Answers to questions about WIC

• Pregnant women
• Breastfeeding women
• Infants and
• Children under 5 years old. 

At WIC clinic, each participant is issued a set of checks listing certain foods for that month. The checks are redeemed at local stores which accept WIC checks.

 
2.  WHAT CAN WIC DO FOR YOU?
By providing some of the foods needed daily for good health, WIC can help you stretch your food budget. Nurses and Nutritionists at the WIC clinic can help you plan healthy meals for your family, advise on infant feeding, children's diet needs, and the food needs of pregnant and breastfeeding women.
 

WIC Provides Women & Children with:

• Milk and Cheese for calcium and Vitamin D to build strong bones and teeth.
• Eggs for protein and iron to help build and repair body cells.
• Cereal for iron to help develop a strong body and healthy blood.
• Fruit Juices for Vitamin C to help fight infections.
• Peanut Butter or Dried Beans for protein, and calories necessary for growth and development.
• Tuna Fish & Carrots for breast feeding women.
• Fortified Formulas
    

3.  WHO CAN APPLY FOR WIC?
If you are pregnant, breastfeeding or have an infant or child under 5 years of age, you may be eligible. The following table outlines the income guidelines:
  

New York State WIC Income Eligibility Guidelines May 2008 - June 2009
Anyone receiving Medicaid, Food Stamps, or Public Assistance
is considered financially eligible.

Families must meet Income Guidelines below:

4.  WHEN SHOULD YOU APPLY FOR WIC?
Call WIC as soon as you know you are pregnant or at any time during your pregnancy.
If you have children under the age of 5, you may apply at any time.

Click here to find out the things you need to know to apply for WIC.
 

5.  HOW CAN I FIND OUT IF I AM ELIGIBLE?
Call the Cattaraugus County Health Department WIC Program
at 373-8057 or 1-800-251-2584.
Pregnant women, breastfeeding women for up to 1 year), bottle feeding mothers (for 6 months), or children under age 5 may be eligible if they meet the income restrictions. Call the WIC office to check. A referral will be taken, and you will be mailed a short application. When a medical screening is required, WIC staff can do it for free, or you may choose to see your doctor. When the application is returned, you will be contacted to arrange a WIC orientation session at a convenient time and place. If eligible, your first checks will be available at the end of the orientation session. After that, you will pick up the checks at the site of your choosing.
 

Education
WIC meetings include:

• a nurse or nutritionist available for: Individual counseling and/or group presentations,
• explanations about current height, weight, and anemia screening for each participant,
• "Baby & Me - Tobacco Free" can offer Free diapers for the first full year,
• WIC offers Breastfeeding support,
• a newsletter to spotlight a variety of health and nutrition topics,
• information and displays from other community agencies.
   

6.  WHERE CAN I FIND OUT ABOUT WIC?
Cattaraugus County WIC Locations:

• Olean: Cattaraugus County Office Building, 1 Leo Moss Drive, Olean, N.Y. 14760
• Salamanca: Cattaraugus County Health Dept., Iroquois Drive
• Delevan: Yorkshire Town Hall, Main St.
• Franklinville: Free Methodist Church, Main St.
• Little Valley: Cattaraugus County Building, Civil Defense area
• Randolph: Town Hall Building, Bank St.
• Gowanda: Free Methodist Church, Main St.
• Cattaraugus: Roberts Memorial Free Methodist Church, South St.
   

Please call:
What is more important than your health and the health of your children?
Standards for participation in the program are the same for everyone regardless of race, color, national origin, age, sex, handicap, religion or political belief.