What Does WIC Provide?
WIC is a health and nutrition program that has demonstrated a positive effect on pregnancy outcomes and child growth and development.
Foods for Women and Children
Pregnant and postpartum women and children (under 5 years of age) participating in WIC receive an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card to purchase the following items:
- milk
- cheese
- eggs
- cereals
- peanut butter or dried beans/peas, or canned beans
- fruit or vegetable juices
- fresh fruit and vegetables
- whole grain bread or tortillas
Nutrition Education
WIC nutrition education assists WIC participants with:
- Infant feeding
- Breastfeeding
- Prenatal weight gain
- Anemia
- Child growth and development
- Other nutrition related health issues
High Risk Nutrition Counseling
Registered dietitians at WIC provide individualized high risk nutrition counseling for participants with special medical conditions or nutrition-related health issues.
Health Care Referrals
WIC enjoys a reciprocal relationship with the health care community, receiving referrals from private and public health care providers and providing referrals as needed for health and social services.
WIC refers participants for immunizations, substance abuse counseling and treatment, prenatal care, smoking cessation, lead screening, the MI Child program, and more.
WIC encourages persons already receiving medical services to remain under their physicians' care. WIC also encourages well-child visits and routine health and dental care.
Breastfeeding Promotion and Support
WIC offers trained personnel ready to assist mothers in making informed decisions about their infant feeding choices and instructs mothers on the basics of breastfeeding.
WIC also offers breastfeeding peer counselor support programs that provide mother-to-mother counseling, educational resources, and breast pumps.
Michigan WIC Produce Connection
The Farmers' Market Nutrition Program (FMNP), formerly known as WIC Project FRESH is now known in Michigan as WIC Produce Connection and administered by the WIC (Women, Infants and Children) program. WIC FMNP started in 1986 in several states across the country. In 1988, Congress authorized a three-year demonstration project to test the concept in 10 states. WIC Project FRESH was administered by the Michigan Department of Agriculture as a federal pilot in Fiscal Years 1989 and 1990. The project's success led Congress to enact the Farmers' Market Nutrition Act of 1992 (P.L.102-314). The program was transferred to the Michigan Department of Community Health in November of 1992. The Department is now, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, where it remains today.
WIC Produce Connection helps to provide healthy and nutritious produce to Michigan WIC clients, while fostering economic development by promoting our state's diverse agricultural products. The program provides low-income, nutritionally-at-risk WIC clients with eligible, locally grown, fresh, unprepared fruits and vegetables from Authorized Growers at farmers markets and roadside stands throughout Michigan.
In accordance with federal civil rights law and USDA civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its agencies, offices, employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident.
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 state or local agency that administers the program or contact USDA through the Telecommunications Relay Service at 711 (voice and TTY). Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.
To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at How to File a Program Discrimination Complaint 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, Mail Stop 9410, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410;
- Fax: (202) 690-7442; or
- Email: program.intake@usda.gov.
USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.