Weekly Wire: New CDC Data, National Breastfeeding Month News and Events, and 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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Weekly Wire: New CDC Data, National Breastfeeding Month News and Events, and More!

8/12/2022

Weekly Wire: August 12, 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
- 2022 USBC Conference Reminders & Updates
- USBC Girlboss Interview
Special Section on National Breastfeeding Month 2022
National News
- New CDC Data on Breastfeeding
- Upcoming Funding Opportunities Announced
- Updated Recommendations on COVID-19
- Guidance on Clinical Management of Monkeypox
- Webinar on Regulations Protecting Lactating Students
- New Resources for Working Parents and Employers
- Webinar on Workplace Rights for Breastfeeding Employees
- New Resources to Support Breastfeeding Families
- Update on WIC Breastfeeding Curriculum
- 2022 County Health Rankings Report
- New Webpage on Health Equity
- NICHQ Webinar on Safe Sleep
- CBO Cost Estimate on Bill to Address Global Malnutrition
- Infant Formula Shortage Resources
- New Employment Data on Mothers and Families
News & Views
Journal Publications

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

USBC Updates

2022 USBC Conference Reminders & Updates

Registered attendees from the 2022 USBC Conference may access session recordings until September 9. Registrants who applied for continuing education were sent an email on Friday, August 5. Reach out to the office if you did not receive your message and certificate. Please save the date for the 2023 convening, scheduled for June 8-10 in Bethesda, MD.

USBC Girlboss Interview

USBC Senior Policy & Communications Manager Cheryl Lebedevitch was recently interviewed for a Girlboss piece titled "Why Is Breastfeeding in the Workplace Still Such a Contentious Topic?" She talks about the impact of historical traumas, as well as the importance of passing legislation such as paid family and medical leave, and the PUMP Act. The piece featured a shareable Instagram story.

Special Section on National Breastfeeding Month 2022

We are midway though National Breastfeeding Month! 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:

1,000 Days/NWA: 1,000 Days and the National WIC Association are hosting a series of panel discussions in celebration of National Breastfeeding Month. Join the AANHPI Breastfeeding Panel, on Tuesday, August 16, at 1 p.m. ET, and the Black Breastfeeding Panel on Tuesday, August 30, at 1 p.m. ET.
BREE: Breastfeeding Resiliency, Engagement, and Empowerment is hosting an online screening of Chocolate Milk: The Documentary on Wednesday, August 31, from 3-5 p.m. ET.
NICHQ: The National Institute for Children's Health Quality published a National Breastfeeding Month webpage sharing information and resources about the benefits of breastfeeding and chestfeeding and information on how to support mothers and birthing people to ensure every child can achieve optimal health.
NPIHB: The Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board hosts the Maternal and Child Health ECHO Series on the last Thursday of every month at 3 p.m. ET. In celebration of National Breastfeeding Month, this month's meeting will focus on developing skills related to ensuring the wellness of mothers and children.
Nurturely: Nurturely is hosting an Instagram live event on Tuesday, August 30, from 5-6 p.m. ET. Join Kayla Bitten, founder of The Southern Midwife and The Postpartum Clinic will chat about food justice, lactation, ecology, herbalism, and food sovereignty.
ODH/WHD: In celebration of National Breastfeeding Month, the Oklahoma Department of Health and U.S. Department of Labor, Wage & Hour Division are hosting a free compliance assistance webinar titled "Break Time for Nursing Mothers: Guidance for Employers and Advocates" on Tuesday, August 23, from 12-1:30 p.m. ET. The webinar will help employers understand their obligations under the Break Time for Nursing Mothers law and will equip advocates with resources and tools to assist mothers who wish to continue breastfeeding after returning to work.
USDA: The U.S. Department of Agriculture released a series of MyPlate resources for breastfeeding families in honor of National Breastfeeding Month, including:
- MyPlate healthy eating for Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
- Tip sheet for breastfeeding people (English, Spanish)
- MyPlate Plan on what and how much to eat when breastfeeding (English, Spanish)
- Resource on how to properly store and handle breastmilk (English, Spanish)

