Women, Infants & Children (WIC)

Services

WICBreastfeeding Education & Support

WIC can provide trained specialists to assist mothers with breastfeeding education and counseling. WIC strongly encourages breastfeeding and can assist families with hands-on support, loaning, or purchasing a breast pump, or referrals for in-home support.

Food

Benefits for nutritious foods are provided to supplement and enhance the diet. Women and children can receive milk, cheese, yogurt, eggs, juice, cereal, whole grains, dry or canned beans or peanut butter and fruits and vegetables including fresh, canned and frozen varieties. Full-time breastfeeding women also receive chunk light tuna, mackerel, sardines, or pink salmon. WIC encourages women to breastfeed because of the many benefits for both baby and mother. Non-breastfed and part-time breastfed infants receive iron-fortified infant formula. All infants receive infant cereal and infant fruits and vegetables at six months of age. Benefits can be redeemed for food at stores throughout Michigan which are approved to accept WIC.

Nutrition Education

Nutrition education is offered to all WIC participants and their caregivers. Common topics include nutrition during pregnancy, encouragement for breastfeeding, nutrition during childhood, and feeding infants.

Referrals

An added benefit of the WIC Program is screening for other health problems and referrals to other appropriate health and social services. These referrals may be for Medicaid, food stamps, immunizations, child health screening, family planning, breastfeeding support and more.

Eligibility Requirements

Pregnant and breastfeeding women, women who have recently had a baby, infants from birth to 12 months, and children from 1 to 5 years who are also:

  • Residents of the state of Michigan.
  • Income eligible (at or below 185% of Federal Poverty Income Guidelines or on Medicaid or food stamps).
  • Determined by clinic staff in local agencies to be at nutritional and/or health risk.

Location of Services

  • Benton Harbor - Phone: 269-927-5646
  • Niles - Phone: 269-684-2800, ext. 6511
  • New Buffalo - Phone: 269-927-5656 
    • Address: 704 W Merchant Street, New Buffalo, Michigan 49117

Please call  269-927-5646 to schedule your WIC appointments at any location. Evening appointments are available on every Tuesday of the month in Benton Harbor and every Wednesday in Niles. 

Non-Discrimination Policy

In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discrimination 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 for 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. 

File a Complaint

To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete the Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form (PDF) , (AD-3027) found on the USDA website and at 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 about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by:

  • Mail:
    U.S Department of Agriculture
    Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
    1400 Independence Avenue, SW
    Washington, D.C. 20250-9410
  • Fax: (833) 256-1665 or 202-690-7442 
  • Email USDA

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.