Staying Abreast: Weekly Wire - USBC Policy Map Launch & 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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The WW goes on hiatus several times a year: the weeks of the Independence Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, & New Year's holidays, the weeks before the Presidents Day, Memorial Day, and Labor Day holidays, and the weeks of the USBC membership meetings.

Staying Abreast: Weekly Wire - USBC Policy Map Launch & more

1/5/2024

In this issue:

USBC Updates
- New Resource: USBC Breastfeeding Policy Map
- Call for Stories on Paid Leave
- Join the USBC Stakeholder Listening Session on Friday, January 12
- Infant and Young Child Feeding in Emergencies Webinar Recording Now Available
International News
- 2024 World Breastfeeding Week Slogan
National News
- Policy Brief on Financing Sustainable Paid Family and Medical Leave Programs
- Social Media Toolkit and Coding Guide on Women's Preventive Services
- National Day of Racial Healing
State & Community News
- Updated MIBFN Federal Workplace Protections Comparison Resource
- Washington Bill to Extend Paid Leave Program to Small Employers Pre-Filed
- New Hampshire Doula and Lactation Service Provider Certification Bill Introduced
Action Opportunities
Funding Opportunities
Upcoming Events
News & Views
Journal Publications

USBC Updates

New Resource: USBC Breastfeeding Policy Map

The U.S. Breastfeeding Committee is introducing a new resource for the field: the Breastfeeding Policy Map. This interactive map features federal and state legislation and regulations that are related to or have the potential to impact infant feeding. The policies included on the map are curated from federal and state government sources, allowing the lactation field to quickly and proactively scan the policy landscape to stay informed about policy opportunities, challenges, and emerging trends. Users can filter by state or issue area to view relevant bills and regulations, including bill status, most recent action, and a link to the full text.

Call for Stories on Paid Leave

The U.S. Breastfeeding Committee is collecting stories and testimonials on paid family and medical leave and its impact on the infant feeding experience. Submissions will inform the USBC response to the Request for Information (RFI) on expanding access to paid leave released by a bipartisan group of U.S. senators and representatives committed to expanding access to paid leave. Research clearly shows that access to paid family and medical leave makes it easier to start and maintain breastfeeding. Unfortunately, it's not available to millions of families who need it. If your family used or needed paid leave, or if you know someone who did, we want to hear the story so we can help policymakers understand why establishing a national paid leave program is so important. Share a paid leave story with us today!

Join the USBC Stakeholder Listening Session on Friday, January 12

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 next session is for individuals who identify as BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) and/or members of the LGBTQIA+ community and will take place on Friday, January 12, from 12-1:30 p.m. ET. The remaining sessions will take place later this month. 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!

Infant and Young Child Feeding in Emergencies Webinar Recording Now Available

The National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) published the recording of the "Infant and Young Child Feeding in Emergencies: Community Preparedness Systems to Keep Babies Safe" webinar. The session, which was co-hosted by the U.S. Breastfeeding Committee, provides an overview of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Infant and Young Child Feeding in Emergencies Toolkit and shares current research exploring personal experiences and disaster-related factors that influence breastfeeding.

International News

2024 World Breastfeeding Week Slogan

The World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action announced that the 2024 World Breastfeeding Week slogan is Closing the gap: breastfeeding support for all. Taking place August 1-7, this year's World Breastfeeding Week observance will showcase the need to improve breastfeeding support to reduce inequalities that exist in our society. The event will include a special focus on breastfeeding in times of emergencies and crises.

National News

Policy Brief on Financing Sustainable Paid Family and Medical Leave Programs

The National Partnership for Women and Families published a policy brief, "Financing Sustainable Paid Family and Medical Leave Programs." The brief examines key policy design features related to paid leave program finances and reviews the financial state of these programs to offer lessons and best practices for policymakers. It looks in detail at programs that have been fully operational and paying out benefits for more than one year. The analysis examines how programs handle startup costs, formulas for maintaining reserve funds, how premium rates are set, relative administrative costs for each program, and the impact of private plan options.

Social Media Toolkit and Coding Guide on Women's Preventive Services

The Women's Preventive Services Initiative (WPSI) released a social media toolkit designed to equip partner organizations, communications and marketing professionals, clinicians, office managers, and patient advocates with various communication tools that make it easy to raise awareness on social media about quality health care for women and ensure quality preventive health care across the life span. The toolkit includes messaging for WPSI resources, including the newly updated 2023-2024 WPSI Coding Guide, which acts as a tool to assist practices with coding and billing preventive services for women.

USBC Insight: The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act requires health plans to cover certain Essential Health Benefits without cost-sharing, including breastfeeding support and supplies provided under the Women's Preventive Services Initiative.

National Day of Racial Healing

The W.K. Kellogg Foundation is hosting the 2024 National Day of Racial Healing on Tuesday, January 16, with the theme Racial Healing: The Heart of Racial Equity. The annual event provides an opportunity to bring all people together in their shared humanity and inspire collective action to create a more just and equitable world. Visit the Take Action webpage to find this year's action kit, conversation guides, and event and activity ideas.

State & Community News

Updated MIBFN Federal Workplace Protections Comparison Resource

The Michigan Breastfeeding Network (MIBFN) released an updated version of the MIBFN Federal Workplace Protections Comparison document. The resource helps employers and employees understand what lactation protections are now covered under the PUMP for Nursing Mothers Act and Pregnant Workers Fairness Act and offers a comparison of protections prior to the passage of these new laws.

Washington Bill to Extend Paid Leave Program to Small Employers Pre-Filed

Washington Representative Amy Walen pre-filed House Bill 1959. The bill would extend parts of the existing paid family and medical leave program to employers with fewer than 50 employees. The Washington legislature allows members to pre-file bills, preceding the opening of the legislative session. Pre-filed bills are introduced on the first day of the legislative session.

New Hampshire Doula and Lactation Service Provider Certification Bill Introduced

New Hampshire Senator Rebecca Whitley introduced Senate Bill 337. The bill would direct the New Hampshire Office of Professional Licensure and Certification to establish a voluntary certification process for doula and lactation service providers for the purposes of Medicaid billing.