I. Hoke County WIC Program Staff: 

Helene Edwards, RD, LDN, Nutrition Director

Evelyn Bravo, Nutritionist II

Keyna Goodwin, Processing Assistant III (Bilingual)

Macrina Kwe, Processing Assistant III

II. Overview of the WIC Program:

The Women, Infants, and Children Program (WIC) is a Special Supplemental Nutrition Program offered through the Hoke County Health Center. The WIC Program is funded by the USDA. The WIC Program helps by providing healthy foods and nutrition education to its participants.

WIC Serves:

1. Pregnant Women

2. Breastfeeding women who have had a baby in the last 12 months

3. Women who have had a baby in the last 6 months

4. Infants

5. Children up to 5 years of age

Participants must:

• Meet the WIC Income Guidelines:

1. The family income must be less than 185% of the federal poverty level.

2. A participant can qualify for WIC by receiving Medicaid, Work First Family Assistance, or Food Stamps.

• Have a health risk factor based on: height and weight measurements, blood test for low iron, health history, and diet history.

III. WIC Offers Free Foods:

Milk, Eggs, Juice, Cereal, Cheese, Peanut Butter, Tuna and Carrots*, Dried Beans and Peas, Infant Formula, and Infant Cereal

*Tuna and Carrots are available to breastfeeding women who are not given formula through the WIC Program.

IV. WIC Offers Free Information…

• Nutrition for Healthy Pregnancy

• Breastfeeding Promotion

• Infant Feeding

• Nutrition for Children

• Child Growth and Development

• Special Diets

• Nutrition education and counseling by a WIC Nutritionist

• Monthly food vouchers to redeem at local food stores for healthy foods

V. Hoke County WIC Program Statistics

The Hoke county WIC Program has 1634 participants enrolled as of October 2004:

• 386 Women

• 446 Infants

• 802 Children

 VI. WIC Food Instrument Redemption 2003-2004

WIC Food Expenditures generates a monthly average of $64,044.92 in revenue for the Hoke County WIC Vendors. During the NC state fiscal year of July 2003-June 2004, Hoke County redeemed a total of $768,539.27. (This value was an increase of $103,642.92 from the state fiscal year of 2002-2003!)

 VII. WIC Vendors for Hoke County

At the present time there are 10 stores within the county that are approved to accept WIC.

 VIII. Breastfeeding Activities in Hoke County

The Hoke County Health Center was nominated for the 5th consecutive year as “A Mother Friendly Business”.

Sherry Peaks, Nutritionist II is our breastfeeding coordinator and she is planning activities for 2005.

WIC Program Hours

Information Needed for WIC…

Examples of what you will need to bring:

1. Identification: (Only one is needed)

   • Valid driver’s license, Social Security Card, Current Work/School ID, Medicaid Card, Current Military ID, Birth Certificate, Immunization Record, Health Record.

2. Residence: (Only one is needed)

   • Recent water, electric, cable, gas or telephone bill, current rental or mortgage agreement.

3. Income:

   • Medicaid Card, Letter of Food Stamp eligibility/AFDC, Pay stubs (4 weeks), Most recent End of Month LES, Unemployment certification.

Additional Information…

• North Carolina WIC Program

Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT)

Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT) is intensive nutritional counseling for high risk infants, children, and adults. It is a service available at the Hoke County Health Center by appointment only. Medical Nutrition Therapy is provided by a Registered Dietitian (RD) with the guidance of a physician’s referral. The MNT services include the following:

• Nutritional assessment

• Development of an individualized nutrition care plan

• Intensive counseling on the management of nutrition related medical conditions.

For more information about MNT, call Helene Edwards, RD, LDN at (910) 875-2298.

WIC is an equal opportunity program. Persons, who believe they have been discriminated against because of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability, should write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20050-9410 or call (202) 720-5964.