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June 17, 2009

WIC wants to hear from you

Submitted by the Georgia Department of Human Resources

ATLANTA — The Georgia Department of Human Resources (DHR) is pleased to announce that the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) will hold its annual public comment beginning June 20. This is an opportunity for Georgians to provide feedback on the program and suggest ways to improve WIC services through Web access. The Web page was developed to give the public a more efficient and private way to comment on the program.

“We encourage Georgians to take part in this comment period so they can have an impact on the WIC program,” said Dr. Sandra Elizabeth Ford, acting director of the Division of Public Health. “We count on our customers’ feedback every year to make the WIC program better. For example, based on customer suggestions, our October food package will include fruits and vegetables, milk with lower fat content, less juice, more whole grain cereals and more support for breastfeeding mothers.”

To make comments or provide suggestions, participants should visit the WIC website at http://health.state.ga.us/programs/wic/. Once there, individuals should click on the “public comment” link provided on the left under “Women, Infants and Children (WIC)” and complete the appropriate survey.

The Georgia WIC program, the fifth largest WIC program in the U.S., provides monthly vouchers for supplemental foods such as cereal, eggs, juice, milk, peanut butter and infant formula to more than 324,000 participants. Women enrolled in the program also receive nutrition counseling, breastfeeding support and referrals for other health and social services.

WIC benefits are available to eligible pregnant women and women who have recently given birth, as well as infants and children up to five years of age. Eligible participants must have an income at or below 185 percent of the U.S. Poverty Income Guidelines (i.e., about $32,560 for a family of three). Participants must also be state residents who are at nutritional or medical risk as determined by a health professional.

There are more than 1,600 authorized food retailers that participate in the WIC food delivery system. WIC is 100-percent federally funded and administered by the Georgia Department of Human Resources, Division of Public Health.

For more information about Georgia’s WIC program, please call (800) 228-9173 or visit: http://health.state.ga.us/programs/wic/index.asp.



2008 WIC Eligibility Guidelines for Georgia



Size of family

(includes unborn children) Yearly income*

1 $19,240

2 25,900

3 32,560

4 39,220

5 45,880

6 52,540

7 59,200

8 65,860

*Add $6,660 for each additional family member. Also, new federal income guidelines will become effective 7/1/09.

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