Weekly Wire: April 15, 2022
The Staying Abreast: Weekly Wire e-Newsletter is a compendium of news, actions, and resources considered to be of interest or relevance to the breastfeeding field. The newsletter aims to support the USBC mission "To drive collaborative efforts for policy and practices that create a landscape of breastfeeding support across the United States." Included items are submitted for consideration or identified by the USBC e-news team via extensive online review. Whenever possible, the newsletter utilizes language directly from the primary source of an item without additional analysis or edits. In some cases, the USBC offers additional perspectives through the "USBC Insights," media and partner highlights, and the "News & Views" section. Inclusion of an item in the e-newsletter does not imply endorsement or support by the USBC of an item or organization, unless specifically noted.
In this Issue:
- USBC Updates
- Fiscal Year 2023 President's Budget Analysis
- USBC Conference Corner: Preliminary Agenda Posted
- Special Section on Black Maternal Health Week
- National News
- 'MOMibuster' Campaign Seeking Partner Organizations and Stories, summarized from Various
- Webinar on Continuity of Care in Chest/Breastfeeding Support, summarized from NACCHO
- Webinar on Breast Milk and Medication, summarized from AHAEquity Lens
- State and Community News
- SWOT Analysis from Community-Based Doula Summit Stakeholder Meeting, summarized from BMBFA
- Breastfeeding-Friendly Pediatrician Interest Form, summarized from GAAAP/GBC
- Paid Family Leave Enacted Into Law, summarized from Maryland
- Equity Lens
- News & Views
denotes a USBC member organization news item 
denotes a USBC-affiliated constellation news item
USBC Updates
Fiscal Year 2023 President's Budget Analysis
The Office of Management and Budget released the "Budget of the United States Government, Fiscal Year 2023." The report contains the Budget Message of the President for Fiscal Year 2023, information on the President's priorities, and summary tables. View the OMB President's Budget and Budget Appendix webpages for additional information. Complete HHS budget information, including agency budget justifications, can be found on the HHS budget webpage.
The U.S. Breastfeeding Committee published an analysis of the FY23 President's budget report and associated agency summary reports relevant to the lactation field. The USBC closely monitors the federal budget process and mobilizes the field to act during strategic moments in the negotiation process. Look for future action tools to contact Members of Congress in support of FY23 funding for CDC breastfeeding support programs.
USBC Conference Corner: Preliminary Agenda Posted
The U.S. Breastfeeding Committee is thrilled to release the preliminary agenda for the National Breastfeeding Conference & Convening. The event will be hosted solely online from June 7-9, with the theme Pathfinders: Honoring Lactation Wisdom & Innovation. Each conference day focuses on one of the three learning arcs and will include plenary presentations and/or panel discussions, breakout presentations, time to visit exhibits, sponsors, and posters, and networking activities for conference attendees. There will be additional networking opportunities one evening. Explore the agenda and take advantage of the early bird discount by completing registration by Saturday, April 30.
Special Section on Black Maternal Health Week
April 11-17 is Black Maternal Health Week! This is the fifth anniversary of the Black Maternal Health Week (BMHW) campaign. Founded and led by the Black Mamas Matter Alliance, BMHW is a week of awareness, activism, and community building. The campaign and activities for Black Maternal Health Week serve to amplify the voices of Black Mamas and center the values and traditions of the reproductive and birth justice movements. Activities during BMHW are rooted in human rights, reproductive justice, and birth justice frameworks.
- Congress: Representative Alma Adams (D-NC-12) and Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) introduced congressional resolutions in the House and Senate recognizing April 11-17 as Black Maternal Health Week.
- HRSA: The Health Resources and Services Administration announced the availability of $4.5 million for hiring, training, certifying, and compensating community-based doulas in areas with high rates of adverse maternal and infant health outcomes.
- MomsRising: MomsRising launched an online action tool titled "Tell the Senate to Support Critical Investments in Maternal Health." Individuals can use the tool to contact their Senators in support of Black Maternal Health Momnibus provisions passed by the House of Representatives.
- The White House: The Biden-Harris Administration released a proclamation on Black Maternal Health Week stating that the Administration is renewing its commitment to addressing the crisis of Black maternal mortality and morbidity across the country.
