WIC Benefits Presently Not Interrupted by Federal Government Shut Down - No Action Needed by WIC Participants -
The pending federal government shutdown will not effect participants in the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program at this time.
In Nebraska, WIC provides healthy food at no cost, breastfeeding support, nutrition information and referrals to about 37,000 people monthly. More than 100 WIC clinics are located throughout the state.
The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services and local agencies are working to keep WIC clinics open and ensure that food benefits continue uninterrupted. New applications will continue to be accepted.
“e-WIC cards will continue to be accepted at WIC-authorized grocery stores and pharmacies,” said Peggy Trouba, program manager at DHHS. “At this time, WIC clinics will be open for business as usual, and WIC recipients can be assured their food benefits will continue to be available.”
“We’re closely monitoring the situation in Washington, D.C. There will be no interruption at this time. Should circumstances change or the shutdown be prolonged, DHHS will reevaluate and communicate any changes,” said Steve Corsi, DHHS CEO.
WIC Director
The Women, Infants and Children program, commonly known as WIC, provides nutrition education, resource referrals, and nutritious foods to supplement diets for low-income women, infants and children up to the age of five, who are at a nutrition risk.
WIC plays an important role in the overall health of our community.
- WIC decreases the rates of birth defects and preterm deliveries by educating parents about the risks and outcomes of certain types of lifestyle behaviors during pregnancy.
- WIC monitors iron levels of participants; we educate mothers on the importance of a healthy iron level for the development of their child(ren).
- WIC provides nutrition education and healthy foods, enabling families to make lifelong healthy eating and lifestyle choices.
- WIC foods are specifically selected for their nutritional value and provide essential vitamins, minerals and key nutrients to ensure good health, growth and development.
- Providing breastfeeding education to mothers increases the likelihood that mothers will breastfeed. Breastfeeding reduces risks such as: breast cancer, ovarian cancer, Type 2 diabetes and postpartum depression.
- Babies who are breastfed reduce their risk of: obesity, lower respiratory infections; Type 2 diabetes; asthma and; SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome).
WIC Clinic Hours Are By Appointment Only
Columbus: 4321 41st Ave., (402) 564-9931
- Wednesdays 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. (Closed for lunch 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.)
- Thursdays and Fridays 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (Closed for lunch 12:00 - 1:00 p.m.)
Schuyler: 316 East 11th St.
- Mondays and Tuesdays, 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. (Closed for lunch 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.)
Albion: 2583 S. Highway 14, Suite #3
- 1st and 3rd Thursdays, 9:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. (Closed for lunch 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.)
WIC helps eligible families with:
Healthy Food
Breastfeeding Support
Nutrition Education
Health and community resources
Is My Family Eligible?
- You must live in Nebraska. You do not have to be a U.S. citizen to apply.
- If you are on Medicaid, SNAP, or TANF you are income-eligible. If you don’t qualify for these programs, you may still qualify for WIC depending on the income of your household.
- Individuals who receive benefits are pregnant, breastfeeding or postpartum women, infants, and children up to age five.
- All foster children under age five are eligible for WIC.
To apply for WIC, ask questions, or schedule an appointment please call us at 402-564-9931 during our office hours.
In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.
Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.
To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online at: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/USDA-OASCR%20P-Complaint-Form0508-0002-508-11-28-17Fax2Mail.pdf from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by:
1. Mail:
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or
2. Fax:
(833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or
3. Email:
program.intake@usda.gov
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
De acuerdo con la ley federal de derechos civiles y las normas y políticas de derechos civiles del Departamento de Agricultura de EE.UU. (USDA), esta institución tiene prohibido discriminar por motivos de raza, color, origen nacional, sexo (incluida la identidad de género y la orientación sexual), discapacidad, edad o represalias por actividades anteriores relacionadas con los derechos civiles.
La información del programa puede estar disponible en otros idiomas además del inglés. Las personas con discapacidad que necesiten medios de comunicación alternativos para obtener información sobre el programa (por ejemplo, Braille, letra grande, cinta de audio, lenguaje de signos americano), deben ponerse en contacto con la agencia estatal o local responsable que administra el programa o con el Centro TARGET del USDA en el (202) 720-2600 (voz y TTY) o ponerse en contacto con el USDA a través del Servicio Federal de Retransmisión en el (800) 877-8339.
Para presentar una queja por discriminación en un programa, el demandante debe rellenar el formulario AD-3027, Formulario de queja por discriminación en programas del USDA, que puede obtenerse en línea en: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/USDAOASCR%20P-Complaint-Form-0508-0002-508-11-28-17Fax2Mail.pdf en cualquier oficina del USDA, llamando al (866) 632-9992, o escribiendo una carta dirigida al USDA. La carta debe contener el nombre, la dirección y el número de teléfono del demandante, así como una descripción escrita de la supuesta acción discriminatoria con el suficiente detalle para informar al Subsecretario de Derechos Civiles (ASCR) sobre la naturaleza y la fecha de una supuesta violación de los derechos civiles. El formulario AD-3027 completado o la carta deben ser presentados al USDA antes de:
1. Correo:
Departamento de Agricultura de EE.UU.
Oficina del Subsecretario de Derechos Civiles
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; o
2. Fax:
(833) 256-1665 o (202) 690-7442; o
3. Correo electrónico:
program.intake@usda.gov
Esta institución es un proveedor de igualdad de oportunidades.