Local Events

CBC: The Connecticut Breastfeeding Coalition is hosting an event titled "Black Breastfeeding Week Event: Diversity in Lactation" on Saturday, August 27, from 11-2 p.m. ET in New Haven, Connecticut.
CRC: The Community Roots Collective is hosting an event titled "Mommin in Melanin - Celebrates Black Breastfeeding" on Sunday, August 28, from 10 a.m. - 12:30 p.m ET in Tampa Florida.
CSKT Tribal Health: Tribal Health, of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes is hosting a series of Breastfeeding Talking Circles the week of August 15 in and around Ronan, Montana.
SCMBC: The South Central Minnesota Breastfeeding Coalition is hosting a spot the billboard contest. Scattered around southern Minnesota are billboards featuring real, local parents feeding their babies. When you find one, take a selfie and post it, tagging #scmnbc to win a prize.

Breastfeeding Month Proclamations

Buncombe County: Chairman Brownie Newman of the Buncombe County Board of Directors has issued a proclamation declaring the county as a Breastfeeding Family Friendly Community.
Jefferson County: Jefferson County Board of Health President Cheri Jahn has issued a proclamation declaring August as Breastfeeding Month.
Multnomah County: Multnomah County Board of County Commissioners Chair Deborah Kafoury has issued a proclamation declaring August 1-7th as Breastfeeding Week.
USDA: U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Thomas Vilsack issued a proclamation declaring August 1-7 as National WIC Breastfeeding Week.
Vermont: Governor Philip Scott has issued a proclamation declaring August as Breastfeeding Promotion Month.
West Virginia: Governor Jim Justice has declared August 1-7 as West Virginia Breastfeeding Week.
Wisconsin: Governor Tony Evers issued proclamations celebrating August as National Breastfeeding Month and three unique weeks highlighting the Indigenous, Asian American Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, and Black communities.

NBM News & Views

Giddy: In celebration of National Breastfeeding Month, Giddy is publishing an article each week covering a crucial aspect of breastfeeding. Published stories include "'Baby-Friendly Hospitals' Aim to Break Down Barriers to Breastfeeding" and "The Factors Affecting Your Breastfeeding Supply."
GMA News Online: "Coleen Garcia, Kylie Padilla celebrate Breastfeeding Month"
Make it Work Nevada: "A Mother’s Breastfeeding Story"
Meet the Wayfinders: "Creating Indigenous Milk Medicine Week"
USAID: "USAID Advancing Nutrition "Steps Up" for World Breastfeeding Week 2022"

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

National News

New CDC Data on Breastfeeding

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released updated data on breastfeeding rates from the National Immunization Survey. The National Immunization Survey is a random U.S. household survey and has included breastfeeding questions since 2001. Nationally, 83% of babies born in 2019 were ever breastfed and 56% were receiving breastmilk at 6 months. The socio-demographic data indicate that disparities in breastfeeding persist.

Upcoming Funding Opportunities Announced

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has released notice of several upcoming funding opportunities which include components to support lactating families:

Updated Recommendations on COVID-19

The American Academy of Pediatrics published an updated resource titled "FAQ on Management of Infants Born to Mothers with Suspected or Confirmed COVID-19." The resource provides updated guidance on parent presence in the NICU, updated statistics from the Perinatal COVID-19 Registry, and new evidence on neonatal SARS-CoV-2.

Guidance on Clinical Management of Monkeypox

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a Health Alert Network update titled "Update for Clinicians on Monkeypox in People with HIV, Children and Adolescents, and People who are Pregnant or Breastfeeding." The alert serves to inform clinicians to clinical considerations for preventing, diagnosing, and managing monkeypox in people with HIV, children, adolescents, and people who are pregnant or breastfeeding and highlights new CDC clinical considerations for monkeypox infection in multiple populations, including those who are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Webinar on Regulations Protecting Lactating Students

The Pregnant Scholar at the Center for WorkLife Law, UC Hastings College of the Law is hosting a webinar titled "Supporting Lactating Students and Employees on Campus" on Wednesday, August 17, at 1 p.m. ET. The expert presenters will discuss new proposed regulations for students and employees, offer a roadmap for implementing compliant policies, and share resources for better understanding the law and the needs of lactating students.

