Category: Uncategorized

June 14, 2021

Community Statement on Biden Administration FY22 Discretionary Budget Request for Global Nutrition Accounts — 

The funds provided through the Global Health Nutrition sub-account, Maternal and Child Health (MCH) sub-account, Feed the Future, and Food for Peace Title II are critical to helping families around the world recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. We thank the Administration for continuing to invest in these accounts in their budget proposal and for highlighting that investments in the first 1,000 days—the period between the start of pregnancy to a child’s second birthday—greatly contribute to the reduction of child mortality and support long-term health, cognitive development, physical growth, and school and work performance later in life. 

We are grateful for the increased funding provided for the MCH sub-account. Largely flat funding for the rest of these critical accounts is not sufficient to meet the critical nutrition needs around the globe, especially in the context of COVID-19. Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, nearly 1 in 3 people around the world had at least one form of malnutrition. Malnutrition-related deaths are entirely preventable, yet malnutrition contributes to roughly 3 million under-5 child deaths every year – one child in every 10 seconds. Those who do survive malnutrition in early childhood are much more likely to suffer from lifelong illness and impaired cognitive development, including up to an 18-point reduction in expected IQ and a 33 percent lower chance of escaping poverty as adults. These losses cost the world $3.5 trillion in lost productivity and healthcare costs every year.

The COVID-19 pandemic has only exacerbated existing inequities. By 2022, COVID-19 could lead to an additional 13.6 million children suffering from wasting (low weight in comparison to height), 3.6 million more children stunted (low height in comparison to age), and an additional 168,000 child deaths. The estimated additional burden of childhood stunting and child mortality would result in future productivity losses between the ages of 18 and 65 years (using country-specific life expectancy) of $44.3 billion. This pandemic has also highlighted how disruptions to national health and food systems disproportionately impact access to affordable and nutritious foods. Evidence shows that good nutrition, especially in the first 1,000-day window, has the power to promote health and long-term resilience to stressors like infectious diseases. Malnourished individuals are at far greater risk of contracting and dying from infectious diseases, in turn allowing these diseases to spread more easily.

Increased funding to these accounts will prevent thousands of maternal and child deaths and give millions of children the opportunity to grow and develop to their full potential. This critical funding to the supports many vital nutrition-specific and nutrition-sensitive interventions such as prevention and treatment for children with wasting, Vitamin A supplementation, nutrition education, school feeding programs, exclusive breastfeeding, and infant and young child feeding practices.

For the U.S. to maximize the return on its investments across development and humanitarian assistance, nutrition is a smart investment. Each dollar invested into nutrition returns $35 in economic benefits and has the power to save lives. Addressing malnutrition will be a key pillar in building community resilience to future pandemics and improving global health security. We look forward to working with Congress and the Administration to ensure that the United States can effectively lead this global effort.

Sincerely,
1,000 Days, an initiative of FHI Solutions
Action Against Hunger 
Alliance to End Hunger 
Bread for the World
CARE USA
Catholic Relief Services
CORE Group
Edesia
Farm Journal Foundation 
Food for the Hungry
HarvestPlus
Helen Keller International 
InterAction
Meds & Food For Kids 
National Cooperative Business Association CLUSA International
RISE Institute 
Save the Children
The Hunger Project
The Manoff Group
Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

“Last Friday, the Biden Administration released their first budget proposal, building on President Biden’s call to make a “once-in-a-generation investment in our families and our children.” The proposal includes significant funding for several 1,000 Days’ key policy priorities, including:

• $225 billion over 10 years for a new, comprehensive, universal paid family and medical leave program
• $6.7 billion for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), including $100 million for technology modernization
• $3 billion over 10 years to reduce maternal mortality and morbidity and to address racial and ethnic disparities in maternal health outcomes, including investments in Maternal Mortality Review Committees, rural maternity programs, and implicit bias training for healthcare providers
• $150 million for international maternal and child nutrition assistance, including support for exclusive breastfeeding, diet quality and diversification, and delivery of nutrition services

“These investments and many more outlined in the President’s budget request will be critical to helping families in the United States and around the world recover from the pandemic. This crisis has only exacerbated existing inequities and we are encouraged by the Administration’s ambitious vision. 1,000 Days looks forward to working with the Administration and partners in Congress to advance and strengthen this proposal.”

