Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Program
The Pennsylvania Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants
and Children (WIC) has been helping families in Pennsylvania for over
forty years. WIC is for all families! If you are a mother, father, foster
parent, grandparent or legal guardian of a child under five years of age,
you can apply.
The WIC Program is a short-term intervention program designed to influence
lifetime nutrition and health behavior. WIC provides free health screenings
to all participants to determine nutritional risk. A nutritional risk
is any problem that is associated with diet, growth, or medical diagnosis
that might impact nutritional status.
Who can participate?
Women who are pregnant, recently had a baby, or are breastfeeding (up to
one year after delivery); infants, and children up to age five. All must
live in Pennsylvania, meet income guidelines and be at some level of nutrition
risk. Call today to make an appointment to see if you or your children
are eligible!
More options for a healthy start!
WIC offers healthy foods and helpful tips for your family. We provide nutrition
education and services to help participants learn how to choose nutritious
foods. Some commonly discussed topics include: healthy food choices and
portion control, weaning baby to a cup, introducing solid foods to baby,
the importance of iron in the diet, how to manage a picky eater, and more!
The WIC food packages had a major revision in October, 2009. WIC foods
now include fruits and vegetables, whole grains, soy options, canned beans
and jarred infant foods in addition to the healthy foods WIC is known
for, such as milk, eggs and cereals. These foods are lower in fat, higher
in fiber and allow for participant and cultural preferences. And the foods
are at no cost to the participants!
WIC also promotes breastfeeding as the optimal method of infant feeding,
which is consistent with the goals and objectives of the Healthy People
2010 and the American Academy of Pediatrics. Our WIC clinics offer the
services of Breastfeeding Peer Counselors – all have been/are successful
breastfeeding moms, many of whom are Certified Breastfeeding Counselors,
and are supervised by a registered dietitian who is also a Certified Breastfeeding
Counselor.
WIC staff will help you with referrals to other community services that
may be important to your family.
Resources
- www.pawic.com
- 1-800-WIC-WINS
WIC Locations
747 Terrace Street, Meadville, PA 16335 (814) 333-7080
2015 Pennsylvania Ave. East, Warren, PA 16365 (814) 726-1093
535 Main Street, Clarion, PA 16214 (814) 226-8130
Titusville Clinic (Satellite) 417 N. Monroe Street, Titusville, PA 16354
(Please call Meadville office to schedule an appointment, 814-333-7080)
WIC Director
Carrie Dinsmore: 814-333-7067