WIC

This is a supplemental nutrition program that provides monthly food coupons, access to prenatal and pediatric health care services, and nutrition education for pregnant women, post-partum women, breastfeeding mothers, infants, and children younger than age five who live in Long Beach. Eligible applicants meet federal low-income guidelines (see WIC eligibility guidelines in Auxiliary Resource Materials) and have been determined to be at nutritional risk by a health professional; they may include undocumented women. When funding is cut, services may only be provided to pregnant women and children younger than age one.

The program provides food vouchers that are redeemed at authorized stores for specified food such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, baby food, cereal, milk, eggs, cheese, juice, peanut butter, beans, and infant formula. Vouchers are issued monthly and must be used within 30 days. Participants must also provide staff with proof of regular medical assessments. If eligibility continues, women may participate in WIC for as long as six months after their baby is born or up to one year if they are breastfeeding, or earlier, if the nutritional problem is resolved. Infants and children may participate until age five.