WIC is recognized as the nation's premier public health nutrition program. It has gained this reputation and garnered strong, continued bipartisan support because of its cost-effective, scientifically documented health successes. WIC's combination of nutrition education, nutritious foods, breastfeeding support, and health care oversight provides a gateway to good health in 9,000 clinics administered by 1,800 local agencies and 87 state WIC programs. Breastfeeding Successes WIC promotes breastfeeding as the preferred method of infant feeding. Breastfeeding helps mothers feel close to their babies.
Breast milk contains all the nutrients needed to grow and develop.
Breast-fed infants tend to be healthier because they receive antibodies from the breast milk that protect them against infection. Children's Health Successes WIC enables parents to properly feed their children during critical early years of growth and development, assuring normal growth, reducing levels of anemia, increasing immunization rates, improving access to regular health care and improving diets. Studies have shown that low-income children enrolled in WIC have a lower prevalence of anemia than those who are not enrolled. The inclusion of links from this site does not imply endorsement by the Department for Public Health. The Department makes no endorsement, express or implied, of any links to or from this site, nor is it responsible for the content or activities of any linked sites.