Staying Abreast: Weekly Wire: USBC Listening Sessions, 2023 ECE State Indicator Report, & more

The USBC e-Newsletter, Staying Abreast, is published in a weekly news brief format, called the Weekly Wire (WW). Past issues are archived below.

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Staying Abreast: Weekly Wire: USBC Listening Sessions, 2023 ECE State Indicator Report, & more

12/1/2023

In this issue:

USBC Updates
- Introducing the 2023-2024 USBC Board of Directors
- USBC Stakeholder Listening Sessions: Share your Vision for Achieving Infant Nutrition Security
- Reflections on Native American Heritage Month: A Conversation with Kimberly Moore-Salas
- There's Still Time to Donate to Our Giving Tuesday Campaign!
International News
- WHO Guideline on Tackling Acute Malnutrition in Children Under Five
National News
- CDC State Indicator Report on Early Care and Education Policies
- Education Campaign on Vaccinations for Pregnant and Breastfeeding Population
- A Better Balance Helpline Expands to Support Pregnant and Breastfeeding Students
- NASEM Review of Federal Policies that Contribute to Racial, Ethnic & Tribal Health Inequities
- 2023 Early Childhood State Policy Roadmap
- Report on Strengthening Interagency Collaboration for DGA
- CMS Care Compare Tool Adds Birthing-Friendly Designation Icon
- Blueprint on Supporting the Child Care Needs of American Indian and Alaska Native Families
- Clinical Care Training to Improve Outcomes for Indigenous Patients
State & Community News
- Pennsylvania Bill on Coverage of Donor Human Milk Signed Into Law
Action Opportunities
Funding Opportunities
Upcoming Events
News & Views
Journal Publications

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

USBC Updates

Introducing the 2023-2024 USBC Board of Directors

The U.S. Breastfeeding Committee is thrilled to introduce the 2023-2024 Board of Directors. Elected by our voting member organizations, the USBC Board of Directors is a talented cohort of breastfeeding advocates dedicated to supporting the organization's mission and vision. Board members bring a wide range of expertise and experiences to their board service, and the composition of this group directly reflects the organization's deep commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and representation. The USBC also extends a sincere thank you to our outgoing Board members Scott Hartman, Tina Sherman, Sekeita Lewis-Johnson, and Pauline Sakamoto for their dedication and service to the USBC. We are incredibly grateful for their time, talent, and resources during their terms.

USBC Stakeholder Listening Sessions: Share your Vision for Achieving Infant Nutrition Security

The U.S. Breastfeeding Committee is funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to collaborate with our stakeholders to build a five-year plan to advance infant nutrition security and eliminate breastfeeding disparities, especially those impacting Black and Native American populations. As an important first step in the development of the plan, we are hosting listening sessions, developed in collaboration with, and facilitated by, the team at Urban Metrics Consultants, LLC. By participating in one of these facilitated discussions, stakeholders have the opportunity to contribute at this early stage to the plan's development. The USBC will host six listening sessions with three groups, each of which has two dates to select from, listed below. Sessions will be hosted in December and January. Each person is asked to choose to attend one session, which you'll select via the registration form.

Listening session opportunities for breastfeeding coalitions and national organizations.
- Option 1: December 8, 2023, 12:30-2 p.m. ET/9:30-11 a.m. PT
- Option 2: January 23, 2024, 3-4:30 p.m. ET/12-1:30 p.m. PT
Listening session opportunities for participants of USBC-affiliated Constellation Workgroups.
- Option 1: December 14, 2023, 1:30-3 p.m. ET/10:30 a.m.-12 p.m. PT
- Option 2: January 16, 2024, 2-3:30 p.m. ET/11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. PT
Listening session opportunities for individuals who identify as BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color), and/or members of the LGBTQIA+ community.
- Option 1: January 12, 2024, 12-1:30 p.m. ET/9-10:30 a.m. PT
- Option 2: January 18, 2024, 3-4:30 p.m. ET/12-1:30 p.m. PT

