Pennsylvania Department of Health Secretary Dr. Debra Bogen this week marked National Breastfeeding Month by underscoring the importance of giving families information and support to make informed decisions about infant feeding.
“As a pediatrician, I want to ensure families have the resources they need to make choices that are right for them — including around infant feeding,” Bogen said. “It is important families know about the health benefits of breastfeeding for both mothers and babies, and that they also have access to community support along their journey.”
This year, National Breastfeeding Month recognizes the role of community organizations and advocates working to expand access to breastfeeding support and resources.
In Pennsylvania, about 85% of mothers breastfed their infant at least once within the first year, and around 62% continued through the first six months.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that for the best maternal and infant health outcomes, infants be exclusively breastfed for the first six months of life and continue to receive breastmilk until at least 12 months of age with the addition of age-appropriate foods.
Research shows breastfeeding can contribute to positive health outcomes. For infants, it is linked to healthy growth and development and may reduce the risk of conditions such as asthma, obesity, and Type 1 diabetes. Mothers who breastfeed may also experience reduced risks for breast and ovarian cancer, Type 2 diabetes, and heart disease.
Gov. Josh Shapiro has made improving maternal and child health a top priority. His 2025-26 budget proposal includes $5 million for maternal health initiatives, including programs to better identify and address postpartum depression and anxiety.
The Shapiro Administration is using data and recommendations from the Pennsylvania Maternal Mortality Review Committee (MMRC), feedback from a statewide survey, and regional listening sessions to develop a multi-agency Maternal Health Strategic Plan.
Additionally, the Shapiro Administration established a Division of Maternal Health Services within DOH to support the administration of the MMRC, announced regional maternal health coalitions last year, and other initiatives to improve the health of mothers and babies.
Stopping the spread of ‘deepfake’ videos, photos
Attorney General Dave Sunday this week said he is co-leading a bipartisan coalition of 47 Attorneys General in calling on major online search engine and payment platform companies to do more to stop the spread of computer-generated “deepfakes.”
Non-consensual intimate imagery (NCII) — commonly referred to as “deepfakes” and “revenge porn” — is pervasive online and easily accessible, causing harm to the individuals depicted in the images and videos and to young people exposed to the content.
The Attorneys General sent letters to major search engine companies — like Google and Bing — outlining their failures to limit the creation and accessibility of image-based sexual abuse material. The letter demands stronger safeguards, such as warnings and redirects, to better protect the public, especially impressionable youth.
In separate letters to online payment platform companies, the coalition asks for bolder action to protect the public by identifying and removing payment authorizations for any deepfake non-consensual sexual imagery.
“The rise of artificial intelligence has unfortunately enabled the widespread dissemination of deepfakes and other illicit digital content that has a direct impact on the mental health and well-being of Pennsylvanians, particularly our young people,” Sunday said. “And the reality is these mega search engine companies and pay apps are reaping profits from the existence of this despicable and dehumanizing content. It is time those companies are accountable for their complicity in this content being so rampantly available online.”
The spread of computer-generated NCII poses significant harm to the public, particularly women and girls who are most often targeted and victimized by it. It has increasingly been used to embarrass, intimidate, and exploit people around the world, including notable cases involving celebrities like Taylor Swift, as well as school-aged young people in the United States and worldwide.
In their letters, the coalition points to existing industry practices that limits access to harmful search content, such as “how to build a bomb” and “how to kill yourself.” The Attorneys General urged these companies to adopt similar measures for searches such related to deepfakes.
The coalition also urged payment platform companies to deny sellers the ability to use their services when they learn of connections to deepfake NCII creation tools and content, and remove those sellers from their network.
DHS to invest $4.1M
Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) Secretary Dr. Val Arkoosh this week announced DHS was awarded a grant from the federal Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to help youth who are completing treatment at a state secure Youth Development Center access health care after returning to their home community.
The funding will invest in a new health record system and support the Shapiro Administration’s continued efforts to ensure both youth and adults returning to their communities can obtain the physical and behavioral health care they need.
“Youth in secure juvenile justice residential programs experience far higher rates of physical, mental, and behavioral health challenges than their peers, including chronic illnesses, infectious diseases, untreated dental problems, psychiatric disorders, and substance use,” Arkoosh said. “Many also face developmental disabilities, reproductive health risks, and the lasting effects of trauma, poverty, and poor access to care. Having an effective continuum of care provides young people involved in the juvenile justice system the support needed to stay on the right path by continuing their education or landing a job — ultimately leading to healthier lives. This change to ensure health care records follow them upon release bolsters our efforts to create smoother transitions, prevent treatment gaps, and promote healthier long-term outcomes.”
The new CMS grant doubles down on the Shapiro Administration’s efforts by investing over $4.1 million in federal dollars over four years to help create a stable bridge of coverage and care for individuals for juveniles following incarceration.
Funding will improve systems and reduce operational barriers to promote the continuity of care for Medicaid and CHIP eligible individuals completing treatment at a state secure Youth Development Center.
This project will develop an electronic health record (EHR) system that improves care for justice-involved youth committed to the state’s care by securely consolidating their medical, behavioral, and dental information and enabling better coordination among providers. This will replace the current system that relies entirely on paper-based health records, which limits the ability to deliver timely, coordinated care and complicates efforts to maintain continuity during transfers or reentry to the community. The new technology will streamline administrative workflows and improve continuity of care for juveniles reentering their community.
The new federal funding also aligns with DHS’ continued efforts through the proposed Keystones of Health program to make health care more accessible, improve quality of care and services, and test new strategies in health care to help people live healthier lives. This program seeks to expand tools available to address critical health care needs of Pennsylvanians in three main areas: reentry supports, housing resources, and food is medicine.
Reach Bill O’Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.
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