Sunday Conversation: Understanding Georgia WIC and the Resources Available to Families

LaTrice Johnson, MPH, RD, LD, CLC, Nutrition Services Director with the West Central Health District. She is a Registered Dietitian with over 10 years of experience as a public health nutritionist and dietitian.

Courier: For readers who may have heard of WIC but don't fully understand the program, what is Georgia WIC and what is its primary mission?

Johnson: Georgia WIC is the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children. Its mission is to improve the health and nutritional well-being of pregnant and postpartum women, infants, and children under the age of five by providing nutritious foods, personalized nutrition education, breastfeeding support, and referrals to health and community services. WIC is designed to give families a healthy start during some of life’s most important developmental stages.

Courier: Who is eligible for Georgia WIC, and what are some of the biggest misconceptions about who can participate?

Johnson: WIC serves eligible pregnant women, breastfeeding women through their infant’s first birthday, postpartum women through six months after pregnancy, infants, and children up to their fifth birthday, including foster children. Applicants must live in Georgia, meet income guidelines, and have a nutritional need identified during their assessment. A major misconception about WIC is who qualifies. Families often believe their income is too high to qualify and do not realize income guidelines are based on the family size. Working families, married families, military families, mothers, fathers, grandparents, guardians, and foster parents may qualify. Families receiving Medicaid, SNAP, or TANF may already meet WIC’s income requirements.

Courier: Georgia WIC serves pregnant women, breastfeeding and postpartum mothers, infants, children through age 5 and foster children. Why are these particular stages of life so important when it comes to nutrition?

Johnson: Nutrition during pregnancy supports the mother’s health and the baby’s growth and development. Infancy is a period of rapid brain and physical growth, while the preschool years establish eating behaviors that can continue throughout life. Providing strong nutrition from pregnancy through age five can help support healthy growth, learning, immunity, and development while reducing the risk of nutrition-related health problems.

Courier: Many people think WIC is simply a food assistance program. What services does Georgia WIC provide beyond food benefits?

Johnson: WIC is much more than groceries. Services include: Individual nutrition assessments and counseling, Breastfeeding education and support, Breastfeeding peer counseling, Growth monitoring and nutrition-related screenings, Education about infant feeding and child development, Online nutrition education, Referrals to medical, dental, behavioral health, childcare, and community services, Support with food allergies, special dietary needs, and feeding concerns

Courier: How do the personalized nutrition consultations work, and what can families expect nwhen meeting with a WIC nutrition professional?

Johnson: Families meet with a trained WIC professional, such as a nutritionist or registered dietitian. The consultation is supportive and individualized. Staff review information such as the participant’s health history, eating habits, growth, laboratory results when applicable, feeding concerns, and family goals. Together, the participant and nutrition professional develop realistic goals that fit the family’s culture, budget, schedule, and needs. The participant’s food package is also tailored according to age, life stage, and nutritional needs.

Courier: Breastfeeding can be challenging, particularly for new mothers. What breastfeeding education, counseling and support does Georgia WIC provide?

Johnson: Georgia WIC provides breastfeeding education during pregnancy, one-on-one counseling, peer counselor support, help with positioning and latch, guidance on milk supply, pumping and milk storage education, and assistance with returning to work or school. Depending on individual needs and program guidelines, breastfeeding supplies and breast pumps may also be available.

Courier: How does WIC support a mother who wants to breastfeed but is struggling or doesn't have a strong support system at home?

Johnson: WIC surrounds her with a support team. Breastfeeding peer counselors offer encouragement based on personal breastfeeding experience, while trained breastfeeding staff and lactation professionals can help address more complex concerns. Support may be provided through appointments, telephone contacts, follow-ups, and referrals when medical evaluation is needed. Most importantly, we meet mothers where they are. We help them establish goals that are realistic for their circumstances and provide support without judgment, whether they are exclusively breastfeeding, combining breast milk and formula, pumping, or reassessing their feeding plan.

Courier: Georgia WIC provides nutrition education. What are some of the practical things parents learn that can help them make healthier choices for their families?

