WIC admin expenses

The Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service awarded the Illinois Department of Human Services $66.455 million on October 1, 2025, under the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), with period of performance through September 30, 2026.

The award funds WIC administrative expenses in Illinois. The WIC program provides federal grants to state agencies for supplemental foods, health care referrals, and nutrition education, including breastfeeding promotion and support, for income-eligible pregnant, breastfeeding, and non-breastfeeding postpartum women, infants, and children up to age five determined to be at nutritional risk. The Illinois Department of Human Services distributes WIC funding to county health departments, local health agencies, nonprofit community health centers, and designated WIC service providers throughout Illinois to administer program operations at the local level. The award is classified as a formula grant.

The Illinois Department of Human Services passes through WIC allocations to more than 60 sub-recipients across Illinois, including county health departments in Warren, Ogle, Lake, Woodford, Jersey, Fayette, Grundy, Livingston, Kankakee, Jefferson, Edgar, Fulton, LaSalle, DeKalb, Montgomery, Coles, Marion, Shelby, and additional counties; nonprofits including TCA Health Inc., Sinai Community Institute, Coordinated Youth & Human Services, Aunt Martha's Health & Wellness, Bethany for Children & Families, Illinois Hunger Coalition, Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago, and Roseland Community Hospital; and Chicago municipal agencies including the Department of Family & Support Services and Stickney Public Health District. Each sub-recipient delivers WIC benefits including supplemental nutritious foods, nutrition education, breastfeeding counseling and support, and health care referrals to eligible pregnant women, infants, and children in their service areas. Performance occurs statewide in Illinois.