Weekly Wire: New Line of USBC Merchandise Drops, Welcome Congress Campaign Continues, and more

In this issue:

• USBC Updates
  • New Line of Merchandise Launches with "Support Is Our Love Language" Design
  • Sign Up to Get Featured in The Equity Champions Directory
  • Welcome Congress Campaign Ongoing
• International News
  • Webinar on Implementing Human Milk Banking Globally
  • IBCLC Day to be Held March 1
• National News
  • Webinar on Infusing Equity Into the Baby-Friendly Initiative
  • Webinar on WIC Breastfeeding Programs
  • CDC Adopts Continuity of Care in Breastfeeding Support Blueprint for Communities
  • Bill to Expand FMLA Coverage Introduced
  • Tamarack Institute New Guideline on Collaboration
  • Webinar on the Future of Paid Leave
  • Webinar on Pregnant Workers Fairness Act
  • Informational Video on Updated Clinical Guidance for People with HIV and Infant Feeding
• State & Community News
  • New York IBCLC Equity Scholarship Available
  • Petition Calling for a Paid Family & Medical Leave Program in Maine
  • Texas Bill on Licensure and Regulation of Lactation Consultants Introduced
  • New York Bill Requiring Insurance Coverage for Lactation Support Introduced
  • Arkansas Bill To Create a Sales Tax Exemption for Breastfeeding Supplies Introduced
• News & Views
• Journal Publications

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

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USBC Updates

New Line of Merchandise Launches with "Support Is Our Love Language" Design

The U.S. Breastfeeding Committee launched a product line of apparel, including t-shirts, sweatshirts, and tank tops, featuring a brand new "Support Is our Love Language" design. The colorful design features a variety of families and words including support, community, and liquid gold arranged in a heart shape comprised of doodles. We at the USBC work every day to collectively strive for policies and programs that promote, protect, and support breastfeeding and human milk. Join us and support those efforts with a gift for yourself, loved ones, new parents in your life, or your whole team. We hope you will elect to make a donation with your purchase. Shop the new design today!

                                          

Sign Up to Get Featured in The Equity Champions Directory

The USBC recently launched the Equity Champions Directory, a helpful resource for individuals and organizations to find support in operationalizing diversity, equity, and inclusion within their internal structures, policies, and programs. The directory is free and accessible on the USBC website. If your organization is committed to taking the next step in its equity journey, we encourage you to visit the directory to review and connect with the equity coaches, consultants, trainers, speakers, and evaluators listed therein. To be considered for inclusion in the directory, we invite you to tell us about your expertise using the submission form. Please note that the inclusion of an individual in the Equity Champions Directory does not signify USBC endorsement of training content or views.

Welcome Congress Campaign Ongoing

The U.S. Breastfeeding Committee has been mobilizing the lactation field for the Welcome Congress Campaign to connect with policymakers and urge them to prioritize breastfeeding during this congressional session. Last week, the USBC sent a package of materials to the offices of every Senator and Representative to educate them about the state of breastfeeding nationally and in their district and the role policymakers play in protecting infant nutrition security, as well as highlight the most pressing policy areas in need of attention this congressional session. The Welcome Congress package they received included their State or Territorial Breastfeeding Report and the Welcome Congress organizational sign-on letter with the signatures of nearly 300 national, state, and local organizations. 

The Campaign is ongoing; you can still take action with us! Use our easy action tool to contact your legislators to urge them to review these materials and work to advance our key policy areas: federal funding for breastfeeding, infant nutrition security, access to lactation support & supplies, workplace protections, and maternity care.

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International News

Webinar on Implementing Human Milk Banking Globally

The International Society for Research in Human Milk and Lactation (ISRHML) is hosting a webinar titled "A Global View of Human Milk Banking" on Tuesday, February 28, at 9 a.m. ET as part of their Trainee Interest Group Webinar series. The webinar will bring together a panel of experts in the field that will discuss implementing human milk banking globally and the emerging opportunities for research in this field. 

IBCLC Day to be Held March 1

Wednesday, March 1, is IBCLC Day, hosted by the International Lactation Consultant Association. International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) Day celebrates the extraordinary services that IBCLCs provide to expectant parents, new mothers and the healthcare teams who form their circle of care. ILCA released the IBCLC Day Marketing Toolkit to help individuals and organizations join the celebration by thanking and recognizing the contributions of IBCLCs, as well as shareable graphics.

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National News

 Webinar on Infusing Equity Into the Baby-Friendly Initiative

The Michigan Breastfeeding Network has opened registration for a Great Lakes Breastfeeding Webinar titled "10 Steps is Just the Beginning: Infusing Equity into Baby Friendly." Achieving Baby-Friendly designation and implementing the 10 Steps to Breastfeeding Success have proven to improve breastfeeding rates, however, racial disparities in breastfeeding persist. This webinar will discuss innovative ways to meet the needs of marginalized groups and ensure all women and birthing people receive the same level of care and access to lactation support to eliminate these disparities. Continuing education is available for this presentation. 

 Webinar on WIC Breastfeeding Programs

The Center for Health Equity, Education, and Research (CHEER) is hosting a webinar titled "Making exclusive breastfeeding a reality....one mom at a time: Reflections from the Executive Director of the US' biggest Local Agency WIC program," on Thursday, March 23,  at 1 p.m. ET. The webinar will provide an overview of three cutting-edge breastfeeding promotion, support, and advocacy programs.