Black Maternal Health Week News and Views
11 Alive: "Black Maternal Health Week | Atlanta physician speaks out about inequities in medical treatment"
Baby-Friendly USA blog post: "A Life and Career Enhanced by Baby-Friendly"
HHS press release: "Secretary Becerra and HHS Leaders Celebrate Black Maternal Health Week 2022"
Madam Noire: "New Orleans Mamas Normalized Breastfeeding During Mardi Gras Season"
Talking with U of M: "Talking Black Maternal Health Week with the U of M"
National News
'MOMibuster' Campaign Seeking Partner Organizations and Stories, summarized from Various
MomsRising and the #CareCantWait Coalition are hosting a campaign titled " MOMibuster 2022: A New Kind of Filibuster that Actually Works for Moms, Parents & Caregivers" on Saturday, May 7. During the campaign, moms, parents, caregivers, advocates, and leaders across the Internet will filibuster for eight hours – using pre-recorded videos. The MOMibuster will be projected in DC and also stream simultaneously and continuously across a vast network of Facebook pages, with blocks of stories in Spanish, Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese. The public are invited to share stories in the comment sections. Interested organizations can sign up to partner with the campaign via the online form.
Webinar on Continuity of Care in Chest/Breastfeeding Support, summarized from NACCHO
The National Association of County and City Health Officials is hosting a webinar titled "Advancing Continuity of Care through Warm Hand-offs & Care Accountability" on Tuesday, May 24, at 1 p.m. ET. This is the fourth webinar of the eight-part series: "Every Step of the Way through the 1,000 Days: Continuity of Care in Breastfeeding Support Blueprint." This session will discuss implementing a care coordination system from the prenatal stage through weaning and handoff protocols during transitions of lactation care from one provider or setting to another.
Webinar on Breast Milk and Medication, summarized from AHA
The American Heart Association, with funding support from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention's Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health program, is hosting a webinar titled "Mixing Milk + Meds: Assessing Infant Risk during Breastfeeding" on Wednesday, June 15, at 2 p.m. ET. Speakers from the Infant Risk Center will discuss how to evaluate which medications are safe for breastfeeding patients.
State & Community News
SWOT Analysis from Community-Based Doula Summit Stakeholder Meeting, summarized from BMBFA
The Black Mothers' Breastfeeding Association released an analysis titled "Michigan Community-Based Doula SWOT Analysis." The publication is a summary of input from stakeholders who attended the Michigan Community-based Doula Summit in August 2021. The SWOT analysis lifts up opportunities for establishing sustainable, available and accessible community-based doula care across the state of Michigan for Black and Indigenous families while minimizing adverse effects and unintended consequences.
Breastfeeding-Friendly Pediatrician Interest Form, summarized from GAAAP/GBC
As part of their work to build a cohort of breastfeeding-friendly pediatricians, the Georgia Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Georgia Breastfeeding Coalition launched a "Breastfeeding-Friendly Pediatrician Interest Form." Georgia pediatricians who are interested in becoming certified as a "Breastfeeding-Friendly Pediatrician" are invited to fill out the form.
Paid Family Leave Enacted Into Law, summarized from Maryland
Maryland became the latest state to enact paid family and medical leave covering private-sector workers. The Maryland legislature voted to override the governor's veto. The Time to Care Act (S.B. 275) provides every Marylander with 12 weeks of partially paid family leave per year to care for themselves or a loved one. The program also offers up to 24 weeks of paid leave for new parents if they have had a serious medical issue within the year of the child's birth. Media and partner highlights include:
- A Better Balance blog post: "Maryland Becomes Latest State to Enact Paid Family and Medical Leave"
- Bloomberg Law: "Veto Override Makes Maryland 10th State With Paid Family Leave"
- WMAR: "Maryland's paid family leave program passes despite Governor Hogan's veto"
Equity Lens
Integrative Review of Culturally Safe Research with Native American Communities, summarized from Contemporary Nurse
Contemporary Nurse released an article titled "Strategies for culturally safe research with Native American communities: an integrative review." A team of Native American scholars and non-Native allies used an integrative review approach to identify strategies that ground health research with Native American communities in a manner that promotes cultural safety, accountability, and sustainability.
News & Views
Amplify: "Autism and Lactation: Top 5 Things You Need to Know as a Lactation Consultant"
Baby-Friendly USA blog post: "A Total Commitment to Breastfeeding at Petaluma Valley Hospital"
Delaware Benefit News: "Paid leave bill expected to clear House committee"
Employee Benefit News: "Here’s what a breastfeeding-friendly workplace looks like"
Health.gov blog post: "Check Out Healthy People 2030's Resources to Advance Health Equity!"
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: "Working Moms of Milwaukee recognized these 4 businesses for their pro-mom policies. Here's what that means."
National Health Law Program blog post: "Fostering Maternal Health Equity Through Budget Reconciliation"
TRICARE Newsroom: "New, Expanded Childbirth and Breastfeeding TRICARE Benefits for Expecting Parents"
