The Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Special Supplemental Nutrition Program, for families with a limited income, was initiated in Ingham County in 1975 with funds provided by the department of Agriculture (USDA) to provide supplementary food, nutrition education, and referrals to at-risk pregnant women, infants, and children.   The WIC program is a federal food and nutrition program that acts as an adjunct to prenatal and pediatric health care.

The principal goal of the WIC program is to eliminate nutritional deficiency as a contributing factor in neonatal death, low birth weight and other significant health problems of children and pregnant or breastfeeding mothers.  WIC strives to improve the health, growth, and development of children from infancy to five years of age.  Clients are eligible for the program for several reasons including poor diet, low iron, weight abnormality, environmental influence, or other risks as defined by the State WIC Office.

The WIC program is a potential point of entry to health care for many of its clients.  WIC provides screening for health problems and offers referrals ot other health and social services including lead screening, immunization, medicaid, prenatal care, smoking cessation, and substance abuse programs.

By collaboration with other programs, WIC supports the total health of the individual by connecting families to health and other human service programs they may need.  Many of Michigan's working families are not aware they may be eligible for the WIC program.  Eligible women and children receive nutritious foods to supplement and improve diet.  These nutritious foods may include specific infant formulas, milk, hot and cold cereals, cheese, eggs, juice, peanut butter, and dry beans and peas.   Women who are exclusively breastfeeding are also eligible to receive fish and carrots.  In addition to nutritious foods, WIC participants are offered nutrition education and counseling.  In the fiscal year 1999/2000, the total amount of food that was purchased with WIC coupons in Ingham County was $3,619,837.84.

In 2000, the average monthly participation was 6,206 individuals.   In 2000, WIC served clients in nine locations throughout the county.  WIC staff continues to serve participants in three permanent sites (Cedar Street, West Genessee-BCFI, and Michigan State University) and at six additional satellite clinics throughout Ingham County.  WIC services are provided during traditional business hours as well as during evening clinic hours.

Each summer, Project Fresh provides coupons to participants of the WIC program to use at local farm markets to purchase Michigan grown produce.  The project is funded by the USDA and provides approximately $46,000 worth of fresh vegetables and fruits to county residents.  Project Fresh is a collaborative effort between the WIC Program and the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP).