Adequate And Nutritious Food A Cornerstone Of Healthy Development For Children
Author: Amber Johnson, Lewis and Clark Public Health
Adequate and Nutritious Food: A Cornerstone of Healthy Development for Children
Amber Johnson
Lewis and Clark Public Health
Lewis and Clark Public Health encourages expectant mothers, new parents, and caregivers with young children to sign up for WIC, otherwise known as the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children.
Eligible applicants include pregnant women, breastfeeding women with a baby under one year old, women with a baby less than six months old, infants and children up to five years old, and women whose pregnancy ended early.
Helena - Research shows that the first years of a child’s life are crucial to their future health and well-being. Adequate and nutritious food is a cornerstone of healthy development.
Lewis and Clark Public Health (LCPH) encourages expectant mothers, new parents, and caregivers with young children to sign up for WIC, otherwise known as the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children.
Eligible applicants include pregnant women, breastfeeding women with a baby under one year old, women with a baby less than six months old, infants and children up to five years old, and women whose pregnancy ended early.
WIC provides local families with nutrition screenings, education, and counseling to improve eating behaviors and reduce or eliminate nutrition problems. These families then receive benefits to purchase healthy food at supermarkets across Montana, as well as food vouchers for use at the local farmers’ market.
The WIC food package includes a variety of healthy options to help pave the way for a lifetime of nutritious eating. These foods include beans, whole grains, fruits and vegetables, cheese, cereal, eggs, canned fish, peanut butter, milk, 100% fruit juice, infant formula, infant cereal, and baby food.
Peer breastfeeding counselors also offer breastfeeding support and counseling, along with free breast pumps.
The WIC program also provides referrals to private and public health providers, referrals for dental screenings, and referrals to other local health and social services. The many benefits of the WIC program ensure that children and families receive the support they need to grow into the best and healthiest versions of themselves. WIC participants meet with staff four times a year while enrolled in the program, and benefits are issued quarterly.
Those interested can visit the WIC office at 1930 9th Avenue in Helena to sign up and receive an initial screening. Applicants must also bring documentation to their first appointment – proof of identity, residence, and income.
Applicants must meet State Income Guidelines, found here. Applicants are automatically income eligible for WIC if their household receives SNAP, Healthy Montana Kids Plus and/or Montana Medicaid, TANF, FDPIR, and National School Lunch Program (NSLP).
Interested families can contact the LCPH WIC team by calling 406-457-8912 or emailing wic@lccountymt.gov to schedule an appointment.
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