Strengthening Families By Connecting Them to Healthcare

October 1, 2014

It’s true that parenthood doesn’t come with a manual, but there are resources along the way to help parents fill in the blanks.

The WIC Program has been a trusted resource for 40 years. It helps families recognize needs and serves as a gateway to healthcare resources. WIC staffs meet with families and provide them with referrals to necessary services:

• Prenatal, obstetric, maternal and pediatric care
• Dental care
• Immunizations
• Head Start coordination
• SNAP
• Smoking cessation, drug and alcohol abuse counseling
• Spouse and child abuse

Connecting families to the right care when they need it can help improve everyone’s health:

• Pregnant women get prenatal care earlier
• Moms deliver healthier babies
• Children get vaccinations

Celebrating 40 Years of WIC

The National WIC Association’s theme for WIC's 40th Anniversary—WIC: Strengthening Families for 40 Years—showcases how the WIC Program is one of our country’s most important public health programs, and has enriched the lives of millions of families since its founding.

Share our materials showing how WIC strengthens family health by connecting them to healthcare:

• Watch the WIC Healthcare Referrals video
• Share the Healthcare Referrals video
• Share the Healthcare Referrals image

Help us celebrate four decades of WIC successes! Check out WICturns40.org for more shareable materials and resources. Questions? Email Samantha Lee at slee@nwica.org.

WIC serves over 8 million low-income mothers and young children monthly, including 53% of all infants born in the U.S. Since the program’s inception in 1974, WIC’s services have consistently and successfully improved health outcomes in the population it serves.