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MCMCH LOGO       Michigan Council for Maternal and Child Health
                 Friday Notes
Friday Notes is intended to share current information, resources and notices.
If you have information or announcements that you would like to have included in the next issue forward them to info@mcmch.org.
                     January 21, 2011
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In this issue
State of the State Recap
Breastfeeding Call to Action
US House Votes to Repeal ACA

State of the State Recap
 

Wiener Associates provided this perspective of Governor Rick Snyder's first State of the State Address before a joint convention of the State House and State Senate Wednesday evening:
 

The Governor's address focused on themes he hit on during his campaign, especially the concept of "reinventing Michigan."  Citing a critical need for a culture change in Lansing, the Governor unveiled a roadmap for goals his administration will focus on during his time in office.  Throughout the speech, he stressed the need for participation from everyone across the state.  The Governor also said his administration will work with legislators to focus on substance rather than traditional form, in an effort to end political gridlock that has plagued Lansing.

 

To measure the success of Michigan's progress, Governor Snyder unveiled the "Michigan Dashboard," an interactive online feature that will allow the general public to view results.  The Dashboard will measure "five key areas" that align with the group executive structure the Governor has adopted within his cabinet: economic growth; health and education; value for government; quality of life; and public safety.  Using "tough hard measurements," the Governor added that the achievements of his administration will be clear and use 21 different measures that will be easy to understand.  Governor Snyder added he will give a summary of the Dashboard at every State of the State Address in his tenure.
 

The Michigan Dashboard is now available online at http://www.michigan.gov/midashboard

He described his roadmap as an "aggressive agenda of action," that would include presenting his first budget in mid-February.  This budget will be a two-year budget that adopts an "outcomes and results" approach in lieu of traditional line item approach.  The Governor said this budget proposal would call for eliminating the Michigan Business Tax (MBT) Surcharge and replace it with a 6% corporate net income tax.

 

He also called on the Legislature to complete the budget process by May 31.
 

Other main points of the Governor's roadmap focused on government reform at all levels that would evaluate consolidation of services wherever possible to deliver greater value and higher quality for less money.  The Governor will present a special message to the Legislature on government reform in March.  
 

In reference to education, he emphasized a view of an educational system of lifelong learn, that "it really is P-20, not just K-12."  The Governor said he will also give a special message to the Legislature on education sometime in April.
 

For health care, the Governor placed great emphasis on cost, quality, and access.  Wellness and preventive care will be focal points, while working to create more doctors and greater access to prenatal care.

 

For all points on the roadmap, the Governor said the state will use three paths to achieve success: executive action, legislative action, and the citizens, business, and communities of Michigan.


To better strengthen Michigan's economic development, Governor Snyder proposed strengthening the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) by eliminating overlap with regional economic corporations. He also called for emphasis of economic gardening-focusing on building businesses already located in Michigan and offering statewide job posting services to every company that expands, locates, or begins in the state.  In addition, the Governor will create an Office of Urban Initiatives to actively address inner-city issues in Detroit, Grand Rapids, Flint/Tri-Cities, and elsewhere.

 

Among the Governor's other requests to the Legislature were changes to the Emergency Financial Manager's Act; broadening the scope of the 21st Century Jobs Fund; and setting annual funding for Pure Michigan at $25 million. The Governor also called for a plan to build the Detroit River International Crossing (DRIC) from Detroit to Windsor.  The Governor said that not only is Canada offering Michigan $550 million for construction of the bridge, but that he secured an agreement with Washington to use the $550 million towards federal matching funds for highway projects statewide.  The DRIC project would not add to Michigan's debt.

 

The Governor concluded his address with a call to recommit the state's talents and passions to help build a "New Michigan for the New Century."


 

If you missed Wednesday's presentation you can watch the entire speech at: Free Press or Fox Detroit ; listen to the speech at: Michigan Public Radio or read a transcript of the speech at Free Press .


 

Governor Snyder talked with the Associated Press yesterday specifically about health care, read what he had to say here.
 

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Surgeon General Issues Breastfeeding "Call to Action"

On Thursday, Surgeon General Regina M. Benjamin issued a "Call to Action to Support Breastfeeding," outlining steps that can be taken to remove some of the obstacles faced by women who want to breastfeed their babies.  

 

"Many barriers exist for mothers who want to breastfeed," Dr. Benjamin said. "They shouldn't have to go it alone. Whether you're a clinician, a family member, a friend, or an employer, you can play an important part in helping mothers who want to breastfeed."  "Of course, the decision to breastfeed is a personal one," she added, "no mother should be made to feel guilty if she cannot or chooses not to breastfeed."

While 75 percent of U.S. babies start out breastfeeding, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says, only 13 percent are exclusively breastfed at the end of six months.  The rates are particularly low among African-American infants.

 

Many mothers who attempt to breastfeed say several factors impede their efforts, such as a lack of support at home; absence of family members who have experience with breastfeeding; a lack of breastfeeding information from health care clinicians; a lack of time and privacy to breastfeed or express milk at the workplace; and an inability to connect with other breastfeeding mothers in their communities.

