Please note: Inclusion of an item in this e-newsletter does NOT imply endorsement or support of such item by the United States Breastfeeding Committee, unless specifically noted.
USBC Updates
Virtual Town Hall Meetings
Organizations and individuals are invited to participate in Virtual Town Hall Meetings on Thursday, August 18 and Tuesday, August 23, and to share written comments on priority action areas and associated implementation strategies for the next five years. Online forums for written comments will open on August 18 and remain open into September. A team of volunteers will review and compile all the comments received into a report with recommendations for the USBC and its network, including USBC-affiliated Constellations pursuing national action in specific topic areas. The recommendations report will also be delivered to the Surgeon General and the Federal Interagency Breastfeeding Work Group.
- Register for the August 18 Virtual Town Hall Meeting
- Register for the August 23 Virtual Town Hall Meeting
Federal News
SGCTA Progress Update, from CDC
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have released an article in Journal of Women's Health outlining major federal activities that show progress toward answering The Surgeon General's Call to Action to Support Breastfeeding in the first five years since its launch. The report highlights the collection of national surveillance data, an increased focus on maternity care practices and workplace lactation support programs, funding for programs to support states and communities to work on improving breastfeeding support, new laws and regulations that ensure access to lactation support and pumps, and more.
PRAMS Expansion and Data Release, from CDC
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have announced the expansion of the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) to eleven new sites and the release of 2013 PRAMS data. PRAMS was developed in 1987 to help reduce infant morbidity and mortality by providing data that were not available elsewhere about pregnancy and the first few months after birth. It is part of the CDC's Safe Motherhood and Infant Health Initiative. PRAMS is now funded in 51 sites and covers 83% of all live births in the United States. Researchers can request access to the most recent PRAMS data online.
Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome Data, from CDC
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have released a new Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, entitled "Incidence of Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome — 28 States, 1999–2013." Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) is a group of withdrawal symptoms that occurs primarily among newborns exposed to opioids during pregnancy. The report shows that from 1999 to 2013, the rate of NAS increased 300 percent.
Member News
Funding Opportunity, from AMCHP
The Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs has announced the Best Practices Technical Assistance Replication Project, part of an overall strategic goal to improve maternal and child health outcomes by sharing effective and promising practices with state and territorial MCH programs. AMCHP will grant up to two technical assistance awards of $10,000 each for states to replicate or adapt an Innovation Station practice or elements of an emerging, promising, and best practice. The Innovation Station initiatives includes three programs specifically addressing breastfeeding.
Miriam Labbok Tributes, from various
The breastfeeding community is saddened by the loss of Dr. Miriam Labbok. Miriam was Professor of the Practice of maternal and child health at the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health and founding director of the Gillings School's Carolina Global Breastfeeding Institute (CGBI). She was chief of the nutrition and maternal/infant health division in the global bureau of the U.S. Agency for International Development (1996-2001) and senior adviser for infant and young child feeding and care at UNICEF (2001-2005). Miriam was selected as a recipient of the 2016 USBC Legacy Award to acknowledge her extraordinary commitment, dedication, and leadership in the field of breastfeeding. Tributes to Dr. Labbok included:
- UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health: "Miriam Labbok, champion of women's and infants' health, dies Aug. 13"
- The News & Observer: "Dr. Miriam Harriet Labbok"
Partner News
Community Approaches to Breastfeeding Webinar, from NACCHO
Join the National Association of County & City Health Officials on Wednesday, August 31, from 2-3:30 p.m. ET for the first webinar in the Public Health Breastfeeding Webinar Series, "Breastfeeding in the Community: Implementation that Works!" The series will promote promising practices and share lessons learned from the Reducing Breastfeeding Disparities through Peer and Professional Support Project.
Impact of Paid Leave and Workplace Accommodations, from CLASP/BreastfeedLA
The Center for Law and Social Policy and BreastfeedLA have released an updated brief and new infogaphic on breastfeeding, paid leave, and lactation accommodations to showcase the latest research. The resources highlight the impact of paid family leave policies and workplace accommodations on breastfeeding duration.
News from the Field
Digital Health Solutions Webinar, from Dialogue for Health
Join Dialogue4Health on Thursday, August 18, from 1-2:30 p.m. ET for a web forum entitled, "Digital Health Solutions to Advance Health and Well-Being for Vulnerable Populations." The web forum will outline overarching and specific focus group community results, and provide examples of digital health solutions used by vulnerable populations.
Free Journal Article, from Breastfeeding Medicine
The journal Breastfeeding Medicine has made "The Impact in the United States of the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative on Early Infant Health and Breastfeeding Outcomes" available free of charge until September 15. The article identifies the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative steps that are the most difficult to implement as well as topics for future research.
Comparison of Paid Leave Policy Proposals, from CAP
The Center for American Progress has released a report entitled, Rhetoric vs. Reality: Paid Family and Medical Leave. In order to parse which proposals would best suit the needs of working families and the U.S. economy at large, as well as to dispel misconceptions about paid family and medical leave, this issue brief examines the most frequent myths about paid family and medical leave.
State/Community News
Bill Signed Into Law, from Mississippi
Mississippi has adopted a new law which authorizes hospitals with birthing facilities to have a written infant feeding policy that supports breastfeeding, and requires the state department of health to prepare a statement of rights regarding "Breastfeeding in Mississippi: Guidelines" and a video for presentation in offices with information about the importance of breastfeeding.
Collective Impact Connection
Community Strategies to Support Health Outcomes, from SSIR
The Stanford Social Innovation Review has published "The Community Cure for Health Care," highlighting large health care systems that are beginning to invest core operating dollars in connecting their patients to community resources.
News & Views
Best for Babes blog: "Best for Babes and Loving Moments Issue the Ultimate World Breastfeeding Week Challenge #ultimateWBW"
U.S. Department of Labor blog: "A Winning Formula for Nursing Mothers"
Speak Freely (ACLU blog): "Top 10 Reasons the ACLU Fights for Breastfeeding Rights"
The Huffington Post: "Ease Into Breastfeeding: The #First31 Days"
Romper: "This Breastfeeding Short Film Exposes How Ridiculously Hypocritical Our Society Has Become"
