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MeCDC > Family Health > WIC > FAQs

Women, Infants and Children Nutrition Program (WIC)

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are questions frequently asked by parents or health care professionals. If you have a question you may call your local WIC office or email the state WIC office

For Parents

 

Does it matter where I spend my WIC checks?
Many stores in Maine and some in New Hampshire accept Maine WIC checks. These stores must carry WIC approved foods. To find a store near you call your local WIC office
 
 
Why does WIC need to weigh and measure my child?
Your child's height and weight tell us a lot about her health. WIC weighs and measures a child regularly. How your child grows over time can identify a concern before it becomes a problem.
 
 
Why does WIC need to do a blood test?
Since WIC is a health and nutrition program, we check iron level in the blood. A low iron level can be an indication of anemia.
 
 
What does WIC consider as income?
Income includes all cash before taxes earned by anyone who lives in the household. It also includes money from other sources such as Social Security benefits, public assistance, alimony or child support payments and unemployment compensation. Call your local WIC office for questions about income.
 
 
What should I do if I move to another town or state?
Contact your local WIC office before you move. They can give you the phone number of a WIC office near your new home. Ask your local WIC staff to make sure your WIC ID has all your transfer information. When you go to the WIC clinic in your new area, bring your WIC ID folder(s) with you. The new office can transfer you to their program with this information.
 
 
How often do I have to go to the WIC office or clinic?
You will be asked to visit your WIC office every one to three months. Your local WIC staff will tell you what you need to bring for each visit.
 
 
What should I do with formula that my baby does not need?
Return any unused infant formula to your local WIC office. Do not take it back to the store, or give it to someone else.
 
 
What do I need to do if my baby's formula gets changed?
Contact your local WIC office. They will tell you if you need to have a prescription from the doctor for the new formula. Any unused formula and WIC checks will need to be brought back to the WIC office before the staff can give you checks for the new formula.
 
 
What should I do if the amount of any of the foods on my checks is too much for me or my child to eat each month?
Talk to your WIC counselor. The amount of food on your checks may be changed to fit your needs.
 
 
What is BPA and why should I be concerned?
BPA is the chemical bisphenol A (BPA). BPA is used to harden plastics, keep bacteria from growing in foods, and prevent cans from rusting. Visit our BPA FAQ page for more information

 

For Health Care Professionals

 

Why do you limit formulas to iron fortified?
One of WIC's charges is to reduce rates of anemia. If a mother chooses not to breastfeed, iron fortified formulas help prevent anemia. WIC agrees with the American Academy of Pediatrics position that there is no role for the use of low iron formula in the management of gastrointestinal problems such as colic, diarrhea, constipation, vomiting, cramping or flatus. WIC only allows low iron formula for iron storage disease due to repeat transfusions for blood disorders such as thalassemia, chronic hemolytic anemia, hereditary spherocytosis, chronic aplastic anemia, sickle cell disease and hemoglobin E.
 
 
What do I do if one of my patients needs a special infant formula?
WIC Nutritionists can consult with the physician about the appropriate choice of formula. Certain information is needed to provide special formulas. Most special infant formulas can be provided by WIC. Certain special formulas must be prescribed by a specialist. WIC has worked with the medical community to simplify this process. If you have any questions contact the State Nutrition Coordinator at 800-437-9300 or the nutritionist at your local WIC office
 
 
Does Maine WIC provide nutrition supplements for women and children?
Yes, WIC provides supplements for women or children who have a medical condition that precludes or restricts the use of conventional foods. You can discuss specific details about your patient with the local WIC nutritionist.
 
 
Who should I refer to WIC?
Tell all of your clients about WIC! You'd be surprised who qualifies. WIC serves thousands of working families every year. Just as important as the healthy foods is the nutrition information provided at WIC visits. Our vision is a Maine where every child is healthy and never hungry. Healthy babies and children is our shared goal.
 
 
How do I know if my patient qualifies for WIC?
We would be happy to provide you with income guidelines for the WIC Nutrition Program. Call us at 800-437-9300.
 
 
How much infant formula does WIC provide?
The WIC Nutrition Program is a supplemental program and is not designed to supply all the nutrition that a baby needs. Federal regulations limit the amount of formula to about 26 ounces per day for infants. Children over the age of one can receive additional 3.4 ounces of formula per day with documentation of need by the physician.
 
 
By providing formula does WIC discourage mothers from breastfeeding?
WIC wants all mothers to choose to breastfeed their babies. But let's face it, there are still many cultural issues to resolve in our bottle-feeding society before most mothers will choose to breastfeed. In the meantime, we still want our babies to be healthy. Prior to WIC, many babies developed health problems due to over-dilution of formula to make it last. Cow's milk or homemade formulas come with their own set of problems.
 
 
Why is WIC encouraging women to breastfeed?
The research definitely supports breastfeeding as the best way to feed an infant. Parents need to make an informed choice as to how they will feed their infant. To help parents make a choice, we provide information on the benefits of breastfeeding and encourage all mothers to try it. As a health promotion program, WIC is an advocate of breastfeeding.
 
 
Who can be on the WIC Program?
WIC serves all kinds of families. Single parent or two-parent families, teen and adult families, working and non-working families may all be eligible for WIC services. The individuals enrolled in WIC are pregnant teens and women, postpartum teens and women, or infants and children under five. Fathers and foster parents can enroll their children under the age of five in WIC.
 
 
What does WIC do?
WIC nutrition staff meet with each WIC client to...
  • Assess diet and identify nutritional needs
  • Provide individual nutrition counseling
  • Determine appropriate food benefits
  • Monitor growth and refer concerns to the physician
  • WIC also provides health and community referrals. These referrals may include Medicaid and CHIP insurance, well child clinics, child developmental screening, food bank, heating and housing assistance, food stamps, TANF, child care, immunizations, and lead screening.
 
 
How often does WIC do blood work (hemoglobin) on children?
The WIC Nutrition Program follows the CDC guidelines for periodicity of blood work. Infants 9 months of age or older are required to have a hematological test for anemia between 9 and 12 months of age. Children over 1 year of age have a hematological test for anemia between 15-18 months, and annually thereafter if the results are within normal range. If the hemoglobin results are low, the test is done every 6 months until a test with normal range is obtained.Note: Every effort is made to obtain hemoglobin values from the physician. If this is not possible, trained WIC staff will obtain the blood sample.
 
 
What anemia test is WIC using?
The Maine WIC Nutrition Program uses Hemocue® Hemoglobin Analyzers to determine hemoglobin levels. All WIC staff who do blood work are trained in proper technique and universal precautions annually.
 
 
Why does WIC need an immunization record for a child?
The Maine WIC Nutrition Program checks immunization records to support and reinforce the importance of immunizations. If the immunization record is not up to date, WIC staff will refer the parent or caregiver to their physician.
 
 
What infant feeding advice is WIC providing to parents?
Infant feeding advice provided to parents follows recommendations by the AAP and Bright Futures in Practice: Nutrition. The Maine WIC Nutrition Program encourages all mothers to breastfeed their infants for one year. WIC recommends the introduction of infant cereal at 4-6 months, and the progressive introduction of fruits, vegetables and meats beginning at 6 months. Parents are advised to serve all juice in a cup, and limit it to no more than 2-3 ounces/day. WIC does not provide whole cow's milk to infants under 12 months for any reason.

 

Contact us at

Phone: 800-437-9300 or 207-287-3991
TTY: 1-800-438-5514
mailing address: 11 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333
E-mail information

 

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