Oregon delivers WIC through local clinics rather than one statewide office. If you are pregnant, recently had a baby, or are raising a child under age five, one of the 47 WIC office listings in the state is likely within driving distance. This page explains who runs these clinics, who qualifies, and how a visit in Portland differs from one in Burns or Enterprise.

How the WIC Program Is Organized in Oregon

WIC is short for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children. It is a federal program funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. In Oregon, the Public Health Division of the Oregon Health Authority oversees it. The state sets program policy, trains clinic staff, maintains the list of approved foods, and passes federal grant money to local agencies. Those local agencies run the clinics you actually visit.

Most local agencies are county health departments. That is why so many listings carry county names, such as the Linn County WIC Office at 2730 Pacific Boulevard Southeast in Albany or the Clatsop County Public Health WIC Office at 820 Exchange Street in Astoria. A few clinics are run by other organizations. The Morrow County Umatilla Head Start WIC Office in Hermiston is one example, and its listing shows a toll-free number, 800-559-5878.

The services are the same no matter who operates the clinic, and they cost participants nothing. A typical enrollment includes:

The food package depends on who is enrolled. It generally covers items such as milk, eggs, whole grains, beans, peanut butter, and a monthly cash value for fruits and vegetables. Babies who are not breastfed can receive infant formula. In summer, many participants can also get Farm Direct Nutrition Program benefits for farmers markets. Ask your clinic what is available in your county, because local farm seasons differ widely across the state.

Who Qualifies for WIC in Oregon

Eligibility rests on four tests: category, residency, income, and nutrition need. You must fit one of these groups:

Fathers, grandparents, and foster parents can apply for a child in their care. You do not need to be the biological parent. You must live in Oregon, but you do not need to be a U.S. citizen, and you do not need a permanent address at a particular county.

Income limits are tied to the federal poverty guidelines. Applicants generally qualify at or below 185 percent of the guideline for their household size. USDA updates the dollar amounts every year, so ask the clinic for the current chart rather than relying on an old number. A household also counts as income-eligible if a member receives benefits such as the Oregon Health Plan (Medicaid), SNAP, or TANF. Bring your benefit letter and the clinic can often confirm this quickly.

The final test is nutrition risk. A staff member measures height and weight and, for most applicants, checks iron levels with a quick finger-stick. Risk factors include anemia, poor weight gain, and a limited diet. Most applicants who meet the other tests also meet this one.

Portland Metro, Willamette Valley, and Rural Oregon: What Changes by Region

The program rules are identical statewide. What changes is how far you travel and how many clinics are available.

Portland metro. The most populated part of the state has the most options. The Multnomah County Health Department WIC Office is at 5329 Northeast Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard in Portland, and you can call 503-988-3503. The Multnomah County page lists the other clinics in that area. Across the county line, Washington County runs offices in Beaverton, at 12550 Southwest 2nd Street, and in Hillsboro, at 155 North 1st Avenue. Both list the same phone number, 503-846-3555, so one call can set up an appointment at either site. Public transit makes these clinics easier to reach without a car.

Willamette Valley. Marion County has the highest number of listings in our database. In Salem, the Salem Clinic WIC Office is at 3886 Beverly Avenue Northeast (503-391-7872). In Woodburn, the WIC office is at 976 North Pacific Highway (503-981-5851). Woodburn has a large Spanish-speaking community, so ask about interpreter services or bilingual staff when you call. Farther south, Benton County's office is at 530 Northwest 27th Street in Corvallis, and Lane County's is at 151 West 7th Avenue in Eugene. To the west, Polk County's clinic is in Dallas, and Yamhill County has one in McMinnville.

Central Oregon. Deschutes County lists clinics in two places: Bend, at 2577 Northeast Courtney Drive, and La Pine, at the La Pine Community Campus on Coach Road. Both use 541-322-7400. La Pine sits roughly 30 miles south of Bend, so families in the south county benefit from a local clinic. Jefferson County's office is at 715 Southwest 4th Street in Madras.

Eastern and southern Oregon. Distances grow here. Harney County, the largest county in the state by area, has one listed office in Burns. Baker County's is in Baker City's area on Pocahontas Road, Wallowa County's is in Enterprise, Grant County's is in John Day, and Union County's is in La Grande. Lake County has one in Lakeview. In the south, Klamath County's clinic is in Klamath Falls and Josephine County's is in Grants Pass. On the coast, Curry County's office is in Gold Beach.

In smaller counties, a clinic may offer WIC appointments only on certain days. Always call before you drive. Rural offices are often glad to explain what you can do by phone or video, which saves a long trip.

