CWA Flash E-Newsletter - May 16, 2017
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Oral Health Matters!
Despite recommendations for infants to visit a dentist by age 1, only half of all
California kids  aged 0-2 have ever seen a dentist. Yet oral health impacts overall health, self-image, and even educational achievement. Check out our just-updated  WIC Can Help page  to learn more about promoting oral health and making referrals to low-cost or free services.
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Create a Healthy Eating Environment
Just because we know what's healthy, we don't necessarily change our eating behavior. But changing our environment can be powerful. With these five simple shifts in your kitchen, you can make the good-for-you choice your go-to choice.
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Policy Updates
CA May Budget Revise: Cautious
Gov. Brown released a revised $180 billion budget proposal last week that maintains a cautious approach amid uncertainty about the direction of the economy and possible federal actions that could hurt the state's bottom line. The revised plan follows disappointing revenue numbers for April, the state's biggest tax filing month, but reflects a $2.5 billion uptick in estimated revenue through June 2018 compared to Brown's January package. It puts $400 million into easing the burden on counties to pay for home-care services while pulling back on an earlier proposal to freeze child-care provider rates. Great uncertainty remains for federal health care funding, but the Governor's budget does not account for any potential cuts to Federal health care funding.
Federal Budgets Expect Cuts on Both Ends
As expected, the President signed a $1 trillion FY17 omnibus spending bill that will keep the government running through September. Both Dems and Reps were relieved with some of the priorities and avoidance of drastic cuts. But the Trump administration's  FY18 budget expected early next week will likely be a different story of cuts to programs that support low-income and working families and tax cuts to the wealthy. State and local public health agencies are bracing for the largest cuts to federal funding in more than a decade when combining the expected administration budget with spending reductions in the House Republicans' healthcare bill. A loss of $1-2 billion per year could mean that state programs that ensure health care access, curb disease outbreaks and reduce health costs could be entirely defunded. Congress hopes to use budget reconciliation to pass the funding measures with only a simple majority, but first must agree on a budget resolution.
Affordable Care Act Replacement
The Senate's 13-member healthcare working group continues to work this week to craft their version of the legislation to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act (ACA), following rejection of the House's bill. It is predicted that the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) will release its score of the House legislation (the American Healthcare Act, or AHCA) next week. The National Academy for State Health Policy provides this comparison chart of the ACA and ACHA. Conservatives in both houses are struggling to explain how to protect care for 24 million people and also cut key aspects of care, such as the Essential Health Benefits. ACTION: It's not too late - tell your Senator to build upon - not repeal - the protections and benefits of the Affordable Care Act!
Day of Action: Keep Formula Marketing Out of Healthcare Facilities
Women deserve access to commercial-free infant feeding information before and after they give birth, but infant formula corporations continue to co-opt healthcare facilities to promote formula, in violation of the WHO Code . The medical establishment, including the U.S. Surgeon General has called for implementation of the WHO Code -- with a particular focus on formula marketing in healthcare facilities -- given research showing its negative effects on women's breastfeeding success. See more at  www.citizen.org/infant-formula ACTION: On May 18, join Commercial Alert in saying "no more predatory infant formula marketing!" to the largest formula companies by taking 5 minutes to send an online message. Visit the Facebook event page for more information.

CWA News
Farm2WIC: Are Your Markets Accepting FVC?
CWA's Farm2WIC Campaign promotes the option of redeeming the monthly WIC Fruit and Vegetable Check (FVC, or cash value voucher (CVV) benefit), in addition to the seasonal FMNP checks, at authorized farmers' markets throughout California. Many WIC families would like the option of shopping at farmers' markets, and they can use their WIC benefits (both FMNP and FVC) at some California markets. But there are many more markets to authorize. Please help us expand this opportunity! ACTION:   Find out here   if your local market accepts the FVC; if they don't,  contact CWA   or State WIC (916-928-8513) to get started. If you know growers or market managers in the greater Fresno area, encourage them to attend the June 12 training . Check out the info and resources for markets and local agencies on our new  Farm2WIC webpage   - you'll find many of the items featured at our Conference booth.

