CWA Flash E-Newsletter - October 24, 2017
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Prevent Domestic Violence
Domestic/intimate partner violence (IPV) is a pervasive problem in virtually all countries, cultures, classes and income groups. Women who report a history of IPV are more likely to report  poor physical and mental health  and  higher food insecurity  than women without such a history, and the mental and physical health of parents impacts their  children's food security WIC Can Help  end the cycle of domestic violence.
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Mindfulness Apps
With all that's been going on, it's no wonder the American Psychological Association found an  
increase   in Americans' stress levels over the last year. Our constant checking of smartphones - with the bombardment of news and social media - can amp up our anxiety. So, why not use your device to help you disconnect & be more mindful?
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Policy Updates
Disaster Relief Actions
The House passed, and now the Senate is moving, a disaster relief bill that will address relief for hurricanes, floods and wild fires in effected states and Puerto Rico. California State WIC staff is working closely with the local agencies impacted by fires to ensure WIC services are provided, and to support staff and participants who have suffered personal losses (see CWA News, below). The National WIC Association continues to work with our members on the ground and our partners at USDA and in Congress to ensure that the WIC program is able to serve families impacted by these disasters. ACTION: If you work in a disaster affected region and need additional support, please contact Alison Hard at  ahard@nwica.org .
Healthcare Actions
The healthcare landscape continues to evolve, as President Trump has taken two actions that will impact the healthcare system. First was an executive order that federal agencies draft rules to move more people into insurance plans subject to fewer consumer protections and fewer essential benefit requirements. The order will not result in any immediate changes to laws or regulations. Agencies will likely conduct studies first, and will then draft proposed rules and accept public comments before issuing final regulations. Secondly, the President announced the administration will no longer pay cost-sharing reductions (CSRs)-expected to total $9 billion for 2018-that support health insurance plans for low-income Americans. Following that announcement, Senators Lamar Alexander (R-TN) and Patty Murray (D-WA), the Chair and Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, reached a bipartisan agreement to address cost-sharing reduction (CSR) payments under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The agreement would provide federal funding for the CSRs for two years in exchange for increased state flexibility under the ACA, including speedier approval of certain waivers. It is not clear whether Republican leadership in the House or Senate will support the agreement. President Trump has expressed tentative support for the deal, but has also stated that in the long-run he supports state block grants in lieu of federal CSR payments. If passed, this bill would resume CSR payments stopped by President Trump.
Budget Resolution & Tax Plan
The House is expected this week to move forward to support the Senate budget resolution passed last week. Since a budget resolution is not a law but a framework, the work ahead will be on funding specifics. The goal for Congress is to use reconciliation to move quickly on tax cuts and reform with only a simple majority vote.

CWA News
WIC Community Remaining Strong
We opened our last Flash newsletter reflecting on the Las Vegas tragedy and hurricane disasters. Just a few days later, fires ravaged California that added to earlier losses in September. We are so grateful to and proud of our state and local WIC staff who, during the fires, worked steadily to assess changing situations, checked on the safety of participants and staff, devised ways to ensure the provision of food and support, reached out to local grocers, and remained a supportive and caring presence in the community, even with their own losses. The fires may be contained, but the pain and loss is extreme, and WIC staff will be there to support our communities as neighborhoods and lives are put back together. We acknowledge the everyday heroism and genuine care that WIC staff in our states and territories provide their communities, especially during exceptional times.
Our Top News Picks
Racial Disparities in CA NICUs
Infants' racial and ethnic identities influence the quality of medical care they receive in California's neonatal intensive care units, according to a recent study by Stanford researchers. Using data from the California Perinatal Quality Care Collaborative, researchers studied the medical care of over 18,000 of the smallest babies at 134 hospitals. Findings indicated that the disparities were not uniform. Across NICUs, those that provided the poorest quality of care tended to have the smallest disparities between ethnicities; in some, blacks fared better than white infants. As quality scores rose across hospitals, white infants tended to do better.
DACA Eligibility May Reduce Mental Illness for Children of "Dreamers"
Protecting young undocumented immigrants known as "dreamers" from deportation may also help lower the risk of mental health problems for their U.S.-born children. Researchers examined data on 5,653 mothers in Oregon born just before and after the cutoff for DACA eligibility . When mothers qualified for DACA, 3.3 percent of their children had a range of mental illnesses, such as anxiety, depression, or sadness that can be provoked by stress compared to 7.8 percent of children whose mothers were not eligible for DACA. Mental illness can have many causes, but fear of separation from a parent in early childhood can have lasting long term effects, such as impaired school performance and health issues.
Probiotics May Reduce Risk of Perinatal Mood Disorders
Probiotics could help women avoid postnatal depression , a New Zealand study has found. The Probiotics in Pregnancy Study , which studied a number of health factors, used a regimen of a probiotic tablet once a day in pregnancy and in the first six months after birth. Mothers in the probiotic treatment group reported significantly lower depression and anxiety scores than those in the placebo group and rates of clinically relevant anxiety were halved among the probiotic treated mothers. With 10 to 15 per cent of women being affected by depression or anxiety during or after pregnancy, the findings are encouraging.

Resources
Interactive Course on Collaboration
An interactive course from National Institute for Children's Health Quality explores how to produce positive population health outcomes through effective collaboration. Using a case study to help share key concepts, they give directions on breaking down silos, aligning activities, and working productively together. The course's definition of successful collaboration provides a foundation for partnering with others to make a difference in your community.
Dietary Guidelines Process Report
The National Academies on Science, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) have released a report entitled, "Redesigning the Process for Establishing the Dietary Guidelines for Americans." The Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) provide nutritional and dietary information with the intention of promoting health and preventing chronic disease, and serve as the basis for all federal nutrition policies and nutrition assistance programs, as well as nutrition education programs. This guidance is updated and released every 5 years by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NASEM evaluates the process used to update the DGA per Congressional mandate. Download report highlights . Read the press release
Child Ready App = Safety 
Preventing childhood injury and death is the goal of an app , developed by the University of New Mexico, Division of Pediatric Emergency Medicine. It leads parents through their home and yard/play area to create safe living spaces.

California WIC Association
3120 Freeboard Dr., Suite 101, West Sacramento, CA 95691

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