Weekly Wire: White House Conference on Nutrition and Hunger, mPINC Survey Reminder, 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: White House Conference on Nutrition and Hunger, mPINC Survey Reminder, and more

9/30/2022

Weekly Wire: September 30, 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 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
- Webinar on Racism and Gendered Language: CEs Available for Live Attendance
- The USBC Team has Grown!
- USBC Supports...
Special Section on the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health
International News
- Report on Global Food and Nutrition Security
National News
- Continuing Resolution Prevents Government Shutdown
- Request for Proposals from Technical Assistance Consultants
- mPINC Survey Deadline: October 17
- Report on Doula Support and Maternity Care
- Toolkits for Supporting Black Families in the NICU Setting
- 2022 State of Obesity Report
- Playbook for Gender Justice
- US Nutrition Index Launch Event
- FDA Report on Infant Formula Shortage and Recall
- Bill to Strengthen FDA Oversight
State & Community News
- New Jersey Breastfeeding Strategic Plan
- Presentation on Pasteurized Donor Human Milk
- Webinar on Interpersonal Violence and Breast/Chestfeeding
- Policy Discussion on Paid Family Leave in Kansas
News & Views
Journal Publications

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

USBC Updates

Webinar on Racism and Gendered Language: CEs Available for Live Attendance

In honor of the 33rd anniversary of National Coming Out Day (October 11), please join the U.S. Breastfeeding Committee and Dr. Aunchalee Palmquist on Wednesday, October 12, from 2-3 p.m. ET for a webinar titled "Racism and the Colonial Roots of Gendered Language in Public Health and Biomedicine." Dr. Palmquist will unpack colonial influences on gendered language, the fluidity of language in other cultures, and share practical ways First Food stakeholders can use inclusive language to transform their work in their communities. This presentation will be recorded, and recordings will only be available for those who pre-register. There are less than 100 spots left! This program has been verified for 1 CDR CPE unit and 1 R IBLCE CERP credit. Live attendance is required to obtain credit.

The USBC Team has Grown!

The U.S. Breastfeeding Committee is excited to announce that our staff team has grown to 11 team members. We're thrilled that we're now in a position to expand, allowing us to better "right size" our workloads and hopefully our work/life balance while importantly allowing us to expand our capacity to support our members and the field. Please give a warm welcome to:

Suzan Ajlouni, Public Health Writing Specialist
Mia Blanco, Member Engagement Coordinator
Erin Fortuna, Campaign & Convenings Coordinator
Michelle Hilliard, Senior Operations Coordinator

With increased capacity, we can continue growing and striving for change, and we value your engagement throughout. Get to know the entire team, see some new titles, and review all of our biographies on the USBC Staff Team webpage.

USBC Supports...

A Better Balance: Organizational sign-on letter urging Senator Schumer to bring the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act to the Senate floor for a vote

Special Section on the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health

This week, the White House hosted the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health. The conference aimed to catalyze the public and private sectors around a coordinated strategy to accelerate progress and drive transformative change in the U.S. to end hunger, improve nutrition and physical activity, and close the disparities surrounding them. The first White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health was held more than 50 years ago and led to the launch of a pilot program that we now know as the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children or WIC, as well as the first-ever Dietary Guidelines for Americans. This week's event featured the release of the "Biden-Harris Administration National Strategy on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health." The report details plans to end hunger in America by 2030 and encourage healthy eating and physical activity so fewer Americans experience diet-related diseases. The report includes commitments to expand breastfeeding support and counseling by increasing access to virtual lactation support, funding efforts to reduce disparities, addressing gaps in insurer coverage of breastfeeding support and supplies, and protecting the rights of lactating workers. Highlights from the field include:

