House Adjourns for Recess Early, No Vote on Ag Approps

The House of Representatives plans to adjourn for its August recess one day early due to disagreements among GOP lawmakers on the agriculture appropriations bill. Congress has until the end of September to pass its annual budget before risking a government shutdown. Some members are already signaling opposition to the spending levels, which may complicate the budget process. Previously the House had planned to vote today on an agriculture appropriations package that would leave the WIC program unable to serve an estimated 650,000 to 750,000 eligible people, according to a new analysis from CBPP.

The Health Equity and Access under the Law (HEAL) for Immigrant Families Act is expected to be reintroduced in Congress soon. HEAL would solidify healthcare as a human right for EVERYONE, by:

-       Eliminating the 5-year wait for Medicaid/CHIP for im/migrants with green cards

-       Ensuring access to coverage for DACA recipients

-       Enabling im/migrants w/o documentation to access the ACA Marketplace

-       Creating a State plan option to expand Medicaid/CHIP eligibility to immigrants w/o documentation

-       Removing discriminatory Medicare eligibility requirements regarding length of stay many immigrants with greencards face

What would this kind of legislation if passed mean for your family, your community, your own healthcare? Let the Protecting Immigrant Families Coalition know by showing your support for HEAL and sharing your story here.

The USDA has awarded a cooperative agreement to the University of Minnesota to support the development of the public health workforce in WIC. The initiative aims to improve the health of WIC participants by increasing workforce diversity and cultural competency. The funding comes from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, and is part of USDA's broader plan to modernize and expand WIC to reduce health disparities in infant and maternal health.

Over 40,000 California child-care providers will secure a 20% average pay increase under a tentative union agreement, which also includes funding for the nation's first retirement fund for child-care providers and additional healthcare funding. The deal is subject to union vote, legislative approval, and the governor's signature. Funding for the contract comes from a $2.8 billion boost to child-care programs in the recent budget agreement.

Submit Your WIC Watch Story!

The WIC Watch is a bi-annual CWA publication where we share achievements, events, collaborations, updates, stories of exceptional staff members and projects from our local California WIC agencies and community partners. The submission deadline for the Fall issue of the WIC Watch is coming up on September 7th! Please send submissions to Sarah!

Be a Part of our Annual Conference Planning Committee!

Interested in helping to plan the 32^nd CWA Virtual Conference in 2024? We welcome California WIC staff and community partners. The commitment averages about 30 minutes to one hour every other week from mid-July – late-November. We ask each planning committee member to moderate at least one session at the conference (but you are welcome to do more). In return, we waive the conference fee for all committee members. If you are interested, let Jodi know at jmulliganpfile@calwic.org. 

More than 25% of children in the United States missed or delayed preventive care during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new study. Factors such as race, ethnicity, household income, and child's health conditions influenced the likelihood of missed or delayed care.



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Researchers have discovered that myo-inositol, a small cyclic sugar molecule found in breast milk, plays a crucial role in promoting neuronal connections in infants’ brains. Prior studies indicated the cognitive benefits of breast milk but were unclear about the specific components responsible.

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Children who experience racial discrimination are more likely to have a higher body mass index and waist circumference, according to new data. Childhood obesity is a critical public health issue in the US and is disproportionately prevalent among children from minority racial and ethnic groups.



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A cohort study published in JAMA Network Open found that COVID-19 mRNA vaccination during pregnancy resulted in a robust immune response without adverse outcomes for both mothers and infants for nearly 6 months after birth.



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A study suggests that a national produce prescription program for diabetics aged 40-79 could prevent 296,000 cardiovascular cases and save $40 billion in medical costs. "Food is Medicine" strategies can reduce disparities and improve health outcomes.



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The prevalence rates of outpatient contacts and acute care contacts for a mental or substance use disorder were 55 and 74 percent higher, respectively, for children and adolescents in food-insecure households, according to a recent study.



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A study by the American Cancer Society reveals that both income and healthy food accessibility affect life expectancy in the United States. Adults in low-income areas and food deserts have shorter life expectancies.



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