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WIC is raising income eligibility for nutrition assistance

An adult hand holding a baby bottle with an infant hand in theirs
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WIC helps families afford healthy foods.

Families struggling to make ends meet may have more help thanks to new income guidelines for the WIC program that offers nutrition assistance for pregnant people and families with children under five.

The new guidelines mean a family of four making just over 51 thousand dollars a year could qualify for assistance.

Southern 7 Health Department outreach coordinator Shawnna Rhine said WIC offers more than just nutrition assistance.

"Families who are enrolled in the program also have access to basic medical services, we work with the families to make sure they have information on, again, providing nutritious meals for their family, we also do developmental health screenings with the children, other health screenings with them," she said.

Anyone interested in finding out if they qualify for WIC can contact their local health department for more information.

Steph Whiteside is a Digital Media News Specialist with WSIU radio in Carbondale, Ill. She previously worked as a general reporter at AJ+ and Current TV.
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