Staying Abreast: Weekly Wire - Webinar on Lactating Student Rights, Equity & Inclusive Language Toolkit, & more

In this issue:

• USBC Updates
  • Thank You for Joining us for the 2024 National Breastfeeding Conference & Convening!
  • Webinar on New Rights for Lactating Students Under Title IX
  • USBC Educates Policymakers on Donor Milk Banking
  • BPHP Equity & Inclusive Language Toolkit & Launch Webinar Recording
  • Weekly Wire Hiatus & USBC Office Closure
• International News
  • Journal Series on Health Impacts of Climate Change
• National News
  • 2024 Maternity Practices in Infant Nutrition and Care (mPINC) Survey Deadline Extended
  • Indigenous Milk Medicine Week Theme Announcement
  • Resources on Workplace Pumping Protections
  • Agriculture Appropriations Bill Released
  • Resources for Immigrants on Navigating Food & Nutrition Programs for Immigrants
• State & Community News
  • Guide on Filing a Complaint for Lactation Accommodation Violations in California
  • South Carolina Governor Signs Bill Authorizing Sale of Paid Family Leave Insurance 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

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USBC Updates

Thank You for Joining us for the 2024 National Breastfeeding Conference & Convening!

Thank you to everyone who joined us last week for the 2024 National Breastfeeding Conference & Convening, Inspiring Change, Embracing Inclusion, and Impacting Communities, and helped make it a welcoming and enriching experience! We are grateful to our funder, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, our sponsors and exhbitors, and for the many speakers and facilitators who made it possible to enrich and engage our attendees in such dynamic conversations and skill-building sessions. We also express our gratitude to USBC board member Petrichor Kneeland-Campbell, who delivered a moving celebration of Pride Month at the opening of the convening, connecting this important observance to the work of the lactation field and reflecting on their own lactation journey. Read the "NBCC Pride Month Celebration" blog for a transcript. We sincerely hope all participants enjoyed learning, connecting, and taking action with us and are feeling energized to continue working in support of families across the nation. Together, we do great things!

 Webinar on New Rights for Lactating Students Under Title IX

Join the USBC-affiliated Workplace Support Constellation for the "New Rights for Lactating Students: Supporting Lactating Students Under Title IX" webinar on Wednesday, June 26, from 12-1 p.m. ET. Starting this fall, students nationwide will have the legal right to lactation breaks, space, and other accommodations. To help education institutions, lactation support providers, and advocates understand what the new protections mean for lactating students, this webinar will offer an overview of the new legal obligations as well as practical solutions for educational institutions looking to add lactation spaces and other supports for their employees and students. 

USBC Educates Policymakers on Donor Milk Banking

The U.S. Breastfeeding Committee delivered a package of resources on the Access to Donor Milk Act (S.2819/ H.R.5486) to members of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions; the House Committee on Energy and Commerce; and the House Committee on Education and the Workforce. The package included a joint letter signed by 237 organizations, a bill fact sheet from the USBC and Human Milk Banking Association of North America, and a story compilation highlighting why this bill is so important for babies and families. Milk banks located across 26 states gently pasteurize donated human milk and distribute it to fragile infants in need. This lifesaving liquid gold reduces mortality rates, lowers healthcare costs, and shortens hospital stays, but legislative action is needed to ensure that all babies in need have access to this precious milk. The Access to Donor Milk Act would make strategic federal investments to help bring donor milk to the infants who need it most. Help amplify the impact of this outreach with the "Tell Policymakers: Donor Milk Saves Lives" action tool. 

BPHP Equity & Inclusive Language Toolkit & Launch Webinar Recording

The Breastfeeding Public Health Partners (BPHP) released the "Equity & Inclusive Language Toolkit." The BPHP is a partnership of national organizations, including the USBC, dedicated to addressing inequities in infant feeding through collaboration and strategic efforts. The toolkit aims to promote access and equity in the lactation field through inclusive language and other equitable practices, such as the development of functionally inclusive materials. A webinar held last week celebrated the launch of the toolkit, shared insights on the development process, highlighted key content and practical applications, and featured a success story from an organization implementing equitable language practices. Access the webinar recording. 

Weekly Wire Hiatus & USBC Office Closures

The Weekly Wire will be on hiatus the week of June 17 and the USBC offices will be closed on Wednesday, June 19, in observance of Juneteenth. USBC offices are closed on Fridays during the months of June, July, and August to allow our team time for rest.

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International News

Journal Series on Health Impacts of Climate Change

The Journal of Global Health published a collection of articles titled Climate change across the lifecourse. Authored by experts from the World Health Organization and academics from around the world, the articles document the available scientific evidence on the health impacts of different climate hazards at key life stages. "Climate change, air pollution and maternal and newborn health: an overview of reviews of health outcomes" documents reduced access to lactation support and declining breastfeeding rates during and after an evacuation.

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National News

 2024 Maternity Practices in Infant Nutrition and Care (mPINC) Survey Deadline Extended

The due date for the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 2024 national survey of Maternity Practices in Infant Nutrition and Care (mPINC) has been extended to Monday, June 24. There is still time for every hospital to be counted. Hospitals must complete and submit their surveys to receive an individualized Hospital Report and be included in state, regional, and national reports.

