Ohio WIC Program

Ohio WIC is administered by the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) but delivered locally through county health departments and community health centers in all 88 Ohio counties. The program has served Ohio families since its first clinic opened in Lawrence County in 1974, and today it's known for a statewide Peer Helper Breastfeeding Program that pairs new and expecting parents with trained community members who have breastfed their own babies.

Who WIC Serves in Ohio

WIC is open to pregnant women, women up to six months after giving birth (or up to a year if breastfeeding), infants, and children up to their 5th birthday. Fathers, foster parents, grandparents, and other legal guardians can apply on behalf of an eligible child. To qualify, a household needs to meet income guidelines and show a nutrition-related risk — such as being underweight, anemic, or newly pregnant — which a WIC health professional confirms at your appointment.

What Your Benefits Include

Once approved, you get an Ohio WIC Nutrition Card (eWIC) loaded with monthly benefits for foods like milk, eggs, cheese, yogurt, whole grains, fruits and vegetables, peanut butter or beans, and infant formula. The card works like a debit card at authorized grocery stores statewide. Ohio WIC also connects families to breastfeeding support through its Peer Helper Breastfeeding Program, nutrition education, and referrals to Medicaid, SNAP, and other local services. Many participants use the free WICShopper app to check their card balance and confirm whether an item in the store is WIC-approved.

How WIC Works in Ohio

Because Ohio WIC is delivered through local county health departments and agencies rather than a single statewide office, the fastest way to get started is to submit ODH's online pre-application and let your local clinic reach out to schedule your appointment, or call your county WIC office directly. A WIC staff member will let you know what to bring — proof of identity, proof of Ohio residency, and proof of income or enrollment in a program like Medicaid, SNAP, or Ohio Works First.

Staying Enrolled

Recertification timing depends on your category: pregnant participants are certified through delivery, breastfeeding participants up to a year postpartum, non-breastfeeding postpartum participants for six months, and children annually with a mid-certification health check. Your local WIC clinic will notify you before your certification period ends — schedule your next appointment early, since some county offices book up quickly.