What are the Benefits of Using A WIC Prescreening Tool?

Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) is a federal assistance program of the Food and Nutrition Service of the United States Department of Agriculture. WIC was developed to protect the health of low-income pregnant and postpartum women, infants, and small children. WIC efficiently and effectively provides breastfeeding support, nutritious food, social services, and healthcare referrals to millions of families throughout the country that may qualify.

The WIC prescreening tool was developed to streamline the enrollment process so potential applicants can determine if they are eligible beforehand for benefits. Health Services of North Texas (HSNT) is proud to offer the benefits of WIC for women and newborn/pediatric care in the surrounding communities of Denton, Plano, and Wylie, TX. Contact our office to learn more about WIC benefits and how the WIC prescreening tool works.

What are the benefits of WIC?

WIC provides:

• Nutritious food
• Information on healthy eating
• Breastfeeding support
• Referrals for healthcare to pregnant, postpartum, and breastfeeding women, and children up to age five

The primary goal of WIC is to safeguard the health and welfare of low-income women, infants, and young children who are at risk of not having access to nutritious food. Food provided by the WIC program is rich in calcium, iron, vitamins A and C, protein, and other vital nutrients. These food items often include cheese, milk, eggs, breakfast cereal, whole wheat bread, and more.

What are WIC qualifications?

The WIC program is well-known for improving low-income families' nutrition and health, leading to healthier newborns and children. It is a unique supplemental program funded by the government; therefore, not every person qualifies. The WIC program determines a candidate's eligibility using the following four criteria:

Income

An applicant's pre-tax income must fall at or below the U.S. poverty income guidelines.

Residential

Must be a resident of the state in which they are applying for WIC benefits.

Categorical

Program participants must be women who are pregnant, postpartum, or breastfeeding. Fathers or legal guardians are also eligible if they are the sole provider of an infant or child under the age of five.

Nutrition risk

Recipients must take a nutritional risk assessment conducted by a qualified health professional, such as a doctor, nurse, registered dietitian, or nutritionist.

What is the WIC prescreening tool?

Applicants can apply for the WIC program at their local school, hospital, county health department, community center, or health centers, like HSNT. The WIC prescreening tool is a web-based application that helps potential WIC applicants determine eligibility for benefits. Applicants who have the WIC qualifications will be provided a state-specific contact person and encouraged to make an appointment with their local WIC agency. Additionally, the WIC prescreening tool will provide printable documentation that is required at the certification appointment.

Do you want to learn more about the WIC prescreening tool?

The WIC prescreening tool assists candidates in determining whether they are eligible for this federally funded program. It typically takes about 15 minutes to complete. We understand that families in Denton, Plano, and Wylie, TX may be concerned about their WIC eligibility. To learn more about WIC qualifications or this new web-based prescreening tool, contact Health Services of North Texas.