against proposed changes to public charge regulations continue, led by the Center for Law and Social Policy ( CLASP ) and National Immigration Law Center ( NILC ) through the Protecting Immigrant Families Campaign (PIF) which provides many resources for organizations and individuals. Nothing has changed, related to participation in WIC, but there is great fear, confusion and misinformation. NWA has provided useful FAQs available in English , Spanish and Chinese and will provide an analysis of the rule, when/if it is posted. Local actions to push back are taking place and your organization can contribute. ACTIONS: 1. Watch and SHARE this interview on C-SPAN regarding impacts on families and communities. 2. Please continue to send information to state WIC staff and NWA so they are aware of local impacts, participant decisions and sources of misinformation. 3. Sign on to this organizational advanced sign on statement from the Protecting Immigrant Families campaign, which will go out as soon as the proposed rule is released.  4. Thank your California legislator who was among the 86 members of the House who signed on to Rep. Espaillat's letter to Dept. of Homeland Security.  

A study gathering prospective data on pregnancy outcomes and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) finds that ACEs themselves may result in adverse birth outcomes; that the health behaviors of people who have experienced ACEs are implicated in poor pregnancy outcomes, and/or that ACEs result for some in adverse birth outcomes mediated by psychiatric disorders and prenatal smoking. The study found that ACEs which occurred in a woman's life prior to the age of 18, seem to have a long-lasting impact on reproductive health, resulting in reduced birth weight and gestational age. In particular, it appeared that ACEs impact on birth outcomes explained nearly all of the estimated effects, suggesting that there may be minimal impact of other factors not examined. Of the women studied, smoking was the main mechanism through which ACEs in the mother affect birth outcomes.

Last month the CDC released the 2018 State Indicator Report on Fruits and Vegetables . This report highlights approaches to increase the purchase, supply, and demand of fruits and vegetables in states and communities across the United States. Key findings include: 10 states adopted a policy on food service guidelines that ensures that healthy foods, including fruits and vegetables, are sold or served on state-owned or state-controlled property; 47 states adopted a farm to school or farm to early care and education policy that can increase access to fruits and vegetables; 32 states have active state-level food policy councils-cross-sector organizations that work to improve the food system. Public health practitioners and decision-makers can use this report to assess how their states are doing and identify strategies they can put in place to improve access to fruits and vegetables in their communities.