The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) offers St. Clair County families more than food assistance, providing nutrition education, breastfeeding support and connections to other health services.
WIC serves eligible pregnant, breastfeeding and postpartum women, infants and children under age 5.
WIC supervisor Becki Hartman said many participants are working families who use the program to supplement their monthly food budget.
What is WIC?
WIC is a federal program administered locally through the St. Clair County Health Department, 220 Fort St. in Port Huron.
Michigan’s income guidelines were updated June 1. A family of four can now qualify with an annual income of up to $61,050. Receiving Medicaid, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) benefits may also qualify someone for WIC.
WIC and SNAP, commonly known as food stamps, are separate programs. The Health Department administers WIC locally and can help residents apply for SNAP or Medicaid, but does not approve or activate those benefits.
What happens when you sign up for WIC?
Residents can start by calling the Health Department’s WIC program at 810-987-8222. Hartman said staff can generally schedule a new participant within a week.
The Health Department has six rooms dedicated to WIC appointments, where participants stay while staff rotate in to handle paperwork, take measurements and provide nutrition education.
“The client comes in and just gets comfy, and we rotate to see them,” Hartman said.
Hartman said nutrition education is tailored to the participant rather than focused on telling families what they’re doing wrong.
“All of our education that we give is client-centered,” she said. “We meet them where they are.”
Once approved, participants receive their WIC card before leaving and can begin using their benefits.
WIC offers more than food
WIC provides supplemental foods based on a participant’s age, needs and WIC category, with benefits that can include infant formula, milk, eggs, whole grains, fruits and vegetables.
Beyond those food benefits, the local program offers additional education and support. St. Clair County WIC has an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant and breastfeeding peer counselor who can provide breastfeeding education and support by phone, text or in person.
The Health Department also has a private Mothers Room for anyone who needs to breastfeed or express milk and a separate space for breastfeeding education and support.
WIC benefits can now be used online at Meijer
WIC participants can now use their benefits for online orders at all 122 Meijer stores in Michigan.
Participants can purchase WIC-eligible foods online and pay for other groceries separately in the same transaction. Orders can be picked up curbside or delivered, with Meijer offering free home delivery.
Public Information Officer Alyse Nichols said the option can make grocery shopping easier for families with young children, particularly when getting a baby out of the house and through a shopping trip can itself be a challenge.
WIC benefits can reach farmers markets
Eligible participants can also receive seasonal benefits through WIC Produce Connection to purchase locally grown fruits and vegetables from authorized growers.
Current St. Clair County options include Sharkar Farm in China Township and at the St. Clair Farmers Market, along with Scott Hartwig at the Port Huron Farmers Market on Saturdays and Wadhams Farmers Market in Kimball Township on Sundays.
The state updates its authorized grower list as needed.
Think you might qualify? Call
Staff said residents shouldn’t rule themselves out because they think they earn too much or don’t meet WIC requirements.
Hartman’s advice: “Call us and let us decide.”
For more information about WIC or to find out if you qualify, call the St. Clair County Health Department WIC office at 810-987-8222 or visit Michigan.gov/WIC.
Contact reporter Andy Jeffrey at ajeffrey@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Port Huron Times Herald: WIC offers St. Clair County families more than food assistance
Reporting by Andy Jeffrey, Port Huron Times Herald / Port Huron Times Herald
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Andy Jeffrey, Port Huron Times Herald | USA TODAY Network
