What Benefits Does New York's WIC Program Provide

Many low-income women in New York are unaware of all the benefits that is available to them through the WIC program. Often they don't realize the extent that the program has evolved since the days when block cheese and milk were the cornerstones of the program. Here is a summary of all the ways that you can benefit from the WIC program.

The WIC program remains true to its initial goal at inception: helping low-income pregnant women, mothers that breast feed, and infants and children to the age of five improve their health. One of the ways that this is accomplished is by supplying nutritious foods that are often missing in the diets of low-income women and children.

Today's program provides an expanded list of foods including milk, cheese, eggs, yogurt, beans, lentils, peas, peanut butter, soy beverages, tofu, canned fish, baby food (including meats, vegetables, and fruit), infant formula and cereal, breakfast cereals, whole grain bread and tortillas, brown rice, whole wheat pasta, and 100% natural fruit juice.

The program partners with mother's to provide nutritional education to them. Nutritionists help mothers to design individualized meal plans that meet their family's needs. They learn how to make the healthiest food choices for feeding their family, and how mother and child can both become more active. Mothers are also able to network with other parents for additional support.

Breastfeeding support is another benefit provided free of charge. Training for the proper way to breast feed is provided through volunteers who are other mothers that have received specialized training for providing breastfeeding support. Breast pumps are provided for mothers that need them, and special food is included in the food plan for all mothers that elect to breast feed their infants.

The requirements to qualify to participate in the WIC program are not difficult to meet. All pregnant or nursing mothers, and children up to the age of five that live in New York State, and that meet certain income limits can qualify. You're even eligible for benefits if you are not a citizen of the United States, provided that you do meet state residency requirements.

Today's WIC program has expanded to provide far greater support to eligible women and children than in the past. They are even able to provide referrals to other programs when the need is identified, providing one additional benefit to the program participants. There certainly are many reasons to check the WIC program out. You'll be surprised at how easily you could qualify.