TOPEKA – The Kansas Department of Health and Environment is letting residents know during the federal government shut down, the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program would continue to operate. This would include providing nutritional food benefits, nutrition education, breastfeeding support and referral services.

WIC is the USDA funded nutrition program for low-income pregnant women, infants and children from birth to age 5.

“All eligible participants would continue to receive WIC benefits and new applicants would be certified and receive benefits,” said Rachel Sisson, MS, director of the KDHE Bureau of Family Health before the shutdown. “There are 350 stores in Kansas authorized to provide WIC foods to clients. During a shutdown, all stores would continue to process WIC transactions and would continue to be paid for food purchased by WIC participants.”

The WIC program is administered by KDHE through contracts with county health departments. There are 120 county WIC clinics in Kansas where eligible participants may apply for services.

 Information about the Kansas WIC program is on the web at www.kansaswic.org.