Women, infants & children – WIC
Childcare certification supports breastfeeding moms
Miss Stephanie’s House in Carbondale recently became one of the Roaring Fork Valley’s first childcare providers to receive the Colorado breastfeeding-friendly certification. Stephanie Northrup’s home childcare was recognized by both Garfield County Public Health and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) for creating a welcoming environment for mothers to breastfeed and for providing resources and support.
Certification
WIC is the special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants and children. This is a federally-funded nutrition program that provides nutrition education, healthful foods, and health referrals to women, infants and children who qualify.
Who is eligible for WIC:
- Pregnant women
- Breast feeding women
- Postpartum women (up to 6 months after delivery)
- Infants and children up to the age of 5
Other eligibility criteria:
Nutritional risk: Applicants receive an initial screening to determine nutritional risk.
Income: Families who receive Medicaid; food stamps, and/or TANF are automatically income eligible for WIC.
Residence: Participants must live in the county where they receive services. Participants do not have to be U.S. citizens.
Check WIC benefit eligibility.
WIC application
Why get WIC?
Nutrition education: Participants receive personal counseling about the nutritional needs for themselves and their family.
Breastfeeding support: Participants receive encouragement and instruction in breastfeeding methods.
WIC foods: Participants receive checks for milk, cereals, eggs, cheese, peanut butter, beans, juices, and infant formula. Breastfeeding moms also receive tuna and carrots.
Referrals: WIC refers to a variety of health, food and social service programs
WICShopper app launches
Families using the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program can now use the WICShopper app on their smartphones to scan product bar codes to see if they are WIC-eligible; check account balances; and download recipes.
WICShopper app WIC eligibility