Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)

The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) provides federal grants to states for supplemental foods, health care referrals, and nutrition education for low-income pregnant, breastfeeding, and non-breastfeeding postpartum women, and to infants and children up to age 5 who are found to be at nutritional risk.

The WIC program aims to safeguard the health of low-income women, infants, and children up to age 5 who are at nutrition risk by providing nutritious foods to supplement diets, information on healthy eating, and referrals to health care.

Administered in Cuyahoga County by The MetroHealth System, there are WIC offices throughout Cuyahoga County. Each month, on average, more than 13,000 participants receive WIC benefits in Cuyahoga County. WIC serves over half of all infants born in the United States.

Who is eligible for WIC?

The WIC target population are low-income, nutritionally at risk:

• Pregnant women (through pregnancy and up to 6 weeks after birth or after pregnancy ends).
• Breastfeeding women (up to infant’s 1st birthday)
• Non-breastfeeding postpartum women (up to 6 months after the birth of an infant or after pregnancy ends)
• Infants (up to 1st birthday).
• Children up to their 5th birthday.

The following benefits are provided to WIC participants:

• Supplemental nutritious foods like fruits, and vegetables, eggs, milk, yogurt, cheese and more.
• Nutrition education and counseling at WIC clinics.
• Breastfeeding support and tips.
• Screening and referrals to other healthcare professionals, immunization services, substance abuse counselors, domestic abuse counseling and social services.

Income and other WIC guidelines:

Applicants for WIC must meet income guidelines, live in the State of Ohio (to apply in Cuyahoga County), and be determined to be at "nutritional risk" by a WIC health professional. To be eligible based on income, applicants' gross income (i.e., before taxes are withheld) must fall at or below 185 percent of the U.S. Poverty Income Guidelines. Can be receiving other benefits like foster care, medical assistance or SNAP.

What is the WIC Farmers' Market Nutrition Program (FMNP)?

WIC/FMNP provides additional coupons to WIC participants that they can use to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables and cut herbs at participating local farmers' markets. The program has two goals: To provide fresh, nutritious, unprepared, locally grown fruits and vegetables, from farmers' markets to WIC participants who are at nutritional risk; and to expand consumers' awareness and use of farmers' markets.

Signing Up for WIC

To sign up for WIC, ask questions or get more information about WIC, including where to find a nearby office and days and hours in Cuyahoga County, please contact:

MetroHealth Brooklyn Health Center
Cuyahoga County WIC Administrative Office
5202 Memphis Avenue
Cleveland OH 44144
Phone: 216-957-9421
Fax: 216-957-9422

Email: [email protected]

Or

Sign Up Online

Or

Learn more at Cuyahoga County WIC

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.