Funding for WIC, CTC, Family Leave in President Biden's Budget Plan

In early March, President Biden also released his FY 2025 funding plan, which includes $7.967 billion for WIC – an increased amount that should support a continued rise in enrollment as well as rising food costs – as well as flexibility to provide emergency funding should the pace of enrollment or the cost of food outstrip projections. The President's budget proposal would also revive the expanded Child Tax Credit, and, notably, allots $325B to establish a national paid family and medical leave program, providing up to 12 weeks of leave for eligible employees.

Mobile Medi-Cal Dental Van Tour

On April 4, DHCS will kick off the second mobile dental van tour in Fresno. DHCS’ Smile, California campaign promotes preventive dental services for children and youth to enhance utilization of essential dental care and improve oral health. In addition to Fresno, the mobile dental van will visit Pixley (April 5), Hollister (April 11), Avenal (April 12), and Huntington Park (May 4). Services performed onsite will include exams, X-rays, cleaning, and fluoride applications.

Medi-Cal members, medical and dental providers, and community-based organizations can learn more about Medi-Cal's covered dental services by visiting the Smile, California website, in English at SmileCalifornia.org or in Spanish at SonrieCalifornia.org. The website includes helpful resources, such as informational flyers, videos, fact sheets, and the “Find-A-Dentist" tool to locate a dental provider.

Looking Forward: WIC Celebrates 50 Years- Conference May 6-10



We are thrilled to feature national experts to address childhood obesity- from the preconference through the conference, including Cynthia Ogden, NHANES, CDC- national trends, Dr. Christopher Carter, UC San Diego, equity and childhood obesity, Michael Goran, USC,  formula impacts on obesity, Dr. Fatima Stanford, Harvard, obesity medicine physician, speaker, author, advocate and Dr. Rachel Gross and Dr. Michelle Katzow, NYU, Langone Health, starting in pregnancy to prevent childhood obesity. Join us May 6-10, and find the agenda, event info, trade show and registration here.

Great ideas come from local agencies. We all know that! You can learn about creative work in CA local agencies that will be shared at the CWA conference. Here is a teaser. Truecare WIC in San Diego is showcasing their Virtual Breastfeeding Support Group. Local agencies, in CA and anywhere in the US are invited to share their great work, just complete this easy peasy form and we will get you set up.

We Want to Hear Your WIC Story!



As we commemorate the golden jubilee of WIC, we invite you to share your cherished memories and reflections about this beloved program. We've made it simple for you to contribute —just follow this link to record or upload your thoughts. We encourage you to share a story of one to two minutes, you can easily participate using either your computer or mobile device. Your experiences are invaluable, and we encourage you to spread the word within your circles and communities, inspiring others to join in the celebration. We would like to have your story by April 24th!

CNC Scholarships Awarded!



CA Nutrition Corps (CNC) Scholarships announced! It is with great pleasure that CWA announced the 21st annual CNC Scholarships. Nine employees, working in five WIC local agencies, completing their degree in nutrition or graduate degree and/or also their required dietetic internship to become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) received scholarships. In total CWA awarded $20,500.

Read the Spring 2024 WIC Watch Now - 50th Anniversary Edition!



We're pleased to share the Spring 2024 issue of the WIC Watch! This is a great opportunity to read news from CWA, local WIC agencies, the details of ongoing WIC 50th Anniversary festivities, and sharing from our 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!

Reckitt Benckiser, a unit of Mead Johnson, has been found liable by a jury for failing to warn the mother of a premature baby who died of necrotizing entercolitis (NEC) of the evidence that infant formula increases the risk of NEC in preterm infants compared to breast milk.

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Food insecurity has caused a surge in cases of fatty liver disease among Latino children in the United States, researchers at UCSF recently reported, but many Latino households can’t afford the nutritional food that can prevent the condition.

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Participation in the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) universal free school meals program reduces the prevalence of obesity among students, according to a study published online March 18 in Pediatrics.



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Over the first few years of a child's life, foods found in a family's fridge and cupboards tends to get less healthy, new research shows.



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Children with low food security were over five times more likely to experience violence vs. food-secure children, with food-insecure Black and Indigenous youth at significantly higher risk of experiencing violence.

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Exclusive breastfeeding duration of at least three months may decrease the risk for childhood leukemia, according to recent research.

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