In January 2019, women in the United States achieved a milestone: They made up more of the work force than men. But unfortunately, the COVID-19 global pandemic has quickly stunted that progress, and according to recent estimates, now only 56 percent of American women are working for pay, the lowest level since 1986. At 1,000 Days, we know that paid family and medical leave is a public health imperative. We’re listening and learning from women, and we’re raising their voices to inspire Congressional leaders to address the crisis in our care economy. Access to paid leave is especially important during the 1,000-day window and during the periods of pregnancy and infancy, which are critical to shape a person’s long-term health and their developmental potential.

As we have previously shared in our qualitative study, paid leave supports healthier pregnancies, better birth outcomes and more successful breastfeeding, in addition to the physical and mental health of both mom and baby in the postpartum period. Universal access to a comprehensive paid leave program is also an important step in addressing maternal and infant racial and ethnic health disparities, helping to ensure that all families can have a healthy first 1,000 days. Both the Biden Administration and Representative Richard Neal (D-MA), chairman of the key Ways and Means Committee in the House, recently introduced comprehensive, universal paid family and medical leave proposals. We will continue to work with allies in Congress, the White House, and coalition partners to ensure that paid leave is a central component of upcoming legislation to help American families and the American economy recover from the coronavirus pandemic and build toward a healthier future.

Federal policy change can positively affect the health of millions, and we are thrilled to see so much activity and engagement from lawmakers focused on creating the best conditions for families. Just this month (May 2021), the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act passed the House, and the Providing Urgent Maternal Protections (PUMP) for Nursing Mothers Act was introduced in both Houses of Congress with bipartisan support. Several key pieces of legislation to address the maternal health crisis, including the Rural MOMS Act and the Maternal Health Quality Improvement Act, were advanced by the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee with unanimous support this week.

There have also been several hearings on paid family and medical leave in both the House and the Senate this Spring. Most recently, the Senate HELP Committee held a hearing on paid leave and child care. 1,000 Days led a community sign on letter from four dozen leading maternal and child health groups and their allies, in support of comprehensive, universal, equitable paid family and medical leave, which was introduced for the record by Senator Bob Casey (D-PA).

1,000 Days has also worked closely with coalition partners to underline the importance of investing in programs for children as Congress seeks to help families rebuild from the devastation of COVID-19. Following President Biden’s joint address to Congress, we published an op-ed in the Hill with our partners at Bread for the World, arguing for an investment in a “1,000 day infrastructure” for the health and well-being of American families. We are continuing conversations with Members of Congress on both sides of the aisle as they prepare to make a once-in-a-generation investment in our nation’s infrastructure, echoing President Biden’s call that we also need “a once-in-a-generation investment in our families and our children.”

The 1,000-day window from pregnancy to age 2 is a window of opportunity to create brighter, healthier futures. The nutrition, care, and support a mother and her child receive during this time have a profound impact on their immediate and long-term health and well-being. We continue to advocate and raise awareness of issues that can help us reach our goal: every family—no matter where they are born or their background—will have a healthy first 1,000 days and the opportunity to reach their full potential.

Posted Date: May 12, 221
Anticipated Period of Performance: June – November 2021
Proposals Due: May 26, 2021

1,000 Days is seeking a creative agency to manage a video production and distribution campaign with content focused on healthy beverages for children and targeted to grandparents/older caregivers.

We chatted with Chrisonne Henderson, a community lactation consultant and former breastfeeding peer counselor with the WIC program in Washington DC, about her experiences with the WIC peer counselor program. Watch the interview between Carol Dreibelbis from 1,000 Days and Chrisonne about why breastfeeding peer counselors are a critical source of support for breastfeeding mothers in the WIC program. 

A transcript of the conversation is shared below. 

