CWA Flash Newsletter - January 12, 2021 |
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We may not always agree, and we seek to listen first, learn, and participate in a democracy that respects the shared voices of its citizens through healthy dialogue and debate based on fact, evidence-based research, and historical precedent. We welcome and look forward to a new administration that emboldens us to be good to one another and to fight for justice and equity. We know the kind of violence and domestic terrorism that transpired at the Capitol last week is traumatic, and sincerely hope our friends and community partners are practicing self-care and trauma stewardship. We will get through this and righteousness will prevail. #WICStrong |
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Public Health Emergency Declaration Extended |
Secretary of Dept. of Health and Human Services (HHS) Alex Azar has extended the national public health emergency declaration for COVID-19. The renewal takes effect January 21, the date that the current emergency declaration was set to expire. By law, the HHS Secretary must renew the declaration every ninety days for urgent flexibilities to remain active, therefore, this declaration must be next renewed before mid-April. Last year, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) extended crucial WIC flexibilities until 30 days after the expiration of the public health emergency. The recent extension of the public health emergency declaration for COVID-19 ensures that WIC flexibilities are now in place through at least mid-May.
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Governor's Budget and Needed Actions |
Gov. Newsom is being looked to for a combination of a strategic budget and additional quick actions to stave off the damage of the pandemic, in addition to numerous urgent fiscal needs. The Governor’s proposed $227 billion State Budget 2021-22, will begin July 1st after negotiations are finalized via the State Legislature. The proposed spending plan includes additional $600 in stimulus payments for those who make less than $30,000 per year, $4 billion to create jobs and help small businesses recover from the pandemic crisis, and $2 billion to help schools as they transition back to in person learning. CA went from having a $22 billion surplus during the Governor’s first year of his term, then faced a $54 billion shortfall last year. However, despite the revenue picture looking brighter this year even under the COVID-19 pandemic, the non-partisan Legislative Analyst Office (LAO) considers the surplus “a onetime windfall of $26 billion” and urges caution when putting together the final spending package for FY 2021-22. The Gov.’s budget proposal prioritizes: COVID-19 vaccines, wildfire preparedness and an investment in education, to re-open and bolster education budgets. The Gov. is being asked to ensure support for tenants’ rent and move quickly to extend the eviction moratorium. Nourish CA just released this statement related to nutrition funding.
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New CA Public Health Leaders |
Last week Gov. Newsom appointed Dr. Nadine Burke Harris Chair of the First 5 California Children and Families Commission. Dr. Burke Harris has served as Surgeon General of California since 2019, where she established early childhood, health equity, and Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and toxic stress as key priorities. We also welcome Diane Lindsey, Chief of the Maternal Child and Adolescent Health Division in the Center for Family Health in CDPH. Ms. Lindsey spent most of her career working in international public health in Africa and Asia, focusing on maternal, child and adolescent health program design, monitoring and evaluation. Most recently, she served as the Regional Manager for the University of California Education Abroad Program.
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Lactation Accommodation Updated Brief |
CWA, in partnership with the California Breastfeeding Coalition (CBC) and CDPH as part of the California Pediatric Obesity Collaborative Improvement and Innovation Network has published a new brief, Lactation Support for Low-Wage Workers. This brief describes the challenges faced by low-wage workers and actions needed to ensure that all working parents in California reach their breastfeeding goals. Find it on the CWA and CBC websites. To learn more, attend the 2021 California Breastfeeding Coalition Summit! On January 28, the Plenary entitled Making Lactation Accommodation Real: Implementation of California Laws at the Community Level will build upon the findings in the Brief.
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WIC Tech: A Matter of Equity |
Use of technology in WIC is a hot topic as WIC programs provide services during a pandemic, look to future program improvements, consider long term declines in participation and address equity and access. CWA is proud to provide WIC Tech: A Matter of Equity, providing an overview of technology options and considerations, and recommendations for expanded use of technology in WIC. The report is available along with our other publications on Engaging Families and Modernizing WIC.
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Congratulations Dr. Toncé Jackson |
The Los Angeles District of the California Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics recently awarded the Excellence in Community Nutrition to Dr. Toncé Jackson, PHFE WIC. Among Toncé’s accomplishments is the creation of CinnaMoms, to support breastfeeding and maternal health among African American women. She also serves as Chair of the NWA Task Force on Maternal Mortality which produced this report and last spring spoke on a related panel with US Surgeon General, Dr. Jerome Adams. At PHFE she has broken new ground as the manager of Health Equity. Thank you, Toncé, for your leadership in addressing equity and racism while raising up community nutrition and the health of young families. Shine on!