  CDC Adopts Continuity of Care in Breastfeeding Support Blueprint for Communities

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is now showcasing the USBC-affiliated Continuity of Care Constellation resource, The Continuity of Care in Breastfeeding Support Blueprint for Communities, on its website. The resource was collaboratively developed by National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) and the U.S. Breastfeeding Committee (USBC) with input from hundreds of members of the constellation. The blueprint outlines evidence-based steps on how to promote, protect, and support breastfeeding at the community level, beyond maternity care settings and is now featured on the CDC's Priority Breastfeeding Strategy: Continuity of Care webpage under strategies and resources for local communities and programs. 

Bill to Expand FMLA Coverage Introduced

Senator Tammy Duckworth and Representative Sean Casten reintroduced the ESP Family Leave Act (S.226/H.R. 770). This bill would expand the Family and Medical Leave Act to cover the 2.7 million education support professionals (ESPs) and other school support staff who are currently blocked from accessing FMLA benefits.

USBC Insight: The ESP Family Leave Act would take a necessary step towards closing a big gap in access to unpaid leave under FMLA. While we recognize and support the importance of guaranteed unpaid, job-protected leave for all workers, we also recognize that the United States is one of the few countries in the world that does not have guaranteed paid family and medical leave. Join the call for expanding opportunities for paid family and medical leave for all workers nationwide as part of our Welcome Congress campaign. 

Tamarack Institute New Guideline on Collaboration

Tamarack Institute released a new resource titled "A Guide for Building a Sustainable and Resilient Collaboration." The guide outlines practices and factors that contribute to the sustainability and resiliency of collaborations, and shares community stories and lessons learned about the sustainability and resilience of collaboration efforts.

Webinar on the Future of Paid Leave

Family Values @ Work is hosting a live-streamed community town hall meeting titled, "FMLA@30: The Future of Paid Leave," on Tuesday, February 28, at 6 p.m. ET. This virtual meeting will discuss the 30th anniversary of the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and the reintroduction of federal paid leave legislation. 

Webinar on Pregnant Workers Fairness Act

The Center for Worklife Law and the American Civil Liberties Union are partnering with the National Employment Lawyers Association to host a webinar titled, "An Introduction to the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA)," on Tuesday, March 14, at 2 p.m. ET. The webinar will provide an overview of the new law's legal requirements and assist attorneys in utilizing the recently passed PWFA to secure the accommodations their clients need.

Informational Video on Updated Clinical Guidance for People with HIV and Infant Feeding

The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services HIV.gov website published a video titled "Updated Clinical Guidance for People with HIV and Infant Feeding." The informational video features Harold Phillips, Director of the White House Office of National AIDS Policy, and explains the updated clinical guidelines.

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State & Community News

 New York IBCLC Equity Scholarship Available

The New York Statewide Breastfeeding Coalition announced the availability of the Fall 2023 IBCLC Equity Scholarship, an opportunity for individuals who are eligible to sit for the IBCLC certification exam. The scholarship will cover the cost of the IBCLC exam registration fee. You must live and work in the state of New York to apply, and priority will be given to people of color who are members of underserved communities, and/or have a financial need. The application deadline is Friday, May 5.

Petition Calling for a Paid Family & Medical Leave Program in Maine

The Maine Paid Leave Coalition launched a petition to support paid leave in Maine. Maine's Commission to Develop a Paid Family and Medical Leave Benefits Program recently released a report with recommendations for a comprehensive paid family and medical leave program for the state. The Coalition invites you to sign the petition to ask legislators to pass and fund a robust paid family and medical leave program that aligns with the Commission's recommendations this year. 

Texas Bill on Licensure and Regulation of Lactation Consultants Introduced

Texas Representative Ortega introduced HB 2057, a bill related to the licensing and regulation of lactation consultants. The legislation would establish a Lactation Consultant Advisory Board, which would regulate the profession of lactation consultants. The Advisory Board would have the authority to impose fees and penalties and create a criminal offense for violations of the regulations.

New York Bill Requiring Insurance Coverage for Lactation Support Introduced

New York State Assemblymember Jackson introduced NY A03980. The bill would require insurance coverage for lactation consultant services by professionally certified counselors who evaluate and manage lactation and infant feeding problems and provide preventative clinical consulting to prevent or minimize the occurrence of potential problems.

Arkansas Bill To Create a Sales Tax Exemption for Breastfeeding Supplies Introduced

Arkansas Representative Clowney and Senator Davis introducedd HB1364. The bill would create a sales and use tax exemption for breast pumps, breast pump collection and storage supplies, breast pump kits, and related breastfeeding items. 

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News & Views

Early Learning Nation: "A Landmark Victory for Pregnant and Nursing Workers – 10 Years in the Making"

Office of Congressman Stacey Mann Press Release: "Reps. Mann, McGovern Relaunch House Hunger Caucus"

The Hill: "Reckitt recalls baby formula over possible contamination with deadly bacteria"

the 19th: "'We’ve failed mothers and kids so much:' One year later, there’s no end in sight to the formula shortage"

Yahoo! News: "This New Law Is a Game-Changer for Pregnant & Breastfeeding Employees"

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Journal Publications

Breastfeeding Medicine: "Policies and Practices in a Cohort of Mississippi Birthing Hospitals During the COVID-19 Pandemic"