WIC is a free nutrition program for women, children and families. Services include nutrition counseling, breastfeeding support and supplemental healthy foods. Qualified women receive at least four nutrition education appointments with a WIC educator per year. Women who participate in the sessions receive eWIC cards to buy wholesome foods. Pregnant, postpartum and breastfeeding women, infants and children up to age 5 who live in Colorado and meet certain income requirements are eligible. For more information or to see if your family qualifies, call 970-871-7653.
New Innovations
eWIC WIC families get a debit-style eWIC card that can be remotely loaded with their food benefits and then swiped at the grocery store to pay for food, track monthly purchases and check food benefit account balances. This system replaces the paper check system.
WICShopper WIC participants can download this free mobile app to scan product bar codes to determine if a food is WIC-eligible; check their food balances; and find helpful shopping information, “Life Hacks” and recipes.
Nutritious foods WIC’s new list of allowable foods brings choice and flexibility to the program’s nutrition requirements by adding a larger variety of dairy products such as string cheese and lactose-free milk, more whole grain options such as tortillas and pasta, organic baby food and new sizes in popular products.
Texting: WIC families receive appointment reminders, food benefit updates, nutrition tips and other program information via text.
Breastfeeding Peer Counselor Texting Program: Moms can text with WIC peer counselors any time of day for breastfeeding help and advice.
Online education: WIC families can access nutrition lessons online, follow up on clinic visits and check food benefit account balances. Educators can issue food benefits to the family’s eWIC card without the family having to come to a clinic.
Proven benefits
- WIC increases duration of pregnancy and reduces fetal deaths, infant mortality and low birth weight.
- WIC improves the growth of nutritionally at-risk infants and children and decreases iron deficiency anemia in children.
- WIC improves the dietary intake of pregnant and postpartum women and improves weight gain in pregnant women.
- Pregnant women participating in WIC receive prenatal care earlier.
- Children enrolled in WIC are more likely to have a regular source of medical care and have up to date immunizations.
- WIC improves children's diets; children who receive WIC benefits demonstrate improved intellectual development.
In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis on race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity. View the full USDA Nondiscrimination policy here.
