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Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)

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WIC Services

WIC is a federally-funded supplemental nutrition program which serves pregnant, breastfeeding, postpartum women, infants, and children (under the age of 5) who have low-to-moderate income and are at nutritional risk. 

WIC provides healthy foods, nutrition education, and breastfeeding support to eligible families.

WIC helps to prevent low-birth-weight infants and infant deaths by improving the diet of pregnant women. In addition, the program helps to improve the growth of children who participate in the program.

WIC provides the following at no cost to its clients:

  • nutritious foods
  • breastfeeding promotion and support
  • nutrition education and counseling
  • referrals to health care, immunizations, and community services

Who Is Eligible?

Receive Your WIC Benefits Electronically

The DOH-Polk/Hardee Women, Infant, and Children Program makes shopping for WIC foods easy. WIC uses an electronic benefit transfer (EBT) system which allows clients to purchase WIC-eligible items at checkout with an electronic card.

The EBT system provides many benefits:

  • Clients may buy as many, or as few, assigned WIC-items as they wish during each shopping trip.
  • Each EBT card is attached to a personal identification number (PIN) which reduces the risk of fraud.
  • Clients may check the balance on their card online, by telephone, or by using the WIC app.
  • Un-used food benefits can be replaced if the card is lost or stolen.

WIC in Polk/Hardee County

DOH-Polk/Hardee WIC serves approximately 19,000 women, infants, and children in seven clinic sites every month. 

There are two WIC clinics located in Lakeland, one in Bartow, one in Auburndale, one in Haines City, one in Lake Wales, and one in Wauchula.

WIC in Florida

Statewide, the Florida WIC program operates over 210 sites in all 67 counties, where families can receive nutrition advice from licensed nutritionists and nutrition educators, in addition to healthy foods on their EBT card.

There are approximately 2,000 grocery stores in Florida which accept WIC EBT cards, including all major chain stores.

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