0:00 CAROL Hello, everyone. Today, I’m here with Chrisonne Henderson, a community lactation consultant and former breastfeeding peer counselor with the WIC program here in Washington, DC. The DC Department of Health serves as the state agency and oversees the WIC nutrition services and the breastfeeding peer counseling program. Welcome, Chrisonne! 

0:21 CHRISONNE Hello, thank you so much for having me. 

0:23 CAROL Today, we’re here to talk about the breastfeeding peer counselor program. Peer counselors provide information and support to help moms meet their breastfeeding goals. They are moms from the community who have breastfed their own babies, and as a part of the WIC team they serve as a role model for families, they connect with and provide encouragement to moms, and they help mothers manage common breastfeeding concerns. 

0:48 Chrisonne, thank you so much for being here and congratulations on your recent promotion from WIC peer counselor to community lactation consultant and breastfeeding coordinator. It’s very exciting. 

1:00 I’m really looking forward to hearing about your journey supporting breastfeeding moms through WIC. And I know you first became a WIC peer counselor back in 2012, but first let’s just start at the beginning. What is your own story as a WIC participant and how did WIC help support you on your breastfeeding journey? 

1:18 CHRISONNE Once again, thank you. It’s been a long time coming. In 2012, I did become a [WIC] participant during my postpartum when my son was about three months old. I did not receive WIC during my pregnancy, but I’m so grateful that I did start receiving it when my son was three months old. 

1:43 And I remember my first appointment, it was the first time I remember being praised about breastfeeding my son exclusively. For my family, this was something that we just did, so no one was really praising me on breastfeeding my baby; it was like, this was what you were supposed to do. And from the other side of the family, it was more like, how long are you going to do this for?  

2:15 So, when I was there, I was in a way thrown off – like, wow, they’re really excited that I’m breastfeeding. And not only just breastfeeding, but they always made sure to put that exclusive breastfeeding in there. Like, oh, wow, you’re breastfeeding exclusively. That’s wonderful. Keep it up. 

2:32 So I remember being really encouraged about what I was doing by breastfeeding my son, because prior to that, I definitely had some difficulties with breastfeeding. 

2:43 And that’s where a spark of interest started for me to learn about lactation, and how to even get into the lactation field as far as a career.  

2:55 CAROL That’s really great. Thanks for sharing that. So I’m curious, what made you want to become a peer counselor? 

3:02 CHRISONNE That’s a good question. Because, to be honest, when I was approached with the offer, I remember sitting there like, well, what is the breastfeeding peer counselor? Because at the local agency where I was going to receive my checks from – my WIC benefits from – at the time, they did not have a breastfeeding peer counselor. 

3:23 But at the same time, like I said, a little bit before having my first WIC appointment, I did start searching to see how to become a lactation professional and finding out what it took to become a lactation consultant and seeing that there were certain requirements that you had to have. And I do remember seeing that at that time, you had to have, I want to say 1,000 hours, at least, under a lactation consultant. And I was just like, wow, I’ll get that right here at this WIC agency. So why not? And that’s how I became a peer counselor. 

3:59 But, of course overall I wanted to help and support moms so that they wouldn’t have to deal with or go through some of the issues and problems that came up in my journey with breastfeeding.  

4:15 That’s really why I took the position: because I had a passion and wanted to help and educate and support moms in their breastfeeding journeys. 

4:26 CAROL That’s really good of you. And you mentioned some of those challenges that you went through. I’m curious, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve seen as a peer counselor that you’ve seen moms facing when trying to meet their breastfeeding goals, and how as a peer counselor did you help them? 

4:46 CHRISONNE It’s a great question. One that stands out the most is that returning back to work can be a bit difficult. 

4:55 To be honest, this past year, I didn’t have to hear it as much due to COVID. A lot of moms are able to be at home and they were able to continue breastfeeding their babies. A lot of them saw that as a blessing that they were able to work from home. Or, if their job was closed during this time, they were able to stay home and continue breastfeeding, which allowed them to breastfeed longer than what they expected or to reach certain goals that they, once again, weren’t expecting to reach. 