Dr. Benjamin's "Call to Action" identifies ways that families, communities, employers and health care professionals can improve breastfeeding rates and increase support for breastfeeding:

  • Communities should expand and improve programs that provide mother-to-mother support and peer counseling. 
  • Health care systems should ensure that maternity care practices provide education and counseling on breastfeeding.  Hospitals should become more "baby-friendly," by taking steps like those recommended by the UNICEF/WHO's Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative.
  • Clinicians should ensure that they are trained to properly care for breastfeeding mothers and babies.  They should promote breastfeeding to their pregnant patients and make sure that mothers receive the best advice on how to breastfeed.
  • Employers should work toward establishing paid maternity leave and high-quality lactation support programs.  Employers should expand the use of programs that allow nursing mothers to have their babies close by so they can feed them during the day.  They should also provide women with break time and private space to express breast milk.
  • Families should give mothers the support and encouragement they need to breastfeed.

A study published last year in the journal Pediatrics estimated that the nation would save $13 billion per year in health care and other costs if 90 percent of U.S. babies were exclusively breastfed for six months. Dr. Benjamin added that, by providing accommodations for nursing mothers, employers can reduce their company's health care costs and lower their absenteeism and turnover rates.

 

"I believe that we as a nation are beginning to see a shift in how we think and talk about breastfeeding," said Dr. Benjamin.  "With this 'Call to Action,' I am urging everyone to help make breastfeeding easier."

 

To access the report and related materials online go to www.surgeongeneral.gov.  To order printed copies of the Surgeon General's "Call to Action to Support Breastfeeding" and other materials, please call 1-800-CDC-INFO or email cdcinfo@cdc.gov and reference the publication title.   

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US House votes to repeal ACA 

In the first major act of the new Congress, the Republican-led House voted late Wednesday to repeal the Democrats' health-care overhaul, fulfilling a pledge that GOP candidates made during the fall midterm campaigns. Three Democrats sided with a unified GOP in the 245 to 189 vote, a largely symbolic step that has little chance of being considered by the Democratic-controlled Senate.

 

Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.) has said he will not allow a similar vote while Republicans vowed to keep pushing to overturn the law. But with no immediate likelihood of that happening, they said they would try to change it by eliminating certain parts of the law, such as a requirement that nearly all Americans obtain health insurance - and working to replace others. They also hope to take advantage of Democratic support for a proposal to remove a tax on businesses, an idea that President Obama has indicated he is willing to consider.

 

The vote came after a long day of debate in which members of both parties sparred over the benefits and drawbacks of the law. Each side spoke of finding a bipartisan path forward but offered few specifics about what that might look like.

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Contributors to this Issue
Wiener Associates
Associated Press
Washington Post
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Quick Links . . .

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9th Annual Statewide Fatherhood Conference Set for February 18
The 9th Annual Fatherhood Conference will be held in Howell on February 18. For more information and to register, visit the Michigan Fatherhood Coalition website.

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Order your 2011-12 Watch Me Grow Calendars!  This 24-month calendar highlights a different program each month - offering both program information and contact information. Activities and tips for parents are also offered throughout the calendar providing information on health, safety, nutrition, and parenting. The best part is that these calendars will be available - in English and Spanish - for only $1.00 each.  Visit the website for complete information and order form.

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Antibiotics Can Ease Kids' Ear Infections, Studies Show

Amid the ongoing controversy over routine antibiotic use for children with acute ear infections, two new studies support the practice when stringent diagnostic criteria are met.

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Study: Recession Did Not Increase Child Neglect

The recession did not have much impact on rates of child maltreatment in the United States, the results of a new study suggest.

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Survey Finds Much Victimization of Children Goes Unreported

Nearly 60 percent of 10-to-17-year-olds surveyed in a new study say they were victims of violence, abuse or crime in the past year. However, fewer than half said that authorities ever learned about what happened.

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Children's Health Issues in Michigan

The University of Michigan C.S. Mott Children's Hospital has developed "An Overview of Children's Health Issues in Michigan. These include:  Injury Prevention, Access to Care and Childhood Overweight and Obesity. These resources were developed in cooperation with MCMCH and other advocacy groups.

Here are the links for the issue briefs:

1) http://www.med.umich.edu/mott/pdfs/Access_to_Care.pdf 

2) http://www.med.umich.edu/mott/pdfs/Obesity.pdf 

3) http://www.med.umich.edu/mott/pdfs/InjuryPrevention.pdf

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The Michigan Council for Maternal and Child Healthblur image MCMCH is made up of
member organizations who share a commitment to the health of
Michigan's women, children and families.
To learn more go to http://www.mcmch.org or email info@mcmch.org.

             Amy Zaagman - Executive Director - azaagman@mcmch.org
     Jennifer Gorchow - Communications Manager - jgorchow@mcmch.org 
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