Native American Heritage Month Blog Featuring Kimberly Moore-Salas

The U.S. Breastfeeding Committee released a blog titled "Reflections on Native American Heritage Month: A Conversation with Kimberly Moore-Salas." The blog features a transcript of a conversation between Camille Abbe, Director of Strategic Partnerships at the USBC, and esteemed colleague and leader, Kimberly Moore-Salas. Kimberly is a co-instructor for the Indigenous Breastfeeding Counselor training, an Advisory Committee member for the Navajo Breastfeeding Coalition, a former two-term USBC Board Member, and the Tribal Liaison for the U.S. Breastfeeding Committee. The blog shares the history of Native American Heritage Month, celebrates the contributions of indigenous peoples, and describes key issues Native communities are facing related to maternal and infant health.

There's Still Time to Donate to Our Giving Tuesday Campaign!

This giving season, we're celebrating the 25^th Anniversary of the USBC! In honor of this special occasion, we are rallying to gather 250 donations to support our mission to create a landscape of breastfeeding support across the nation. Our work together enriches the advocates who make up the First Food field with the connections, information, and resources critical for protecting, promoting, and supporting breastfeeding and access to human milk. If you appreciate this weekly newsletter and the work of the USBC, we hope you'll consider making a contribution. Help us reach our goal by making a donation today!

Thank you to the generous donors who have already contributed to support our vision of thriving families and communities. Together, we do great things!

International News

WHO Guideline on Tackling Acute Malnutrition in Children Under Five

The World Health Organization (WHO) issued the "WHO Guideline on the Prevention and Management of Wasting and Nutritional Oedema (Acute Malnutrition) in Infants and Children Under 5 years." Acute malnutrition affects millions of children worldwide, with an estimated 45 million children under five. This is the first WHO guideline focusing on both the prevention and management of acute malnutrition and highlights the vital importance of investing in both these aspects to reduce the prevalence and negative impacts of acute malnutrition on children and their families around the world. Breastfeeding is one of the key recommendations included in the guideline. Read the press release.

National News

CDC State Indicator Report on Early Care and Education Policies

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity (DNPAO) released the "Early Care and Education State Indicator Report 2023." The report outlines state-level policies and activities related to nutrition (including breastfeeding), physical activity, healthy growth, and obesity prevention in early care and education (ECE) settings. One of the key findings in this year's report is that 30 states offer a tool that helps ECEs assess their nutrition, physical activity, breastfeeding, and Farm to ECE policies and practices.

Education Campaign on Vaccinations for Pregnant and Breastfeeding Population

The CDC Foundation launched the “Pregnant & Protected” campaign to provide COVID-19 vaccination information to people planning to get pregnant, currently pregnant, or breastfeeding. Local health departments and partner organizations can use the Pregnant & Protected campaign materials to provide education on the importance of staying up to date on COVID-19 vaccinations, especially during pregnancy and while breastfeeding.

A Better Balance Helpline Expands to Support Pregnant and Breastfeeding Students

A Better Balance announced that the free legal helpline supporting families to understand their workplace rights has expanded its capabilities. The organization's attorneys are now able to assist pregnant, recently postpartum, lactating, and parenting students at any education level, including high school and college students. The helpline can support students in exercising their rights to be free from discrimination at school and in accessing accommodations for pregnancy, childbirth, lactation, or related conditions. Read the blog announcement.

NASEM Review of Federal Policies that Contribute to Racial, Ethnic & Tribal Health Inequities

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) released the "Federal Policy to Advance Racial, Ethnic, and Tribal Health Equity" report. The publication examines and analyzes federal policies, particularly noting the lack of a federally mandated paid family leave policy, that contribute to preventable and inequitable differences in health status and outcomes experienced by all U.S. racial and ethnic minority populations. The report offers recommendations that identify the most effective or promising approaches for policy change to help achieve racial, ethnic, and tribal health equity.