Johnson: Parents may learn how to: Plan balanced meals and snacks on a budget, Introduce solid foods safely, Recognize hunger and fullness cues, Manage picky eating without creating mealtime battles, Choose age-appropriate portions, Read food labels, Select lower-sodium and lower-added-sugar options, Prepare fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and proteins in family-friendly ways, Prevent iron deficiency, Practice food safety, Make healthier beverage choices

Courier: WIC also provides referrals for medical care, dental care and other services. How important is WIC's role in connecting families to resources beyond nutrition?

Johnson: It is extremely important because nutrition does not exist in isolation. A family may also need prenatal care, a pediatrician, dental services, mental health support, immunizations, housing assistance, childcare, or help obtaining health insurance.

Courier: What types of nutritious foods can families purchase using Georgia WIC benefits?

Johnson: Depending on the participant’s individualized food package, benefits may include: Fruits and vegetables, Milk, cheese, and yogurt, Eggs, Whole-grain bread, tortillas, pasta, brown rice, or other approved grains, Breakfast cereal, Beans, peas, lentils, or peanut butter, 100% fruit juice, Infant cereal and baby foods, Infant formula when prescribed as part of the food package, Certain canned fish and approved milk alternative

Courier: Georgia WIC has transitioned to an eWIC card system. How does the card work, and how has it made purchasing approved foods easier for families?

Johnson: The eWIC card works similarly to a debit card. Benefits for eligible family members are loaded onto one reusable card. At an authorized Georgia retailer, the participant swipes the card, enters a four-digit PIN, and approved items are deducted from the available balance. Families can shop more than once during their benefit period instead of purchasing everything at one time; however, unused benefits expire at midnight on the final day of the benefit period and do not roll over. Participants should keep their card because new benefits are loaded onto the same card.

Courier: With approximately 1,300 authorized retailers participating across Georgia, how can families determine which stores accept the eWIC card and which products are WIC-approved?

Johnson: Families can use the Georgia WIC Participant Mobile App’s store locator or ask their local WIC clinic staff for a list of authorized retailers. Families can also look for Georgia WIC identification displayed at participating stores. To determine whether a product is WIC-approved, families should review the Georgia WIC Approved Foods List and verify the exact product, brand, package size, and available benefit balance before checkout. The app also allows participants to view their current benefits, clinic locations, and other helpful program information.

Courier: With food prices continuing to affect household budgets, how significant can WIC benefits be for a family trying to provide nutritious meals for young children?

Johnson: WIC can make a meaningful difference. It is a supplemental program, so it may not cover every food a household needs, but it helps families consistently obtain nutrient-rich foods that might otherwise be reduced or eliminated when budgets are tight. By covering items such as milk, eggs, cereal, whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and infant foods, WIC allows families to redirect household funds toward other necessities such as housing, transportation, childcare, and medical expenses.

Courier: Can someone receive WIC while also receiving SNAP, Medicaid or other forms of assistance?

Johnson: Yes. WIC can be received at the same time as SNAP, Medicaid, TANF, and many other assistance programs. In fact, participation in Medicaid, SNAP, or TANF may make an applicant automatically income-eligible for WIC, although the other program requirements must still be completed. WIC benefits are supplemental and do not replace those programs.

Courier: Foster children from birth through age 5 may also qualify. What should foster parents and caregivers know about accessing WIC services for children in their care?

Johnson: A foster child from birth through the child’s fifth birthday qualifies for WIC. Foster parents should contact the local WIC office as soon as a child enters their care. The office will explain which identification and placement or custody documents are needed. Each foster child is considered separately for income eligibility.

Courier: What documents or information does someone need to apply for Georgia WIC, and where does the application process begin?

Johnson: The process can begin through Georgia Gateway, by calling a local WIC clinic, or by calling the Columbus Health Department WIC at 706-321-6374 Applicants may be asked to provide: Identification for each person applying, Proof of Georgia residency or current address, Proof of household income, Proof of Medicaid, SNAP, or TANF participation, if applicable, Information about pregnancy, recent delivery, or the child, Foster-care or guardianship documentation, when applicable. The local clinic will confirm exactly what is needed and schedule the nutrition assessment.

