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| Public
Health Department |
| “…working to enhance our community’s total well-being by
promoting healthy lifestyles, protecting health, and preventing disease.” |
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Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)
What is WIC?
The Calhoun County Public Health Department (CCPHD) Women, Infants,
and Children (WIC) program is a special supplemental nutrition program
for women, infants, and children funded by the United States Department
of Agriculture (USDA). WIC services in Calhoun County are provided by
CCPHD in Battle Creek, Albion, and Marshall. Several WIC facts include:
- One out of every two babies born in Michigan
receives WIC benefits.
- For every dollar spent by this program, more than
three dollars in subsequent health care costs are saved.
Benefits
Women and Newborns
- WIC participation significantly increases the number
of women receiving adequate prenatal care.
- WIC participation dramatically lowers infant
mortality among Medicaid beneficiaries.
- WIC improves the dietary intake of pregnant and
postpartum women. It also improves weight gain in pregnant women.
- WIC participation decreases the incidence of low
birth weight and lowers pre-term births.
Children
- WIC participation lowers the rate of anemia among
children ages 6 months to 5 years.
- WIC significantly improves children's dietary intake
of vitamins and nutrients such as iron, vitamin C, vitamin A, thiamin,
protein, niacin, and vitamin B6.
- 4- and 5-year-olds who participated in WIC during
early childhood have better vocabularies and digit memory scores than
comparable children who did not participate in WIC.
- WIC participation leads to higher rates of
immunization against childhood diseases.
Who Does WIC Serve?
- Women who are pregnant, breastfeeding, or who
recently had a baby.
- Infants from birth to 1 year of age.
- Children from 1 year of age to their 5th birthday
(child must be less than age 5).
- Michigan residents meeting
income and health guidelines.
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Several photos included in this 
