Nebraska's WIC offices help pregnant women, new mothers, infants and children under age five get healthy food, nutrition advice and breastfeeding support. Our database lists 21 clinics across 18 Nebraska cities, from busy Omaha neighborhoods to small-town sites in Franklin, Superior and Pender. This page explains who runs the program, how metro and rural clinics differ, and what to expect before your first visit.

How Nebraska Runs WIC: State, Federal and Local Roles

WIC stands for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children. The U.S. Department of Agriculture funds it, and each state runs its own version. In Nebraska, the Department of Health and Human Services, through its Division of Public Health, oversees the program. The state sets policy, trains clinic staff, approves grocery stores and issues the food benefits that families spend.

Families rarely deal with the state directly. Instead, DHHS works with local agencies that operate the clinics. Some are public health departments, such as Douglas County Health Department in Omaha, Central District Health Department in Grand Island and East Central District Health Department in Columbus. Others are community action agencies, including Blue Valley Community Action Partnership in Fairbury, Goldenrod Hills Community Action in South Sioux City and Northeast Nebraska Community Action Partnership in Pender.

A few clinics sit inside community buildings. The Geneva office, for example, is listed at Geneva United Methodist Church on H Street. Arrangements like this help small communities keep a clinic close to home without building a new facility.

The result is a program with uniform rules and varied front doors. Eligibility, benefit amounts and the approved food list come from the state and federal government. Hours, appointment methods and walk-in policies come from the local agency. Because of that, a phone call before your visit saves time at every clinic.

WIC in Omaha and Lincoln: Metro Clinics in Nebraska's Largest Cities

Omaha has the most listings of any Nebraska city, with three clinics in different parts of town. The Douglas County Health Department WIC Office is at 1111 South 41st Street, phone 402-444-1770. The Omaha Fred LeRoy Health and Wellness Center WIC Office is at 2602 J Street in South Omaha, phone 402-733-3612. The Omaha Charles Drew Health Center WIC Office is at 2915 Grant Street in North Omaha, phone 402-451-3553.

Having several sites gives Douglas County families real choices. You can pick the clinic nearest your home, your job or your child's daycare. Omaha is also home to many languages, so ask when you book whether an interpreter is available. Programs funded with federal money are expected to provide language help to people who need it.

Lincoln, in Lancaster County, lists the Lincoln Family Service Association WIC Office at 501 South 7th Street, phone 402-441-7949. It is a short distance from downtown Lincoln, which makes it workable for people who ride the city bus or work near the center of town.

Metro clinics usually offer more appointment slots than rural ones, but they also serve more families. Book early if you need a particular day or time, and ask about cancellation lists if the first available slot is weeks away.

Central, Eastern and Rural WIC Offices Across Nebraska

Outside the two big cities, clinics are spread across a wide area, and each one often serves several surrounding towns. Kearney has two listings in Buffalo County: Kearney Community Service WIC Office at 16 West 11th Street (308-865-5675) and Kearney WIC Office at 1023 F Avenue (308-865-5356). Because the names are similar, confirm the address when you call.

Grand Island's Central District Health Department WIC Office is at 1137 South Locust Street (308-385-5188) in Hall County. Hastings has its own site at 422 North Hastings Avenue (402-463-7679). Lexington's Community Action Partnership office is at 931 West 7th Street (308-324-4219). Kearney, Grand Island and Lexington sit along the Platte River and Interstate 80 corridor, while Hastings serves the south-central part of the state.

Smaller communities have their own offices too. Franklin Community Service WIC Office is at 631 15th Avenue (308-425-3726). Minden has a clinic at 426 North Colorado Avenue (308-832-1829). In Sherman County, the Loup City office is at 626 N Street (308-745-0780). In the northeast, Pender is at 603 Earl Street (402-385-6300) and South Sioux City is at 2120 Dakota Avenue (402-494-8312).

Southeast Nebraska has clinics in Crete (245 East 9th Street, 402-826-2376), Seward (105 South 6th Street, 402-643-6425), Fairbury (620 5th Street, 402-729-2278), Tecumseh (509 Broadway Street, 402-335-2988) and Superior (410 North Central Avenue, 402-879-3715). Columbus has the East Central District Health Department office at 2282 East 32nd Avenue (402-564-9931).

Our database has no listings in the Panhandle or far western Nebraska. Families there should call the nearest listed clinic or the DHHS WIC program to ask which agency covers their county. Rural clinics may be open fewer days, and some agencies hold clinics on set days in outlying towns, so ask about schedules before you drive.

Who Qualifies for WIC in Nebraska

Federal rules set the basic requirements, and Nebraska applies them statewide. You generally need to meet all four of these conditions:

WIC is free. Clinics do not charge for appointments, counseling or the food benefits. Income limits change each year with the federal poverty guidelines, so ask the clinic for current figures instead of relying on an old chart.

What to Bring and What Happens at Your First Appointment

Bring photo ID, proof of your Nebraska address such as a utility bill or lease, and proof of income such as recent pay stubs. Add any Medicaid or SNAP paperwork. Bring every child you are enrolling, because staff need to measure them. Pregnant applicants should bring anything that shows the pregnancy or due date.

