Caring Health Center is a Health Center Program grantee under 42 U.S.C.254b, and a deemed Public Health Service employee under 42 U.S.C. 233(g)-(n).
WICprovides health education, nutritious food and other services free of charge to qualified Massachusetts families. WIC serves to safeguard the health of women, infants, and children who are at risk by providing nourishing foods to supplement diets, information on healthy eating, and referrals to social services and access to health care for low and moderate income families with children under five. WIC also sponsors breastfeeding and parent peer counselor programs. The parent peer counselor program helps new moms and dads develop parenting skills that will help them feed and care for their babies in a healthy way. The breastfeeding peer counselor program helps moms with common breastfeeding questions, provide help getting moms started, and support for the baby’s changing needs. Manual and electric breast pumps are available upon request. Both peer counselor programs can be conducted by telephone, individually at the WIC office, or in a group setting. WIC recognizes the important role that fathers, grandparents, stepparents, foster parents and other guardians play and encourages all to actively participate and apply for the benefit of their children. WIC services include: • Personalizednutrition counseling and education • Immunizations screening and referrals for children • Parenting and Breast-feeding education and support • Food checks; covering healthy food items like infant formula, milk, cheese, eggs, juices, cereal, peanut butter, and dried beans and peas • Referrals to medical, dental, housing, fuel assistance and social service agencies • Health Insurance counseling WIC serving Massachusetts residents, is designed especially for: • Pregnant, postpartum, or breastfeeding women with infants up to one year old • Infants and children under the age of 5 - fathers, guardians, and foster parents are encouraged to apply for WIC support for their children • Those who receive TAFDC, Food Stamps, or Medicaid are automatically eligible • People with medical or nutritional needs How do I apply? The Springfield South WIC program serves over 3700 participants in Springfield, Longmeadow, East Longmeadow, Hamden, and is now expanding to the Pine Point area. Hours of Operation & Locations 1139 Main Street Mon. 10:30 am - 7:00 pm Tue., Fri. 8:30 am - 5:30 pm 532 Sumner Avenue Mon., Tues., Thurs., Fri. 9:00 am - 5:00 am 860 Boston Road Tues., & Thurs. 8:30 am - 5:00 pm Spring Meadow hours every other Wed. Springfield South WIC Program 1139 Main Street Springfield, MA 01103 (413) 693-1029 Forest Park WIC Program 532 Sumner Avenue Springfield, MA (413) 639-1029 Pine Point WIC Program 860 Boston Road Springfield, MA 01119 Tel: (413) 782-7071 Fax: (413) 782-5294 [Back to top of page]
Caring Health Center is proud to have a WIC Program branch on-site for the convenience and better health of our patients.