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Hardship Increasing as Pandemic Wears On |
More people, especially those with children, are struggling to meet basic needs during the pandemic, according to Census Bureau Household Pulse Survey data released last week. Adults with children have faced larger struggles putting food on the table, which is particularly concerning since food insecurity can harm children’s health and their academic outcomes for years to come. In the latest Pulse survey data, 18 percent of adults living with children reported their household didn’t get enough to eat in the last seven days. That’s more than four times the share (4 percent) whose household didn’t get enough to eat at some point in 2019. The share for adults without children was 11 percent in the latest Pulse data, three times the share in the 2019 survey. The relief package enacted in December will provide much-needed help to millions of families through measures such as increased unemployment benefits and food assistance, new emergency rental assistance, and another round of stimulus checks, but like the earlier CARES Act assistance, it is short-term and not comprehensive.
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Mortality Rate for Black Babies is Cut Dramatically When They're Delivered by Black Doctors |
Data from 1.8 million Florida hospital births between 1992 and 2015 reveals that while Black newborns are three times as likely to die as White newborns, when Black babies are delivered by Black doctors, their mortality rate is significantly lower. With 5.7 deaths per 1,000 live births, the United States has a high infant mortality rate, and Black babies are in the gravest danger, with an infant mortality rate in 2018 of 10.8 deaths per 1,000 live births, compared to a rate of 4.6 White babies per 1,000 live births. Under the care of Black doctors, Black babies’ mortality rate was more than halved from 430 per 100,000 live births to 173 per 100,000. The author of the study recommends that medical schools and training programs equip every clinician, in every role, to address racism, and licensing, accreditation, and qualifying procedures should test this knowledge as an essential professional competency.
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Find Out What WIC Participants in L.A. County are Saying About WIC During COVID! |
As you know, the USDA granted states multiple operational waivers to continue to deliver WIC services during the COVID-19 pandemic and these waivers have enabled our ability to serve participants remotely. Thanks to funding from the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, our friends and colleagues at the Nutrition Policy Institute and PHFE WIC have been able to gather information from WIC participants about their experiences with WIC during the COVID-19 pandemic. The first brief based on information gathered from LA County participants is now available online, with more to come soon from interviews with participants and local agency staff from across California in the months to come!
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Decision-Making Guide for Pregnant People and the COVID-19 Vaccine
A decision-making aid intended for use by pregnant people (and people planning on becoming pregnant) who are considering getting the COVID-19 vaccine, as well as their healthcare providers, and their friends and family has been published by the Shared Decision-Making: COVID Vaccination in Pregnancy working group at the University of Massachusetts Medical School – Baystate. This group consists of experts in the fields of OB/GYN, Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Shared Decision-Making and risk communication, Emergency Medicine, and current COVID-19 research. Questions should be directed to Dr. Elizabeth Schoenfeld.
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New America has released two briefs on paid leave policies. "Explainer: Paid and Unpaid Leave Policies in the U.S." provides a short primer on private-sector workers' access and use of federal unpaid leave through the Family and Medical Leave Act and an introduction to state paid family and medical leave programs. "Explainer: Paid Leave Benefits and Funding in the U.S." delves into funding streams for state paid leave programs and possible paid leave benefits state programs could offer. Both resources include up-to-date information on paid leave as of Friday, January 1, 2021.
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Recruit Families for a UC Study on EITC! |
A UC Berkeley, UC San Francisco and UCANR Nutrition Policy Institute study aims to capture families' experiences with safety-net programs before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, focused on take-up and use of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). Safety net programs are designed to support families in times of crisis, yet many eligible families do not participate. This study aims to understand the supports people utilize, how they help, the factors that predict participation, where the gaps may be, and what can be done to make things better. The researchers are trying to speak with up to 530 California families income-eligible for WIC and with at least one child, ages birth to eight. The link below (available in English and Spanish) connects interested participants with the study team. Eligible participants are scheduled for a 1-2 hour interview in English or Spanish. Interviews ask about participants’ life experiences related to health, food security, safety net program participation (WIC, CalFresh, EITC, etc.), housing, finances, and similar topics. After finishing the survey, participants receive a $50 gift card as a thank you. Learn more about taking the survey, and if you are interested in learning more or need information in another language, please call or text (213) 915-6410 or email reach.access.study@gmail.com.
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California WIC Association | www.calwic.org
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