WIC is the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, a 100% federally funded program providing nutritious food (via prescriptive checks), individual counseling and nutrition education, breastfeeding promotion and support, and referrals to other needed services to at-risk, low- to moderate-income (up to 185% of the federal poverty level) women and children up to the age of five. Since its beginnings in 1974, dozens of scientific studies have shown WIC to be a cost-effective and positive public health intervention, preventing infant mortality, low birth weight and other poor birth outcomes, and improving the nutrition and health of participants.