Action Ideas for
The World Breastfeeding Week (WBW) and Missouri Breastfeeding Month 2015 theme on working women and breastfeeding revisits the 1993 WBW campaign on the Mother-Friendly Workplace Initiative. Much has been achieved in 22 years of global action supporting women in combining breastfeeding and work. We have seen more actions taken to set up breastfeeding friendly workplaces including awards for employers, as well as greater mass awareness on working women's rights to breastfeed.
Objectives:
· Showcase, facilitate and strengthen supportive practices that can enable working women to continue breastfeeding.
· Educate employers on the “Break Time Requirement for Nursing Mothers” through the Affordable Care Act.
· Promote the Missouri “Breastfeeding Friendly Workplace Program” to employers and encourage them to apply for one of the three levels: Bronze, Silver and Gold.
· Educate childcare providers on supporting breastfeeding moms and promote the Missouri “Breastfeeding Friendly Childcare Program”.
Missouri “Breastfeeding Friendly Worksite Program”
The Missouri “Breastfeeding Friendly Worksite Program” is a collaboration between the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services and the Missouri Breastfeeding Coalition to educate employers on the value of providing lactation support in the workplace and to recognize businesses that support their breastfeeding employees. Employer support of breastfeeding provides many benefits to businesses, such as reduced absenteeism, lower health care costs, improved employee productivity, increased ability to attract and retain valuable employees and creates a family friendly image.
The Missouri “Breastfeeding Friendly Worksite Program” is available to help businesses in becoming a nursing friendly workplace.
Missouri “Breastfeeding Friendly Childcare Program”
The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services and the Missouri Breastfeeding Coalition would like to recognize child care providers in Missouri that provide support to their breastfeeding families and employees through the “Breastfeeding Friendly Child Care” award. To receive the award, child care providers must meet five criteria that aim to improve the support for breastfeeding women in the workforce.
For more information on Missouri breastfeeding initiatives go to health.mo.gov/living/families/wic/breastfeeding/index.php.
The following are activity ideas that may be helpful as you develop plans to celebrate World Breastfeeding Week and Missouri Breastfeeding Month.
USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
Media
Write an article for your local newspaper about the benefits to employers when they provide worksite lactation support and how easy it is to do.
Contact your local Chamber of Commerce and ask if you can speak at their next meeting or write an article for their newsletter. Demonstrate how lactation support programs help breastfeeding employees achieve their breastfeeding goals, positively impact public health and benefit employers’ bottom lines.
Volunteer to be interviewed on a local television or radio station and raise awareness of worksite barriers to breastfeeding and how they affect your community.
Plan an awards presentation for businesses that have been designated as Breastfeeding Friendly Worksites and or Childcares. Invite the media and send out a press release.
Promote WBW/MO BF Month through Facebook, Twitter and other social media.
WIC Clinics
Make sure your organization is leading by example and has been recognized as a Missouri “Breastfeeding Friendly Worksite”.
Mail a letter to area businesses letting them know about the “Break time for nursing mother’s requirement” through the Affordable Care Act and how to get assistance to become a Missouri “Breastfeeding Friendly Worksite”.
Organize a community partner’s meeting to develop an action plan to support breastfeeding mothers in the workplace and educate childcares on breastfeeding.
Honor your community partners for the work they do to promote and support breastfeeding. Develop a breastfeeding resource guide illustrating the support available in your community.
Contact child care providers and ask them if you can provide an in-service on how to support breastfeeding and provide information on Missouri initiatives.
Create a bulletin board in the clinic promoting WBW/MO BF Month and providing information on how to be successful with breastfeeding when going back to work.
Take pictures of breastfeeding mothers and babies. Display them in the clinic waiting areas and make copies for the moms. Include quotes from mothers providing tips on how they made breastfeeding work for them.
Host a “Baby Shower” to celebrate your breastfeeding moms.
Health Care Providers
Offer breastfeeding in-services to local physicians and staff on the importance of breastfeeding and support for breastfeeding moms. Let them know WIC supports breastfeeding. Share the breastfeeding resources provided by the MO DHSS.
Health care providers and hospitals are employers, as well. Provide them with information on how to become a “Breastfeeding Friendly Worksite.”
Promote the 2012 AAP Statement on Breastfeeding and the Use of Human Milk, which can be found at: pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/129/3/e827.short
Send thank you notes to health care providers who are supportive of breastfeeding to recognize their efforts. Tell them about the Missouri “Show Me 5” Hospital Initiative. health.mo.gov/living/families/wic/breastfeeding/showme5.php
Community
Set up a booth at outdoor events or county fairs. Provide breastfeeding education and support materials and personnel to answer questions.
Partner with La Leche League and other community partners to host a breastfeeding promotion event at the local mall. Contact your local La Leche League Leader and see if you can partner on a “Live, Love and Latch” event. For more information go to https://sites.google.com/site/livelovelatch/.
USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.