What to Expect at Your First Oregon WIC Appointment

Call the clinic nearest you and say you would like to apply for WIC. Staff will ask a few screening questions and book a time. Most first visits take under an hour, though a visit with several children can run longer.

Gather these items beforehand:

If you are missing a document, tell the clinic anyway. Staff can often accept a substitute or give you extra time to bring it.

At the visit, expect measurements, a short health and diet interview, and a conversation about your goals. You will receive an Oregon WIC card and learn which foods you can buy. When shopping, look for the WIC labels on shelves and use a WIC shopper app if your clinic recommends one. Benefits are issued for a set period, and you return for follow-up visits and recertification, which the clinic schedules for you.

If you move within Oregon, tell your clinic or the new one so your file can transfer. Moving to another state is also routine, and your clinic can give you the paperwork to continue there.

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

WIC Office locations are available in 44 cities across Oregon. They are spread across 32 counties.

Cities with the highest number of WIC offices include Portland, Salem, Woodburn, 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 Oregon 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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Oregon 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 Oregon, 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 Oregon to find the WIC clinic serving your area and get contact information for scheduling an eligibility appointment.

Reaching a WIC Clinic When the Nearest One Is Far Away

Oregon has 36 counties, and our database covers WIC offices in 32 of them. In the Portland area, a clinic is often a short bus or car trip away. In the east, the gap between towns can be long. A parent in Hermiston, La Grande, or Lakeview may live an hour or more from the next clinic. Start by phoning the office closest to your home and asking three things: which days it offers WIC, whether it can do part of the visit by phone, and which towns it serves.

County lines matter less than you might expect. Your home county's clinic is usually the best first call, but some families live closer to a neighboring office. Ask whether you may be served there. Families in Harney County and Baker County often plan WIC visits around other errands in Burns or Baker, and combining trips can save fuel and time.

Write down your appointment time and the clinic's phone number. If you must cancel, call early. Missing visits can delay your food benefits, while rescheduling usually keeps your file active.

Oregon WIC Questions Answered

The Oregon Health Authority's Public Health Division oversees WIC statewide, but you apply through a local clinic. Most clinics are run by county health departments. For example, Deschutes County lists 541-322-7400 for its Bend and La Pine offices, and Multnomah County lists 503-988-3503 for its Portland clinic. Call the number for the office nearest your home, say you want to apply, and the staff will book an appointment and tell you what documents to bring. You do not need a referral from a doctor to start.

No. WIC does not require U.S. citizenship. You must live in Oregon and meet the program's category, income, and nutrition-risk requirements. If you have questions about your situation, ask the clinic before your visit. Staff handle these questions every day and can explain which documents are needed to show identity and residence. Clinics in communities such as Woodburn, where many families speak Spanish, are used to helping families who prefer to receive information in a language other than English, so ask about interpreter services when you book.

Usually not in the usual way. Federal rules let households that receive Medicaid (the Oregon Health Plan), SNAP, or TANF count as income-eligible for WIC. Bring a current benefit letter or card so the clinic can confirm enrollment. If nobody in your household receives those benefits, staff will review your pay stubs or other income proof against the federal poverty guidelines, which USDA updates each year. You can qualify even if you work full time, especially in larger households, so apply if you are unsure.

Many Oregon clinics offer some visits by phone or video, particularly follow-up nutrition counseling. A first certification usually still involves measuring height and weight and an iron check, which need an in-person visit, though flexibility can vary over time with federal rules. Rural counties such as Harney, Wallowa, and Lake often rely on remote contact to cut long drives. The best approach is to call your clinic, ask which parts of your appointment can be done remotely right now, and confirm the day and time in advance.

It depends on who is enrolled. Pregnant women can receive WIC through pregnancy and after it ends. Breastfeeding mothers can continue until the baby's first birthday, and mothers who are not breastfeeding can continue for up to six months after the pregnancy ends. Infants qualify until their first birthday, and children until their fifth birthday. Within those limits, you are certified for a set period and must return for recertification, where staff confirm eligibility again. Your clinic will tell you your end date and schedule the next visit before you leave.

Call the closest clinic first. The Baker County office on Pocahontas Road, the Harney County office on North Fairview Avenue in Burns, the Union County office on Cove Avenue in La Grande, and the Wallowa County office on Northwest 1st Street in Enterprise each serve large, thinly populated areas. Ask whether they hold WIC appointments on set days, whether any part of the visit can be done remotely, and how often you would need to come in. Grouping WIC with other errands in town can keep travel manageable.