On Friday, June 17, the Biden administration announced additional resources from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to assist families coping with ongoing the infant formula shortage. As trusted messengers, county leaders can utilize these resources to increase outreach, spread awareness and connect residents in need of baby formula: 

• Landing page on Information for Families During the Formula Shortage provides information and answers in multiple languages to common questions for families on where to find formula and tips for finding safe substitutes 
• Baby Formula Shortage Social Media Toolkit helps provide outreach on resources available for families who need formula with sample social media posts. County leaders and agencies can spread the word to residents affected by the shortage by sharing social media messages and graphics from the toolkit page, which are available in multiple languages 

These resources come at a time when the Biden Administration’s Operation Fly Formula, a multi-agency partnership, has delivered 13 million 8-oz bottles from ten international shipments. The administration also continues to pursue action to reopen the closed Abbot manufacturing facility, increase production, expedite imports and provide additional flexibility to participants in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC).  

Counties strongly support federal action to alleviate the current infant formula shortage and create long-term structural changes to prevent future shortages from occurring. NACo will continue to monitor developments related to the formula crisis.  

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES 

• NACo Blog: Lawmakers and White House take steps to address infant formula shortage
• NACo Blog: How to help county residents cope with the infant formula shortage 
• NACo Blog: Join NACo to tell your county’s story at the White House conference on hunger, nutrition and health
• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: Information for Families During the Formula Shortage