Weekly Wire: National Breastfeeding Month and Black Breastfeeding Week events and news

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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Weekly Wire: National Breastfeeding Month and Black Breastfeeding Week events and news

8/19/2022

Weekly Wire: August 19, 2022

The Staying Abreast: Weekly Wire e-Newsletter is a compendium of news, actions, and resources considered to be of interest or relevance to the breastfeeding field. The newsletter aims to support the USBC mission "To drive collaborative efforts for policy and practices that create a landscape of breastfeeding support across the United States." Included items are submitted for consideration or identified by the USBC e-news team via an extensive online review. Whenever possible, the newsletter utilizes language directly from the primary source of an item without additional analysis or edits. In some cases, the USBC offers additional perspectives through the "USBC Insights," media and partner highlights, and the "News & Views" section. Inclusion of an item in the e-newsletter does not imply endorsement or support by the USBC of an item or organization, unless specifically noted.

In this issue:

USBC Updates
- New Webpage on Public Health Importance of Human Milk
- Action Tool in Support of Pregnant Workers
- Fundraising Campaign Update
Special Section on National Breastfeeding Month 2022
National News
- Video Explainer on Title V MCH Block Grant
- Bill Introduced to Reauthorize Child Nutrition Programs
- Bill Introduced to Better Protect Flying with Breast Milk
- Resource Hub on Reproductive Health Care
- Black Maternal Health Week Impact Report
- Secretary's Advisory Committee on Infant and Maternal Mortality
State & Community News
- Cost/Benefit Analysis on Paid Leave in Georgia
News & Views
Journal Publications

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

USBC Updates

New Webpage on Public Health Importance of Human Milk

The U.S. Breastfeeding Committee published a webpage titled "Why Focus on Human Milk Feeding?" The new webpage includes information on how human milk feeding impacts health outcomes for parents and children, describes some of the most pervasive barriers to human milk feeding, and how policy change can secure infant nutrition security in the United States and improve public health.

Action Tool in Support of Pregnant Workers

The USBC released an action tool titled "The Time is Now: Protect Pregnant Workers." Individuals can use the tool to contact their Senators in support of the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA). The PWFA would ensure reasonable workplace accommodations for workers whose ability to perform the functions of a job are limited by pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions, including lactation. It's critical to raise our voices to support this bill while the Senate is still in session! Take action with us.

Fundraising Campaign Update

This National Breastfeeding Month, the USBC is inviting donors to support our critical advocacy efforts by making 500 donations during the month of August. We are more than halfway through the month and still need over 200 generous donors to help us reach that goal! We're calling on our thousands of Weekly Wire readers to support this drive by taking two minutes to make a donation today.

Special Section on National Breastfeeding Month 2022

National Breastfeeding Month is still going strong! We invite all member organizations, breastfeeding coalitions, partner organizations, and individuals to participate in online action and conversation about the policy and practice changes needed to build a landscape of support for babies and families. Please share your organization's plans so we can amplify your work in the Weekly Wire and on social media. Highlights from the field include:

AND: The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics published a webpage titled "August is National Breastfeeding Month" with resources and action opportunities.
Cook County/ISPAN: The Cook County/Illinois State Physical Activity and Nutrition Breast/Chestfeeding Equity Learning Collaborative is hosting a two-part training titled "Providing Inclusive Breast/Chestfeeding Care for the LGBTQ+ Community." Facilitated by Stephanie Hutchinson, the sessions will address LGBTQ+ history, important terms, and inclusive care.

Local Events

AABN: The African American Breastfeeding Network is hosting their 8th Annual Lift Every Baby event on Saturday, August 27, at 9:30 a.m. CT, in Milwaukee, WI.
BMBFA: Black Mothers' Breastfeeding Association is hosting the "Black Mothers' Breastfeeding Summit" on Saturday, August 27, from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. ET, in Detroit, MI.
Chicago South Side Birth Center: The Chicago South Side Birth Center is hosting the "Latch & Stroll" on Sunday, August 27, at 10 a.m. CT, in Chicago, IL, in honor of Black Breastfeeding Week.
NYC Health: The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene's Center for Health Equity & Community Wellness is hosting two in-person celebrations during Black Breastfeeding Week.

Breastfeeding Month Proclamations

Fargo, North Dakota: Mayor Timothy Mahoney issued a proclamation declaring August 1-7 as World Breastfeeding Week.
Lima, Ohio: Mayor Sharetta Smith issued a proclamation declaring August as Breastfeeding Awareness Month.
Iowa: Governor Kim Reynolds issued a proclamation declaring August as Breastfeeding Month.
Maryland: Governor Lawrence Hogan Jr. issued a proclamation declaring August as Breastfeeding Month.
Michigan: Governor Gretchen Whitmer issued a proclamation declaring August 8-14 as Indigenous Milk Medicine Week.
Minnesota: Governor Tim Walz issued a proclamation declaring August as Breastfeeding Month.
Nevada: Governor Steve Sisolak issued a proclamation declaring August as Breastfeeding Awareness Month.
New Jersey: Governor Philip Murphy issued a proclamation declaring August as Breastfeeding Month.
Olean, New York: Mayor Bill Aiello issued a proclamation declaring August 1-7 as World Breastfeeding Week.
Virginia: Governor Glenn Youngkin issued a proclamation declaring August as Breastfeeding Awareness Month.

