Great Lakes Wire

For the last 50 years, the Michigan Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program has worked to positively affect pregnancy outcomes, child growth, and development.

The U.S. Congress began the federally funded Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for women, infants, and children in 1974 under the administration of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. WIC began operating in Michigan that year, with the first clinic opening in the Delta-Menominee region of the Upper Peninsula, followed soon by one in Kalamazoo. Administered by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS), WIC serves low and moderate-income pregnant, breastfeeding and postpartum women, infants and children up to age five who are found to be at nutritional risk.

As part of the anniversary celebration, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer issued a special tribute commemorating 50 years of distinguished service and support to WIC families in Michigan. Past and present Michigan WIC staff also recently gathered to share memories and celebrate the enormous strides made in the program over the past five decades.

The mission of WIC is to improve the health of pregnant and postpartum people, infants, and children by providing client-centered services such as nutritious foods, nutrition education and counseling, breastfeeding education and support, health screenings, and referrals to healthcare providers and other community resources.

“WIC has positively impacted the health and well-being of millions of Michigan families over the past five decades,” said Elizabeth Hertel, MDHHS director. “Each month more than 200,000 moms, babies and children under age five receive nutritious foods from the Michigan WIC program providing them with a healthy start.”

WIC has been shown to lessen fetal deaths' number reduce infant mortality decrease low birth weight deliveries lower iron deficiency anemia prevalence increase immunization rates provide positive economic impacts local communities as WIC food benefits redeemed local retail stores.

Michigan was one of the first adopters of Electronic Benefit Transfer issued benefits moving away from paper coupons in 2007 while only a few options existed at start program clients now choose around 2 200 products shopping their families vendors accepting grown more than 1 400 locations providing options promoting dignified shopping experience

“We are so proud ways which improved since inception look forward continued modernization make even more accessible those need,” said Christina Herring director

Learn more about its benefits at