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BreastfeedLA is dedicated to improving the health and well-being of infants and families through education, outreach, and advocacy to promote and support breastfeeding. Your donation is urgently needed to strengthen and grow the work of BreastfeedLA. If you like the work we are doing, please consider giving today. Your generous gift will help offset our costs and will support our mission.
BreastfeedLA BEE
1/30/19
Greetings!
Though we've shared these statistics with you before, we think it bears repeating as we reflect on Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy and his commitment to justice and equality. Even with the great strides we have made in this country since Martin Luther King Jr.'s dedicated fight, we face widespread persistent disparities in health outcomes by race. These inequities are especially prevalent in the realm of maternal and infant health.
 
As noted by the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, despite the many benefits of breastfeeding, African American mothers have the lowest rate of breastfeeding. African American breastfeeding rates are 8.2 percentage points below the statewide average for all infants and in LA the gap for Black infants breastfed compared to the state average is 13.4 percent. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) noted that from 2011 to 2015, the percentage of women who initiated breastfeeding was 64.3 percent for African Americans, 81.5 percent for Whites, and 81.9 percent for Hispanics. In LA, African American moms fare much better initiating breastfeeding at 85.4 percent.

The Surgeon General's Call to Action to Support Breastfeeding and local data shows that even while researchers control for family's income or education level, breastfeeding rates for African American infants are lower than for White infants at birth, 6 months, and 12 months.

Across racial lines, babies health outcomes differ substantially. The infant mortality rate for non-Hispanic Black infants remains more than double the rate for non-Hispanic White or Hispanic infants. The African American infant mortality rate in Los Angeles County was 10.3 per 1,000 live births, compared to the white infant mortality rate of 3.0 per 1000 live births and the average county-wide infant mortality rate of 4.4 deaths per 1000 live births.

The preterm birth rate among Black women in California is 52% higher than the rate of White women. Low birthweight is a major predictor of infant mortality and Los Angeles County has the highest rate of preterm births and low birth weight babies among African American infants; and similar to the US, the rate of low birth weight babies among African Americans in Los Angeles County are higher than Whites, regardless of educational level.

Research has increasingly shown that social and economic conditions contribute to approximately 40% of community health and longevity. Racism plays a significant role in perpetuating inequities in health outcomes. Breastfeeding increases positive health outcomes for babies. It is particularly important to provide this protective benefit to children at risk for poor health outcomes. 

We need to continue to advocate to address the systems and structures that lead to breastfeeding inequity. We can work together to reduce infant mortality by building community around each expectant or new parent and by ensuring our smallest babies have access to human milk. We advocate for services to incarcerated families, to LGBTQ families, to homeless families as it is only when our most vulnerable are supported that we all thrive.

BreastfeedLA is working to reduce economic hardship by training and building career paths for lactation professionals of color and those who speak the diverse languagea of our community members. We want to assist employers with adherence to State and federal lactation accommodation and paid family leave laws that would allow more families to keep a job or stay in school while pumping or nursing, and by continuing to advocate for paid family leave. An investment in lactation support is one more piece of the puzzle required to improve, and save lives for our most vulnerable members of our community.

Please continue to support us as we work to support the communities that need it most.

Warmly,
Arissa Palmer
Executive Director
Celebrate the New Year with a FREE listing in our new and improved Resource Directory!
LACTATION SERVICE PROVIDERS: Looking to grow your business? Reach more parents and families that could use your help and assistance? Consider listing yourself in our new and improved Resource Directory! We hope to make this the most comprehensive resource of its kind in Los Angeles and to accomplish this goal, we are offering new providers a FREE listing in our Resource Directory through June 30, 2019. Complete an application HERE to be featured, or visit us at our website
Upcoming Events


ORAL ASSESSMENT 101 WEBINAR

March 08, 2019 
10:00AM-12:00PM

Please join us for a live webinar on Friday, March 08, 2019 at 10 am PST for a timely and informative talk about the basics of oral assessment for lactation support professionals.

Réka Morvay, IBCLC will discuss the anatomical and functional features to look for when performing an oral assessment related to breastfeeding. Newborn reflexes and oral anatomy must come together to make feeding possible. Variations in oral anatomy and/or infant feeding behavior may contribute to compromised development of orofacial structures, and can affect overall health and function through the lifetime.



