What is WIC?

WIC is the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children. In Illinois it is administered by the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) and is funded by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). 
​Even if you or your family members are working, it can be hard to make ends meet. WIC can help with the right food and advice from trained staff on nutrition, health care, and immunizations. 

WIC strives to improve the health of participants by providing coupons for nutritious foods, nutrition education and counseling, and providing referrals to other Health and Social Service Agencies. 

mother and son grocery shopping using WIC

Am I Eligible?

You must be:

  • A pregnant woman or breastfeeding up to one year after giving birth
  • A new mother, up to six months after giving birth
  • A parent, guardian or caretaker who has an infant or child younger than 5 years of age

Do you meet the income guidelines?

Your annual household income must be within WIC Guidelines (You may have a job and still meet these guidelines)

​Do you have a medical or nutritional health risk?

  • A screening by a WIC Certifying Health Professional must find that you have a medical or nutritional health risk such as low iron, low weight gain during pregnancy, or opportunities to make improvements in your diet/nutrition.

Schedule an appointment at your local Southern Seven Public Health Clinic to enroll or contact Linda Crossland at our Massac County Clinic location by calling (618) 524-2657.

Use The Links Below To See If You Qualify:

WIC Approved Foods

Foods that are available to purchase with WIC include a variety of grains, milk, meat and beans, fruits and vegetables, baby foods, and formula products. 
The following are some examples of WIC approved food items:

  • Milk
  • Cheese
  • Instant Formula
  • Eggs
  • Juice
  • Fruits
  • Vegetables
  • Cereal
  • Peanut Putter
  • Dried Peas
  • Dried Beans
  • Infant Cereal
  • Infant Juice
  • Bulgar
  • Yogurt
  • Tofu
WIC now offers more healthy food choices! Click here for more information.

Your First WIC Appointment

At your first WIC appointment, please bring the following with you:

  • Identification (e.g., driver’s license, photo ID)​
  • Proof of income (e.g., two recent pay stubs, public aid card, income fax form)
  • Proof of residency (e.g., utility bill or recent mail with dated postal stamp)
  • Proof of birth (e.g., birth certificate or hospital foot prints for your infant or child)
  • Immunization Records: The above information is reviewed, along with the participants health history. A health screening is performed on each participant. From there, information is plotted on growth charts and evaluated individually to determine WIC eligibility. Participants are then counseled by a health professional. Eating habits are discussed and food histories are evaluated. At that time, each participant is informed of their eligibility and WIC Program responsibilities.
DOWNLOAD THE APP

The Bnft app has everything you need to securely manage your WIC benefits. The app allows you to see real time benefit availability, features a barcode scanner, allows you to select or change your PIN number and so much more!

Breastfeeding Support

​Personal breastfeeding support is available to all interested women through Southern Seven Health Department's WIC - sponsored peer counselor program. 

woman breastfeeding

USDA Nondiscrimination Statement (NDS) for the WIC Program

In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.

Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.

To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online at: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/USDA-OASCR%20P-Complaint-Form-0508-0002-508-11-28-17Fax2Mail.pdf, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by:

  1. mail:
    U.S. Department of Agriculture
    Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
    1400 Independence Avenue, SW
    Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or
  2. fax:
    (833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or
  3. email:
    Program.Intake@usda.gov

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

07/25/2022