Dorchester North/Mattapan Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Nutrition Program provides health education, healthy foods as well as referrals to other agencies free of charge to Massachusetts families who qualify.
What does WIC offer?
WIC’s goal is to help keep pregnant and breastfeeding women and kids (under age 5) healthy. To do this, WIC provides:
- Personalized nutrition consultants
- Free, healthy foods
- Tips for eating well to improve health
- Referrals for medical and dental care, health insurance, child care, housing and fuel assistance and other services that can benefit the whole family
- Services in a number of languages including English, Haitian Creole, Cape Verdean Creole, Portuguese and Spanish.
But that’s not all! WIC also offers breastfeeding classes, one-on-one breastfeeding support, and parent groups with discussion about nutrition and other health topics that are important to their families. Additionally, WIC also offers free formula if breastfeeding is not an option.
Who is WIC for?
WIC is for all kinds of families: married and single parents, working or not working. If you are a father, mother, grandparent, foster parent or other legal guardian of a child under five (5), you can apply for WIC for your child. You can participate in WIC if you:
- Live in Massachusetts
- Have a nutritional need (WIC staff can help you determine this)
- Are a child under five (5), or a pregnant or breastfeeding woman, and
- Have a family income equal to or less than WIC guidelines.
Can men participate in WIC?
WIC welcomes men! WIC recognizes the important role that fathers, grandparents, stepparents, and other guardians play in caring for children. Fathers and other caregivers of children under five (5) are encouraged to enroll and bring them to appointments, attend nutritional health workshops, and use WIC cards in grocery stores.