March 28, 2023. Reno/Sparks, Nev. – Families that are struggling with nutritious food costs in Washoe County are encouraged to learn more about the Washoe County Health District – Women Infant Children (WIC) program, especially those who have received temporary federal emergency SNAP funds during the COVID-19 pandemic.

SNAP, which stands for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and previously was referred to as “Food Stamps,” increased distributions to families during the COVID-19 pandemic and those extra benefits are set to end in April, with March being the last month people will receive the increased amount. Learn more here.

The WIC program is a short-term nutrition intervention program designed for long-term benefits for families currently in low-income brackets with children under 5 to safeguard health during critical times of growth and development. The program is funded by grants through the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Families who qualify for SNAP, and others who meet WIC eligibility requirements, are encouraged to apply for local WIC benefits.

Start the application process by filling out an interest form: (English) (En Español)

Immediate benefits for families on WIC can include:

• Healthy foods
• Individualized information about nutrition
• Referrals to help families meet other needs
• Breastfeeding support, including breast pumps and expert advice

There are many long-term benefits for families on WIC; just a few are:

• Improved birth outcomes like less premature birth
• Positive effect on children’s diet and diet-related outcomes like decreased anemia
• Improved infant and child growth rates
• Improved intellectual development of children

WIC is good for communities; every dollar invested in WIC saves about $2.48 in medical, educational, and productivity costs.

The WIC Program is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, immigration status or disability. See the USDA Nondiscrimination Statement: (English) (En Español)

The Washoe County Health District is nationally accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board and has jurisdiction over all public health matters in Reno, Sparks, and Washoe County through the policy-making Washoe County District Board of Health. The District consists of five divisions: Administrative Health Services, Air Quality Management, Community and Clinical Health Services, Environmental Health Services and Epidemiology & Public Health Preparedness. More info can be found here.