Sometimes it can be difficult
to obtain healthy foods on a limited budget. The Women, Infants and Children
(WIC) Program is a federally funded nutrition program for women and young
children. “WIC is a wonderful supplemental food and health education program
for qualifying pregnant, postpartum and breastfeeding women and families with
young children,” said Ellen Deutsche, supervisor of WIC in El Dorado County.
“The program also serves young children cared for by single fathers,
grandparents, foster parents, step-parents and guardians who meet program
guidelines.”
WIC provides nutrition
education and health information, breastfeeding support, checks for healthy
foods (like fruits and vegetables), and referrals to medical providers and
community services. There is no charge
to receive WIC services. Individuals or families may qualify for WIC services
if they:
- Are
pregnant, breastfeeding, or had a baby in the past six months; or
-
Are
the primary caretakers of a child under the age of 5; and
- Have
a low to medium income and/or receive Medi-Cal, CalWORKs (TANF) or CalFresh (Food
Stamps) benefits; and
-
Live
in California
Newly pregnant women, migrant
workers, and working families are encouraged to apply. Pregnant women may apply
as soon as they know they are pregnant. To determine if they meet WIC income guidelines,
individuals may visit www.wicworks.ca.gov.
The WIC Program in El Dorado County serves
residents throughout the county. “We have two permanent office locations and
our staff also travels to various locations in the county,” said Deutsche. “We will
do our best to schedule appointments in the most convenient locations for
applicants and participants. We encourage anyone who is interested in the WIC
Program to call us today to see if they qualify and to make an appointment.”
WIC staff may be reached at (530) 621-6176 on
the West Slope of El Dorado County or at (530) 573-3491 in the Tahoe Basin. WIC
offices are located at 937 Spring Street in Placerville and 1360 Johnson
Boulevard in South Lake Tahoe. WIC is an equal opportunity provider.
WIC operates locally as part of the El Dorado
County Health and Human Services Agency. For more information about WIC, visit www.wicworks.ca.gov.
For information about HHSA’s many programs and services, visit www.edcgov.us/hhsa
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