WIC – Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children

WIC helps supply nutritious foods so that pregnant women, new moms and young children eat well, learn about nutrition and stay healthy.  WIC helps children reach their full growth potential and WIC children enter school ready to learn and show better cognitive performance.

Interested in becoming a WIC client? Please fill out the following form to the best of your ability. This form does not automatically enroll you, it provides the WIC agency with the information to contact you for enrollment. It's that easy!

Annual News Release: The Butler County Health Department has announced that a contract to continue to provide WIC services for federal fiscal year 2022 has been signed with the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. Under the terms of the contract, the Butler County Health Department will be able to serve 1692 persons eligible for WIC every month. 

Butler County Health Department is recognized as a Breastfeeding Friendly WIC Clinic and a Breastfeeding Friendly Worksite by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.

Milk Depot and Dispensary

A Milk Depot is a conveniently located collection site for approved human milk donors. Area donors that have been approved by The Milk Bank can drop off their excess breastmilk at the Depot. These donations are collected and sent to The Milk Bank where they will be bottled, pasteurized, and tested for sterility by an independent lab before being dispensed to an ordering hospital or to an outpatient with a physician’s prescription. Anyone interested in becoming a donor must first contact The Milk Bank at 317-536-1670 or online at themilkbank.org/donate.

Donor Milk Express

 The Milk Bank’s Donor Milk Express program has the unique ability to provide families in our communities with a readily available source of pasteurized donor human milk (PDHM).  Quick access to PDHM allows parents of healthy newborns to supplement with human milk instead of formula, providing babies with a healthy start and parents with peace of mind. Donor Milk Express is available to help bridge the gap between leaving the hospital and a successful breastfeeding routine.

More information, questions or to get started on this process  contact Jentsy Philpot at 573-785-7044.

 

 

WIC ELIGIBILITY

WIC applicants must meet eligibility requirements under the following Categorical, Residential, Income, and Nutrition Risk criteria…

Who is eligible?

Categorical

1. Pregnant women
2. Women who are breastfeeding a baby under 1 year of age
3. Women who have had a baby or miscarriage in the past six months.
4. Children under the age of 5

Residential

1. Applicants must live in Missouri to receive Missouri WIC.  Applicants can choose to receive WIC in the county of their choice.

Income

1. Applicants must have gross income at or below the standards in the table below.
2. WIC counts all of the members of a household.
3. Pregnant women could be counted as two family members.
4. Some applicants who receive MO Health Net may automatically meet income eligibility.
5. Applicants who receive food stamps or TANF are automatically income eligible.

MO WIC Income Guidelines 2022

Nutritional Risk

1. WIC participants height and weight are measured and blood work is taken to check for anemia at certification and mid-certification appointments every 6 months.
2. WIC participants meet with a Nutritionist for a health and nutrition screening to determine nutritional risk.
   1. There are two main categories of nutritional risk:medically-based risks such as a history of prematurity, underweight, or iron deficiency anemia, and
   2. nutrition-based risks such as poor eating habits that can lead to poor nutritional and health status.

Food Package

WIC participants receive benefits to purchase specific foods at the grocery store each month which are designed to supplement their diets.  WIC foods are high in one or more of the following nutrients:

• protein
• calcium
• vitamins A, B6, C, D
• folate
• iron
• zinc

Different food packages are provided for different categories of participants.  WIC foods may include:

• Milk
• Eggs
• Juice
• Cereal
• Dry Beans/Canned Beans
• Cheese
• Yogurt
• Peanut Butter
• Tuna
• Whole Grain Bread, Tortillas, Brown Rice
• Fresh/Frozen Fruits and Vegetables
• Tofu
• Infant Formula
• Infant Cereal
• Infant Fruits/Vegetables
• Infant Meats

Nutrition Education

WIC participants are required to receive nutrition education at least once between every certification and mid-certification. Nutrition education is available one on one with a nutritionist on staff or an online option is available for non-high risk participants.

Breastfeeding Support

Our health department encourages families to breastfeed and offers the following breastfeeding services:

1. Prenatal breastfeeding classes
2. Breastfeeding Peer Counselor program
3. Certified Lactation Consultant
4. Manual and electric breast pumps
5. After hours breastfeeding support line
6. Mom to mom breastfeeding support group

Referrals

WIC refers clients to a variety of health and social service agencies and programs.  Examples include: MO Health Net, Food Stamps, Prenatal care, Prenatal Case Management, Medical and Dental Services, Family Planning, Immunizations, Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs, Head Start, Early Childhood, First Steps and Food Assistance Programs.

Contact WIC

Call Butler County Health Department at 573-785-7044 to schedule an appointment.  Evening clinic hours are available every Thursday.  Satellite clinics are offered in Neelyville.  Applicants must bring the following to the certification appointment:

• Proof of Identity for women – Bring a driver’s license, work/school ID card, military card, passport, social security card, birth certificate or voter registration card
• Proof of Identitiy for child/infant – Bring shot record or birth certificate for 2 months and older. Bring a crib card from the hospital for infants younger than 2 months.
• Proof of Residency – Bring the most recent utility bill, monthly rent/ mortgage payment, or reliable third party piece of mail that has your name and current address on it.
• Proof of Income – Bring the last month’s employment/unemployment pay stubs, DFS benefits award letter, social security/SSI letter, or child support/alimony letter. If self employed bring a copy of your federal tax form.

This Institution is an equal opportunity provider.