Indigenous Milk Medicine Week Theme Announcement

The Indigenous Milk Medicine Collective announced that the 2024 Indigenous Milk Medicine Week theme is Mind. Body. Milk Medicine. The theme will delve into the vital connection between well-being, mental health, and milk medicine. Indigenous Milk Medicine Week takes place from August 8-14 during National Breastfeeding Month each year. This year's events will include a virtual conference, sunrise ceremonies, and movement and wellness sessions.

Resources on Workplace Pumping Protections

The Center for Worklife Law released two new resources on workplace lactation protections. "Lactation Rights at Work: Are Pumping Breaks Paid or Unpaid?" provides information on pay requirements under federal law and details situations in which employees must be paid for time spent pumping. "PUMP Act Protections for Transportation Workers" clarifies rules around pumping protections for certain transportation workers.

Agriculture Appropriations Bill Released

The House Appropriations Committee released the Fiscal Year 2025 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill. The bill includes $7.235B for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), $205 million above the FY24 enacted level. Highlights from the field include:

• House Appropriations Committee: "Committee Releases FY25 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act"
• National WIC Association: "FY25 House Bill Funding WIC Falls Short of Projected Caseload"

Resources for Immigrants on Navigating Food & Nutrition Programs

The Protecting Immigrant Families Coalition developed, "Food Programs and Your Rights: A Guide for Immigrant Families." The guide features a collection of materials to help immigrant families navigate access to the most common food and nutrition programs, including the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). The materials address specific concerns about eligibility, immigration status, and mixed-status families and are available in a variety of languages. Resources include social media samples and graphic images, a printable flyer, and a short informational video.

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State & Community News

 Guide on Filing a Complaint for Lactation Accommodation Violations in California

The California Breastfeeding Coalition released, "Guide To Filing A Complaint - Violations In Lactation Accommodation." The guide includes detailed information on common lactation accommodation violations and is designed to help workers navigate the process of filing a complaint if their employer does not provide adequate accommodations. 

South Carolina Governor Signs Bill Authorizing Sale of Paid Family Leave Insurance Into Law

South Carolina Governor McMaster signed the Paid Family Leave Insurance Act (S0944/H 4832) into law. The bill authorizes insurers to sell paid family leave insurance.

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Action Opportunities

National Partnership for Women & Families: "Listening to Mothers IV Survey"

Women's Rights and Empowerment Network: "2024 Network Survey"

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Funding Opportunities

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation: "Addressing Childhood Obesity and Health Inequities: Supporting, Sustaining, and Evolving the Field." Application deadline: Thursday, June 27.

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Upcoming Events

Tuesday, June 25:

•  Healthy Horizons: "The Current State of Federal Lactation Laws"

Wednesday, June 26:

• Advisory Committee on Infant and Maternal Mortality: "In-Person Meeting of the Advisory Committee on Infant and Maternal Mortality"
•  National WIC Association: "50 years of Nourishing Families Through WIC's Food Package"
• U.S. Department of Labor: "Paid Leave: Equity In Implementation Conference"

Monday, July 8 - Tuesday, July 9:

• National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine: "Strengthening Indigenous America: Building Resilience through Disaster Preparedness, Response, and Recovery (A Workshop)"

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News & Views

Harvard Business Review: "The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act: What U.S. Employers Need to Know"

 healthychildren.org: "Safe Sleep Tips for Sleep-Deprived Parents"

 Healthy Horizons: "Chestfeeding: An Inclusive Approach to Infant Feeding"

Laurie M. Tisch Center for Food, Education & Policy: "New Hope in the Fight for Nutrition Security with WIC"

 New Mexico Breastfeeding Task Force: "Expanding the Lactation Landscape in New Mexico"

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: "HRSA Announces $15 Million in New Investments to Address Maternal Health Needs and Disparities in Rural Communities"

U.S. Food & Drug Administration:

• "FDA Alerts Parents and Caregivers to Cronobacter Safety Concerns with Crecelac Goat Milk Infant Formula Imported and Distributed by Dairy Manufacturers Inc."
• "FDA's Reorganization Approved for Establishing Unified Human Foods Program, New Model for Field Operations and Other Modernization Efforts"

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Journal Publications

International Breastfeeding Journal: 

• "Association between breastfeeding duration and diabetes mellitus in menopausal women: a machine-learning analysis using population-based retrospective study"
• "Comparing factors associated with overall satisfaction for different forms of remote breastfeeding support in the UK"
• "Effect of exclusive breastfeeding and other infant and young child feeding practices on childhood morbidity outcomes: associations for infants 0–6 months in 5 South Asian countries using Demographic and Health Survey data"
• "Evaluating the process of practice enhancement for exclusive breastfeeding (PEEB): a participatory action research approach for clinical innovation"
• "Maternal employment characteristics as a structural social determinant of breastfeeding after return to work in the European Region: a scoping review"
• "State paid family leave policies and breastfeeding duration: cross-sectional analysis of 2021 national immunization survey-child"

Journal of Human Lactation: "'A Vulnerable Time To Be a Young Family in an Emergency': Qualitative Findings From an Exploration of an Emergency Perinatal and Infant Feeding Hotline in Louisiana"