MICHIGAN BREASTFEEDING NETWORK QUARTERLY MEETING

SEPTEMBER 21 , 2012

Capital Area Breastfeeding Coalition Update

The Capital Area Breastfeeding Coalition is…

A dedicated, Mid-Michigan team of: Breastfeeding Professionals Registered Nurses Lactation Consultants Le Leche League Leaders Breastfeeding Advocates

A group formed to better serve and support breastfeeding mothers via education, advocacy and resource support.

Capital Area Breastfeeding Coalition

Goal: To increase the number and duration of women in the Lansing, Michigan area who initiate and continue exclusive breastfeeding through the recommended time period.

The CABC meets monthly for a potluck dinner meeting, complete with breastfeeding moms and babies, toddlers, and great food. Minutes of the meeting are sent out by email and posted to the website. Everyone helps keep it going!

Five Initiatives of the CABC

Improve the state of breastfeeding in Mid-Michigan by:

Working to support pending legislation that will make breastfeeding in public a mother’s civil right.

Hosting breastfeeding and baby-friendly spaces at local festivals and events to offer mothers and children a place to relax, feed & gather.

Developing a kit for doctors to educate their expecting patients about breastfeeding.

Five Initiatives of the CABC

Improve the state of breastfeeding in Mid-Michigan by: Development of a statewide Breastfeeding

Coalition web site that would distribute accurate information about local breastfeeding resources.

Fostering a culture where all babies in Michigan are breastfed happily, successfully and with support.

Improve the state of breastfeeding in Mid-Michigan by:

Working to support pending legislation that will make breastfeeding in public a mother’s civil right.

In 2011, CABC members met with Susan Schmidt, legislative aide to Representative Mark Meadows, and with MDCH Director, Olga

Dazzo, to advocate for pro-breastfeeding Michigan legislation. In addition, CABC members asked the Director to look into the barriers

to pump loans and purchases for Medicaid eligible moms.

CABC designed and planned a policy-makers reception to increase awareness of the need for legislative and policy support for

breastfeeding moms and babies. The theme and logo, “High Five for Breastfeeding” were used for the reception posters and invitations.

High Five For Breastfeeding – September, 2011

Coalition members planned a reception and designed a logo and materials for inviting area policy-makers to attend and learn more about the coalition and its goals.

CABC High Five for Breastfeeding Reception

September, 2011

CABC High Five for Breastfeeding Reception

September, 2011

Improve the state of breastfeeding in Mid-Michigan by:

Hosting breastfeeding and baby-friendly spaces at local festivals and events to offer

mothers and children a place to relax, feed & gather.

In 2012, the CABC applied for space at the East Lansing Art Festival, and organized volunteers and materials for a Mom and Baby Tent, staffed throughout the 2-day

festival, including a drawing for a gift basket, a changing table, play areas, drinking water, breastfeeding resource

guides, and a shaded place for moms and dads to sit. The tent was well-utilized by families during the event.

CABC plans to expand the tent for the 2013 event.

East Lansing Art Festival Mom and Baby Tent

East Lansing Art Festival Mom and Baby Tent

Boobie beanies were included in the gift basket!

Improve the state of breastfeeding in Mid-Michigan by:

Developing a kit for doctors to educate their expecting patients about breastfeeding.

Coalition members have developed a Breastfeeding Resource Guide for area physicians, and mailed it out in

2012. Discussion continues on how best to develop, disseminate and update a kit for doctors to use with

their expecting patients.

Resource Guide can be found on www.Mibreastfedbaby.com website.

Improve the state of breastfeeding in Mid-Michigan by:

Development of a statewide Breastfeeding Coalition website that would distribute accurate information about local breastfeeding resources.

CABC launched a re-designed website with a schedule of upcoming events, posting of meeting highlights, and the Mid-

Michigan Breastfeeding Resource Guide.

Improve the state of breastfeeding in Mid-Michigan by:

To supplement the www.Mibreastbaby.com website, the CABC redesigned the Facebook

site

Improve the state of breastfeeding in Mid-Michigan by:

Foster a culture where all babies in Michigan are breastfed happily, successfully and with support.

Getting the word out is an important key to promoting breastfeeding and changing the culture. Celebrating and publicizing breastfeeding efforts can be an important part

of creating and fostering support for breastfeeding.

Hometown Health Hero Award

The CABC nominated one of its members to become a Healthier Hometown Hero, for using her public

relations skills to promote breastfeeding in the mid-Michigan area. The former Director of the Michigan

Department of Community Health, Olga Dazzo, presented Ann Siegle, CABC Member, with a Healthier Hometown Hero Award in April,2012. Congratulations

to Ann and to CABC!

Healthier Hometown Hero Award

Ann Siegle and former MDCH Director, Olga Dazzo, at the Healthier Hometown Hero Awards ceremony at the State Capitol, April 2012.

Healthier Hometown Hero Award

Susan Schmidt, Ann Siegle, and Diane Revitte at the State Capitol, April 2012

Sparrow Best Fed Beginnings

Sparrow Hospital is one of nine Michigan Hospitals to receive a grant to provide assistance in becoming a Baby-Friendly

Hospital. CABC is willing to partner with Sparrow to provide input and community

outreach.

Sparrow Best Fed Beginnings

The Coalition has several members who are on the core group for the Sparrow Hospital Best-Fed Beginnings grant; CABC hopes to provide

input and also to have access to improved information for area doctors and

breastfeeding moms.

It’s been a busy year for the CABC… What’s next?

What’s Next?

Host the Michigan Breastfeeding Network Meeting

Invite other Michigan Breastfeeding Coalitions to have a page on the www.Mibreastfedbaby.com website

Plan for next year’s East Lansing Art Festival breastfeeding tent

Work with Sparrow on the Bestfed Beginnings initiative

Thank You!

QUESTIONS WELCOME