California WIC Efforts to Cope With Formula Shortage |
California Dept. of Public Health (CDPH) WIC staff, partnering with other CDPH and state departments, grocers, WIC local agencies, community and business partners and USDA have made progress on providing flexibilities for California WIC families in addressing the infant formula shortage. Below are the recent updates.
- Last week CA WIC shoppers were provided the option to purchase a wider variety and sizes of the contracted (Mead Johnson, maker of Enfamil) infant formula products.
- Starting soon, California WIC shoppers will be able to purchase additional brands of formula.
- To make these changes, on the technology side, the WIC WISE MIS system, WIC EBT card, WIC app, and the UPC codes and grocer systems must be updated.
- WIC staff continue to create updated communications and educational materials for participants in English and Spanish.
- WIC staff are being continually updated and trained on the changes, supporting pregnant and new parents with questions and concerns, and advising them on their options. For parents who are breastfeeding and using formula, WIC staff provide support for parents who want to try options to possibly increase breastmilk production.
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CDPH provides updates, communications, and QA for families and providers in English and Spanish. This site is updated as more formula becomes available.
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CDPH WIC provides detailed updates, guidance and infant formula QA including safety measures. This site is also updated as more formula becomes available.
- CDPH WIC staff is using the data available in the WIC WISE system to look at the impact of this emergency.
All opportunities and efforts to get families formula is being taken. WIC staff communicate daily with grocers, alert families to available formula and in some cases have drop shipped formula when whole counties were out of formula. Gratitude to everyone for the dedication and partnership to use all options to get formula to families and for the resilience to tough this out until the crisis is over.
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CA Legislative Session and Budget Process |
We are entering the final home stretch of the new State Budget deal with a vote expected on both floors for the CA State Legislature by June 15th. More than 700 bills made it through "suspense file day" in mid-May, while over 200 did not. The May Revise budget proposal released last month by Governor Newsom contained a huge surplus and several items supported by CWA, including Cal AIM roll out policy and funding, expansion of Medi-Cal to cover otherwise eligible undocumented immigrants 26-49, provisions for continued telehealth in Medi-Cal , and the Governor’s proposal to provide books for kids on WIC and other public programs.
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Maternity Care Survey Underway |
In April, the CDC began the biennial, Maternity Practices in Infant Nutrition and Care, mPINC, survey of birthing hospitals of 2021 births. The results of the survey inform policy and practice changes, and for CA has been important additional information to the state data collected on hospital breastfeeding data and the MIHA survey. If you work with or in a hospital, please talk with the labor and delivery nurse manager to ensure the hospital is informed of the survey underway.
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CA Primary Elections in 1 Week! |
Have you voted? The California Primary ends in 1 week! Be sure to return your ballot on or before June 7th. For information on polling places, dropbox locations, tracking your ballot and voter registration status, you can use the Secretary of State's election guide. CalMatters also has a helpful voter guide.
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CWA’s 30th Conference and Trade Show - That's a Wrap!
CWA’s 30th Annual Power of Community Conference was a huge success. We had incredible speakers that kicked off the conference, and four days of sessions covering a diverse array of topics that were eligible for over 30 CEUs. We had around 1,500 attendees from across the state and beyond, over 30 vendors in our virtual trade show, worksite wellness sessions and topics, lunch & learn sessions in both Spanish and English, live cooking demos, daily contests, and more. Our live feed and photo booth were alive with creative posts, and we made the very best of the virtual conference space. We had a lot of fun with everyone, we learned a lot, we networked, and we are looking forward to the 31st conference next year! If you attended the conference, please remember that you can access the platform through July 15, to watch any session that you missed.
If you are interested in presenting at next year’s conference, would like to be on our planning committee, or would like to be a sponsor, please email Jodi.
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U.S. Imports Infant Formula to Ease Shortage |
During the first week of May, over 40% of infant formulas were unavailable on shelves. Since the Biden Administration took actions to ease the shortage, the U.S. has imported the equivalent of 30 million 8-ounce bottles of infant formula from Europe and then Australia.
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Most Egg Allergies, One Third of Peanut Allergies Resolve by Age 6 |
About three out of 10 peanut allergies and nine of 10 egg allergies resolved by age 6 years, although infants with early-onset severe eczema or multiple allergies were less likely to outgrow them, according to a longitudinal study.
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Gestational Hypertension on the Rise |
The rates of preeclampsia and gestational hypertension — types of high blood pressure during pregnancy — more than doubled, from just over 38 per 1,000 live births in 2007 to nearly 78 in 2019, researchers found. The surge accelerated in the study's later years, rising an average 9% a year between 2014 and 2019, compared to 4% a year from 2007 to 2014.
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Infant Formula Shortage Prompts Calls for Breastfeeding Support |
The infant formula crisis in the United States has prompted many to re-examine the lack of support for breastfeeding in the United States. Six in ten parents who start breastfeeding stop sooner than they'd like. Experts say the lack of paid family leave, aggressive or misleading infant formula marketing, and a lack of understanding and valuation of the time and work that breastfeeding takes are all part of the problem.
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Another Round of Free Covid Rapid Antigen Tests |
The federal government on Monday started taking orders for a third round of COVID-19 test kits to be mailed to any American household. HHS said on Monday said that all U.S. households were eligible to order a third round of tests. Each order now contains eight rapid antigen tests, USPS website says. Previously, four tests were sent out at a time. |
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Summer Lunch Program
Hunger does not take a summer vacation! Families say, on average, their grocery bills are about $300 higher every month when kids are out of school; free summer meals can help. The Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), also known as Summer Lunch, is a federally funded program that reimburses community organizations that provide free, nutritious meals to children 18 years of age and younger. WIC Can Help families stretch their food dollars so children can enjoy nutritious meals during the long summer months.
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Support CWA online!
As a nonprofit membership organization, CWA relies on the contributions of many organizations and individuals to help us achieve our mission. There are many ways to give of your time, talents, or resources to help CWA promote healthy families, strong communities, and bright futures! We appreciate all forms of support and invite you to join us!
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California WIC Association www.calwic.org
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