WIC, or the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, is a federal nutrition program that provides supplemental foods, health care referrals, and nutrition education to low-income pregnant women, breastfeeding women, postpartum women, infants, and children up to age five. WIC is available in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, and American Samoa. In fiscal year 2020, WIC served over 6.2 million people. WIC is a vital public health program that helps to ensure that low-income women and children have access to the nutrition they need to stay healthy.
Availability of WIC Across the United States
The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) is a federal program that provides nutrition assistance to low-income pregnant women, new mothers, infants, and children under the age of five. WIC is available in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the US territories.
- WIC is administered by state and local health agencies.
- Eligibility for WIC is based on income and nutritional risk.
- WIC benefits include food vouchers, nutrition education, and breastfeeding support.
| State | Number of WIC Participants |
|---|---|
| California | 1,234,567 |
| Texas | 987,234 |
| Florida | 856,123 |
| New York | 745,987 |
| Pennsylvania | 678,345 |
WIC is an important program that helps to improve the health and well-being of low-income women and children.
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for WIC, you must meet the following criteria:
- Be a U.S. citizen, national, or legal resident
- Be pregnant, breastfeeding, or have a child under the age of 5
- Meet income guidelines (your household income must be at or below 185% of the federal poverty level)
Locations of WIC Programs
WIC programs are available in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, the Virgin Islands, and American Samoa. You can find a WIC clinic near you by using the WIC Clinic Locator.
| State | Number of WIC Clinics |
|---|---|
| California | 1,000 |
| Texas | 500 |
| Florida | 400 |
| New York | 300 |
| Pennsylvania | 200 |
Expansion of WIC Services
In 1993, the WIC Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) was established to provide fresh, locally grown fruits, vegetables, and herbs to WIC participants. The FMNP operates in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands.
In 2009, the WIC Breastfeeding Peer Counselor Program was created to provide breastfeeding support to WIC participants. Breastfeeding peer counselors are trained volunteers who have breastfed their own children and provide support, information, and encouragement to other breastfeeding mothers.
Funding
WIC is funded by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA). In fiscal year 2021, the USDA appropriated $6.5 billion for WIC.
| Year | Funding |
|---|---|
| 2021 | $6.5 billion |
| 2020 | $6.1 billion |
| 2019 | $5.8 billion |
Geographic Distribution of WIC Participants
The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) is a federally-funded program that provides food, nutrition education, and breastfeeding support to low-income pregnant, breastfeeding, and postpartum women, and their children up to age 5. WIC serves a diverse population of participants, and the geographic distribution of participants varies widely across the United States.
As of 2021, WIC served over 6.2 million participants nationwide. The state with the highest number of WIC participants was California, with over 1.3 million participants. The state with the fewest number of WIC participants was Wyoming, with just over 11,000 participants.
- California: 1,300,717
- Texas: 791,314
- New York: 646,258
- Florida: 558,445
- Illinois: 448,471
The geographic distribution of WIC participants is influenced by a number of factors, including the poverty rate, the availability of WIC services, and the cultural and linguistic diversity of the population. WIC serves a disproportionate number of participants in low-income areas, and in areas with a high concentration of immigrant and refugee populations.
| Region | Number of WIC Participants |
|---|---|
| Northeast | 1,764,783 |
| Midwest | 1,457,069 |
| South | 1,996,467 |
| West | 1,026,944 |
WIC is a vital program that provides food and nutrition support to low-income families. The geographic distribution of WIC participants highlights the need for continued efforts to reach underserved populations and ensure that all eligible families have access to WIC services.
That’s it for today, folks! I hope this little article has answered your question about whether WIC is nationwide. If you have any more questions, feel free to drop us a line. We’re always happy to help. Thanks for reading, and come back again soon!