Did you know that Valley-Wide can help you access WIC services if you qualify? WIC is the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). WIC is a federally funded program that provides personalized support for moms and young children, including nutrition education, breastfeeding support, healthy foods, and other services free of charge to Colorado families who qualify. WIC’s goal is to help moms and young children get and stay healthy.
WIC is for all kinds of families: single and married parents, working and unemployed parents. If you are a father, mother, grandparent, foster parent, or another legal guardian of a child under age 5, and you meet the qualifying criteria, you can apply for WIC.
You can participate if you:
- Live in Colorado
- Are a pregnant, breastfeeding, or postpartum woman and/or have guardianship of children up to age five.
- Have a family income less than WIC income Guidelines (shown below)
- If you already receive Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Food Stamps (SNAP), or Medicaid, you are automatically financially eligible for WIC services.
- Foster children under age 5 are automatically eligible for WIC.
- You don’t have to be on Medicaid to qualify for WIC.
You can view the WIC income guidelines here.
Valley-Wide WIC is part of a breastfeeding peer counseling network that can help connect breastfeeding moms to others who can provide them with support, advice, and tips. This counseling network is available in the daytime as well as evenings and weekends, and if the problem is outside the scope of the network, they will help you find a professional who can address your concerns. It’s a great resource for breastfeeding moms to get basic information and have their questions answered by other moms who know what they’re going through.
WIC can even provide breast pumps to patients who can’t get one on their own. If you’re pregnant, we can help with information about breastfeeding and nutrition needs before the baby is born so that mom will be better prepared for childbirth and what to expect in the early days after delivery.
Plus, WIC is now making it easier than ever to use their services with the eWIC debit card and the WICShopper app. The eWIC debit card makes shopping with WIC benefits easier – you no longer have to buy several weeks’ worth of groceries at once; you can go to the store and get the items you need right now. Meanwhile, the WICShopper app, available for both iPhones and Android, can help you check which foods are WIC-eligible while you shop, look up recipes, and view your benefits – right on your phone.
“I feel fortunate to work for the WIC program as it offers education and support to many families! I enjoy talking to families and before COVID being able to interact with children and babies and watch them grow! WIC is so much more than just food, we strive to help grow healthy families for a healthy future!” Mari Parra, CLC – WIC Educator
WIC does not ask clients about or keep information about their citizenship or visa status. We have Spanish-speaking staff members for patients who do not speak English fluently. Our staff can also provide referrals to care that’s beyond WIC’s scope, such as immunizations, medical and dental care, insurance, housing support, substance and domestic abuse counseling, and social services.
All Colorado WIC offices are currently providing services by phone instead of in-office appointments because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Valley-Wide only provides WIC services in the San Luis Valley, but hundreds of other WIC providers are available throughout the state. If you live outside the SLV, you can use the WIC referral website to find a WIC provider near you.
To speak with one of our WIC staff, please call 719-589-5860. Valley-Wide WIC is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday and every other Friday. If you don’t reach someone right away, leave us a message, and we’ll make sure to return your call.
WIC is an equal opportunity provider and does not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by the USDA.
