Final answer:
WIC provides food benefits and referrals for healthcare services, specifically offering prenatal care referrals for clients who lack it. Access to prenatal care is critical for the health of the mother and child.
Step-by-step explanation:
WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) is a program designed to provide nutritional support and education to eligible households. The program offers vouchers, checks, or EBT transactions for purchasing nutritious foods tailored for pregnant women, new mothers, infants, and young children. These foods include essential items like cereal, fruit/ vegetable juice, eggs, milk, cheese, peanut butter, beans/peas, and canned fish. Furthermore, for non-breastfeeding mothers, WIC provides infant formula to ensure that infants receive adequate nutrition.
Referrals are another vital aspect of the WIC program. WIC can provide referrals to healthcare services, including referrals to prenatal care for clients without such care. This is crucial because prenatal care can significantly enhance the health outcomes for both the mother and the child. Monitoring the mother's and the baby's health during pregnancy can prevent complications and inform mothers about important nutritional and lifestyle modifications.