Staying Abreast: Weekly Wire - USBC Comment on Coverage of Over-the-Counter Preventive Services & more

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Staying Abreast: Weekly Wire - USBC Comment on Coverage of Over-the-Counter Preventive Services & more

12/7/2023

In this issue:

USBC Updates
- USBC Mission Moment with Dr. Scott Hartman
- USBC Submits Comment on Coverage of Over-the-Counter Preventive Services
- Thank You to Our Supporters & Donors!
- Reminder: Upcoming USBC Stakeholder Listening Sessions
International News
- WHO Guideline on Complimentary Feeding of Infants and Young Children
- USAID Decision Tool for Integrating Complementary Feeding in Emergencies
National News
- FNS Report on National and State Level Estimates of WIC Eligibility and Program Reach in 2021
- 2023 March of Dimes Report Card Highlights Policies and Funding Affecting Maternal and Infant Health
Funding Opportunities
Upcoming Events
News & Views
Journal Publications

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

USBC Updates

USBC Mission Moment with Dr. Scott Hartman

The U.S. Breastfeeding Committee hosted a Membership Meeting on Thursday, November 16. The biannual event brings together the nearly 140 member organizations that comprise the USBC and work collaboratively to drive policy and practice changes that create a landscape of breastfeeding support. At the opening of the meeting, Dr. Scott Hartman, on his final day as a member of the USBC Board of Directors, delivered the "Mission Moment." This meeting-opening practice serves to connect our work to the people we serve and the positive and impactful change we seek. Thank you, Scott, for grounding us, giving us hope about what is possible, and guiding us in what we can do right now! Visit the "USBC Membership Meeting Mission Moment with Dr. Scott Hartman" blog to read a transcript of the mission moment. To learn more about USBC membership, visit our website.

USBC Submits Comment on Coverage of Over-the-Counter Preventive Services

The U.S. Breastfeeding Committee submitted a comment to the Departments of Health and Human Services, Labor, and the Treasury in response to the request for information (RFI) regarding the application of the preventive services requirements under section 2713 of the Public Health Service Act (PHS Act) to over-the-counter (OTC) preventive items and services available without a prescription by a health care provider. The USBC comment highlights the public health and economic potential for policy shifts to better support breastfeeding, common experiences families face as they seek to access lactation supplies through their insurance, and proposes additional considerations.

Thank You to Our Supporters & Donors!

The U.S. Breastfeeding Committee is so grateful to the 70+ donors who contributed to the USBC Giving Tuesday campaign. This year, in honor of the USBC's 25^th Anniversary, we are rallying to gather 250 donations. We have three more weeks before our Fiscal Year closes to reach our goal of 250 donations. Join the celebration and help us reach our goal by donating today! Visit the Ways to Give webpage for additional ways to give to the USBC, including shopping the official USBC Online Store.

Reminder: Upcoming USBC Stakeholder Listening Sessions

The U.S. Breastfeeding Committee is hosting a series of listening sessions with stakeholders to inform the development of a five-year plan to advance infant nutrition security and eliminate breastfeeding disparities. The first session is for breastfeeding coalitions and national organizations and will take place on Friday, December 8, from 12:30-2 p.m. ET. The remaining sessions will take place during December and January. Visit the "USBC Stakeholder Listening Sessions: Share your Vision for Achieving Infant Nutrition Security" blog for more information on dates and to register to attend a session. We hope you'll join us and share your insights!

International News

WHO Guideline on Complimentary Feeding of Infants and Young Children

The World Health Organization (WHO) released the "WHO Guideline for Complementary Feeding of Infants and Young Children 6-23 Months of Age." The guideline provides global, evidence-based recommendations on complementary feeding of infants and young children 6 to 23 months of age and considers the needs of both breastfed and non-breastfed children. The recommendations in the guideline are intended for a wide audience, including policymakers, government agencies and organizations involved in infant and young child feeding programs, caregivers, health-care professionals, academic and research institutions, and training institutions.

USAID Decision Tool for Integrating Complementary Feeding in Emergencies

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) published the "Integrating Complementary Feeding in Emergencies: A Decision Tool for Concrete Actions at Each Stage of the Humanitarian Program Cycle." This resource is designed to guide technical advisors and managers involved in the design, planning, implementation, and monitoring of a nutrition humanitarian response to incorporate complementary feeding actions for children 6 to 23 months of age, regardless of their breastfeeding status, at each stage of the humanitarian program cycle.

National News

FNS Report on National and State-Level Estimates of WIC Eligibility and Program Reach in 2021

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) released the "National and State Level Estimates of WIC Eligibility and Program Reach in 2021" report. This report, the latest in a series of annual reports on WIC eligibility, presents 2021 national and state estimates of the number of people eligible for WIC benefits and the percentages of the eligible population and the US population covered by the program. The WIC program served 480,000 postpartum breastfeeding women in 2021, 60.8% of eligible individuals.

2023 March of Dimes Report Card Highlights Policies and Funding Affecting Maternal and Infant Health

March of Dimes released the "2023 March of Dimes Report Card." This resource highlights the collective factors that contribute to maternal and infant mortality and morbidity and provides a grade for each state as well as DC and Puerto Rico. This year's report card highlights the consistently high preterm birth rate and includes indicators to better reflect the state of maternal and infant health in the U.S. The report card also features a Progress in Policies section that reports on policies and funding that are critical for improving and sustaining maternal and infant healthcare, including paid family leave, Medicaid expansion, and federal funding for perinatal quality collaboratives.