Women Infants and Children's Program (WIC)

Women Infants and Children’s Program (WIC)

Main Office: 801 N. Salisbury Blvd, Suite 103, Salisbury, MD 21801

Main Office Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM

Phone: (410) 749-2488

Fax: (410) 548-5166

Email: lowershore.wic@maryland.gov

The Maryland WIC Program is a supplemental nutrition program for women, infants and children under the age 5. WIC Works Wonders!

For Women
Women in the WIC Program eat better and have healthier babies

For Infants
Infants born to WIC mothers weigh more and grow and develop better.

For Children?
Children on WIC eat foods with more iron and vitamin C, which helps them develop strong minds and bodies.

WIC participants enjoy benefits such as:

• Nutrition education
• Breastfeeding Support
• Free healthy food and
• Referral to other health and social agencies

If you are eligible, you will receive nutrition information, breastfeeding support, referrals to other services, and benefits to buy foods such as:

• whole grain bread, tortillas, and brown rice
• fruits and vegetables
• dried canned beans and peas
• peanut butter
• cereal, milk, and 100% juice
• eggs and cheese
• baby food and baby cereal
• infant formula

Who is Eligible?

•  Infants
•  Children (up to age 5 years)
•  Pregnant women
•  Postpartum women (up to 6 months after delivery)
•  Women who are breastfeeding (up to 1 year after delivery)

Eligibility Requirements:

• Live in Somerset, Wicomico, or Worcester counties
• Foster care, Medical Assistance, Temporary Cash Assistance and Food Supplement Program clients are income eligible.

WIC Foods:

Authorized Foods List

Nutritional Education

Good Things to Know About Nutrition

All categories listed below can be found HERE

Mothers:

• For Mothers-to-be
• For All New Mothers

Children:

• Birth to 6 Months
• 6 to 12 Months
• 1 Year Old
• 1 & a 1/2 Years Old
• 2 Years Old
• 2 & a 1/2 Years Old
• 3 Years Old
• 3 & a 1/2 Years Old
• 4 Years Old
• 4 & a 1/2 Years Old

Breastfeeding Services

The WIC Program is committed to helping families have positive, successful breastfeeding experiences.

Breastfeeding is the normal way to feed your baby. Your milk has all the ingredients in the right amounts to give your baby a healthy start. Your milk is always ready and easy to digest. Nursing helps you relax and feel close to your baby. Breastfeeding is a gift only you can give to your child and it provides benefits to your baby that last a lifetime!

The American Academy of Pediatrics encourages mothers to provide only mother’s milk for the first 6 months and to continue to give mother’s milk while giving other family foods for at least 12 months and beyond, as long as desired by both mother and infant/child.

What are some of the health benefits of breastfeeding?

• Breastfeeding protects babies from infections and illnesses, including diarrhea, ear infections and pneumonia.
• Breastfed babies are less likely to develop asthma.
• Children who are breastfed for six months are less likely to become obese.
• Breastfeeding reduces the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
• Mothers who breastfeed have a decreased risk of breast and ovarian cancers.

FREE Breastfeeding Resources for WIC Moms:

• Access to breastfeeding support staff
• Breast pumps are available to moms who are returning to work or school.

Breastfeeding check list for your hospital stay:

• Breastfeeding Checklist English
• Breastfeeding Checklist Spanish

Additional Breastfeeding Resources: Maryland WIC Breastfeeding Services

In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating 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 USDA.

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.

To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD-3027) found online at: How to File a Complaint, and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by:

(1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture

Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights

1400 Independence Avenue, SW

Washington, D.C. 20250-9410;

(2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or

(3) email: program.intake@usda.gov.

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.