• By Todd Luck
• Posted Thursday, March 28, 2019

WIC Offers Nutritional Support for Mothers, Infants and Children

March is National Nutrition Month and there’s no better time to learn about the locally available services through WIC, a federally funded health and nutrition program for women, infants and children.

WIC provides assistance buying healthy food. It also provides nutrition education, breastfeeding support and healthcare referrals. The program is available to pregnant, breastfeeding and postpartum women and infants and children up to age five whose family income that is at or below 185% of U.S. Poverty Income Guidelines and are at nutritional risk. Nutritional risk is determined by a health professional through a health screening that is free to program applicants.

Those with low to medium income qualify for the program, including those in other programs like foster care, medical assistance or SNAP. Recipients of Medicaid, Work First Families Assistance (TANF), or assistance from NC Food and Nutrition Services assistance will meet the income requirements for WIC.

WIC assistance is also available for families with caregivers other than mothers, including dads, grandparents, foster parents, step-parents and guardians.

An appointment to determine eligibility is required for the program. Applicants need to bring proof of identity, household income and current address. Height, weight and a blood test for iron will be done unless you provide this information from another clinic or doctor. Applicants will be asked about their health and nutrition habits, and any nutrition issues or questions they have will be discussed.

Proof of identification can be a valid driver’s license, Social Security card, work/school ID, Medicaid card, military ID, birth certificate or immunization record, and for infants it can be a hospital crib card or ID bracelet. Proof of where you live can be a valid driver’s license, recent utilities bill, Medicaid card, bank statement or a current rental or mortgage agreement. Proof of income can be your most recent paycheck stubs or LES for military families, current Medicaid card, letter of certification from Food & Nutrition Services, letter from your employer stating gross income and frequency of pay or a recent tax return for the self-employed.

You can schedule a screening appointment by contacting one of the Forsyth County Department of Public Health’s WIC offices:

Forsyth County Department of Public Health, 799 Highland Avenue, open Monday-Wednesday and Friday 7:30 a.m.- 5 p.m. and Thursday 7:30 a.m.- 8 p.m. (does not close for lunch). 336-703-3336

Cleveland Avenue, 501 N. Cleveland Avenue, Suite B, open Monday-Wednesday 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Thursday 8 a.m.- 8 p.m. and Friday 8 a.m.-1 p.m. (closed for lunch every day). This site accepts walk-ins and appointments. 336-703-3361

Kernersville, co-located at Crisis Control, 431 W. Bodenhamer St. This site is open on Mondays and Wednesdays, 1 p.m. - 7 p.m. 336-703-7441

Marketplace Mall, co-located at United Health Centers, 2101 Peters Creek Pkwy. This site is open on Wednesdays from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. (closed for lunch every day). 336- 703-3352

Downtown Health Plaza (DHP), 1200 North Martin Luther King Jr. Drive. This site is open on Monday-Wednesday and Friday 8 a.m.- 5 p.m. and Thursday 8 a.m. - 7 p.m (closed for lunch every day). 336-713-9702

More information on WIC can be found at www.nutritionnc.com/wic.

The Forsyth County Department of Public Health is an Equal Opportunity provider.