WHAT IS WIC?
The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) offers nutrition education, breastfeeding support, referrals and a variety of nutritious foods to low-income pregnant, breastfeeding or postpartum women, infants and children up to age five.
Research has shown that WIC improves the health of pregnant women, new mothers, infants and children by providing foods that are rich in nutrients often missing from their diets. WIC participants have longer, healthier pregnancies and fewer premature births. WIC also provides referrals to health care providers, social service programs (such as SNAP, Medicaid, TANF, among others), and community organizations.
Jamaica Hospital has been a WIC Provider since 1980 and over the years consistently and successfully grown from an initial caseload of 50 to over 10,000 participants enrolled on a yearly basis.
SERVICES AVAILABLE
Jamaica Hospital’s WIC Program offers a variety of services including:
Nutrition Education – Trained nutritionists help educate participants on making healthy food choices that support overall wellbeing. Individual counseling sessions as well as facilitated group discussions are made available to all participants. In addition, we offer virtual Prenatal/Breastfeeding support groups.
Supplemental Foods – Foods issued via EBT (Electronic Benefit Transfer) are redeemable at thousands of supermarkets, grocery stores and pharmacies across New York State. Food packages include milk and milk substitute, cheese, yogurt, whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables, enhanced benefits for breastfeeding participants and supplemental formula for infants.
Breastfeeding Support – Peer counselors, Certified Lactation Counselor and IBCLC (Internationally Board-Certified Lactation Consultant) provide individualized counseling and lactation support services. We offer a comprehensive Breast Pump Program.
Healthy Lifestyle – We encourage participants to be more physically active by engaging in our “Fit WIC” initiatives. Whether in our in-person or through virtual sessions, we provide information on food safety, smart shopping and nutritious cooking techniques. Our goal is to promote lifestyle changes that may help decrease obesity rates among the community.
Referrals – We dispense referrals to health care providers, social service programs, support groups and community organizations.
WHO IS ELIGIBLE
To qualify for WIC, individuals must meet categorical, residential, and financial requirements.
Categorical – Applicants for the NYS WIC Program must be:
- A pregnant woman
- An infant or child up to 5 years old
- A mother of an infant up to 6 months old (Non-breastfeeding)
- A breastfeeding mother with an infant up to 12 months old.
Residential – Applicants must be a resident of New York State.
Financial – Applicants must meet income eligibility guidelines (Use this link to see the most up to date income guidelines and tables: https://www.health.ny.gov/prevention/nutrition/wic/income_guidelines.htm) or receive Medicaid, SNAP (formerly known as Food Stamps), or TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families).
For more information about WIC, click on the following links:
https://access.nyc.gov/programs/women-infants-and-children-wic/
JHMC WIC OFFICES/APPLYING FOR WIC
If you meet the criteria above and would like to apply to our program or schedule an appointment, please send an email to WIC@jhmc.org with your full name and phone number. We will contact you. For your convenience, we have added the contact information for each of Jamaica Hospital’s WIC office locations.
Jamaica Hospital Main Campus
- Address: 134-20 Jamaica Ave. 3rd Floor, Richmond Hill, NY 11418
- 718-206-8600 (phone) & 718-206-8622 (fax)
MediSys East NY Family Care Center
- Address: 3080 Atlantic Avenue, Brooklyn NY 11208
- 718-647-0240 (phone) & 718-348-0294 (fax)
Flushing Hospital Medical Center
- Address: Physical location temporarily closed, for appointments contact: WIC@jhmc.org
- 718-670-5277 (phone) & 718-670-5270 (fax)
MediSys Hollis Family Care Center
- Address: Location temporarily closed, for appointments contact: WIC@jhmc.org
- 718-206-8600 (phone) & 718-206-8622 (fax)
HOURS OF OPERATION
Jamaica Hospital Main Campus
- Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, & Fridays – 7:30am to 5:30pm.
- Wednesdays – 7:30am to 6:30pm.
- Two Saturdays a Month – 8:00am to 2:30pm.
MediSys East NY Family Care Center
- Mondays through Fridays – 8:30am to 5:00pm
- Two Saturdays a Month – 8:00am -2:30pm.
Flushing Hospital Medical Center
- Mondays through Fridays – 8:30am – 5:00pm.
MediSys Hollis Family Care Center
- Location temporarily closed, for appointments contact: WIC@jhmc.org
This institution is an equal opportunity provider. For more information: