CWA Flash E-Newsletter - February 11, 2020
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February: Tax Credits & Tax Help  
Throughout California, millions of people are working hard to make life better for themselves and their families. WIC agencies can play a critical role in informing participants about their eligibility for various tax credits. WIC Can Help deserving WIC households get help filing their taxes so that they can take advantage of these credits! 
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Listening Ears   
 Sometimes all we need is someone to listen. We already know about the value and importance of open and honest communication, but what about Reclaiming the Lost Art of Deep Listening? This recent article in Forbes, talks about active listening, deep listening, responding mindfully, and being self-aware in our attempts to practice better leadership. 
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Policy
President's 2021 Budget Released 
The Trump administration's 2021 federal budget proposal, released this week, aims to reduce the deficit by 2035, but with continued annual deficit spending and a widening spending gap in the near term. Similar to the two-year budget agreement made last year with Congress, this proposal includes deep cuts to domestic programs that include health and social services. The proposed budget for WIC of $5.5 billion, is a $500 million decrease from 2020 funding levels, based on an estimated caseload of 6.2 million participants. Very disappointing is a proposed reduction back to 60 million for Breastfeeding Peer Counselors after an increase to 90 million in 2020. The President's budget is a starting point to illustrate the administration's priorities, NWA will provide updates as Congress works through the budget process. 
Public Charge to Move Forward and Cause Harm 
As the Trump administration moves toward the February 24th implementation of the newly expanded public charge rule, new data is emerging about the harm the rule may do. The DHS's own analysis predicted that 77,000 might lose or forego Medicaid and 130,000 could lose or forego SNAP.  Unfortunately, the government's analysis was flawed and seriously understates the harm. Even before the final rule was issued, a large number of studies examined the public health harm that could occur under the original proposal. In the short time since the final rule was issued, a number of new studies have analyzed the ongoing and potential harm. Diane Schanzenbach, an economist at Northwestern University, estimated that about 1.8 million fewer individuals, many of whom are citizens, would receive SNAP benefits, reducing food assistance payments by $2 billion per year and lowering economic activity in the United States by $3.2 billion annually. Ryan Allen, a housing expert at the University of Minnesota, noted that the loss of housing benefits would likely result in worse health outcomes, lower education attainment, and would lower lifetime earnings for certain individuals. Ninez Ponce (University of California at Los Angeles) and economist Laurel Lucia (University of California at Berkeley) estimated that the loss of federal Medicaid and SNAP benefits could reduce economic output in California by as much as $2.8 billion, leading to a loss of 17,700 jobs. Using a similar approach, an amicus brief submitted the Fiscal Policy Insitute and the Presidents' Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration included estimates indicating that the public charge rule could lead to $14 to $24 billion in economic output lost across the United States, also leading to substantial job losses. More than 60 public health and policy scholars chairs and faculty, as well as the American Public Health Association and the American Academy of Nursing joined an amicus curiae (friend of the court) brief, concluding that the public charge rule threatens public health on a national scale.
 
CWA News
Spring Conference - Register Now!
Have you registered yet? Please join us in sunny San Diego, April 5-8, 2020, to connect, collaborate, and network with WIC staff and community partners from across the state. This year's agenda will feature a full-day two-track pre-conference (breastfeeding and leadership) and 2.5 days of a five-track conference, trade show, exciting keynote speakers, and plenty of chances to gather, celebrate, and learn from one another. Register here, read more about the 2020 conference here, and check out our latest draft agenda here. Conference Update: We hope you are considering coming to our pre-conference. We have some phenomenal speakers lined up. Our Breastfeeding Education Track will be facilitated by Lisa Marasco, MA, IBCLC, FILCA and Laurel Wilson,BS, IBCLC, RLC CLE® , CLD, CCCE. Lisa will be discussing Counseling the High Needs Mother and Hormone Testing When Nothing Else Makes Sense. Laurel will be covering The Science of Long-Term Health For Babies: Insight Into Attachment, Human Milk, The Epigenome, and the Microbiome. The Compassionate Leadership Track will be facilitated by Beverly Kyer. Beverly will be working with attendees to address Compassion Fatigue and Data Management issues, and how to cope major changes in a constantly evolving environment.  
NWA Leadership Conference is Coming!
The NWA 30th Annual Washington Leadership Conference is rapidly approaching. This conference is a forum to discuss national policy issues that impact WIC families. CWA is always proud to help lead the California WIC team as we storm Capitol Hill and educate policymakers on the importance and outcomes of WIC. This year we'll be joined by two WIC moms - one of whom is also a WIC staff member! The tentative agenda is available to view, and registration is open. If you're attending this year, please let Sarah know, and register for the NWA preparation webinars!
 
Our Top News Picks
Toddler Formula Marketing
Accessible in grocery stores and online, toddler formulas are the fastest growing artificial milk substitute, even though they are not recommended for toddler nutrition. As infant formula sales have declined, marketing of toddler formula has increased from $5 to $20 annually, and sales have increased from $39 to $92 million, from 2006 to 2015. Nutrients, such as DHA, provided in the formulas are available in complementary foods appropriate for toddlers. Powdered milk, corn syrup, and vegetable oil, main ingredients of the formulas are additional reasons toddler formulas are not recommended for establishing healthy nutrition habits. 
The Economic Cost of ACEs in CA 
The Center for Youth Wellness has released an in-depth study on the health-related cost of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) in the state of California. A number of studies have investigated the cost of child maltreatment, but the current study, Adult health burden and costs in California during 2013 associated with prior adverse childhood experiences , is the first to examine the cost associated with adult health conditions that are linked to ACEs. Previous studies on child abuse and neglect have estimated the lifetime cost to the United States to be approximately $124 billion  annually. This new study found the health-related costs of ACEs to California alone were approximately $113 billion a year. That figure includes ACEs-related health care costs totaling $10.5 billion annually, with more than $102 billion in the cost of disease burden, including premature death and years of productive life lost to disability. 
Flu Shot Safe During Pregnancy 
A Kaiser Permanente study of women who were given inactivated influenza vaccine while pregnant found no indication of developmental problems for their babies at 6 months old. The findings were published Feb. 5 in the journal Vaccine . Flu can result in severe complications and adverse pregnancy outcomes including stillbirth and preterm delivery. Women with influenza are twice as likely to be hospitalized if they are pregnant, the CDC reports. Nevertheless, the CDC found only about half (54%) of pregnant women received a flu shot during the 2018-2019 flu season.
 
Resources
Invitation to Join New mPINC List Serv
The CDC has developed a CDC-MPINC-UPDATE listserv to inform hospitals and other stakeholders about future Maternity Practices in Infant Nutrition and Care (mPINC) surveys . The purpose of this listserv is to provide listserv members with periodic updates on the status of the mPINC survey. Signing up for this listserv is voluntary and most messages will be sent during mPINC data collection, which is typically about six months every other year. Listserv participants may opt out at any time. If you have questions about the mPINC survey or would like to sign up for the listserv, please email mpinc@cdc.gov with your full name and email address. 
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Breastfeeding and Racial Equity Webinar
The Michigan Breastfeeding Network has released an on-demand webinar titled "Breastfeeding and Racial Equity." The presentation provides a historical overview of breastfeeding as a racial equity issue. The speaker, Kenyetta Jackson, outlines the unique challenges Black and Indigenous families face and how breastfeeding supporters can take action to ensure that all families have the choice to breastfeed.  
 
California WIC Association
3120 Freeboard Dr., Suite 101, West Sacramento, CA 95691

Phone: 916-572-0700; Fax: 916-572-0760
www.calwic.org