5:28 But, when we do have moms who have to return back to work a little bit sooner than they would want to, something that we do as breastfeeding peer counselors is help mom get pumps through their insurance, helping them and educating them so that they are prepared when they go back to work. So, we’re also talking about laws – breastfeeding and pumping laws – and also helping them as far as getting a schedule together. Pumping so that you can store up some milk before you go back to work, as well. And then also maybe even working on a schedule and seeing when you will be able to pump at work. 

5:59 And then, of course, still encouraging them, because even though you may have those laws to protect you pumping, who’s to say that you’re going to have your coworkers who are going to be excited about you taking breaks every couple of hours. Because, of course, we have some moms who have shared with me that, yes, I’m pumping, but every time I have to have someone to cover me, if I have to go pump, there’s always an issue, or someone always has something to say, or sometimes it may be a boss is giving them a hard time. 

6:26 So, it’s educating and supporting moms. But of course, there are other challenges that come up with breastfeeding, or milk supply, or even having a lack of support at home. But I feel like the returning to work can be a biggie.  

6:43 CAROL I’m curious, why is the peer relationships so important as a peer counselor? In other words, why does it make such a difference that peer counselors are offering that mom-to-mom support, and it’s coming from the community they serve? 

6:57 CHRISONNE That’s another great question. I think the peer relationship, and that peer support, is important because as peer counselors, you’ve been on the WIC program. You understand how the WIC program works. You understand how the appointments go, you understand how it feels to go out and use your benefits when you’re in the store. 

7:18 So, having that experience, I think, helps moms to feel more comfortable with you. Knowing that I’m going through the same thing you are, or we’re experiencing some of the same things, or even sometimes even the same struggles. 

7:35 And I think because of that, and being able to be open with our moms, then they feel that they can be open. They may feel a bit more comfortable to talk to us and share things with us. Because I’ve definitely had some moments where some moms opened up and share some things with me that maybe they didn’t share with a nutritionist or share with the person who was taking their information. I think those things definitely help.  

8:05 CAROL That makes a lot of sense. Such a valuable addition to the WIC team, I’m sure. 

8:10 Now I would love to hear, what was the most rewarding part about being a breastfeeding peer counselor for you? 

8:19 CHRISONNE I would say it’s hearing from moms how you help them. Because sometimes when you have a mom share with you how you help during their journey – I feel like it always comes on the worst day that you’re having, or you feel really bad, or maybe it didn’t go so well with helping a mom with latching her baby on, and sometimes you just feel down or bad. But then you may get a text from a mom that says, you know what, I’ve reached a certain milestone, six months milestone, and I just want to thank you so much for all your help and your support. And it really helps to make you feel good.  

8:58 When I first became a peer counselor, like I said, it was 2012 – so sometimes even running into some of those moms that I helped years ago and seeing their children grow. And knowing that I played a part in the baby’s development because I helped mom with breastfeeding, it’s so rewarding. So rewarding just to see that and to know that she remembers me and how I helped her. 

9:25 CAROL Yeah, that’s got to be such a great feeling. Thank you so much for sharing that with me. 

9:33 As you may know, this year, Congress is working on Child Nutrition Reauthorization, which is a process during which they review the laws governing WIC and other federal child nutrition programs. Through this process, Congress has a really important opportunity this year to improve and strengthen WIC to ensure that families can continue accessing nutritious foods and the support they need to meet their breastfeeding goals. 

9:59 Why do you think it’s important for your story and the real-world experiences of peer counselors in general to be part of the conversation when these discussions are happening in Congress? 

10:11 CHRISONNE I’m so happy you brought that up because I feel like there’s a difference in knowing – everyone knows WIC is a supplemental nutrition program, and we also give education. But at the same time, WIC for me was a life-changing experience. 

10:33 I think hearing those stories definitely makes a difference rather just, oh yeah, I know WIC and that they do this. Hearing that, wow, not only did WIC help her by giving her the benefits as far as food and also giving her education, but at the same time, WIC gave me a place to grow as a breastfeeding peer counselor.  

10:55 I’m just so grateful for that offer years ago, when I had no idea what a peer counselor was. I’m so glad I took that because it changed me as a person. It gave me a career. It’s a career and something that I’m truly passionate about. 

