WIC food expense

The Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service awarded the New Jersey Department of Health $171.469 million on October 1, 2025, under the WIC Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (CFDA 10.557) for the period ending September 30, 2026. This formula grant funds supplemental nutritious foods, nutrition education, and breastfeeding promotion and support for income-eligible pregnant, breastfeeding, and postpartum women, infants, and children up to age five determined to be at nutritional risk.

The New Jersey Department of Health distributed the award to nine sub-recipients to deliver WIC food benefits and breastfeeding peer counseling services across the state. Sub-recipients include Rutgers The State University of New Jersey School of Nursing, Trinitas Regional Medical Center in Elizabeth, County of Burlington, City of East Orange, City of Plainfield, Northwest New Jersey Community Action Program Inc. (Norwescap) in Phillipsburg, City of Passaic, County of Gloucester, and ST. Joseph's University Medical Center Inc. in Paterson. These local implementing entities—county health departments, municipalities, and nonprofit health and community development organizations—operate WIC eligibility certification, nutrition education, and breastfeeding support programs within their respective jurisdictions. The award supports food benefit distribution, breastfeeding peer counselor services, and breast pump distribution to encourage breastfeeding for one year.

The period of performance runs October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2026, with place of performance in New Jersey.