Everett Phone:(425) 252-5303
Lynnwood Phone:(425) 258-8400
Email: chquestions@shd.snohomish.wa.gov
Office Hours: Monday through Thursday 7:30 am to 6:00pm, Friday 8:00 am to 4:30 pm
Women, Infants and Children (WIC)/First Steps Program
Snohomish Health District's Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) is integrated
with the First Steps Program.
The mission of the Washington WIC Nutrition Program is to improve the lifelong health and nutrition of women, infants,
and young children in Washington State. The First Steps Program offers the skilled services of a public health nurse,
nutritionist, and social worker during and following pregnancy.
Learn more about the First Steps program.
What is WIC?
The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) is a nutrition program that helps pregnant women,
new mothers, and young children eat well, learn about nutrition, and stay healthy. The program provides a combination of nutrition
education, supplemental foods, breastfeeding promotion and support, and referrals to health care and social services.
Who qualifies for WIC?
To qualify for WIC, you must meet the following criteria:
Live in the state of Washington. You do not need to be a U.S. citizen.
AND Meet the WIC income guidelines. If you receive Basic Food Program benefits, Medical Assistance, Temporary Assistance for
Needy Families (TANF), or Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR), you already meet the income eligibility
requirements. Foster children under age five and foster teens who are pregnant are income eligible for WIC.
AND Have a nutritional need.
AND Be in one of the following groups:
Pregnant women (through pregnancy and up to 6 weeks after birth or after pregnancy ends).
Breastfeeding women (up to infant's 1st birthday)
Non-breastfeeding postpartum women (up to 6 months after the birth of an infant or after pregnancy ends)
Infants (up to 1st birthday). WIC serves 45 percent of all infants born in the United States.
Children up to their 5th birthday.
What are the benefits of WIC?
Nutrition education and counseling
At each visit, WIC staff offers tips and advice to help you feed your family in a healthy way. We provide our participants will
information on how to eat a healthy diet during pregnancy, infant feeding, breastfeeding, dental health, and much more.
Breastfeeding promotion and support
Breastmilk is the very best nutrition possible for your baby. Knowing that all mothers want what is best for their babies, our
staff promotes and supports breastfeeding. All staff members are dedicated to helping all women breastfeed.
Supplemental nutritious foods
The foods that WIC provides are good sources of important nutrients that help pregnant women, new mothers, and young children eat
well and stay healthy. Eating many different foods every day will help ensure you get all the nutrients your body needs.
WIC encourages all women to breastfeed. It is the best food for babies. If a baby is not breastfed, some formula may be provided by
WIC. WIC does not supply enough formula to feed your baby for one month. You may still have to buy more formula at the end of the month.
Accessing health care and other social services
The WIC clinic can help you find out about other programs that may be helpful to you and your family. We have information on:
Immunizations
Prenatal care
Family Planning
Dental care
Health care
Medicaid, Basic Food Program, and TANF
Substance abuse treatment centers
Food banks
How do I apply for WIC?
Review the qualification requirements for WIC.
If you think you qualify:
Click here to locate your local WIC office
or call Within Reach toll free at 1-800-322-2588 and say you want to apply for WIC.
The local WIC office will give you a date and time for a WIC certification visit. At this visit, your household income and
the medical/nutrition status of each applicant will be reviewed. On that day, you will find out if you and your children are
eligible for WIC.
What to bring to the WIC certification visit:
Bring EACH family member who is applying to receive WIC services.
Bring proof of ALL income for everyone in the household (before taxes and deductions are taken out). Income includes such things
as: salaries, child support and alimony, foster care payments, interest withdrawn, unemployment compensation, and military earnings;
OR, if you receive Basic Food Program benefits, Medical Assistance, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), or Food
Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR), you are income eligible for WIC. (If you do not receive Medicaid or TANF,
but other members of your household receive these benefits, you may be income-eligible for WIC.) WIC staff can verify your enrollment
in these programs. However, it is helpful to bring the current "Notice of Case Action" letter, which is proof of eligibility for one
or more of these programs.
Bring ONE proof of where you live (no P.O. boxes). The document must be current and show your name and address. Items that are
allowed include a utility bill, bank/insurance statement, or driver's license. You must be currently living in Washington, but you
don't have to be a U.S. citizen.
Bring ONE proof of identification for you and ONE proof of identification for any infant or child applying for WIC, such as a
birth certificate, driver's license, crib card, military ID, photo ID, Social Security Card, or hospital record.
Bring the immunization (shot) record for each child.
The Washington State WIC Program does not discriminate in the provision of services or employment on the basis of race,
color, national origin, sex, age or disability. The Washington State WIC Program is an equal opportunity provider and employer. If you want
to file a complaint of discrimination based on race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability, write to the Office of Civil Rights,
United States Department of Agriculture, Whitten Building, Room 326-W, 14th and Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or
call (202)720-5964 (voice and TDD). You may also call the Western Region Office of Civil Rights at 1-888-271-5983.
