What does WIC stand for?

WIC stands for Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, a federal program that helps low-income pregnant women or women with small children to obtain healthy food, medical care and education about nutrition. The program began in 1974 in Pineville, Kentucky and celebrated its 40th year in 2014.

The program is run by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which claims that it has a positive influence on child health through both better nutrition and higher use of health care services. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, more than half of all babies in the U.S. participate in the program at more than 10,000 clinics located in all U.S. states and territories.