Staying Abreast: Weekly Wire - October is SIDS Awareness Month & more

In this issue:

• USBC Updates
  • USBC Mission Moment with Stephanne Rupnicki: Strengthening Families Through the First Medicine
  • Take Action in Support of Paid Leave for Families!
  • October is SIDS Awareness Month: Share Your Resources
• State & Community News
  • Arkansas Breastfeeding Resource Guide
• Action Opportunities
• Upcoming Events
• News & Views
• Journal Publications

 denotes a USBC member organization news item        denotes a USBC-affiliated constellation news item

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USBC Updates

USBC Mission Moment with Stephanne Rupnicki: Strengthening Families Through the First Medicine

The U.S. Breastfeeding Committee hosted the Fall Membership Meeting on Thursday, September 25. The biannual virtual event brings together representatives from the approximately 140 member organizations that comprise the USBC member network and work collaboratively to drive policy and practice changes that create a landscape of breastfeeding support. At the opening of the meeting, USBC Board Member Stephanne Rupnicki delivered the “Mission Moment”, a meeting-opening practice that serves to connect our work to the people we serve and the positive and impactful change we seek.

"Human milk is more than nutrition; it is medicine, immunity, and connection. It is a living teaching of how our bodies sustain life, just as this land sustains us. Breastfeeding carries forward traditions that colonization tried to break, but could never erase." Visit the blog, "USBC Membership Meeting Mission Moment: Strengthening Families Through the First Medicine" for a full transcript of Stephanne's statement.

Take Action in Support of Paid Leave for Families!

The U.S. Breastfeeding Committee launched an action tool: "Families Can’t Wait—Support Paid Leave Today." Individuals can use the tool to urge their members of Congress to pass the Family and Medical Insurance Leave (FAMILY) Act. In addition, the USBC is collecting stories, statements, and testimonials from individuals and organizations about how access to paid family and medical leave makes a difference for breastfeeding parents.   

October is SIDS Awareness Month: Share Your Resources

Each October, the infant care community recognizes Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) Awareness Month by spreading the word about ways to reduce the risk of SIDS and other sleep-related infant deaths. Babies who are breastfed or fed human milk are at a reduced risk for SIDS. We invite you to submit your organization's resources, tools, and materials on safe sleep for inclusion on our "October Is Safe Sleep And SIDS Awareness Month" webpage. 

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State & Community News

Arkansas Breastfeeding Resource Guide

Arkansans for Improving Maternal Health (AIM) for Arkansas relaunched the "Arkansas Breastfeeding Resource Guide" with new laws and information. The guide is designed to help new mothers and families with information about new laws in Arkansas regarding breastfeeding rights and insurance coverage.  

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Action Opportunities

Department of Defense: "Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request." Comments deadline: Thursday, October 23. 

MomsRising.org: "Workers lose 22.5 billion annually due to not having paid leave." Action deadline: N/A.

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Upcoming Events

Wednesday, October 8:

• National Collaborative for Infants & Toddlers: "Power Prism®: Coalition Building & Maintenance"

Monday, October 20:

• Nutrition and Obesity Policy Research and Evaluation Network: "October State-of-the-Science Webinar"

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News & Views

Colorado State University: "CSU named a breastfeeding-friendly business by regional coalition"

Health Resources & Services Administration: "Rural MOMS Program Fiscal Year 2025 (FY 25) Cohort"

Red River Radio: "New Arkansas Mothers Receiving Crucial Breastfeeding Information to Overcome Obstacles"

 United States Lactation Consultant Association: "Rooted in Tradition: Celebrating Black Excellence in Breastfeeding Support"

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Journal Publications

Journal of Perinatology:

• "Correction: Maternity care practices supportive of breastfeeding in U.S. advanced neonatal care units, United States, 2022"
• "An integrative review of the impact of International Board Certified Lactation Consultants in outpatient postnatal settings in the United States"