How WIC Is Organized in Louisiana

Families across Louisiana get WIC through clinics run or contracted by the Louisiana Department of Health, Office of Public Health. WIC stands for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture pays for it. The state decides where clinics operate, how appointments work, and which local agencies deliver the service. If you are pregnant, recently gave birth, or are raising a child under five, a local WIC clinic is where you enroll.

The program offers three things: monthly benefits for specific healthy foods, nutrition counseling, and referrals to other health and social services. New mothers also get breastfeeding support from trained staff. WIC does not charge for any of this. It is separate from SNAP, although many families receive both at the same time.

One naming point helps when you search. Louisiana is divided into parishes, not counties. Our directory uses labels such as Caddo Parish County so listings line up with other states, but every one of those places is a parish.

The Office of Public Health organizes its work into nine regions, and WIC clinics sit inside that network. Many offices share a building with the parish health unit, which often handles immunizations and family planning as well. That means one trip can sometimes cover more than a nutrition appointment.

Who Qualifies for WIC in Louisiana and What the Benefits Cover

Federal rules set eligibility, and Louisiana applies them statewide. You qualify when you meet all four of these conditions:

Income limits change every year with the federal poverty guidelines, so ask the clinic for the current figure instead of relying on an old chart. If you receive SNAP or Medicaid, say so when you call, because that can simplify the income check.

Approved foods include milk, eggs, whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and infant cereal, plus infant formula for babies who need it. Louisiana issues food benefits on an electronic card, and you shop at authorized grocery stores. Staff will show you the approved list and explain how checkout works, so your first shopping trip goes smoothly.

WIC Clinics in Shreveport, Baton Rouge, Lake Charles, Houma and Monroe

Shreveport has the most listings of any city in our database. One is the Shreveport David Raines Community Health Center WIC Office at 1625 David Raines Road, phone 318-227-3360. It sits in Caddo Parish County, the most populous parish in northwest Louisiana, so call to ask which Shreveport site fits your schedule.

In the capital region, the Baton Rouge Southern University School of Nursing on Campus WIC Office operates at 801 Harding Boulevard, phone 225-771-3324. It is in East Baton Rouge Parish County. Call first to confirm hours, since a campus calendar can differ from a standard clinic schedule.

Southwest Louisiana is served by the Lake Charles South West Louisiana Center for Health Services WIC Office, 2000 Opelousas Street, phone 337-493-5159. Down the bayou, the Houma Terrebonne Parish Health Unit WIC Office is at 600 Polk Street, phone 985-857-3601. In the northeast, the Monroe St Francis Healthy Kids WIC Office is at 3510 Medical Park Drive, phone 318-966-6165.

Notice the mix of names. Some sites are parish health units, while others sit inside community health centers, hospital-affiliated programs, or university settings. That tells you WIC in Louisiana is delivered through several kinds of partners, so the first phone call matters. Confirm the address, ask whether walk-ins are accepted, and find out how long the appointment will take.

Lake Charles and Houma have both faced major hurricanes in recent years, including Laura in 2020 and Ida in 2021. After a storm, hours and locations can shift, so call before you drive.

Parish Health Units in Rural North and Central Louisiana

Outside the cities, one parish health unit often serves an entire parish. The Arcadia Bienville Parish Health Unit WIC Office is at 1285 Pine Street, phone 318-263-2125. The Coushatta Red River Parish Health Unit WIC Office is at 2015 Red Oak Road, phone 318-932-4087. The Columbia Caldwell Parish Health Unit WIC Office is at 501 Collins Road, phone 318-649-2393.

Others follow the same pattern. The Colfax Grant Parish Health Unit WIC Office is at 340 Webb Smith, phone 318-627-3133, and the Bastrop Morehouse Parish Health Unit WIC Office is at 650 School Street, phone 318-283-0806. In central Louisiana, the Bunkie Parish Health Unit WIC Office at 406 Walnut Street, phone 318-346-2586, is in Avoyelles Parish.

Rural travel is the main hurdle. Distances between towns are longer, public transit is limited, and a clinic may not keep the same hours every day. Call to book a time instead of dropping in. Ask whether the clinic can see you and your baby on the same visit, since infants and children usually need to be present for measurements.

If you live in a rural area, also ask which local grocers accept WIC benefits before you plan a shopping trip. Small-town stores vary, and knowing in advance saves a wasted drive.

WIC in Acadiana, the River Parishes and the Northshore

South Louisiana has a dense web of small offices. In St. Martin County, the Breaux Bridge St Martin Parish WIC Office is at 601 East Bridge Street, phone 337-332-2857. Elsewhere in Acadiana, the Abbeville Vermilion Parish Health Unit WIC Office is at 2501 Charity Street, phone 337-893-1443, and the Church Point Acadia Parish Community WIC Office is at 810 South Broadway Street, phone 337-684-6166. The Eunice St Landry Parish Health Unit WIC Office is on City Avenue, phone 337-457-2767.

Along the Mississippi River, the Donaldson Capitol City Family Health Center WIC Office is at 904 Catalpa Street in Donaldsonville, phone 225-264-6800, in Ascension County. Farther downriver in Plaquemines Parish County, the Devant Crescent City WIC Services WIC Office is at 15535 Highway 15 in Braithwaite, phone 504-247-0592. In Lafourche Parish, the Cutoff Lafourche Parish Health Unit WIC Office is at 133 West 112th Street in Cut Off, phone 985-632-5567.

North of Lake Pontchartrain, Tangipahoa County is served by the Amite Tangipahoa Parish Health Unit WIC Office at 330 West Oak Street, phone 985-748-2020. The Covington St Tammany Parish Community Wellness Center WIC Office is at 1505 North Florida Street, phone 985-871-6030, and the Bogalusa Washington Parish Health Unit WIC Office is at 626 Carolina Avenue, phone 985-732-6615.

