The date for our next WIC breastfeeding webinar for all staff on coaching tips and counseling for milk supply issues has changed. Mark your calendars for September 30 from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Check back in future Digests for the webinar link.
Need to Know
“Catch-up to Get Ahead” on Childhood Immunizations The current situation with COVID-19 is concerning and challenging. During the pandemic, well-child visits and routine immunization rates have declined. To increase childhood immunization rates and best protect kids from vaccine-preventable diseases, continue to screen babies and kids for immunizations by discussing this with caregivers and using CIIS, the Colorado immunization system, to check vaccine records. You may have heard caregivers ask, “Should I take my child in for vaccines during COVID?” And the answer is yes! This month marks National Immunization Awareness Month, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is urging caregivers to “catch-up to get ahead” on childhood immunizations.
Breastfeeding
Happy Black Breastfeeding Week!
Celebrate August 25-31 to promote and support Black breastfeeding. Black Breastfeeding Week was created to bring light to the gaping racial disparity in breastfeeding rates over the last 50 years. CDC breastfeeding data from 2017 (our most recent data) shows that while all breastfeeding rates are on the rise, only 73.7% of Black babies ever breastfed, compared to 86.7 of white babies, an unacceptable 13% difference. Black babies die at nearly three-times higher rates compared to white babies and have significantly higher rates of health disparities throughout life, which could be prevented or lessened by breastfeeding. Black families often experience more barriers to breastfeeding and less support.
Black women do breastfeed. We need to do more to promote, protect, and support breastfeeding among our Black families. Learn more about why we need Black Breastfeeding Week.
See a calendar of webinars and other key dates for WIC projects.
