Oregon WIC Program

Oregon WIC is administered by the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) Public Health Division, but delivered locally through a network of 30 county health departments, two Native American tribal organizations, one migrant health center, and one Head Start organization, reaching families across all 36 Oregon counties.

Who WIC Serves in Oregon

WIC is open to people who are pregnant, postpartum, or breastfeeding, along with infants and children under age 5. Dads, grandparents, foster parents, and other guardians can apply on behalf of an eligible child. To qualify, a household needs to live in Oregon, meet income guidelines, and have a nutrition-related risk that a WIC staff member or your doctor can help confirm at your appointment. WIC isn't just for families facing hardship — about 71% of Oregon WIC households are employed.

What Your Benefits Include

Once approved, benefits are loaded monthly onto an eWIC card that works like a debit card at authorized grocery stores and pharmacies statewide, covering foods like milk, eggs, whole grains, fruits and vegetables, and infant formula. WIC also connects families to breastfeeding support, one-on-one nutrition education, and referrals to programs like the Oregon Health Plan (Medicaid) or SNAP. Many participants use the free WICShopper app to check their benefit balance and scan barcodes in the store to confirm an item is approved.

How WIC Works in Oregon

Because Oregon WIC is delivered locally rather than through a single state office, the fastest way to get started is to find and call the WIC clinic that serves your county, or call 211 toll-free to be connected. OHA has recently opened new local clinics — including in Gilliam County, Wallowa County, and Grand Ronde — to bring services closer to families in rural and tribal communities. Some local agencies, including Multnomah, Washington, and Clackamas counties, also run their own online interest or referral forms in addition to the statewide interest form.

Staying Enrolled

Recertification timing follows federal guidelines: pregnant participants are certified through pregnancy and six months postpartum (up to a year if breastfeeding), infants are recertified around six months and again near their first birthday, and children are recertified every six months until age 5. Your local WIC clinic will notify you before your certification period ends — don't wait until the last week to schedule, especially at busy county agencies.