RALEIGH — This year North Carolina celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, better known as WIC.
WIC significantly impacts the lives of more than 230,000 women, infants, and children in North Carolina each year by providing access to health supplements, nutrition education, breastfeeding education, and support and referrals to health and social service services. The program also contributes significantly to North Carolina’s economy, pumping nearly $200 million in federal funding into North Carolina as families purchased approved items at more than 1,500 food retailers in the last state fiscal year alone.
“WIC supports half of infants born in North Carolina by providing mothers and children with access to the best resources and services,” said Yvonne Copeland, director of NCDHHS’s Division of Child and Family Welfare. “This year marks an exciting milestone in the evolution of maternal and child health: the 50th anniversary of the WIC program. Since the first clinic opened in 1974, WIC has been a beacon of unwavering support and dedication to improving public health outcomes for women, infants and children.”
The program helps ensure that mothers, babies, and young children have the food and support they need to get off to a healthy and successful start. Years of USDA evaluations of WIC have shown that women who participate in the program have better pregnancy and birth outcomes and have healthier babies. Additionally, children who receive WIC benefits have better intellectual development, helping them be more prepared for school.
In 1974, WIC provided supplemental food to 88,000 people in the United States. The average food benefit was $15.88 per month. Over its 50-year history, the program has grown exponentially. In 2023, WIC provided food to 6.6 million women, infants, and children nationwide. The average food benefit was $56 per month. WIC food benefits provide a wide range of foods, including fruits and vegetables, whole grain breads and cereals, and dairy products, and the monetary value of benefits can reach up to $240 per month.
WIC is available to pregnant, lactating, and postpartum women, infants, and children up to age 5. Foster care families with individuals who meet the eligibility criteria are also eligible to receive WIC benefits. To be eligible, NC WIC participants must live in North Carolina and meet the WIC income guidelines with a family income below 185% of the U.S. poverty income guidelines (e.g., a family of four earns less than $57,720 per year). People who receive Medicaid, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (also known as Work First), or NC Food and Nutrition Services automatically meet the WIC income guidelines.
For more information about applying for WIC benefits, visit www.ncdhhs.gov/ncwic/mywic .