Courier: Does someone have to be unemployed to qualify for WIC, or can working families also be eligible?

Johnson: No. Working families can and do qualify for WIC. Eligibility is based on household size, income, participant category, Georgia residency, and nutritional need—not simply employment status. A family may have one or more working adults and still fall within WIC’s income guidelines.

Courier: Are there families who qualify for WIC but aren't participating because they simply don't realize they are eligible?

Johnson: Absolutely. Some families assume they earn too much, believe WIC is only for people receiving other assistance, or think only mothers can apply. Others may not realize that eligibility can change after pregnancy, the birth of a baby, placement of a foster child, a reduction in work hours, or another change in household circumstances.

Courier: What are some of the barriers that keep eligible families from enrolling, and what is Georgia WIC doing to address those barriers?

Johnson: Common barriers include limited awareness, stigma, transportation challenges, work schedules, childcare needs, language barriers, difficulty gathering documents, and confusion about eligibility. Georgia WIC is addressing these barriers through online applications, the participant mobile app, electronic benefits, community outreach, multilingual resources, partnerships with healthcare and community organizations, and flexible service approaches where available. Local agencies also work to bring services closer to families through health departments, outreach events, and mobile or community-based services.

Courier: There can sometimes be a stigma associated with receiving public assistance. What would you say to a parent who qualifies for WIC but is hesitant to apply because of pride, embarrassment or fear of being judged?

Johnson: WIC is an investment in the health of mothers, babies, and young children. Families work hard, and accepting a resource for which they qualify should not be embarrassing. Our staff serves families from many backgrounds and circumstances. We are here to support and not judge them. Seeking help to give a child a healthier start is something to feel good about, not ashamed of.

Courier: How does investing in nutrition during pregnancy and the first five years of a child's life affect that child's long-term health and development?

Johnson: Pregnancy and early childhood are foundational periods for brain development, physical growth, immunity, and the formation of lifelong eating patterns. Appropriate nutrition can support healthier pregnancies, infant development, school readiness, and a child’s ability to learn and thrive. It can also help reduce nutritional deficiencies and establish habits that may lower the future risk of obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and other chronic conditions. Investing early can produce benefits that continue well beyond the years a family participates in WIC.

Courier: What changes or improvements have been made to Georgia WIC recently that current or prospective participants should know about?

Johnson: Important improvements include the eWIC card, online application access through Georgia Gateway, the Georgia WIC Participant Mobile App, online nutrition education, and tools to locate clinics and authorized stores. WIC food packages have also been modernized nationally to better reflect current nutrition science, expand variety, support cultural and dietary preferences, and place greater emphasis on fruits and vegetables. Because approved products and individual benefits can change, participants should review their current benefit balance and Georgia’s approved-food information before shopping.

Courier: For families in Columbus and the surrounding communities, where can they go locally to receive WIC services or get help with enrollment?

Johnson: Families in Columbus can contact the Columbus Health Department WIC at 706-321-6374 for appointments and enrollment assistance. The department is located at 5601 Veterans Parkway, Columbus, Georgia 31904. The West Central Health District also provides WICservices through local health departments across its 16-county service area: Chattahoochee, Clay, Crisp, Dooly, Harris, Macon, Marion, Muscogee, Quitman, Randolph, Schley, Stewart, Sumter, Talbot, Taylor, and Webster counties. Additionally, services are available at Fort Benning, conveniently located near the commissary. Families may call their county health department or use Georgia WIC’s online clinic locator.

Courier: Finally, if a pregnant woman, new mother, foster parent or family with a young child is reading this conversation and thinks they might qualify, what is the first step you want them to take?

Johnson: The first step is simple: contact WIC and let us determine your eligibility. Do not assume that you earn too much or that the program is not intended for your family. Call the Columbus Health Department WIC Call Center at 706-321-6374, contact your local county health department, or apply online at Georgia Gateway. One phone call or online application can connect your family with nutritious foods, trusted guidance, breastfeeding support, and valuable community resources.