Birth Outcomes

Why Is This Important?

What We Do

The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (more commonly known as "WIC") is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and serves all 50 States plus 40 U.S. territories and Indian tribal organizations. Nationwide, one in four pregnant women and 53% of all infants are served by WIC. (Click here for the most recently available WIC participation data.)

WIC serves to safeguard the health of low-income pregnant, breastfeeding and postpartum women, and infants and children up to age five, who are found to be at nutritional risk as determined by a WIC Nutritionist.

WIC services include providing:

• Nutritional assessment and education;
• Breastfeeding promotion and support;
• Referrals to health care and social services;
• Coordination with health care providers; and,
• Specific nutritious foods to supplement diets.

WIC-prescribed foods can be obtained at local authorized grocery stores, pharmacies and farmers’ markets throughout the State.

Connecticut WIC ("CT WIC"), operates statewide, through 12 Local Agencies, located at 24 full-time permanent sites and 44 part-time satellite locations, covering the State's 169 towns. These 12 agency locations include 8 Local Health Departments/Districts, 2 hospital-based programs, and 2 community action programs. WIC participants are free to select the program site that best suits their needs. Clinic hours are scheduled to accommodate parents who work or go to school, with some evening and Saturday hours, as needed. In all locations, CT WIC actively coordinates with local hospitals, clinics, health departments, health care providers and community-based agencies to provide eligibility determination and/or ensure the timely referral of potential clients.

To apply for CT WIC, click here to find the nearest office for an appointment!

Who We Serve

WIC has the following four (4) eligibility requirements:

1. Categorical Requirement: WIC is designed to serve certain categories of women, infants and children.
   • Women:
     • Pregnant: during pregnancy and up to 6 weeks after the birth of an infant or the end of the pregnancy;
     • Postpartum: up to six months after the birth of the infant or the end of the pregnancy; and,
     • Breastfeeding: up to the infant’s first birthday.
   • Infants: up to the infant’s first birthday; and,
   • Children: up to the child’s fifth birthday.
2. Residential Requirement: WIC is designed to serve our State residents.
   • Although applicants must live in the state in which they apply for WIC, there is no minimum residency period.
   • WIC does not require proof of citizenship or legal residency.
3. Income Requirement: WIC is designed to serve the low-income population.
   • Applicants with a household income at or below 185% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) are income-eligible for WIC.
   • Adjunctive eligibility enables WIC applicants to show proof of participation in Medicaid/HUSKY A, SNAP or TANF, and to be auto­matically considered income-eligible for WIC, including pregnant women with a household income up to 250% FPL.
4. Nutrition Risk Requirement: WIC is a supplemental nutrition program; it is not an entitlement program.
   • Prior to certification as a WIC participant, applicants will be assessed by a WIC Nutritionist.
   • To qualify for WIC, the applicant must be determined to have at least one medical or nutritional risk factor, such as anemia, history of poor pregnancy outcome, have poor eating habits, be underweight, homeless, etc.

How We Impact

WIC influences lifetime nutrition and health behaviors in a targeted, high-risk population of low-income mothers and young children with, or at risk of developing, nutrition-related health problems [1]:

• Prenatal WIC participation is associated with lower infant mortality and improved birth outcomes and infant health [2];
• Longer duration of WIC participation yields better birth outcomes; better outcomes result in lower health care costs [3];
• Women participating in WIC are more likely to receive adequate prenatal care, and to have longer pregnancies resulting in fewer premature births;
• WIC reduces the risk for preterm birth and low birth-weight babies by 25% and 44%, respectively; and,
• Among other benefits, WIC has been shown to positively influence a mother’s decision to breastfeed.

The impact of WIC benefits will last a lifetime for the over 50,000 women, infants and children Connecticut WIC serves each month!

(For more information on WIC as a cost-effective investment that improves the nutrition and health of low-income families, see the May 2015 article published by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, WIC Works.)

[1] National WIC Association (NWA) publications, including: Monday Morning Reports, April 29, 2013; The Role of WIC in Public Health, January 2012; The Role of WIC in Reducing Infant Mortality, January 2012; WIC: Solid Returns on Investment while Reducing the Deficit, November 2011.

[2] “Preterm births cost the U.S. over $26 billion a year, with average first year medical costs for a premature/low birth weight baby of $49,033 compared to $4,551 for a baby born without complications.” NWA, The Role of WIC in Public Health. January 2012; p. 4.

[3] “For every dollar spent on a pregnant woman in WIC, up to $4.21 is saved in Medicaid” costs for her and her newborn. NWA, The Role of WIC in Public Health. January 2012; p. 4.