OCS DCL-2022-13 ACF Response to National Infant Formula Shortage FY2022

Office of Community Services

Dear Colleague Letter

DCL#:                               OCS-DCL-2022-13

DATE:                               May 26, 2022

TO:                                   OCS Grant Recipients, Partners, and Stakeholders

SUBJECT:                         ACF Response to National Infant Formula Shortage

ATTACHMENT(S):          ACF Message About Infant Formula Recall (PDF)

Dear Colleagues,

As many of you are aware, our nation is facing an infant formula shortage. The Office of Community Services (OCS), alongside the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), is committed to ensuring that infant formula is safe and available to families across the country. To this end, HHS released a Fact Sheet: Helping Families Find Formula During the Infant Formula Shortage . We know that OCS grant recipients, especially our Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) Network, are already mobilizing to respond to this crisis and meet the nutritional needs of vulnerable families and individuals. We hope this fact sheet will serve as a useful resource in your efforts.  To ensure families are connected to the vital services provided by our Community Action Agencies (CAAs), OCS worked with HHS and the National Community Action Partnership (NCAP) to include the Find Your CAA Tool in this fact sheet.

Moreover, last week, President Biden invoked the Defense Production Act to increase domestic production of infant formula. President Biden also launched Operation Fly Formula to speed up the import of infant formula and start getting more formula to stores as soon as possible. Under Operation Fly Formula, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and HHS are authorized to use DOD-contracted commercial aircraft to pick up overseas infant formula that meets U.S. health and safety standards, so it can get to store shelves faster. On Sunday, May 22, the first flight from Operation Fly Formula landed in Indiana with over 70,000 pounds of infant formula. This specialty formula is being sent to children’s hospitals and pediatric centers to help improve the supply of formula for infants with medical needs. We are grateful to our partners at the Indiana Housing & Community Development Authority, the Indiana Community Action Association, the Indiana Community Action Poverty Institute, and the Community Action of Greater Indianapolis for being present when the first pallets touched down in Indianapolis.

Lastly, attached to this Dear Colleague letter, you will find a message from ACF Assistant Secretary January Contreras highlighting additional supports and guidance in responding to formula needs.

As always, we thank you for your continued commitment to serving those in greatest need.

Thank you for your attention to these matters. OCS looks forward to continuing to provide high-quality services to OCS partners.

/s/
Dr. Lanikque Howard
Director
Office of Community Services