President Biden Signs Omnibus, Extends WIC Bump! |
Earlier this month, President Biden signed the $1.5 trillion omnibus spending package into law after it was passed by the House and Senate. The omnibus package included funding for the WIC benefit bump through September 30, permitting WIC providers to issue heightened benefits for fruits and vegetables that reflect science-based recommendations. CWA had been meeting with California's Congressional representatives over the last several weeks and months advocating for this extension, and we're so pleased to see it signed. We will continue to advocate for USDA to revise the WIC food packages to reflect recommendations from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. Please find the National WIC Association's full statement on the extension of the WIC benefit bump here.
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Secretary Vilsack Spotlights WIC in USDA Nutrition Security Agenda |
Last week, USDA Secretary Vilsack announced the release of the nation’s first-ever agenda on nutrition security. USDA defines nutrition security as consistent access to nutritious foods that promote optimal health and well-being for all Americans, throughout all stages of life. USDA’s Blueprint for Nutrition Security commits to building nutrition security for families by strengthening WIC – including efforts to revise the WIC food package to reflect science-based recommendations from NASEM and the DGAs, increased emphasis on WIC’s breastfeeding support, and ongoing efforts to modernize the WIC experience for clinic services and online shopping.
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CA Model Hospital Policy Recommendations |
These Model Hospital Policy Recommendations serve to meet the requirements of California regulations that must be fulfilled by January 1, 2025. The recommendations utilize evidence-based practices that promote, protect, and support breastfeeding across the continuum of parent-child care. They are intended to serve as a framework to allow hospitals to modify and construct policies and procedures that best suit their facility, and can be incorporated into standard parent-baby care. If you have questions or would like a presentation to provide an orientation to the document and how to use it, please contact Cielo Avalos at Cielo.Avalos@cdph.ca.gov.
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CWA’s 30th Conference and Trade Show - Meet Our Speakers!
We all know the benefits of WIC but did you also know that WIC plays an important role in brain development and healthy bonding between parents and children by supporting the release of a hormone that shields and protects the developing brain from too much stress? In his workshop, The Earliest Blueprints: The critical importance of zero to five, world-renowned child behavior and trauma expert Bryan Post will reveal critical components of brain development that are essential to not only healthy childhood development but also the key building blocks for a lifetime of future social and emotional relationships. The audience will walk away from this presentation with an understanding of the critical role of stress in parent/child relationships and a clear understanding of why love matters the most. Are you joining us for the 30th Annual CWA Conference, Power of Community? Please check out the lineup of incredible speakers, CEU offerings, networking opportunities at our tradeshow, and be a part of these incredible community intersections that make WIC work. Find out more here or register here.
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How Toddler-Mother Attachment Impacts Adolescent Brain and Behavior |
Interpersonal trust is a crucial component of healthy relationships. When we interact with strangers, we quickly gauge whether we can trust them. And those important social skills may be shaped by our earliest relationship with caregivers. Adolescents who had an insecure attachment to their mothers as toddlers are more likely to overestimate the trustworthiness of strangers, according to a new study from the University of Illinois.
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Postpartum Thoughts of Infant-Related Harm Unrelated to Risk of Maternal Aggression |
Postpartum unwanted intrusive thoughts based on intentional infant-related harm or obsessive-compulsive disorder were not associated with elevated risk of harm to infants, according to a study published in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry.
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COVID-19 Infection Could Double the Risk of Severe Outcomes During Pregnancy |
Women who catch COVID-19 may have at least double the risk of poor outcomes during their pregnancy like preterm birth, blood clots and severe maternal morbidity, which includes things like sepsis, according to a large Kaiser Permanente study of pregnant patients in Northern California.
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Eating Protein From a Greater Variety of Sources May Lower Risk of High Blood Pressure |
In a study of nearly 12,200 adults in China, eating protein from a greater variety of sources was associated with a lower risk of developing high blood pressure. This suggests that consuming a balanced diet with a moderate amount of protein from diverse food sources may help prevent new-onset hypertension.
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Prenatal Mindfulness Program Improves Stress Response in Infants |
Infants whose mothers participated in a mindfulness-based program during pregnancy had healthier stress responses at 6 months old, a new UC San Francisco study found.
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Sun Protection This Spring and Summer |
Here in California, things are heating up! What’s the most effective way to prevent sun damage to your skin? Staying out of the sun. But avoiding the sun is a horrible way to spend your time, especially when the sun’s rays are partially responsible for lifting your mood. So, what’s the best thing we have to protect the surface of our skin and the many layers underneath? Sunscreen. Check out this handy guide to get all of your sunscreen questions answered!
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Energy, Telephone, Utilities Assistance
When families stay warm in the winter and cool in the summer, they reduce the risk of health and safety problems (such as illness, fire, or eviction), especially for more vulnerable family members like infants and the elderly. Also, spending less money on phone service and utilities can free up money for other necessities like food, transportation and medical care. WIC Can Help connect WIC families to financial assistance with utility bills – energy (electricity and natural gas), water and telephone service – as well as saving energy to reduce costs.
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Support CWA online!
As a nonprofit membership organization, CWA relies on the contributions of many organizations and individuals to help us achieve our mission. There are many ways to give of your time, talents, or resources to help CWA promote healthy families, strong communities, and bright futures! We appreciate all forms of support and invite you to join us!
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California WIC Association www.calwic.org
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