Raising Our Voices: Nourishing Families, Fueling Impact
Check out a recording from our virtual gathering in September 2025
This September, Raising Illinois is bringing the coalition together for a virtual event centered on the importance of the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC). WIC is a federally funded program that promotes the health of low-income pregnant, postpartum and breastfeeding women, as well as their infants and children up to age 5, who are at nutrition risk by providing nutritious foods to supplement diets, information on healthy eating and resource referrals. We are particularly excited to highlight ways to strengthen connections and referrals from early childhood programs to ensure that all families who are eligible for WIC are able to take part.
In watching this event you will:
- Hear from families who have first-hand experience accessing and utilizing WIC
- Learn more about how early childhood programs and providers can strengthen connections between families and WIC
- Learn what opportunities the state can explore to promote cross-agency collaboration and ensure families across Illinois have what they need to thrive
- Learn how you can take action to protect these family supports in the future
Take Action for WIC!
Greater Chicago Food Depository
Contact your Legislators now to prevent cuts to WIC and restrictions to SNAP in the Federal 2026 Budget!
Resources from the event:
Check out the incredible resources that were shared by our panelists!
Information on WIC
- WIC: USDA's Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children
- IDHS WIC
- WIC Works: Addressing the Nutrition and Health Needs of Low-Income Families for More Than Four Decades (Jan 2021)
- Improving Access to WIC in Illinois: Findings from Local Level Research about Program Access and Implementation Barriers (April 2024)
- Congress Must Fully Fund WIC in 2026 Spending Bill and Prevent Administration Overrides (Sept 2025)
Community Conversation Toolkit
Resources created for your community to come together and discuss solutions to challenges families with infants and toddlers are facing today.
Raising Illinois invites you to bring together diverse individuals within your community and discuss the needs of infants, toddlers and expecting families in your area as well as steps that can and should be taken to strengthen your community's early childhood system.
Community Conversations can take many shapes and forms depending on who you invite and the size of your community. It is the conversation that is critical – not the format, size or location. To help get your planning started, Raising Illinois has created a handful of helpful resources.