intolerance (acute or chronic), or in routine infant feeding. The product provides 20 calories and .36 mg iron per fluid ounce. The product contains soy proteins and DHA. It is also non-GMO, Kosher Pareve, and Halal. No prescription will be necessary for this product. (Replaces Similac Isomil)
Gerber Good Start Soothe (Stage 1 only) is a standard milk-based, low-lactose, iron-fortified formula available in powder for management of acute or chronic lactose intolerance and the symptoms thereof, including excessive crying, colic, fussiness, and gas, or routine infant feeding. The product provides 20 calories and .30 mg iron per fluid ounce. The product contains Comfort Proteins®, the probiotic L. reuteri, and DHA to promote GI health, brain, and eye development. It is also non-GMO. No prescription will be necessary for this product. (Replaces Similac Sensitive for most babies)

Frequently Asked Questions:

Q: Who will be affected by Ohio WIC’s change to Gerber products?

A: This change will affect those infants on Similac Advance (powder, concentrate, ready-to-feed (RTF)), Similac Soy Isomil (powder, concentrate, RTF) and Similac Sensitive (powder). If your child currently uses Similac Sensitive RTF, the plan is for that product to continue to be available, pending USDA approval. Ohio WIC also plans to add Enfamil Gentlease RTF as an option. If your infant is on any product other than the three specifically mentioned above, such as Similac Alimentum or Similac NeoSure, there will be no change as a result of the new contract.

Q: Will I need to transition my baby to Gerber products immediately? What is the time frame?

A: The date when you will begin to receive Gerber products will vary depending on your personal schedule at your local WIC clinic. The first time you have an appointment at your local WIC clinic to get your WIC Nutrition Card reloaded (or benefits changed) after October 1, 2016 will be when you will see the change in your benefits. Ohio WIC participants will be receiving only Gerber standard formula products by January 1, 2017.

Q: If I have my doctor write a prescription for Similac Advance, Similac Soy Isomil, or Similac Sensitive powder after the contract change, will WIC give me the product then?

A: Since those products will be removed because of the new contract, Ohio WIC will be unable to provide them under any circumstances. If you have Medicaid insurance, you could potentially receive one of those products through them; contact your Medicaid Managed Care Provider for more information. Formula can also be purchased with Ohio Food Assistance (food stamps) if you participate in that program.

Q: I’m concerned that I mostly see Similac products in the stores and not Gerber products; how will I be able to purchase my new formula?

A: Beginning October 1, local vendors will be required to increase their inventory to meet Ohio WIC’s “minimum stocking” requirements, so there will be enough Gerber product for those who need it.

Q: I am concerned that my child will not tolerate the transition to a new formula very well, what are my options?

A: Many babies are able to switch to a new formula without any issue at all; please speak with your local WIC health professional for information about how to best transition your baby and options available to you if the transition does not go well.