Our Top News Picks
Touchscreens May Disrupt Toddler Sleep
A new study suggests that children under three who use devices with touchscreens may miss out on some sleep. Every hour spent using a touchscreen per day was linked to 15 minutes less sleep, and notably less night sleep and more daytime sleep. Seventy-five percent of the toddlers used a touchscreen on a daily basis, with 51% of those between six and 11 months using one, and 92% of those between 25 and 36 months doing so as well. Researchers say that the data around children and touch screens is not definitive enough for recommendations to parents, but that following AAP guidelines around screen time and avoiding screens in the hour before bedtime is reasonable. ACTION: Make a media plan for your family!
Mom Brain
"Mom brain" may actually be a sign of neurological changes that foster a deeper bond between mother and baby, according to a   new study in Nature Neuroscience . Prior research has suggested the pregnant brain may have moments of forgetfulness, especially  when it comes to verbal information , during the last trimester. In the study, pregnant women's brains lost a significant amount of gray matter in a pattern associated with "synaptic pruning," during which the brain becomes more efficient. The biggest changes were in the cerebral cortex - key to processing relationships with other people - which may help mothers more accurately assess their infant's emotional states and meet their needs. Two years later, these changes remained in place, suggesting they may be permanent. There were no similar changes in the brains of first-time fathers or childless men and women. In fact, the pattern was so distinctive that it could be used to tell whether a woman had ever given birth.
Child's Play May Create Big Savings
If children who are currently sedentary started exercising daily , the United States could save more than $120 billion every year in health care and associated expenses, according to a new study . More than two-thirds of children in the United States rarely exercise at all, with health consequences including higher risk for childhood obesity, Type 2 diabetes and other health problems in children as young as 6 years. Using as much public data as is currently available about the health, weight and physical activity patterns of all 31.7 million American children now aged 8 to 11,  computerized modeling  simulated the growth of the children using estimations of calorie intake and activity patterns. Most became increasingly overweight, hadrisk of health problems - and resulting health care costs. Altering levels of exercise in the simulation changed the outcomes drastically, as well as the predicted expenses. 

Resources
National Women's Health Week
Women often forget to take care of themselves, while they prioritize care for others. An initiative of HHS Office on Women's Health  this week serves as a time to encourage women to prioritize and take steps to improve their health. ACTION: Take care of yourself by visiting a doctor or nurse for a well-woman visit (checkup) and  preventive screenings , getting active , eating healthy , paying attention to  mental health , getting enough sleep, and managing stress. Spread the word through your social media with  easy-to-use resources and the #NWHW hashtag.
Recommendations for Engaging Dads
The Center for the Study of Social Policy's (CSSP) newest report, Changing Systems & Practices to Improve the Lives of Young Fathers, Their Children and Their Families , highlights the need to support young fathers by providing recommendations for child welfare system policy and practice change. Research shows that the father-child relationship is essential to the well-being of families and the healthy development of children. Yet engaging young fathers under age 26, particularly those involved with child welfare systems, gets little attention. The recommendations suggest how systems can better focus on father involvement to increase positive outcomes for fathers, children and families. In addition, CSSP's new video,  Effectively Engaging Young Fathers in Child Welfare , highlights the voices of three young fathers who share their lived experiences and suggest how child welfare system leaders can strengthen father engagement.
New Video: Water for Good Oral Health
The average child in the United States now consumes over half of her body weight in sugar every year. Some populations experience higher rates of oral disease than the general population. About half of all Latino children in the United States have experienced cavities; this decay rate is rising, at least in Washington state, in part due to sugary beverage consumption. As part of The Mighty Mouth campaign , Washington Dental Service Foundation, UC San Francisco, and University of Washington recently developed a two-minute animated video that explains in plain language the benefits of drinking water to keep our bodies - including our mouths - healthier, available in English and Spanish . Questions? Contact  Laura Flores , WDS Foundation.

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

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