11:13 I think being able to share that passion and being able to share my story, and peer counselors to share their stories – because I know their stories may not necessarily look exactly like mine – just hearing that is helpful. Rather than just seeing or hearing or knowing what WIC does as far as the nutrition part or the education part.  

11:36 Just really seeing what it’s doing in the lives of their participants, and also even their employees. 

11:44 CAROL Right. And I think you can only really measure the success of a program by how it’s affecting the lives of families. 

11:56 Thanks for talking with me today and sharing your experiences. I really enjoyed our conversation, and I know that our viewers will as well. Thank you.  

12:03 CHRISONNE I hope so. Thank you so much. And thank you again for having me. 

April 21, 2021

House Committee on Ways and Means
1100 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515

Re: Committee hearing on “In Their Own Words: Paid Leave, Child Care, and an Economy That Failed Women”

Chairman Neal, Ranking Member Brady, Members of the Committee,

We, the undersigned maternal and child health organizations and their partners, would like to thank the House Committee on Ways and Means for holding this hearing on paid family and medical leave, child care, and other issues of critical importance to working families, during the coronavirus pandemic and beyond. We strongly urge Congress to support a comprehensive paid family and medical leave policy to support optimal child development, improve maternal health, reduce disparities and enable future generations to live healthier lives.

Unlike in most other countries, in the U.S. parents are often unable to take time off from work to care for a new child, critically ill loved-one, or tend to their own medical needs without sacrificing the income they need to support their families. This has profound and lasting impacts on maternal and child health in the United States. Because pregnancy, childbirth and the transition to parenthood can be physically and psychologically demanding, people need time to care for themselves and their health. Paid leave is a critical tool to support healthier pregnancies, better birth outcomes, more successful breastfeeding and both physical and mental health in the postpartum period. Additionally, inclusive and comprehensive policies can reduce the inequities in access to paid leave, helping to bridge the racial and ethnic disparities in overall maternal and child health outcomes.

Beyond allowing for physical recovery after childbirth, paid time off from work is essential to providing a strong foundation for mom, baby and their family to thrive. Science tells us that babies’ brains are nourished by time spent with parents and caregivers. Policies that enable parents to spend time nurturing and caring for their babies—particularly in the early weeks after birth and for babies that are born pre-term, low birth weight or with illness—are critical to the healthy cognitive, social and emotional development of children.

The need for a comprehensive, equitable paid leave policy has taken on new salience in the past year, as many workers struggled to take time away from work to recover from COVID-19 or care for a sick loved one without risking their paycheck and their livelihood. The pandemic has drawn attention to and expanded preexisting disparities, creating both a health crisis and an economic crisis that has disproportionately impacted women, low-income families, and families of color. Now more than ever, it is clear: paid leave is a public health imperative.

It is time for Congress to act, and to provide all families with the comprehensive paid family and medical leave policy they need. We are grateful to Chairman Neal and the Committee on Ways and Means for holding this important hearing and we look forward to working with you to advance a comprehensive, national paid leave policy to meet the needs of American families.

Sincerely,

1,000 Days
2020 Mom
American Academy of Pediatrics
Association of Maternal & Child Health Programs
Better Life Lab at New America
Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP)
Center for Public Justice
Child Care Aware of America
DC Dorothy Day Catholic Worker
Every Mother Counts
The HOPE Registry
Jennifer Bush-Lawson Foundation
Kansas Breastfeeding Coalition
Maine Women’s Lobby
March for Moms
March of Dimes
Mom Congress
MomsRising
NARAL Pro-Choice America
National Association of Nurse Practitioners in Women’s Health
National Birth Equity Collaborative
National Center for Parent Leadership, Advocacy, and Community Empowerment (National PLACE)
National Council of Jewish Women
National Council of Jewish Women Los Angeles
National Partnership for Women and Families
National WIC Association
NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice
Nurse-Family Partnership
Paid Leave for All
Palladium
Physicians for Reproductive Health
PL+US: Paid Leave for the United States
Poder Latinx
Shriver Center on Poverty Law
SPAN Parent Advocacy Network (SPAN)
RESULTS
Union for Reform Judaism
US Breastfeeding Committee
Women of Reform Judaism
Women’s Law Project

Below is an excerpt of a guest post written by Denys Symonette Mitchell for Black Maternal Health Week.