NBM News & Views

Central Coast Journal (flip to page one): "August Hero: Central Coast Breastfeeding Coalition"
FHI Solutions: "How breastfeeding helps mitigate climate change"
LLL USA blog:
- "Indigenous Milk Medicine Week: Indigenous Milk Medicine Heals"
- "Asian American Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Breastfeeding Week 2022: 'Telling Our Own Stories. Elevating Our Voices.'"
Momcozy press release: "#WBW2022: Momcozy Collaborates with Arizona Photographer to Normalize Public Breastfeeding"
Speaking of Medicine and Health: "Stepping up to Address Global Breastfeeding Inequities: Reflections on World Breastfeeding Week 2022"
United Methodist Health Ministry Fund blog:
- "Musings on the importance of breastfeeding and a review of current recommendations"
- "The state of breastfeeding in Kansas"

The above unbranded graphics, plus more, are available for download on the USBC NBM webpage.

National News

Video Explainer on Title V MCH Block Grant

The Health Resources Services Administration Maternal and Child Health Bureau released a video explaining the history, purpose, and administration of the Title V Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Block Grant. The grant provides more than $550 million to all 59 jurisdictions and states to improve their public health systems, specifically for mothers, children, and their families.

USBC Insight: The Title V MCH Block Grant Program is a partnership between the federal government and states to support the health and well-being of all mothers, children, and families. Increasing the percentage of infants who are ever breastfed and infants who are breastfed exclusively through 6 months is included in the program's National Performance Measures.

Bill Introduced to Reauthorize Child Nutrition Programs

The Healthy Meals, Healthy Kids Act (H.R. 8450) has been introduced by Representative Bobby Scott (D-VA-03) and Representative Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR-01). The bill would reauthorize critical child nutrition programs, including the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), school meals, and summer feeding programs. The Healthy Meals, Healthy Kids Act would authorize and expand the Breastfeeding Peer Counselor Program, authorizing $180M in funding for this program, a $90M increase, to ensure that WIC agencies can support more full-time positions and increase placements outside of clinics. The bill would also provide targeted funding flexibility to ensure that breastfeeding supplies can be purchased with food funds, extend postpartum eligibility for WIC to two years, and extend child eligibility to age six or the beginning of kindergarten. Find additional details about how the Healthy Meals, Healthy Kids Act would support lactation with the "Child Nutrition Reauthorization: WIC Provisions in the Healthy Meals, Healthy Kids Act" fact sheet from the National WIC Association.

Bill Introduced to Better Protect Flying with Breast Milk

Representatives Katie Porter (D-CA-45), Maria Salazar (R-FL-27), and Eric Swalwell (D-CA-15) introduced the Bottles and Breastfeeding Equipment Screening (BABES) Enhancement Act (H.R. 8695). The BABES Enhancement Act would require the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to clarify and regularly update guidance on handling breast milk, baby formula, and other related nutrition products in consultation with leading maternal health groups. The bill has been referred to the House Committee on Homeland Security. A bipartisan group of Senators is planning to release a companion bill. Media highlights include:

People: "Nursing Mother's 'Awful' TSA Experience Sparks New Breastfeeding Bill for Traveling Parents"
Representative Porter press release: "Rep. Katie Porter Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Better Protect Parents Traveling with Breast Milk"

Resource Hub on Reproductive Health Care

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services launched a resource hub titled "ReproductiveRights.gov." The website includes information about access to and coverage of reproductive health care and resources, including breastfeeding services and supplies.

Black Maternal Health Week Impact Report

Black Mamas Matter Alliance released the "2022 Black Maternal Health Week Impact Report." The publication includes information on BMHW activities, key social media highlights, media coverage, and more.

Secretary's Advisory Committee on Infant and Maternal Mortality

The Health Resources and Services Administration announced that the next meeting of the Secretary's Advisory Committee on Infant and Maternal Mortality will be held on Tuesday, September 13, from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. ET, Wednesday, September 14, from 9 a.m.-5p.m. ET, and Thursday, September 15, from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. ET. The agenda for the meeting may include infant and maternal mortality among American Indian/Alaska Native women and infants, indigenous health, and federal program updates.

State & Community News

Cost/Benefit Analysis on Paid Leave in Georgia

9to5 Georgia, in partnership with the Georgia Coalition for Paid Leave, released a report titled "Dollars and Sense: A Cost/Benefit Analysis of Paid Leave in Georgia." The publication outlines the need for paid leave for all Georgians, the support it has across the state, and how it can be funded.