July 2016
CBC CONNECTION
Connecting for Collective Impact

The California Breastfeeding Coalition (CBC) is committed to removing barriers to breastfeeding in California. We are currently seeking individuals to serve on the CBC board who have this same commitment. We need men and women from diverse backgrounds, professions and life experience from all regions of the state to become a part of the great CBC Board team. We need YOU! Will you join us? 

We are grateful for the service of our recent past board members. As a new nonprofit, they were crucial in laying down our organizational foundation.
Dr. Patty Almaguer Auchard - Ventura County
Wendy Wright - San Mateo County
Dr . Gail Newel - Fresno County
Gretchen Andrews - San Bernardino County

Take Action Now
Call for Proposals for the 2017 California Breastfeeding Summit
We invite you to submit a proposal for the 7th Annual California Breastfeeding Summit! Deadline to submit a proposal is Wednesday, August 31, 2016.
 
Given the breadth of work being done to remove barriers to breastfeeding, address disparities and inequities, and increase breastfeeding rates among our diverse populations in California, we welcome session proposal content in many forms - from evidence-based interventions to community-based and innovative examples. All breastfeeding related practices, programs, initiatives, projects, and research that relates to the priority areas of the Surgeon Generals' Call to Action to Support Breastfeeding will be considered. 

Download the Proposal Information Sheet Here

 

Tools for Change
New US Baby-Friendly Guidelines and Evaluation Criteria
Baby-Friendly USA has released the 2016 edition of the US Baby-Friendly Guidelines and Evaluation Criteria (GEC). The new GEC will be implemented for all hospital designation and re-designation assessments conducted ON or AFTER NOVEMBER 1, 2018. This gives hospitals 27 months to meet the new guidelines.

Download new the GEC and a summary of changes here.
9 Steps to Breastfeeding Friendly: Guidelines for Community Health Centers and Outpatient Care Settings

The Guidelines were developed in collaboration with the California WIC Association and the California Breastfeeding Coalition to support community health centers and outpatient care settings to:
  • successfully implement practices and policies that protect, promote and support breastfeeding, and 
  • provide a framework for creating and sustaining a community-based, universally assessable, quality care and support system for breastfeeding mothers and their families.

Download the Guidelines here.

Updates
Legislation
The bill has been revised several times and the breast pump specification language has been cut. The bill is currently in the Senate Appropriations Committee. 

Unfortunately, this bill died in the Assembly Labor and Employment Committee. We will continue to follow this issue as it is expected to be re-introduced. This bill is a means for providing maternity leave for families in California. 

This did not make it out of the Senate Appropriations Committee before the deadline. It will not move forward this legislative year.

California Mother-Baby Friendly Workplace Awardees
In May, at the State Capitol, we recognized nine businesses for their exemplary efforts to support lactating employees by creating breastfeeding policies, ensuring all staff are aware of their polices and talking with expectant mothers about accommodating their breastfeeding needs when they return to work. The businesses were: Community Bridges (Santa Cruz County), Gong's IGA Market (Sanger), Kaiser Permanente Diablo Service Area Outpatient Medical Offices (Pleasanton), Kissui Baby & Kith (Redlands), Merced County Office of Education Head Start Program (Merced County), PG&E Diablo Canyon Power Plant (Avila Beach), Shasta County Health and Human Services Agency (Shasta County), Shasta Elementary School (Shasta), and Santa Clara County Public Health Department (Santa Clara County). Read about them here.

World Breastfeeding Week
This year's World Breastfeeding Week theme is "Breastfeeding: A Key to 
Sustainable Development." It is coming up in the first week of August and we want to know what you are doing in your community to observe the week. Email [email protected] and your event will be posted on our event website page.

Advocate Voices
Time to Blow the Whistle on Mommy Wars - WHO Code Violators Exploit Families to Enhance Their Brand
Vanessa A. Simmons, San Diego County

"...be aware of the code, what it stands for, what it protects, and also what it does NOT do. It does not force companies to uphold this ethical standard, and it is not enforced by our government (yet). It simply provides a guide to companies about the frailty of new parents. It is a method to prevent companies from exploiting parents in an effort to enhance their brand. As of 2016, the United States of America is one of 6 countries that have expressed little to no effort at all to implement the Code."  Read more here.

News and Research
Locally and from around the world
Dr. Naylor with Dr. Ernelyn Navarro our board chair 2014
We are saddened by the passing of Dr. Audrey Naylor. We are forever grateful for her spearheading breastfeeding advocacy in California. She certainly left her mark in California! Here are a couple of tributes written about her.

Our Vision 
Together we are working towards a vision of no barriers to breastfeeding in California

We would love to hear about what your coalition is doing to remove barriers to breastfeeding in your community. Please contact me at [email protected] if there is something you want to share. 

With gratitude,

Robbie Gonzalez-Dow, MPH, RD, CLE
Executive Director
California Breastfeeding Coalition

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