Staying Abreast: Weekly Wire - September is National Preparedness Month & more

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Staying Abreast: Weekly Wire - September is National Preparedness Month & more

8/29/2025

In this issue:

USBC Updates
- September is National Preparedness Month: Share Your IYCF-E Resources!
Special Section on National Breastfeeding Month
National News
- IYCFE Virtual Training Series Launches in September
State & Community News
- BreastfeedLA Report Offers Roadmap for Lactation Justice
- DC Breastfeeding Coalition Breastfeeding Curriculums for Students
Funding Opportunities
Upcoming Events
News & Views
Journal Publications

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

USBC Updates

September is National Preparedness Month: Share Your IYCF-E Resources!

September is National Preparedness Month, an annual observance to raise awareness about the importance of preparing for disasters and emergencies that could happen at any time. The 2025 National Preparedness Month theme Preparedness Starts at Home, focuses on getting back to the essentials of preparedness. If your organization hosts relevant breastfeeding resources that you'd like amplified on the USBC Infant and Young Child Feeding in Emergencies webpage, we invite you to share them with us via our submission form.

Special Section on National Breastfeeding Month

It's National Breastfeeding Month! The 2025 NBM theme is Forward Together. The U.S. Breastfeeding Committee and the lactation field are busy preparing activities, events, and celebrations. Join us as we take the time in August (and beyond!) for action, education, and celebration of our collective efforts. Share your organization's plans with us so we can amplify your work in the Weekly Wire and on social media, shop the USBC Store for official NBM merch, and make a donation to help support important campaigns like this one. Highlights from the field include:

Breastfeeding Proclamations

Austin, Texas: Governor Abbott proclaimed August as National Breastfeeding Month in Austin, Texas.
Citrus County, Florida: The Citrus County Board of County Commissioners proclaimed August as Breastfeeding Awareness Month in Citrus County, Florida.
Columbia, South Carolina: Mayor Rickenmann proclaimed August as Breastfeeding Awareness Month in the City of Columbia, South Carolina.

Local NBM Events

Black Women for Wellness: In celebration of Black Breastfeeding Week 2025, Black Women for Wellness is hosting "Breastfed & Blessed: Foods That Support Our Flow" on Friday, August 29, in Los Angeles, California. The event will celebrate the beauty, strength, and sacredness of breastfeeding through shared stories, affirmations, education, and empowerment.

NBM News & Views

Children's Hospital of Richmond at VCU: "Virginia’s National Breastfeeding Month event at CHoR highlights the life-saving impact of providing human milk for pre-term babies"
La Leche League USA: "Black Breastfeeding Week: Ta-Sha’s Story Continues"
The Texas Insider: "Austin Leads the Way in Supporting New Moms This August"
WDTN: "Dayton celebrates Black Breastfeeding Week with support focus"
WYMT: "Health experts explain importance of breastfeeding during Breastfeeding Awareness Month"

National News

IYCFE Virtual Training Series Launches in September

The North Carolina Breastfeeding Coalition Support and Advocacy for Infant Feeding in Emergencies (SAFE) Team announced a new 11-month virtual training series, "Nourishing Resilience SAFE Infant Feeding in Crisis" will launch Tuesday, September 9. This series is a grant-funded educational opportunity for healthcare providers, lactation and childbirth professionals, first responders, community health workers, volunteers, and anyone invested in emergency preparedness for infants and young children and is designed to offer the tools, frameworks, and confidence to support feeding during emergencies in communities. The 90 minute sessions will continue on the second Tuesday of each month at 1 p.m. E.T., running through July 2026.

State & Community News

BreastfeedLA Report Offers Roadmap for Lactation Justice

BreastfeedLA released a report, "Lactation Justice: Progress, Lessons, and the Road Ahead."In October 2023, BreastfeedLA hosted the Lactation Justice: Activating our Community Response Summit, bringing together parents, healthcare providers, policymakers, and advocates to address the barriers communities of color face in infant feeding. The Summit explored how race and racism impact breast/chestfeeding outcomes and identified ways to build a more just, inclusive future for lactating families. This post-summit report captures key discussions, recommendations, and next steps—framed through a community-centered lens using an adapted Socioecological Model. It offers a roadmap for continued action to reduce disparities in infant feeding.

DC Breastfeeding Coalition Breastfeeding Curriculums for Students

The District of Columbia Breastfeeding Coalition designed curriculums for breastfeeding education for Kindergarten, Fourth Grade and High School. These age-appropriate teaching and learning modules are freely available to educational and non-profit organizations on the DC Breastfeeding Coalition's website.