WIC Guidelines
WIC: The Program for Women, Infants and Children
WIC is a food supplement program designed to help pregnant women, breast-feeding moms, or women who recently gave birth, consume adequate nutrition. The program also covers infants under 12 months old, and children under 5 years old.
To get WIC, you need to have a need for improved nutrition and meet the WIC income guidelines.
You will find more WIC information here and here.
If you qualify, you will receive an EWIC Card to buy food. You will be given nutritional and health education -including personal nutrition counseling - to help you and your children eat well and stay healthy. You will also get support and help with breast-feeding, and referrals to other health programs for both you and your family. A Certified Breastfeeding Educator is available to answer all your breastfeeding questions.
Please call 417-745-2138 to make an appointment. You will need to visit with us first before applying for WIC.
What Do Need to Do to Stay on WIC?
At some of your visits, the WIC staff will check to see if you or your child is still eligible. This is called a certification. You will need to bring:
- Proof of identification
- Proof of your income
- Proof of your address
How Long Can I Stay On WIC?
If you meet the income and health or nutrition guidelines, you can stay on WIC:
- During pregnancy or breast-feeding until one year after your baby is born. If not breast-feeding, until six months after your baby is born or your pregnancy ended.
- For infants and children: Until your child's nutrition problem has improved or until your child reaches his or her fifth birthday, whichever comes first.
What Should I Do to Help the WIC Program Work for Me?
Keep your WIC appointments. If you can't keep an appointment, please call your local WIC office right away. The WIC staff works hard to see you at your appointment time, so please try your best to be on time. Be sure to bring the information that the WIC staff needs when they ask for it.
Tell the WIC staff about any changes in your name, address or phone number. If you are going to move, notify your WIC staff.
Always take your EWIC Card to your WIC appointments and to the store. Take your WIC Approved Food List with you to the store and/or download the WIC Shopper App on your smartphone to help your shop and buy the right foods and the right amount.
Use your WIC foods for you and your family. They can't be returned to the store for money or given away or sold to someone else.
WIC Shopper App
Click here to link to the app.
About WIC Foods
WIC foods are a prescription for good health, and are intended only for the person on WIC.
Nutrients in WIC Foods
Iron (a mineral) Found in cereals, dried beans, peas, lentils, eggs. Necessary for making healthy red blood cells.
Calcium (a mineral) Found in milk and cheese. Helps build strong teeth and bones, and helps muscles work.
Vitamin A Found in carrots, milk (whole or fortified), cheese, eggs. Neccessary for healthy eyes, skin, and bones.
Vitamin C Found in citrus fruit juices, and juices fortified with Vitamin C. Necessary for healthy gums, tissue, bones, and teeth. Helps the body use iron to make healthy red blood cells & help fight infections.
Vitamin D Found in milk and eggs. Necessary for strong bones and teeth.
Folate Found in orange juice, eggs, cereals, lentils, dried beans, and peas. Assists in making healthy red blood cells.
Protein Found in milk, cheese, eggs, dried beans, peas, lentils, peanut butter, and tuna. Necessary for growth, upkeep, and repair of body cells.
Zinc (a mineral) Found in dried beans, peas, lentils, eggs, milk, cheese, and cereals. Needed for cell growth and repair.
Vitamin B6 Found in eggs and tuna. Needed for normal growth.
Since WIC is furnishing these nutritious supplemental foods, you can use your money to buy other nutritious foods like fruits, vegetables, meats and fish for you and your children. All approved Missouri WIC cereals are fortified with vitamins or minerals.
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.