LES TRAINING PART 2

Feb 5, 13, 19, 27, 28 2019
BreastfeedLA's Lactation Consultant Education Course is an advanced and comprehensive educational course that provides part 2 of the 90 hours as mandated by the IBLCE for certification as a Lactation Consultant. This information will allow graduates to have the background necessary to prepare students to pass the educational components of the IBCLC exam for certification as an IBCLC. 
To sit for the IBCLC certification examination, an individual must meet eligibility criteria in three areas: Health Sciences Education, Lactation Specific Education, and Lactation Specific Clinical Experience. This course satisfies one of the three requirements: Lactation Specific Education. 



LES TRAINING PART 1

April 2, 11, 18, 24, 30
2019

This lactation educator series touches on all areas of the IBCLE Detailed Content Outline (for those preparing to sit for the IBCLC Board Exam) and meets the Step 2 Baby-Friendly USA Staff Education Requirements, 2016 Edition.
This 45-course in lactation education covers basic breastfeeding management techniques such as Positioning, Attachment, Physiology & Hormones of Breastfeeding, Milk Production, Common Breastfeeding Challenges, Counseling Skills, Creating a Prenatal Breastfeeding Class, Adult Learning Techniques, plus more!


Our Comprehensive Lactation Consultant Education Program
Upcoming Events

Lactation Education at an Affordable Price!

     
Upcoming Events
Lactation Education at an Affordable Price!

Register Now!    Feb 5, 13, 19, 27, 28 
Lactation Consultant Education Training, Part 2 

Register Now!   March 8
Webinar with Réka Morvay - Oral Assessment 101

Register Now!    April 2, 11, 18, 24, 30 
Lactation Education Specialist Training, Part 1 

Save The Date! April 4th
RHBC North Community Meeting

Save the Date! April 9th
RHBC South Community Meeting

Save The Date!  April 26th
Seminar at San Dimas Community Hospital, 
Speaker To Be Announced

Save The Date!  May 31
Seminar at AHMC Healthcare, Inc. (Alhambra, CA) 
Speaker To Be Announced

Register Now!   June 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 
Lactation Consultant Education Training, Part 2

Save The Date! June 26th
RHBC East Community Meeting

Save The Date! August 8th
RHBC North Community M eeting

Save The Date! August 21st
RHBC West Community M eeting

Save The Date!  October 10th
BreastfeedLA 25th Anniversary Gala Celebration

Save The Date!  October 11th
Seminar with James McKenna at Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital

More dates for seminars and webinars in 2019 and 2020 are coming soon. Keep a look out! You won't want to miss any of our upcoming events!

Interested in co-hosting a seminar or webinar with BreastfeedLA in 2019/2020? TO HOST A SEMINAR AT YOUR HOSPITAL OR FACILITY  CONTACT US TODAY

For more information and to register for ALL of our events visit us at  
Legislative/Advocacy Updates
Governor Newsom Proposes 2019-20 “California For All” State Budget

As reported by CAL WIC : "Governor Newsom has announced  his first budget proposal . The governor proposed several investments aimed at reducing poverty and improving healthcare access. These include the expansion of Medi-Cal to undocumented young adults; investments to improve healthcare affordability; and a Working Families Tax Credit and expansion of the Earned Income Tax Credit. The Budget contains a series of proposals for early childhood education and childcare, including a down payment to expand Paid Family Leave; funding for universal preschool for all income-eligible four-year-old children in the state, phased in over a three-year period; and a framework to implement a comprehensive, high-quality child care system in the state with $500 million in one-time General Funds to build child care infrastructure. Also included is $347.6 million in General Funds in 2019-20 to raise CalWORKS grant levels to 50 percent of the projected 2019 federal poverty level from $785 to $888 per month, $78.9 million to provide home visiting services to approximately 16,000 eligible CalWORKs families in 2019-20, and $500 million one-time in General Funds for local governments to build emergency shelters and navigation centers, as well as $25 million in General Funds ongoing to assist homeless disabled individuals in applying for disability benefits." 

"It's 2019, Let's Just Say Out Loud That Breastfeeding Is Hard"
Check out this awesome article in laist that BreastfeedLA volunteer and Equity Summit Chair, Nakeisha Robinson was interviewed for! 

Partner News & Opportunities
Breastfeeding Works: Legal Protections for Lactating Employees and Students in the Health Care Industry Webinar

Mon, Feb 11, 2019 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM EST

The second webinar in the Breastfeeding Works series will give health care workers and students the information and tools they need to continue breastfeeding after returning to work or school in the clinical setting. The expert panelists will cover the national and state laws that protect breastfeeding parents from discrimination and the laws that require lactation accommodations at work and school. 
 