I remember reading through the pages of a New York Times viral article that unlocked my life’s passion and fueled my drive for health equity. I remember the words being weighty and my petite frame sinking lower with each sentence. I can still feel the tremble in my hands and the shock of my system while reading the shared narratives of women whose lives seemed to mirror mine and realizing that I am a member of the group that is populating the statistics. With sharp precision, I remember when I first learned of Black maternal mortality, which bleeds through zip codes, socioeconomic statues and education levels, too.

To continue reading…

1,000 Days is pleased to see the Biden-Harris Administration’s proposal to ensure access to clean, safe drinking water as announced in the American Jobs Plan this week. The plan invests $111 billion to improve water infrastructure, including eliminating 100% of lead pipes and service lines and monitoring and remediating PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) in our drinking water systems. 

Families in the 1,000-day window are especially vulnerable to the harmful effects of unsafe drinking water. There is no safe level of lead exposure for children, but an estimated six to 10 million homes across the country still receive drinking water through lead pipes and service lines. Lead exposure can cause serious, permanent damage to children’s developing brains and cause learning, behavior, and hearing problems. Infants and young children are especially likely to be exposed to lead – and the risk of lead poisoning falls disproportionately on children of color. In fact, Black children are nearly three times as likely as white children to have elevated blood-lead levels.  

Additionally, PFAS are harmful to both pregnant women and their developing babies. Prenatal exposure to these widely used industrial chemicals can disrupt metabolism and immunity, which may cause lasting effects on both mom and baby – from a higher risk of gestational diabetes and preeclampsia during pregnancy to a child’s increased risk of obesity and infections. 

No family should have to worry about harmful exposures through their drinking water. Access to clean, safe drinking water is a basic but critical part of a healthy first 1,000 days – whether it’s as a source of hydration during pregnancy and breastfeeding, or as a source of nourishment for babies who consume infant formula. 

The Biden-Harris Administration’s investment is a critical step to ensuring mothers and babies are safe and healthy during and after the 1,000-day window. But, we know that the needs of mothers, babies, and families in the United States go far beyond what is included in the American Jobs Plan. At 1,000 Days, we look forward to the next portion of the Administration’s infrastructure package: the American Families Plan. A full recovery cannot occur without a permanent paid leave program and paid sick days, continued investments in WIC, further access to postpartum health care via Medicaid, and an extension of the increased Child Tax Credit.

In December, the U.S. Departments of Agriculture (USDA) and Health and Human Services (HHS) released the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2020 – 2025, which for the first time ever included nutrition advice for women and children throughout the 1,000-day window from pregnancy to a child’s second birthday.

A few days later, 1,000 Days joined USDA as a MyPlate National Strategic Partner. In this capacity, we are working together with USDA to disseminate key messages from the Dietary Guidelines. At 1,000 Days, we know that nutrition is critical to the health and well-being of moms and babies. In addition to our work advocating for policies and programs that ensure families can access nutritious foods, 1,000 Days is pleased to join USDA in equipping families with the information they need to have a healthy first 1,000 days and beyond.

New Resources for Healthy Eating

As we wrote previously, the newest edition of the Dietary Guidelines includes specific recommendations for infants, toddlers, and pregnant and breastfeeding women. Families can find resources for good nutrition during each of these life stages on the MyPlate website:

• Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
• Infants
• Toddlers

Using the new MyPlate Plan tool, women who are pregnant or breastfeeding (and their families) can get a personalized food plan for healthy eating. The MyPlate Plan shows food group targets, including what and how much to eat, based on an individual’s age, sex, height, weight, physical activity level, and pregnancy/breastfeeding status. MyPlate Plan is available in both English and Spanish:

For more resources and tips about healthy eating during the first 1,000 days, visit MyPlate.gov.