Being Eligible for WIC means...?
What do I Bring to an Appointment?
How do I prepare my child for a WIC visit?
About the Program
WIC, the Women, Infants and Children program, is a nutritional program that helps pregnant woman, new mothers and young children eat well, learn about good nutrition and stay healthy. WIC helps pregnant, postpartum, and breastfeeding women. We also help children younger than 5. To read more about good nutrition check out our resources page.
• Checks that can be used to purchase healthy foods such as milk, juice, eggs,
cheese, cereal, dry beans and peas, or peanut butter.
• Information about nutrition and health to help you and your family eat well and be
healthy.
• Support and information about breastfeeding your baby.
• Help in finding health care and other community services.
• Breast pumps to support breastfeeding mothers
WIC is for all kinds of families: married & single parents, working and not working.
If you are a father, mother, grandparent, foster parent or other legal guardian of
a child under 5 years of age, you can apply for your child.
Women and their children who need better nutrition and who are:
• Pregnant, breastfeeding, or a six month old baby
• Children under 5 years old (including foster children)
You Can Participate in WIC if you:
• Live in Alaska
• Have a nutritional need (WIC staff can help determine this)
• Are a pregnant or breastfeeding woman
• Postpartum or a six month old baby
• Have a child under 5
• Have a family income meeting WIC Income Eligibility Guidelines
Being Eligible for WIC means...?
You receive monthly food vouchers, which can be used at local grocery stores.
These nutritious foods keep women, infants, and children on track for optimum
development during critical times of growth. You will/can receive:
• Nutritional information and counseling
• Health screenings and referrals to appropriate service
• Information on how to food shop, add nutritional value to everyday meals, how
to take care of babies, how to breastfeed, and much more!
• You will also receive information on good eating during pregnancy, breastfeeding,
and suggestions for feeding your child.
WIC foods include: Milks, cheese, eggs, tuna fish, fruit juice, infant formula,
peanut butter, pink salmon, carrots, cereal, dried peas, dried beans.
Call to make an appointment. Provide a completed application and provide proof
of income and identity. During your appointment measurements will be done on the
person applying for WIC, this will include height and weight and a small finger prick
to provide a blood sample. If you live in a community without a WIC office, you
can apply through your village health clinic or a Public Health Nurse.
WIC has local offices all over Alaska. Click here to locate the office in your
community. To start an application online, click here.
What do I Bring to a WIC Appointment?
• ID for yourself and each child
• Proof you are an Alaskan resident, such as your driver's license, voter
registration, library card, any bill with your address on it, rent or mortgage receipt.
• Proof of income such as paycheck stubs or a W2 Form, proof that you get
Food Stamps, Medicaid, Denali Kid Care or free or reduced price school lunch.
• Bring any children you are applying for
• Completed application forms, if possible. Click here to preview or download
forms.
How to Prepare Your Child for a WIC Visit
1. Talk to your child about up coming visit in a positive tone.
2. Explain the Capillary Iron Screen as a simple fast test that is easy.
3. Do not over explain test by using words like...hurt, blood or ouchy.
4. Be positive and relaxed yourself. If the child wants to talk to a lab technician
allow them to ask questions and interact freely without interruption.
There are offices at Fort Richardson, Elmendorf AIR Force Base and Eielson Air Force
Base. Military families can also apply for WIC at any other
WIC office in the state. You can use your WIC checks at military commissaries.
The
Resource Center for Parents and Children