Summary of Federal Grant Award

The Illinois Department of Human Services received a formula grant of $47.2 million from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service under the WIC Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (CFDA 10.557) for the period October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026. This award supports administrative expenses associated with operating the WIC program throughout Illinois. The WIC program provides comprehensive nutritional support, including supplemental foods, nutrition education with emphasis on breastfeeding promotion, and health and social service referrals to income-eligible pregnant, breastfeeding, and postpartum women, as well as infants and children up to age five who meet nutritional risk criteria.

The formula grant funds flow from the state administering agency to approximately 40 local WIC agencies and sub-grantees across Illinois, including county health departments, community health organizations, and local service providers. These sub-grantees deliver direct program services at the local level through WIC clinics and community-based service delivery sites, ensuring eligible participants receive nutritional benefits, breastfeeding support, healthcare referrals, and nutrition education services. The award represents the state's ongoing commitment to administering this critical nutrition assistance program as part of the federal-state partnership model that extends WIC services to vulnerable populations across all Illinois counties.