Two more are worth knowing. The Cameron Health Unit WIC Office on Recreation Center Lane, phone 337-775-5368, serves a small coastal parish that has rebuilt after Hurricanes Rita and Laura. The Deridder Beauregard Parish Health Unit WIC Office is at 216 Evangeline Street, phone 337-463-4486.

WIC offices throughout Louisiana are administered by the state health department through a network of local clinic agencies — including county health departments, hospitals, community health centers, and nonprofit organizations — that are authorized to certify participants and provide nutrition services. Louisiana's WIC program follows USDA federal guidelines while operating its own approved food list and vendor management system.

WIC Office locations are available in 76 cities across Louisiana. They are spread across 59 counties.

Cities with the highest number of WIC offices include Shreveport, Lake Charles, Monroe, which serve large populations of eligible families and often host multiple clinic sites to reduce travel barriers.

Pregnant women, new mothers, and families with young children in Louisiana who think they may be eligible for WIC are encouraged to apply even if they are unsure — income eligibility is based on household size and WIC serves families up to 185% of the federal poverty level. Applying does not affect other public benefit programs.

WIC Office by Counties

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Louisiana WIC participants can find their nearest authorized WIC vendor — the grocery stores and pharmacies where their EBT benefits can be used — through the state WIC program's vendor locator tool. If you move within Louisiana, contact your current WIC clinic to transfer your case to the new local agency without losing your current certification period.

Browse WIC Office by county across Louisiana to find the WIC clinic serving your area and get contact information for scheduling an eligibility appointment.

Getting Your Louisiana WIC Appointment Right the First Time

A little preparation shortens the first visit. Call the clinic nearest you from the offices listed on this page, say whether you are pregnant, postpartum, or applying for a child, and ask what to bring. Most first appointments combine paperwork, measurements, and a nutrition conversation, so plan on a block of time rather than a quick stop.

Bring photo identification, proof of where you live in Louisiana, and proof of income or of your SNAP, Medicaid, or TANF enrollment. Pregnant applicants may be asked for proof of pregnancy, and parents should bring infants and children along. Immunization and medical records can help, though staff will explain what else they need.

Demand differs by region. Busy metro clinics in Baton Rouge and Shreveport serve many families and may book further out, while small parish units can sometimes offer quicker openings but fewer days each week. Ask about both when you call.

Certification lasts for a set period, after which you return for a recertification visit. Keep your appointment reminders, and tell the clinic if your address, phone number, or household income changes. If your clinic closes after a storm or a facility problem, the Louisiana Department of Health can direct you to another site.

Finally, be direct about your needs. If you lack transportation, work irregular shifts, or have a baby with a feeding problem, say so when you schedule. Staff handle these situations often, and a small adjustment can keep you enrolled.

The Louisiana Department of Health, through its Office of Public Health, administers WIC with funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Applications happen at local clinics, many of them parish health units, though some sites operate inside community health centers or hospital programs. To apply, call a clinic from the listings on this page, such as the Houma Terrebonne Parish Health Unit WIC Office at 985-857-3601, and book an appointment. Staff will confirm which documents you need. You then complete an eligibility check, a health screening, and nutrition counseling before receiving your first food benefits. There is no charge to apply or to take part.

Bring photo identification for yourself, proof of Louisiana residency such as a recent utility bill or lease, and proof of household income. If you receive SNAP, Medicaid, or TANF, bring your benefit letter or card, since that can establish income eligibility. Pregnant applicants may need proof of pregnancy from a health care provider. Bring any infant or child who is applying, because clinic staff measure height and weight and may check iron levels. Immunization or medical records can help with the health review. Requirements can differ slightly between clinics, so confirm the list when you call, for example the Lake Charles office at 337-493-5159.

Our database lists three WIC offices in Shreveport and four across Caddo Parish. One named listing is the Shreveport David Raines Community Health Center WIC Office at 1625 David Raines Road, phone 318-227-3360. Because Shreveport has several sites, ask which one handles new enrollments, which has the earliest appointment, and which is closest to a bus route or your workplace. Parish listings can also include sites outside the city limits, so check each address carefully before you travel. Call to verify hours, since schedules can change from one site to the next.

Yes. Rural parishes have their own parish health units that offer WIC. The Columbia Caldwell Parish Health Unit WIC Office, 501 Collins Road, phone 318-649-2393, and the Coushatta Red River Parish Health Unit WIC Office, 2015 Red Oak Road, phone 318-932-4087, are two examples. Rural clinics may offer fewer appointment days than city sites, so call ahead and schedule instead of walking in. If the nearest unit has limited openings, ask whether a clinic in a neighboring parish can see you. Also confirm which grocery stores near you accept WIC benefits before your first shopping trip.

Your participation can move with you. If you relocate within Louisiana, tell your current clinic and contact the nearest office in your new parish, such as the Breaux Bridge St Martin Parish WIC Office at 337-332-2857 or the Amite Tangipahoa Parish Health Unit WIC Office at 985-748-2020. Federal rules let participants who move between states keep their certification until it expires, and the new clinic will verify your documents. Bring any paperwork from the previous clinic and your new proof of address. Do not wait until benefits run out, because arranging a transfer visit takes time.

Storms have disrupted communities in Cameron, Lake Charles, Houma, and the river parishes, so plan ahead. Hours and locations may change after a hurricane, and temporary arrangements can follow. Start by calling your clinic, for example the Cameron Health Unit WIC Office at 337-775-5368. If no one answers, try another listed office or contact the Louisiana Department of Health for guidance. Keep your appointment papers and identification in a waterproof folder with other key documents. If you evacuate, tell the nearest WIC clinic where you are staying so staff can explain what options exist for your family.