For over two decades, the WIC program has been changing the lives of countless Vermilion County families. The Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program provides nutrition education and supplemental foods to pregnant and postpartum women, and children up to 5 years of age. Eligibility is determined by income and medical/nutritional risks identified through screenings during clinic appointments. Supplemental foods are prescribed for each client based on risks identified by assessment.

Infant foods include:

• Iron-fortified formula
• Cereal
• Baby fruits and vegetables
• Baby meats for exclusively breast fed babies

Foods for women and children may include:

• Milk
• Cheese
• Juice
• Eggs
• Cereal
• Peanut butter
• Dried peas and beans
• Whole wheat bread/brown rice/soft corn tortillas
• Fruits and vegetables

VCHD caseload for 2009 was 3,139 participants per month. During 2009, WIC provided 49,612 total services to Vermilion County residents, including , medical and nutritional assessments, 34,945 food package vouchers, and counseling/follow up. The average WIC food package costs $66.00/month per participant, putting WIC's economic impact on Vermilion County annually at over $2.3 million (based on food packages distributed) .

Over the years, thousands of families have relied on WIC's confidential services to receive the extra boost they need to reach out toward brighter, healthier horizons. WIC is administered through the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and is administered by the Illinois Department of Public Health.

For more information, call the Danville office at 217-431-2662, 1-800-510-6559 or you may access Maternal & Child Health via email at mch@vchd.org.

last updated 6/10/2010

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