Lackland Air Force Base, Texas –
A supplemental nutrition program that helps families eat well and stay healthy has been serving the Lackland community for nine years.
The Women, Infants¬ and Children Program is a federally funded nutrition program established in 1972 to combat anemia and inadequate growth. This program is intended to prevent health problems and improve the health status of participants during critical times of growth and development.
The primary mission of the Texas WIC Program is to give the most vulnerable children the best possible start by providing optimal nutrition during the critical stages of fetal and early childhood development.
WIC provides nutrition education, one-on-one counseling for nutrition, food vouchers for healthy foods, support and help with breastfeeding, referrals to health care and other programs, and immunizations review and referral.
Who is eligible?
WIC is an equal opportunity program for pregnant, postpartum and breastfeeding women, infants and children under 5 years old.
Clients must live in Texas, meet state income requirements and have an identified nutritional risk. To find if you are eligible, contact your local WIC office for an appointment.
For those who have just arrived and are waiting housing, the temporary lodging facility receipt or letter will be proof of residency.
If coming from an overseas or out of state WIC, transfer papers from your previous WIC office are accepted. If transferring from an instate WIC clinic, bring your Texas WIC ID card to the clinic and we can transfer your services in Texas in seven to ten days.
What can you learn?
WIC will teach you how to take care of yourself during pregnancy and how to breastfeed if you so desire.
After you have your baby, WIC staff will help you learn when, what and how to feed your baby.
WIC helps you learn how to keep your baby healthy in their first year of life with good nutrition and how to keep your children between 1 and 5 years of age healthy with good nutrition.
Does WIC make a difference?
This program was so successful it was nationally implemented after only three years as a pilot program.
According to a Medicaid report from 2000, for every WIC dollar spent before birth there is $2.44 savings in healthcare which is realized in the first 60 days. A total of $4.21 of healthcare dollar savings per WIC dollar is realized for newborns and their mothers.
Prenatal WIC reduces Texas infant mortality by four in 1000 births. An evaluation of more than 70 cases showed improved pregnancy outcomes and reduced incidence of anemia in children.
Eligible women who did not participate in WIC during pregnancy were 8.5 times more likely to have a low birthweight baby than those on the program.
WIC services are free of charge. Call or stop by the local LAFB WIC office to sign up. The clinic is located in Bldg. 6122 on the corner of George Avenue and Truemper Street.
The telephone number for the WIC clinic on Lackland is 674- 7739. The clinic hours are Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The clinic is closed for lunch noon to 1 p.m.
Appointments are appreciated; however, walk-ins are welcome.