1,000 Days/Paid Leave for All Coalition: The Paid Leave for All Coalition released a statement titled "Paid Leave Must Have a Place at the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health." The letter urges the conference advisory committee to prioritize paid family and medical leave.
AND: The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics published a release titled "National Strategy on Hunger, Nutrition and Health Sets Stage for Major Policy Changes." The update celebrates the inclusion of AND recommendations in the national strategy.
HHS: The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services released a report titled "Current Federal Programming and Coordination Efforts Related to Food and Nutrition Insecurity and Diet-Related Diseases." The report details current federal programming that directly or indirectly impacts food and nutrition insecurity and diet-related diseases as well as efforts to coordinate across federal agencies and between federal agencies and Tribal, state, and local governments.
NWA: The National WIC Association published a press release titled "WIC Priorities are Key Plank of National Plan to Eradicate Hunger, Reduce Chronic Diet-Related Conditions" and a video titled "Take Action After the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health." These published resources celebrate the inclusion of several recommendations to modernize and enhance the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) in the national strategy.
USBC: The U.S. Breastfeeding Committee released a reflection titled "Statement on White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health." The statement, from USBC Executive Director Nikia Sankofa, celebrates the inclusion of human milk feeding in the national strategy and calls for additional investment in lactation support.
USDA/FNS: The USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) released "Leveraging the White House Conference to Promote and Elevate Nutrition Security: The Role of the USDA Food and Nutrition Service." The report highlights ways FNS is supporting – and will continue to support – the President's goal to end hunger, reduce diet-related diseases by improving healthy eating and physical activity, and eliminate disparities surrounding them by 2030.

International News

Report on Global Food and Nutrition Security

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) published a report titled "The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2022." The report presents the latest updates on food security and nutrition worldwide and updated estimates on the cost and affordability of a healthy diet. It also assesses global and regional levels and trends for seven global nutrition targets, including increasing exclusive breastfeeding rates.

National News

Continuing Resolution Prevents Government Shutdown

The Senate and House have passed the Continuing Appropriations and Ukraine Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2023 (H.R. 6833). Also known as a continuing resolution, the bill will fund the federal government through Dec. 16, 2022, and prevent a government shutdown while the fiscal year 2023 budget negotiations continue. In addition to an extension of federal funding, the bill includes a provision to authorize and extend the maternal, infant, and early childhood home visiting (MIECHV) program. The text of the legislation and a section-by-section summary are publicly available. Highlights from the field include:

Association of State and Territorial Health Officials: "Summary of FY23 Continuing Resolution."
Congressional Research Service: "Appropriations Status Table: FY2022."

Request for Proposals from Technical Assistance Consultants

The National Association of County and City Health Officials, with support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), released two requests for proposals (RFP):

"Blueprint Technical Assistance Consultants: Breastfeeding Data or Equity/Social Determinants of Health" will support two technical assistance consultants to support current project grantees implementing the "Continuity of Care in Breastfeeding Support: A Blueprint for Communities" and develop tools for Blueprint implementation. The RFP is open to any individuals and organizations with subject matter expertise and proven experience working with lactation support approaches that center historically neglected communities. The deadline to submit an application is Sunday, November 6.
"Consultant for the Breastfeeding Public Health Partners Advancing Lactation Equity and Inclusive Language Initiative" will support a public health equity and inclusive language consultant to support the Breastfeeding Public Health Partners to finalize a joint resource. The RFP is open to any individuals with demonstrated expertise and experience in equity, public health narrative, and maternal child health. Ideally, this individual has strong writing, group facilitation, and consensus-building skills. The deadline to submit an application is Monday, October 31.

mPINC Survey Deadline: October 17

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 2022 national survey of Maternity Practices in Infant Nutrition and Care (mPINC) will close on Monday, October 17. CDC would like to send a BIG THANK YOU to all the hospitals that have already submitted their survey! There is still time for every hospital to be counted. To receive an individualized Hospital Report and be included in state, regional, and national level reports, hospitals must complete and submit their survey. If you have any questions, visit CDC's mPINC website or email mPINC@cdc.gov.

Report on Doula Support and Maternity Care

The National Partnership for Women & Families, in collaboration with HealthConnect One, the National Health Law Program, and Tewa Women United, released a report titled "Improving Our Maternity Care Now Through Doula Support." The report highlights how doula support can make a critical difference in improving outcomes for pregnant and birthing people and their babies, including breastfeeding initiation. Read the press release.

Toolkits for Supporting Black Families in the NICU Setting

The Motivating Interdisciplinary Lactation Knowledge (MILK) Research Lab created two interactive community-centered toolkits for the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) setting. "NICU Toolkit for Black Families" provides Black families with resources to better guide and support their NICU experiences. "NICU Toolkit for Hospitals & Birth Centers to Better Support Black Families" provides hospitals and birth centers with recommendations to promote health equity and justice to better serve Black communities.

