1950-2025

Jackson County Health Department Celebrates 75 Years of Service

Sharing program highlights all year long.

Jackson County WIC

Since December of 1976, WIC has been an integral part of Jackson County Health Department.
WIC stands for Women, Infants and Children and is a federally funded supplemental nutrition
program that provides many wonderful benefits to eligible families. WIC is for any eligible
family with child dependents birth-5 years. Eligible families include parents, grandparents,
foster parents and step parents. Eligibility is also extended to those who are pregnant,
postpartum or even those who have suffered the loss of a recent pregnancy. In June of 1977,
the program had 845 clients. Over the last decade, the program has had a consistent caseload
with an average of 1050 clients. JCHD WIC has continued on this path for 48 years. The Jackson
County WIC program is expected to serve over 1215 individuals this year. The economic impact
of WIC food benefit redemptions locally was $741,835 in fiscal year 2023.

Seventy-five percent of our WIC clients initiate breastfeeding, with thirty-five percent
sustaining breastfeeding with infants receiving breast milk. In addition to breastfeeding and
infant formula assistance, WIC offers free nutritious foods. Some examples are whole wheat
bread, milk, eggs, yogurt, peanut butter, beans, fruits and vegetables. WIC also has trained
dieticians, nutritionists and nurses who provide nutrition education, breastfeeding support and
tips, recipes, connections to health care providers and other community programs. Jackson
County Health Department has maintained a strong WIC program over the years and it is still
the cornerstone of the agency’s maternal child health programming today. For more
information or to check eligibility, please call Jackson County Health Department at 618-684-
3143 ext. 148 or visit www.jchdonline.org