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Description:: WIC is the popular name for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children. The WIC Program was established in 1974 to reduce infant mortality and improve the health of our nation’s children. Today, the WIC Program is considered one of the most successful, cost-effective and important nutrition intervention programs in the country. Pregnant, breastfeeding and postpartum women, infants and children up to 5 years of ages may be eligible if they live in New York State, are certified by WIC staff to be at nutritional risk and meet the WIC income guidelines. The Westchester County Department of Health WIC Program has been providing WIC services to the community since 1979 and currently serves just under 10,000 participants annually. WIC provides monthly checks to purchase supplemental foods, nutrition education, breastfeeding support and counseling and referrals for health care and other services for eligible participants. Participants can use their WIC checks to buy fruits and vegetables, milk, juice, eggs, cheese, cereal, whole grain breads, tortillas and brown rice, dried beans, peanut butter, infant formula, infant cereal and baby foods. The WIC Program food packages promote and support successful, long-term breastfeeding. For infants who require supplemental formula, a variety of formulas are available. Infant formula food packages are tailored at each visit to meet the infant’s current growth and developmental needs. For infants requiring Special Formula, a Health Care Provider licensed to write medical prescriptions must make a medical determination that the participant has a WIC Qualifying Medical Condition and complete a New York State WIC Medical Documentation Form. WIC's focus on nutrition and healthy lifestyle is intended to help combat childhood obesity and to reduce chronic disease by offering choices that are low in fat and high in nutrients such as iron, vitamin C, B vitamins and fiber. Studies have found that WIC participation is linked to a lower incidence of iron-deficiency anemia, longer pregnancies, less premature births and improved dietary intake among women and children. In addition, families enrolled in the WIC Program may participate in the New York State Farmers Market Nutrition Program (FMNP). FMNP is a federally funded, state administered program, created to provide and promote increased consumption of fresh, locally grown fruits and vegetables to WIC participants. FMNP checks are issued once per season and are limited to one set per WIC household as available. In 2014, 6,125 WIC families received $24 in coupons to buy fresh fruits and vegetables at participating farmers markets throughout the county.