California WIC Association

06/12/2026

Fruits and vegetables are essential for healthy growth and development. Cutting WIC's fruit and vegetable benefit would take nutritious foods away from pregnant people, babies, and young children across the country. Congress should strengthen WIC—not weaken it.

06/11/2026

Action Needed: Support AB 2160 🚨

Letters of support for AB 2160 are now being accepted by the Senate Health Committee and are due ASAP. Links to template letters of support and instructions are here: https://calwic.org/breastfeeding-policy/support-ab-2160-strengthening-breastfeeding-support-for-california-families/

AB 2160 would improve access to lactation support for Medi-Cal families by requiring updated guidance for providers and plans regarding coverage of lactation services, and requiring DHCS to convene a stakeholder group for input on lactation services within Medi-Cal.

Thank you for helping advance equitable access to lactation services in California!

06/10/2026

The WIC fruit and vegetable benefit helps families put healthy food on the table every month. Proposed Congressional cuts would reduce access to nutritious foods at a time when grocery costs remain high. Families deserve better.

06/08/2026

Congress is proposing cuts to the WIC fruit and vegetable benefit—a change that would make it harder for families to afford the fresh fruits and vegetables they need to stay healthy. WIC helps support healthy pregnancies, infant development, and child nutrition. We must protect this critical benefit for millions of women, infants, and children.

06/05/2026

Millions of WIC recipients would have less money for fruits and vegetables under the legislation, which funds the Agriculture Department and other agencies.

06/05/2026

🎉 AB 2160 has passed the California Assembly! 🎉

While we were disappointed by Assembly Appropriations Amendments, we still hope AB 2160 will strengthen access to lactation support services. The bill will now move to the Senate, where it must go through the committee and floor vote process before reaching the Governor's desk.

Your support can help keep the momentum going! We encourage advocates, providers, and supporters to submit letters of support. We have template support letters and step-by-step submission instructions available to make participation easy.

calwic.org/breastfeeding-policy/support-ab-2160

Together, we can continue advancing access to lactation services for Medi-Cal families.

06/03/2026

Check out our latest CWA Flash newsletter!

This edition of the CWA FLASH includes policy news, CWA news, resources, wellness tips, and our top picks to keep you informed and empowered.

05/15/2026

Yesterday, AB 2160 was voted out of the suspense file by the Assembly Appropriations Committee, and we are pleased that the bill will continue to move forward. The bill now heads to the Assembly Floor, where we hope to see strong bipartisan support.

As part of the Appropriations process, the provision that would allow IBCLCs to enroll as independent Medi-Cal providers was removed from the bill. This was the largest fiscal component of AB 2160. Due to cost concerns, particularly during deficit years, fiscal committees can significantly amend bills to reduce cost impacts without the participation of the bill author.

We are disappointed by this amendment, but remain grateful for the continued support for AB 2160 and look forward to the next step in the legislative process.

05/12/2026

The Spring edition of WIC Watch is here! 🌸

This issue highlights the latest updates impacting WIC families and providers—from policy developments to stories from the field that show the real-life impact of this vital program. As conversations around nutrition assistance continue at both the state and federal level, staying informed has never been more important.

Take a moment to explore what’s new, what’s at stake, and how we can continue to support healthy families across California. 💛

📖 Read the Spring WIC Watch now and stay connected to the work ahead: https://calwic.org/wic-watch/wic-watch-magazine-spring-2026/

05/11/2026

This weekend, the California WIC Association team had the honor of attending the California Breastfeeding Coalition annual Lactation Impact Awards ceremony — and what a beautiful celebration of the incredible lactation community across our state!

We are especially proud to celebrate our own Karen Farley, who received the California Legacy in Lactation Award in recognition of her extraordinary leadership and lasting impact on families and breastfeeding support in California.

We also want to congratulate the outstanding WIC awardees recognized this year:
- Sara Stone, IBCLC from Shasta County, recipient of the Impact in Lactation Award
- Anette Thornton, who accepted the Workplace Excellence: Nonprofit Award on behalf of Fresno EOC
- Shantal Hover-Jones, Regional Breastfeeding Liaison for Santa Barbara County, recipient of the Rising Star Award

Congratulations to all of this year’s honorees. We are so proud of the WIC lactation community and grateful for the compassion, expertise, and advocacy you bring to families every day. 💕