fbpx

Our Mission

The primary mission of the Texas & Cameron County Public Health WIC Program is to give our most vulnerable children the best possible start by providing optimal nutrition during the critical stages of fetal and early childhood development. To this end, we are committed to serving as many eligible women, infants, and children as we possibly can with the funds provided. Pregnant women who eat nutritious foods and receive prenatal care are more likely to deliver full-term, healthy babies. Breastfed infants and children who eat appropriate nutritious foods build a foundation for lifelong health and increased intellectual potential.

The combination of WIC nutrition education, healthy foods, and access to medical and social programs promotes a better quality of life for Texas children today, and supports their growth and development into fully functioning human beings with a choice and a future.

Our Locations

Breastfeeding Support & Education

Our Purpose

The purpose of Breastfeeding (BF) Education in the WIC Program is to encourage WIC participants to breastfeed their infants and to establish breastfeeding as the natural and optimum way to feed infants. The WIC staff and the clinic environment will promote and support breastfeeding by:

  • Promoting breastfeeding as the natural and optimum way to feed an infant. Informing participants about the availability of breast pumps.
  • Provide counseling for any breastfeeding concerns.
  • Provide participants with a referral list of qualified individuals able to answer their breastfeeding questions.
  • Provide ongoing breastfeeding training for WIC staff.
  • Maintain the Breastfeeding Peer Counselor (BFPC) Program and the Peer Dad Program.
  • Staff an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) and Trained Breastfeeding Educator (TBE).

To view a list that has been developed locally to assist participants with a roster of qualified individuals that are able to answer their breastfeeding questions, please click here.

1. Do I qualify for WIC?

– Who Is Eligible For WIC?
  • Women who are:
    • Pregnant;
    • Breastfeeding; and
    • Postpartum
  • As well as:
    • Infants; and
    • Children younger than 5.
– Eligibility Requirements

In order to be eligible for WIC benefits, you must meet the following requirements:

  • Meet income guidelines. Click for more information.
  • Households with incomes up to 185% of the federal poverty line are eligible.
  • Have a nutrition-related health problem. (WIC applicants receive an initial screening at a WIC clinic to find any nutrition problems)
  • Must be a resident of Texas
  • U.S. citizenship is not a requirement for eligibility.

2. How to Become a Client of WIC

The following are the steps to becoming a WIC client.

  • Call 1-888-WIC-HUGS // 1-888-942-4847
  • Make an appointment to see if you and/or your household members can become WIC clients.
  • Bring proof of income.
  • Anyone on Medicaid, TANF, or SNAP already has the right income for WIC. So, bring proof that you and/or your household members are on Medicaid, TANF, or SNAP. (Be sure that your proof of Medicaid, TANF, or Food Stamps indicates that you are eligible within the same month of your appointment.)
– OR –

If not on Medicaid, TANF, SNAP bring one of these items for each person in your household who has income:

  • Check stub (dated within 30 days of your appointment) that shows gross family income;
  • Current tax records;
  • Letter from employer;
  • Proof of Social Security benefits;
  • Alimony or child-support payments; or
  • Other proof (check with clinic). Bring proof of identification for each person who wants WIC benefits. Bring one of these items:
    • Driver’s license;
    • Birth certificate;
    • School ID or work ID; or
    • Other proof (check with clinic).

Each woman, infant, and child who wants WIC Benefits must come to the appointment.

3. You had your WIC appointment and qualified for the program. What comes next?

We will check your family’s health and income every year. This is called getting re-certified. By getting re-certified every year, you can receive WIC benefits until your child is 5. We will schedule your visits every 3 months so we can reload your WIC card with more food benefits.

4. What happens if my Texas WIC card gets lost or stolen?

If your Texas WIC card is lost or stolen call and report it to 1-800-942-3678 so WIC can cancel your card and protect your benefits. It can take up to 6 business days for the WIC clinic to get you a new card.

5. Do I need to take my WIC card to every appointment?

Yes, you will need to bring your Texas WIC card to each WIC appointment so our staff can reload your family’s information and food benefits on the card. Your Texas WIC card also serves as a form of identification for the WIC Program.

6. What other services other than the nutritious foods can I get from WIC?

WIC provides nutrition education in the form of one-on-one counseling, group discussion classes, self-paced paper & pencil classes, and online classes. A Registered Dietitian Nutritionist is also available for those seeking more specialized counseling due to a medical condition or healthcare provider concern/recommendation.

WIC also provides Breastfeeding Support through Breastfeeding Peer Counselors that are conveniently located in nearly all WIC clinic sites as well as referrals to an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant for those individuals that need more specific counseling on breastfeeding. WIC also provides referrals to other programs including but not limited to: Clinical Services (Family Planning, Immunizations, Maternal & Health Services), Environmental Health (General Sanitation, Animal Control), and Indigent Health Care.

For questions on services and/or eligibility, contact WIC at:
1-888-WIC-HUGS // 1-888-942-4847

WIC Nondiscrimination Statement:
In accordance with Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability. To file a complaint of discrimination, write to: USDA Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building 1400 Independence Ave. SW, Washington D.C. 20250-9410; or call (202) 720-5964 (voice and TDD).

USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
You may also call our toll-free number for assistance: 1 (800) 942-3678