The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, commonly known as WIC, is a federally funded nutrition program for low-income pregnant, breastfeeding and postpartum women and children under the age of five who have a nutritional risk. The goal of the WIC Program is to decrease the risk of poor birth outcomes and to improve the health of participants during critical times of growth and development.
WIC is available to low income pregnant, breastfeeding and postpartum women and children under the age of five who are determined to be at nutritional risk and who are at or below 185 percent of the federal poverty level. The current income cutoff for a family of four is $40,793 annually. Most families participating in WIC have one or more members who work outside the home.
The Inter Tribal Council of Arizona, Inc. serves as a WIC “state” agency and receives funds directly form the United States Department of Agriculture. ITCA has agreements with 11 tribal health departments and one urban Indian health center to provide direct services to clients. ITCA targets services to American Indians living in Arizona. ITCA provides WIC services to over 11,000 women, infants and children per month.