About the Cecil County WIC Program
WIC is a federally funded program that provides healthy supplemental foods and nutrition counseling for pregnant women, new mothers, infants, and children under age five. The program has an extraordinary 40-plus-year record of preventing children’s health problems and improving their long-term health, growth, and development. WIC serves over 8 million women, infants, and children through over 10,000 clinics nationwide. In 2017, Maryland WIC served over 135,000 women, infants, and children each month.
How Do I Know if I Am Eligible?
WIC is for you if
- You live in Maryland and are a(n)
- Pregnant woman
- New mom (up to six months after delivery)
- Breastfeeding mom (up to one year after delivery)
- Infant
- Children under the age of five
- You meet the income guidelines listed below
- You have a nutritional need
You Can
- Have a job or be unemployed
- Own a home or live with friends or relatives
- Be married or single
- Be a father, mother, guardian, or grandparent and apply for benefits for an infant or child under the age of 5
Income Guidelines
Check the income guidelines to see if you qualify for WIC. You may be eligible if your family receives less than the amount listed. Foster care, Medical Assistance, Temporary Cash Assistance, and Food Supplement Program clients are income qualified.
For Income Guidelines based on Total Gross Income, click here.
Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its agencies, offices, employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA.
Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.
To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form (AD-3027) found online at: http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provided in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by:
(1) | mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights 1400 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; |
(2) | fax: (202) 690-7442; or |
(3) | email: [email protected]. |
WIC Benefits
For Women
Women in the WIC Program eat better and have healthier babies
For Infants
Infants born to WIC mothers weigh more and grow and develop better.
For Children
Children on WIC eat foods with more iron and vitamin C, which helps them develop
strong minds and bodies.
WIC participants enjoy benefits such as:
- Nutrition education
- Breastfeeding Support
- Free healthy food and
- Referral to other health and social agencies
If you are eligible, you will receive nutrition information, breastfeeding support, referrals to other services, and foods such as:
- whole grain bread, tortillas, and brown rice
- fruits and vegetables
- dried canned beans and peas
- peanut butter
- cereal, milk, and 100% juice
- eggs and cheese
- baby food and baby cereal
- infant formula
How To Apply For WIC
Give WIC a Call!
Cecil County WIC clinic is open Tuesday through Friday for in-person services by appointment only. For assistance with your benefits or to schedule an appointment, please call 410-996-5255, weekdays 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
If you get voicemail, leave a message, and a team member will call you back. Please answer your phone when unknown or blocked numbers are calling. You can also email us at [email protected].
Daytime and evening appointments are available.
For other WIC Programs in Maryland, call the Maryland WIC Hotline at 1-800-242-4WIC / 1-800-242-4942.
To set up an appointment to apply for WIC, call the WIC office at (410) 996-5255. Every person applying for benefits must attend the first appointment, including infants and all children up to age five. In preparation for your meeting, please bring the following items:
Proof of Household Income | (Bring at least ONE)
|
Person(s) being certified and proof of identity | (Bring ONE below, per person)
|
Proof of your address | (Bring ONE)
|
If applicable |
|
WIC Breastfeeding Services
How does WIC help mothers with breastfeeding? A big part of WIC is to help babies have the best start in life. WIC moms are encouraged to breastfeed their babies. Pregnant women and new WIC moms get breastfeeding tips and help. WIC breastfeeding moms also get
- More foods than moms who do not breastfeed
- Get WIC longer than non-breastfeeding moms
- One-to-one support from peer counselors and breastfeeding experts
- Breast pumps and other supplies as needed
The Maryland WIC Program is committed to helping families have positive, successful breastfeeding experiences.
Breastfeeding is the natural way to feed your baby. Breastmilk has all the ingredients in the right amounts, is easy for the baby to digest, and gives your baby a healthy start. Nursing also helps moms relax and feel close to their babies. Breastfeeding is a gift only you can give to your child, and it provides benefits to your baby that last a lifetime!
The American Academy of Pediatrics encourages mothers to provide only mother’s milk for the first six months and to continue to give mother’s milk while giving other family foods for at least 12 months and beyond, as long as desired by both mother and infant/child.
What are some of the health benefits of breastfeeding?
- Breastfeeding protects babies from infections and illnesses, including diarrhea, ear infections, and pneumonia.
- Breastfed babies are less likely to develop asthma.
- Children who are breastfed for six months are less likely to become obese.
- Breastfeeding reduces the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
- Mothers who breastfeed have a decreased risk of breast and ovarian cancers.
Breastfeeding Support in Cecil County
- Cecil County WIC Program — (410) 996-5255
- Union Hospital of Cecil County
- Breastfeeding/Lactation services line- (443) 245-7305
- Breastfeeding support go to www.uhcc.com for times
- Prenatal Breastfeeding Class – Dates and times vary-call (443) 245-7305 to register
- Upper Chesapeake Health Breastfeeding Warm Line — (443) 643-2948
More Nutrition Information
For good things to know about nutrition in pregnancy, breastfeeding, infants, and children, go to the U.S. Government website or go the Maryland WIC website.