|
School Breakfast, Lunch, and More
Numerous studies have shown that
hungry children cannot learn effectively
and that even mild malnutrition can impair physical and cognitive growth. Breakfast, lunch and
snacks
served at or after school can provide children the food they need for optimal health and learning.
WIC Can Help
families with school-aged children (including students entering kindergarten) benefit from school meal programs.
|
Meditation to Release Anxiety
The last few weeks have been filled with news that causes many some anxiety on a daily basis - not great for physical health or focus at work. Meditation can be a great tool to manage anxiety -
check out this guide
for some tips.
|
Shopping at Amazon?
Support CWA without spending anything extra by using
AmazonSmile!
|
Did someone share this with you? Sign up here to get the CWA Flash directly!
|
|
 |
|
Dignity for Incarcerated Women Act Introduced
U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Richard Durbin (D-IL), and Kamala Harris (D-CA) have introduced the Dignity for Incarcerated Women Act, which would make a series of reforms to how the federal prison system treats incarcerated women to reduce the negative impact incarceration has on the family members of women behind bars, especially their children, and better prepare incarcerated women to return to their communities.
|
Washington State's New Paid Leave Law
Washington has become the sixth state in the country to pass a paid family and medical leave law. The new Family and Medical Leave Insurance Program will provide up to 14-18 weeks of leave for those wanting to take time off to care for a new infant or care for a family member depending on the individual situation. Depending on their earnings, employees will receive up to 90 percent of their wage or salary or up to $1,000 per week. The program will be implemented by 2020.
|
Fall Education Events: Register Today!
|
Summer Webinar Series Continues
Join us Thursdays at noon for four more webinars in the
WIC Works Webinar Series
, featuring topics related to breastfeeding, policy, and wellness and a chance to earn continuing education credit. This week (August 24) we'll focus on the California Infant Feeding Guide, especially recent updates to the chapter on Lifecycle: Normal Infant Feeding (0-12 months). On September 7, Join the California Department of Consumer Affairs staff to learn about "Cannabis: California Laws & Public Health Implications." We'll hear about current and soon-to-be-implemented California laws regarding clinical and recreational marijuana use, plus a discussion of how this impacts your day-to-day work in public health programs with young families. On September 21, we'll explore "How - and Why - Happiness Makes the Workplace Better" in a wellness webinar with Reggie Caldwell. "Reducing Breastfeeding Disparities in California through Lactation Accommodation" wraps up our series on September 28. ACTION: Find out more and register for each session on our webinar series page.
|
Nurses' Lack of Knowledge May Put New Moms at Risk
A study published in MCN: The American Journal of Maternal/Child Nursing suggests that postpartum nurses might not be adequately educated on postpartum health risks, making them less able to fulfill their critical role of educating moms about symptoms like painful swelling, headaches, heavy bleeding and breathing problems that could indicate potentially life-threatening complications. By failing to alert mothers to such risks, the study found, nurses may be missing an opportunity to help reduce the maternal mortality rate in the U.S., the highest among affluent nations. Researchers also found that nurses could be quickly educated with short, targeted information.Using insights from the focus groups, an expert panel developed two standardized tools: a checklist and script that nurses could follow when instructing new mothers and a one-page handout of post-birth warning signs that mothers could refer to after they returned home, with clear-cut instructions for when to see a doctor or call 911.
|
Less Sleep Associated With Higher Diabetes Risk in Children
Children who don't get enough sleep may be more likely to develop diabetes than kids who sleep well, a study of 4,525 UK children suggests. Each additional hour of sleep children get at night is associated with a lower body weight, more lean muscle mass and less accumulation of sugars in the blood, and obesity and elevated blood sugar are risk factors for type 2 diabetes. Kids 6 to 12 years old should get 9 to 12 hours of sleep a night, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics, and not getting enough sleep is also associated with an increased risk of injuries, high blood pressure, obesity and depression. Researchers recommend that parents enforce a regular bedtime, and try to facilitate a restful sleep for children by limiting screen time before bed and creating a dark, peaceful sleeping environment.
|
WIC Staff Helpful for Parents of Children with Developmental Concerns
A Web-based survey of Oregon WIC staff in non-administrative roles assessed staff interactions with parents to assess how staff address potential developmental delays and parent concerns about child development/behavior. Staff responses indicated knowledge of typical child development, frequent interactions with families about child development, and frequent noticing of developmental concerns. However, most staff reported that they were not very well connected to local developmental resources. Open-ended responses suggested that staff frequently make direct referrals to early intervention, public health nurses, and others who can further assess developmental concerns. Although it is outside the primary scope of their work, developmental and behavioral concerns are frequently raised and addressed by WIC staff. Findings suggest that strengthening the existing referral processes and enhancing continuity of care between WIC and developmental providers may improve child outcomes and reduce disparities.
|
Health Coverage for Kids
|
Knowledge to Action Briefs
Strategies 2.0 recently published new Knowledge to Action Briefs, valuable tools that summarize an issue and highlight resources and steps to help income-restricted families. The latest one on
Poverty in California
helps explain impacts and complexities of being poor, as well as the positive difference referral efforts - like CWA's
WIC Can Help campaign
- can make for kids. More Briefs are available on the
Resources page
of their website.
|
Updated Breastfeeding Rates and Disparities Report
|
#First31 Social Media Campaign Kickoff
|
Updated Zika Guidance from CDC
|
|
|
