Month: January 2019

There is an old cliché that says that what gets measured, gets done. This is part of the strategy behind the federal Healthy People initiative, which provides 10-year national objectives for improving public health and the health of all Americans.

The Department of Health and Human Services has begun the process of updating the Healthy People objectives for 2030 and sought feedback on the proposed objectives. Earlier this month, 1,000 Days commented on a wide range of the proposed objectives, including those related to breastfeeding, nutrition, maternal and child health, and health care.

We strongly supported the inclusion of measures that would further the health and well-being of women and infants—and their families and communities. For example, we expressed our support for proposed objectives seeking to reduce fetal, infant, and maternal deaths, as well as for an objective seeking to increase the proportion of people with medical insurance.

Unfortunately, several critical measures that had been included in Healthy People 2020 were eliminated from the proposed list of 2030 objectives in order to “streamline” Healthy People 2030. For example, the proposal for Healthy People 2030 included just 1 breastfeeding-related objective, while Healthy People 2020 had included 8 objectives and sub-objectives related to breastfeeding. 1,000 Days strongly advocated for these and other objectives to be retained in Healthy People 2030.

1,000 Days also proposed the creation of new dietary objectives for pregnant women, infants, and toddlers. The Healthy People 2030 launch will take place close to the launch of the 2020-2025 edition of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which for the first time ever, will include guidance for infants and toddlers (from birth to age 24 months) and women who are pregnant. New, diet-related objectives for these populations should align with the forthcoming guidance.

To learn more about Healthy People 2030 or to follow the development process, visit HealthyPeople.gov. It is important for Healthy People 2030 to include as many measures as possible that result in a strong and healthy first 1,000 days.

The 144th session of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Executive Board takes place this week (24 January – 1 February 2019) in Geneva, Switzerland. The Executive Board provides direction and input on the World Health Organization’s priorities related to a broad range of health concerns.

At this week’s meeting, the Executive Board is set to review the strategic priority of universal health coverage (UHC) including primary health care (PHC), community health workers delivering primary health care, and preparations for the UN High-Level Meeting on UHC in September during the UN General Assembly. The Executive Board will also note the Outcome of the Second International Conference on Nutrition.

1,000 Days joined a group of international civil society organizations and the International Coalition for Advocacy on Nutrition (ICAN) in support of two statements to the World Health Organization. The first statement calls for WHO and its Member States to prioritize nutrition as a key component of UHC, especially in the lead-up to the UN High-Level Meeting later this year. The second, acknowledges and supports the outcome of the Second International Conference on Nutrition.

To view all of the statements that were submitted by 1,000 Days and our partners, click below:

• Statement on Agenda Item 5.5: Universal Health Coverage: Preparations for the High-Level Meeting of the United Nations General Assembly on UHC
• Statement on Agenda Item: 10.1 Outcome of the Second International Conference on Nutrition

This afternoon, President Trump announced that he and Congressional leaders had reached an  agreement to temporarily end the government shutdown and re-open the federal agencies closed since December 22^nd.  The deal, which expires on February 15^th, would end the longest shutdown in our nation’s history and ensure that critical services for millions of Americans resume. In addition, 800,000 federal workers will not miss another paycheck and furloughed workers can return to work.

1,000 Days calls on the President and Congressional leaders to work together over the next three weeks to find a long-term solution to prevent a similar disruption in federal funding for vital health, nutrition and economic security programs.

Becoming a new parent is incredible. It also requires time – time to recover from childbirth, time to establish feeding and sleeping patterns, time to visit the doctor…this list goes on and on.

Yet, today too many parents in America can’t take the time they need to care for and bond with their newborn – let alone to care for themselves – because they don’t have paid leave.

The United States remains one of only two countries in the world without a national paid leave program. While some companies and even states are stepping up to provide paid leave, fewer than 1 in 5 employees in the U.S. has access to paid leave. For many new parents, this means choosing between taking unpaid leave to care for their infant or going back to work to maintain their economic security. In the end, 1 in every 4 moms returns to work within just 2 weeks of giving birth.

No parent should have to give up time with their new baby when they need it most.

The good news is that the voices of parents across the country are being heard. Momentum is building and soon Members of Congress will introduce legislation in support of a national paid leave program.

But now we need you! Please ask your Members of Congress to support the Family And Medical Insurance Leave (FAMILY) Act, which provides comprehensive paid family and medical leave to all workers.

As a country we are failing to meet the needs of our families. It’s time for change. It’s time for paid leave now!

Join us today and ask your Members of Congress to support the FAMILY Act. It’s time to help all parents in the U.S. give their children the strongest start to life.

As the partial government shutdown drags on, our country’s leaders still have not reached an agreement to reopen the government. This puts American families at risk of losing the critical nutrition assistance they need to thrive.

Tens of millions of Americans rely on programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), the National School Lunch Program, and others. The lapse in funding endangers the nutrition and food security of both children and adults, ultimately threatening their longer-term health and well-being.

While the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced late Tuesday that they are working to provide continued funding for the major nutrition assistance programs through at least February, reopening the government is the only way to guarantee that American families receive the nutrition assistance they need going forward!

Today, we are leading 22 organizations in sending a letter to President Trump and our Congressional leaders urging them to end the partial government shutdown and put the nutrition of America’s children and families first. Read the letter here.