New Resources for Working Parents and Employers

The U.S. Department of Labor published two new resources for parents and employers:

"Fact Sheet #28Q: Taking Leave from Work for Birth, Placement, and Bonding with a Child under the FMLA" explains when employees may use leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act for birth, adoption, and foster care placement, and for bonding with a child.
"Madres que están lactancia maternal Protecciones Laborales" is a Spanish language version of the "Nursing Mothers Workplace Protections" flyer featuring information on the Break Time for Nursing Mothers law.

Webinar on Workplace Rights for Breastfeeding Employees

The U.S. Department of Labor's Women's Bureau, the Wage and Hour Division, and the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission are hosting a webinar titled "Know Your Rights: Nursing Workers & FMLA" on Wednesday, August 31, at 3 p.m. ET. The webinar will discuss protections under the Family and Medial Leave Act, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, and Pregnancy Discrimination Act protections.

New Resources to Support Breastfeeding Families

U.S. Department of Agriculture released several resources on supporting breastfeeding families. A new series of webpages features words of affirmation for mothers, partners, grandparents, and friends. Individuals can use the information in these articles to reaffirm and support a mother's choice to breastfeed. In addition, USDA released the Interactive Breastfeeding Support Quiz. The five-question quiz can be shared with participants to increase understanding about the ways partners, friends, family, and other support persons can provide important support to a breastfeeding parent.

Update on WIC Breastfeeding Curriculum

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced that the Loving Support Breastfeeding Trainings will be retired on September 30, 2022. The updated WIC Breastfeeding Curriculum, Grow and Glow in WIC, is available to WIC agencies through the State and Regional WIC Office.

2022 County Health Rankings Report

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation has released the "2022 County Health Rankings National Findings Report." The report features county-level data on community conditions to help families thrive, including child care and paid family and medical leave. This year's County Health Rankings feature seven new, actionable measures related to income, education, family and social support, and health outcomes.

New Webpage on Health Equity

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Office of Minority Health and Health Equity launched a new webpage dedicated to providing a greater understanding of health equity. Health equity is the state in which everyone has a fair and just opportunity to attain their highest level of health. Achieving this requires ongoing societal efforts to address historical and contemporary injustices, overcome economic, social, and other obstacles to health and health care, and eliminate preventable health disparities.

NICHQ Webinar on Safe Sleep

The National Institute for Children's Heath Quality is hosting a webinar titled "Centering Community Voices: Solutions to Safe Sleep and Breastfeeding Using a Quality Improvement Framework" on Wednesday, August 24, at 2 p.m. ET. This webinar will discuss how the NAPPSS-IIN programmatic and evaluation pursuits shifted to center community voices within participatory quality improvement (QI). Community partners will share their experiences leading and implementing QI activities.

CBO Cost Estimate on Bill to Address Global Malnutrition

The Congressional Budget Office published a cost estimate titled "H.R. 4693, Global Malnutrition Prevention and Treatment Act of 2021." H.R. 4693 would authorize the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to coordinate efforts to prevent and treat malnutrition globally, including breastfeeding support.

Infant Formula Shortage Resources

The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service published new resource pages on the WIC Works Resource System (WWRS) and the WIC Breastfeeding Support website:

"Nutrition Assessment During a Formula Shortage" includes assessment considerations, potential questions for discussion with participants, and resources that may be helpful during a WIC nutrition assessment.
"Helpful Tips for Combination Feeding" includes helpful tips for participants who are combination feeding and may be questioning how to feed their baby during the infant formula shortage.

New Employment Data on Mothers and Families

The U.S. Department of Labor, Women's Bureau published new data on mothers and families using Census Bureau data. The data includes statistics on labor force participation rates, unemployment, occupation, family type, family income, as well a graphic on childcare-related work disruptions during the pandemic.