The Chilton County Health Department released the updated qualifications for the WIC nutrition program, a special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants and children.

Qualified applicants for WIC include pregnant, postpartum or breastfeeding women, or the parent or guardian of a child up to age 5.

WIC is a nutrition program that provides nutrition education and supplemental foods during the early, formative years.

More families may be eligible for the program under the current federal poverty guidelines, according to a press release from the Chilton County Health Department.

WIC participants must have both a limited income and nutritional need.

Families who receive Medicaid, SNAP or Family Assistance already meet the income qualifications for WIC.

Families who do not qualify for these programs may still be eligible for WIC because of its higher income limits.

For example, a single mother and her child may have an income level of up to $539 per week (before taxes are deducted) and qualify for WIC.

A husband and wife with three children can have a total weekly income of as much as $961 (before taxes) and meet the income requirements to participate in WIC.

“We especially want to reach women during their pregnancies because good prenatal nutrition is important in promoting healthy pregnancies and birth outcomes,” Alabama Department of Public Health WIC Director Carolyn Battle said. “Also, we know that WIC can help Alabama families develop healthy eating and activity habits that will last a lifetime.”

WIC program qualifications are as follows:

•One-person family: annual, $21,257; month, $1,772; week, $409.

•Two-person family: annual, $28,694; month, $2,392; week, $552.

•Three-person family: annual, $36,131; month, $3,011; week, $695.

•Four-person family: annual, $43,568; month, $3,631; week, $838.

•Five-person family: annual, $51,005; month, $4,251; week, $981.

For more information, contact the Chilton County Health Department at (205) 755-1287.