2022 State of Obesity Report

Trust for America's Health has published the 19th annual "State of Obesity: Better Policies for a Healthier America" report. The report finds that obesity rates continue to climb nationwide and within population groups. The authors of the report concluded that these increases underscore that obesity is caused by a combination of societal, biological, genetic, and environmental factors beyond personal choice. The report highlights breastfeeding programs' role in addressing obesity, including the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Breastfeeding Peer Counseling Program, the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative, and other programs through the CDC Hospitals Promoting Breastfeeding funding line.

Playbook for Gender Justice

The National Women's Law Center released the "State Playbook for Gender Justice." The playbook is an educational resource for policy advocates and policymakers that includes 10 policy briefs with the basic elements of policies, talking points, and data, and six policy agendas. The playbook highlights the need for policies to support pregnant and parenting students as well as expanding access to paid family and medical leave.

US Nutrition Index Launch Event

The Access to Nutrition Initiative (ATNI) is hosting a launch event for the US Index 2022 on Thursday, October 20, at 10 a.m. ET. The US Index 2022 assesses the commitments, performance, and disclosure of 11 food and beverage companies concerning their efforts to improve nutrition in the United States. The workforce category of the assessment includes performance measures related to support for breastfeeding employees.

USBC Insight: The U.S. Index 2022 Methodology notes that this version does not include a specific assessment on breast milk substitutes (BMS) marketing. In 2021, ATNI launched its first stand-alone BMS and complementary foods index, which includes some of the largest baby foods manufacturers in the U.S. Hear more about ATNI's work in the first session of the USBC webinar series on Commerical Milk Formula Marketing.

FDA Report on Infant Formula Shortage and Recall

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) published a report titled "FDA Evaluation of Infant Formula Response." The report reviews the challenges the FDA encountered in addressing the circumstances that eventually led to a shortage in the supply of infant formulas. It includes five major areas of need and broad recommendations for the FDA to improve responses to similar situations. Read the FDA statement.

USBC Insight: Learn more about the U.S. Breastfeeding Committee vision for a robust infrastructure for infant nutrition security in the U.S. that holds all families in care in the blog titled, "The Four Pillars of Infant Nutrition Security in the United States."

Bill to Strengthen FDA Oversight

Senators Richard Burr (R-NC) and Patty Murray (D-WA) introduced the FDA Safety and Landmark Advancements (FDASLA) Act (S. 4348). The bill would reauthorize the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) prescription drug, generic drug, biosimilar, and medical device user fee agreements. The legislation includes provisions that would expand the successful hiring authorities authorized by the 21st Century Cures Act to include new hiring authorities to staff offices that oversee food, including infant formula. Highlights from the field include:

Center for Science in the Public Interest: "Tell Congress: We Deserve Safe and Reliable Food, Cosmetics, and Medical Products"
Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions: "Senators Murray, Burr Introduce Bill to Support FDA Programs to Lower Costs and Spur Innovation"

State & Community News

New Jersey Breastfeeding Strategic Plan

The New Jersey Department of Health, in partnership with the New Jersey Breastfeeding Coalition, released the "2022-2027 Breastfeeding Strategic Plan." The plan serves as a blueprint of concrete actions the New Jersey state government, healthcare sector, businesses, insurance, education, and the community can take to better promote and support breastfeeding and to create a statewide environment that normalizes breastfeeding. Read the press release.

Presentation on Pasteurized Donor Human Milk

As part of a Regional Breastfeeding Consortium meeting, BreastfeedLA is hosting a discussion on Pasteurized Donor Human Milk (PDHM) on Thursday, October 6, at 1 p.m. ET. Speakers will discuss how hospitals can access and utilize PDHM for their patients and how facilities can become milk collection sites. Local milk collection sites from the Los Angeles area will also share how they implemented this within their organization.

Webinar on Interpersonal Violence and Breast/Chestfeeding

The Oregon Washington Lactation Association is hosting a webinar titled "Understanding Interpersonal Violence in the Chest and Breast Feeding Populations" on Monday, October 3, at 10 p.m. ET. Presenter Emily Middleton will introduce how interpersonal violence may present in the lactating population and provide a foundation for building a respectful, resilient, and trauma-informed practice.

Policy Discussion on Paid Family Leave in Kansas

First 1000 Days Kansas is hosting a virtual discussion on paid family leave on Friday, October 7, at 10 a.m. Speakers will discuss the importance of paid family leave for families during the first 1,000 days and strategies for national and state-level paid leave programs.