The panelists will offer workers, students, and their advocates solutions to the common challenges faced by breastfeeding health care workers and students. 
 
The webinar will:
• Offer guidance on what healthcare providers, students, and their advocates can do to access workplace lactation accommodations.
• Using vignettes based on real-world scenarios, the experts will walk you through key considerations and resources to secure workplace accommodations. 
• Introduce you to the top resources available when you need additional support.
 
Submit your most pressing questions on this topic ahead of the webinar so that they can be addressed during the presentation HERE.  
 
Calling All Doulas!
We are looking for doulas practicing in California! We are conducting a survey seeking your input about your practice and the possibility of Medi-Cal coverage for doula care. We are particularly interested in hearing from doulas of color, including doulas who are Black, Latinx, Asian, Pacific Islander, and Indigenous/Native American. We are also particularly interested in hearing from doulas who currently do work with low-income and underserved patients, including patients on Medi-Cal or other types of public insurance.  Survey participants will be entered into a random drawing to receive one of eight $50 Target gift cards.

To be eligible for the drawing, you need to complete the survey before February 15, 2019.
For more information and to complete the survey, go to  www.doulamedicaidsurvey.org

Research Round-up
Breast Milk Decreased Cavities
By Shari Carroll, DMD, MPH
Often prolonged breastfeeding is presented as being detrimental to tooth development. In this article, a Pediatric Dentist presents her opinion "that breast feeding for as long as desired, coupled with regular follow up with a board-certified pediatric dentist can actually be the combination to help decrease early childhood dental caries."

When you invest in one lactation student from BreastfeedLA, you invest in a multiplier effect that has a profound impact on Los Angeles' most complex problems of discrimination, poverty, and violence. 
It only costs $495 to champion one student to complete our 45 hour lactation education specialist course and $990 to complete our 90 hour lactation consultant course. However, we greatly appreciate gifts of any amount—a single contribution holds the potential to ignite the power of a future lactation consultant and forever change our world! 
When she is strengthened, she advocates for herself and changes her community.
Job Opportunities
WE ARE HIRING!

Welcome in the NEW year with a NEW job that  you love!

BreastfeedLA is hiring for our Continuing Education Coordinator and Faculty Trainer positions!!! Check out NEW openings in the field!  Please visit our website HERE to see open positions !
Thank You To Our Donors
Thank you! 
Your generous contributions in 2019 help make our work possible.

Our programs are made possible through the generosity of our supporters like YOU! Join the elite and be recognized! Please donate   and help us to continue and remove breastfeeding barriers for mothers and babies in the greater Los Angeles area. Support BreastfeedLA with a monthly donation of just $10 or more per month. 

Leaders  of BreastfeedLA are those who gave $500 or more in 2019 or are monthly donors who support the ongoing mission of BreastfeedLA. 
Patrons of BreastfeedLA are individuals who gave $100-$499 in 2019.
Friends  of BreastfeedLA are those who gave $99 or below in 2019. 
Leaders
Oluwapelumi Adeboyejo
Lori Berkemer
Michele Bragger 
Lindsey Rei Branker
Allison Casciato, MD
Leticia Casillas-Sanchez
Rosemarie Cervantes 
Jessica Claire
Tanya Colligan
Wendy DeLeon 
Judith Dunaway
First 5 Los Angeles
HealthConnect One/Birth Equity Leadership Academy (BELA)
Melinda J. Kiely
LA Best Babies Network
Jill Nighswonger
Joan Ortiz
PAC/LAC
Linda Robinson
Gail Spivak
Katie Waters-Smith
Magdalene Whitman
Patrons
Gwendolyn M. Brown
Wendy McGrail
Deborah Myers
Lina Nahue
Rita Shertick
Rebeca Pastrana Sheng
Patricia Spier
Friends


Jennifer Davidson
Linda Goldman


We strive to make the Bee an informative source of breastfeeding education and events throughout greater Los Angeles and breastfeeding research and resources from across the globe. Send comments (we LOVE feedback), ideas, announcements and resources to us.  Just click HERE

Please note: Inclusion of an item in the Bee does NOT imply endorsement or support of such item by BreastfeedLA, unless specifically noted.
together we can create a healthier LA for every baby!
BreastfeedLA
2851 West 120th Street, Suite E #335,
Hawthorne, CA 90250
Phone: 323-210-8505