× The federal government has shut down due to the failures of the President and Congress to continue government funding. Millions of Californians receiving benefits from state programs may be impacted. For now, California’s Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) will continue to provide services and enroll eligible families as long as funding is available. No new federal funding to California WIC will be provided until the President and Congress take action. Families should continue to use their WIC benefits and attend their WIC appointments. This information is subject to change, so please monitor the California WIC website for updates.

Please be wary of potential highly partisan political messaging while visiting federal government websites for information related to the federal government shutdown.

Women, Infants & Children (WIC)

Health Care Providers

Blood Work Requirement

Why does WIC require blood work?

WIC requires that each applicant be screened for risk of iron deficiency anemia.

Federal regulations require that a hemoglobin/hematocrit result be documented for applicants enrolling in the program and thereafter about once per year.

This information is requested from the health care provider in order to encourage referrals to healthcare services. In some cases hemoglobin screening can be done at the WIC site as well. WIC Referral Forms will be available online soon.

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