2023 Early Childhood State Policy Roadmap

The Prenatal-to-3 Policy Impact Center released the "2023 Prenatal-to-3 State Policy Roadmap." This annual resource provides an overview of the past year's research on early childhood policy, assesses the well-being of each state's infants and toddlers, identifies evidence-based policy solutions, monitors states' adoption and implementation, and tracks the impact that policy changes have on improving the wellbeing of children, families, and communities of color. The roadmap identified paid leave programs as one of the effective policies for state implementation, encouraging access to at least six weeks of paid time off from work.

Report on Strengthening Interagency Collaboration for DGA

The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) published the "Dietary Guidelines for Americans: Strengthening Interagency Collaboration Could Help Inform Nutrition Research and Future Guidelines" report. The report examines actions selected agencies have taken to promote the 2020-2025 guidelines, explores collaborative efforts between agencies to identify and prioritize human nutrition research that may inform future editions, and provides recommendations for executive action.

USBC Insight: An updated edition of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) is released every five years and serves as the cornerstone of federal nutrition policy and education activities for the United States. The 2020-2025 edition of the DGA included, for the first time, dietary recommendations for infants and toddlers as well as pregnant and lactating women.

CMS Care Compare Tool Adds Birthing-Friendly Designation Icon

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that the Care Compare online tool will begin displaying the ‘Birthing-Friendly’ designation icon. CMS created the designation to identify hospitals and health systems that participate in a statewide or national perinatal quality improvement collaborative program and that implement evidence-based care to improve maternal health.

Blueprint on Supporting the Child Care Needs of American Indian and Alaska Native Families

The Bipartisan Policy Center released a blueprint: "Invisible Children, Invisible Families: A Blueprint for Supporting the Child Care Needs of American Indian and Alaska Native Families." The blueprint recognizes that the first few months and years of life are a sensitive period for child development and emphasizes the importance of reaching American Indian and Alaska Native families with young children with culturally responsive early care and education. The blueprint proposes recommendations including strengthening communication and collaboration between state governments and tribes and reforming federal funding to address tribal and AI/AN needs using data-driven methods, with the goal of strengthening support for AI/AN families with young children and their communities.

Clinical Care Training to Improve Outcomes for Indigenous Patients

Indian Country ECHO is hosting the "Journey to Health" eLearning course to support new and current clinicians and staff who serve American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) people in understanding and improving healthcare within indigenous communities. Topics include cultural humility, decolonizing patient care, trauma-informed care, resilience, wellness support, and professional practice. The activity is self-paced and offers continuing education credits.

State & Community News

Pennsylvania Bill on Coverage of Donor Human Milk Signed Into Law

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro signed Senate Bill 500 into law. The law requires medical assistance coverage for medically necessary pasteurized donor human milk for inpatient and outpatient infants when needed. Beginning in mid-January, infants covered through the Medicaid program will be eligible for coverage of pasteurized donor human milk when medically prescribed. The law also requires the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services to support public awareness of the availability of pasteurized donor human milk and educate families and healthcare providers about this life-saving medicine.

Action Opportunities

Children and Families Administration: "Supporting the Head Start Workforce and Consistent Quality Programming"

Massachusetts Breastfeeding Coalition: "Pump Bill Written Testimony: What To Say And How To Submit"

Funding Opportunities

California WIC Association: "California Nutrition Corps Scholarships." Application deadline: Wednesday, January 17, 2024.

National Institutes of Health (NIH): "Native American Research Centers for Health (NARCH) (S06 Clinical Trial Optional)." Application deadline: Friday, August 7, 2026.

The Research Innovation and Development Grants in Economics Partnership: "Economics of Federal Nutrition Assistance Programs." Application deadline: Wednesday, January 31, 2024.

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation: "Evidence for Action: Indigenous-Led Solutions to Advance Health Equity and Wellbeing." Application deadline: Friday, March 1, 2024.