Congress Returns to DC to Work Toward Full-Year Spending Deal 

This week Congress returns to Washington to work toward a full year appropriations agreement for FY 2024. The first part of the two-part continuing resolution deal struck earlier this month, which funds WIC, expires on January 19. Several key leaders have spoken out in recent weeks to emphasize the need to fully fund WIC so that no families are turned away from the program next year. ACTION: You can contact your member of Congress here to urge them to support full funding for WIC.

Speaker Rivas Makes New Leadership Appointments

Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas has made several leadership changes ahead of the next legislative session, including appointing Assemblymember Cecilia Aguiar-Curry as the new Majority Leader, Assemblymember Buffy Wicks as Chair of Appropriations, and Assemblymember Mia Bonta as new Health Chair. See the full list of new appointees here.

Get Ready to Walk, Bike, Run!



California WIC, prepare for the next WIC Fitness Challenge Jan 1-31. We will have a team walking challenge and individual biking and running challenges as well! Let’s start the New Year off right! You can download the flyer here. You can find the team sign-up form here.

We are hosting two Pacer for Teams App training to help participants, and team captains learn a little bit more about how to use the app and get the most out of the challenges.

Join us:

Wednesday, December 6, 2023, from 2:00 PM to 2:30 PM or Thursday, December 7, 2023 from 9:30 AM to 10:00 AM

The deadline to sign up is Wed., Dec. 20. For questions, email Jodi.

Read the Fall Issue of CWA's WIC Watch Magazine Now!



We're pleased to share the Fall 2023 issue of the WIC Watch! This is a great opportunity to read news from CWA, local WIC agencies, and partner organizations. Have a great idea for a story? It's never too early to submit for the next issue! Contact Sarah to learn more! Stories for the Spring Issue are due January 17th, 2024.

In a new study, an extra 30 minutes of skin-to-skin time between mothers and infants immediately after birth (90 vs 60 minutes) in healthy newborns led to 44% increase in exclusive breastfeeding at 2-3 days, with effects maintained until 14 weeks.

Read More >

In a Nov. 13 health alert, the CDC announced that it is investigating a possible link between reports of high blood lead levels in 22 children and three brands of recalled applesauce pouches that were tested and found to contain "extremely high levels of lead."

Read More >

Poverty among all Californians rose between 2021 and 2022 by 49%, but it rose by 143% for children 0-3, 166% for children 0-5, and 121% for children 0-12. This uptick reflects how federal policy decisions to end key pandemic-era supports, such as the enhanced child tax credit, have negatively impacted California’s youngest children.

Read More >

Health, financial, and overall outcomes are better for employees in states with paid leave, and worse for those without it, according to a new study. Those in states with little or no state-mandated family leave reported almost 10% less breastfeeding and were 15% more likely to have postpartum depression symptoms.

Read More >

A new study suggests that children with private health insurance vs. Medicaid are more than twice as likely to outgrow food allergies. Researchers suggest social determinants of health may be behind the disparity.

Read More >

Children and teens in the United States now get more than two-thirds of their calories from ultraprocessed foods. Ultraprocessed foods – such as frozen pizza, microwave meals, packaged snacks and desserts – accounted for 67% of calories consumed in 2018, up from 61% in 1999.

Read More >