The visit usually includes height and weight checks, a finger-stick iron test, and a conversation about eating habits and infant feeding. Staff then load benefits onto a WIC card that you use at authorized grocery stores. Foods typically include milk, eggs, whole grains, beans or peanut butter, infant cereal and a monthly cash-value benefit for fruits and vegetables. Infant formula is available for babies who are not exclusively breastfed.

Allow about an hour for a first visit. Later appointments are often shorter, and some clinics offer follow-up nutrition education by phone or online. Ask what your clinic offers when you book.

Using Your Benefits at Nebraska Grocery Stores

Not every store accepts WIC. Look for WIC signs at the door or shelf tags on approved items, and ask your clinic about stores in your area. Stores in small towns may carry fewer brands and sizes, so read your food list before you shop. Buying the wrong size or brand is the most common reason a purchase is rejected at the register.

WIC offices throughout Nebraska 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. Nebraska's WIC program follows USDA federal guidelines while operating its own approved food list and vendor management system.

WIC Office locations are available in 18 cities across Nebraska. They are spread across 18 counties.

Cities with the highest number of WIC offices include Omaha, Kearney, Geneva, 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 Nebraska 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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Nebraska 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 Nebraska, 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 Nebraska to find the WIC clinic serving your area and get contact information for scheduling an eligibility appointment.

Planning a WIC Visit in Your Part of Nebraska

Nebraska's size shapes how families use WIC. In Omaha, three clinics within the city mean the main challenge is fitting an appointment around work and child care. Pick the Douglas County, South Omaha or North Omaha site that matches your daily route, and ask each one about evening or early appointments.

Central Nebraska families often drive between towns. In Columbus, the East Central District Health Department office at 2282 East 32nd Avenue is the listing for Platte County. In Sherman County, the Loup City office on N Street is the local option, and families in nearby small towns may travel there or to a clinic in a neighboring county. Call first and ask which office covers your address.

Winter weather matters here. Snow and ice can close rural roads, so ask your clinic how it handles weather cancellations and how quickly you can reschedule. Keep your appointment card and the clinic's phone number in your phone. Before leaving home, check that you have your ID, proof of address, proof of income and your WIC card if you already have one.

Frequently Asked Questions About WIC in Nebraska

The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health, administers WIC with funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. You apply through a local clinic rather than the state office. Pick the clinic nearest you from the listings on this page and call to schedule a certification appointment. In Omaha, for example, the Douglas County Health Department WIC Office takes calls at 402-444-1770. In Lincoln, try the Lincoln Family Service Association clinic at 402-441-7949. Tell the staff who is applying, such as a pregnant woman, an infant or a child, so they can tell you what to bring.

Nebraska follows the federal standard: household income at or below 185 percent of the federal poverty guidelines. Families already enrolled in SNAP, Medicaid or TANF are generally treated as income-eligible, which can shorten the paperwork. Household size counts, and an unborn baby is counted in the household of a pregnant applicant. The dollar limits are updated each year, so ask your clinic for the current figures rather than relying on an older chart. If your income is close to the line, apply anyway, because staff can review your pay stubs and tell you during the visit.

Most clinics work by appointment, especially for first visits, because certification includes measurements, a health screening and nutrition counseling. Phone numbers are listed for every office on this page, such as 308-865-5675 for Kearney Community Service or 402-463-7679 for Hastings. Some smaller clinics keep limited days or hours, so you may need to book a few days ahead. When you call, ask about walk-in availability, how long the visit takes and whether your children must attend. If you miss an appointment, call quickly to reschedule so your benefits are not interrupted.

No. WIC benefits work only at stores authorized by the state, and each purchase must match your food list. Look for WIC signs at the entrance or shelf tags, and ask your clinic about approved stores near you. Large chains in Omaha, Lincoln, Kearney and Grand Island generally carry a wide selection, while small-town grocers may stock fewer brands. Check your balance before you shop, separate WIC items at the register and keep your receipt. If an item is rejected, ask the cashier why, then contact your clinic, which can clarify what your benefits cover.

Our database shows clinics in 18 of Nebraska's 93 counties, so many families live in a county without a listed office. Clinics serve surrounding areas, and a family in a small town may be assigned to a nearby office such as Hastings, Lexington, Minden, Franklin or Loup City. Call the closest listed clinic and ask which agency covers your county. Our database has no listings in the Panhandle, so families there should confirm coverage with DHHS. Ask whether follow-up counseling can happen by phone, since that can save hours of winter driving.

Yes. WIC participation is not tied to one clinic or even one town. If you move from Kearney to Lincoln, or from Pender to Omaha, tell your current clinic and ask for a transfer. Your eligibility generally stays valid until your certification period ends, so you should not have to start over, although the new clinic may ask for updated proof of address. If you move to another state, request a verification of certification card, which other states' WIC programs can use to continue your benefits. Update your address and phone number promptly so appointment reminders reach you.