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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
2/27/19
Greetings!
In 2016, BreastfeedLA worked in conjunction with the ACLU of Southern California and the California Women's Law Center to publish our ABC's of Breastfeeding in Los Angeles County  report. A bit of history to update you on this process, in 2015 California passed a law clarifying that lactating students and employees are entitled to specific accommodations including a private, clean space to express milk. Despite enactment of this law, in 2015 only 10 districts had adopted lactation accommodation board policies for both employees and students.

This month the California Women’s Law Center announced the release of the updated ABC's of Breastfeeding report card for Los Angeles County school districts! Title IX and California law also require school districts to post the name and contact information of their Title IX Coordinator prominently on their website. When the initial report card was released, only 25% of school districts had posted their Title IX Coordinator contact information.

Over the last two years, CWLC and BreastfeedLA have worked to bring Los Angeles County school districts into compliance. As of this month, 63 districts now have both employee and student lactation accommodation board policies in place and 100% of districts are compliant with the Title IX notification requirements.

The revised report identifies the districts that are now fully compliant with the law and also those that must still adopt compliant policies to ensure lactating students and employees are accommodated as required by law. The updated report card will be sent to the 81 Los Angeles County school districts and interaction will continue with each district not in compliance offering assistance in helping them meet the criteria necessary to receive an “A” grade.

You may view and download both the original and the updated report card on the BreastfeedLA website at http://breastfeedla.org/k-12/ . Real and tangible change are what drives our advocacy fight and we were very honored to be part of the initial report and to share the progress achieved!
With gratitude,
Arissa Palmer
Executive Director
February is Black History Month! Check out these wonderful resources shared by our partners.

Mothers of Memphis: Celebrating Breastfeeding during Black History Month
In honor of Black History Month in February 2018, Baby-Friendly USA would like to highlight the work of  ROSE  and  BSTARS   by celebrating the stories of five African American mothers in Memphis, Tennessee, who are helping change this piece of black history in their community.

The United States Breastfeeding Coalition has published a webpage titled, " Black History Month Tools & Resources ." The webpage features key information on Black maternal and child health and breastfeeding as well as a compilation of resources, tools, and materials from USBC and the field. 
Upcoming Events-Continuing Education
Tongue and Lip Tie: A Comprehensive Approach to Assessment and Care

March 02, 2019


THIS EVENT IS SOLD OUT


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.



California Family Leave Laws

April 11, 2019
9:00AM-4:30PM
This Spanish/English training will equip home visitors, health care workers, and child care providers who serve low income and new immigrant communities with information on Paid Family Leave and related workplace rights. Help us create a strong county-wide network of support which will positively impact the number of parents and families who can access these benefits.
The training will provide resources and connection to a statewide network/coalition for regular updated information and feedback when questions arise. This innovative, interactive training incorporates hands-on practice and role play in Spanish and English. Participants will leave the training with new skills, information, and resources that will enable them to help parents and families of Los Angeles thrive.



Latching onto Continuity of Care in the Breastfeeding World
with Emily Bernard

April 26, 2019
9AM-4PM

Continuity of Care is not a new topic in the healthcare world. It focuses on reducing negative outcomes such as safety and mortality across many specialties. When we apply this to breastfeeding we can translate this into what creates these gaps of continuity which contribute to less than ideal rates of initiation, exclusivity and duration of breastfeeding and the negative outcomes associated with this.
Improving breastfeeding is more than one person, agency or department can tackle. Partnerships and collaboration are essential to creating a continuity of care. We will discuss what partnerships mean to breastfeeding, where to look for them and ways to move forward together towards a common agenda of community continuity of care for breastfeeding.


Upcoming Events-Lactation Consultant 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!


LES TRAINING PART 2

June 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 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. 



For more information and to register for ALL of our events visit us at  
Legislative/Advocacy Updates
We are excited to announce that due to our advocacy efforts and work on our 2018 BreastfeedLA Equity Summit, BreastfeedLA earned the Golden Nugget Award at the California Breastfeeding Coalition's Annual Summit! We are grateful for everyone who worked tirelessly on the summit, and especially for Nakeisha Robinson, Katie Waters-Smith, and Melisa Acoba who helped to lead the way.  

Check out our recap and view pictures from the event on our website:

Letters of Support Needed for SB 142

From the California Work & Family Coalition: Please send in your letters of support using this template for SB 142 - "Employees: lactation accommodation" (Wiener), which will strengthen breastfeeding supports in the workplace by Friday, March 1. SB 142 will ensure working mothers have access to lactation facilities in the workplace, and help create more family friendly work environments. SB 142 requires businesses to provide safe and clean lactation facilities for their workers that meet minimum requirements, requires that lactation facilities be built in new construction, and ensures employees receive written information about their rights to a safe and comfortable lactation space at work. The bill is currently in the Senate Labor, Public Employment and Retirement Committee.  Read the fact sheet here.

Send your letter on your organization's letterhead, and email it to:

Let us know that you have sent your letter by forwarding it to melisa@workfamilyca.org. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out.
Fairness for Breastfeeding Mothers Act Passes House

The  Fairness for Breastfeeding Mothers Act (H.R. 866) , introduced by Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), has passed the House by voice vote. This bill requires that certain public buildings that are open to the public and contain a public restroom provide a lactation room, other than a bathroom, that is hygienic and is available for use by members of the public to express milk. The lactation room must be shielded from public view, be free from intrusion, and contain a chair, a working surface, and (if the building is supplied with electricity) an electrical outlet. 

Status: The House version has been received in the Senate and has been referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
In celebration of Valentine's Day, and all the love you show us and our breastfeeding community, over the next few issues of the Bee we will be sharing our love by featuring some of our most dedicated volunteers and staff who give their time and energy to further breastfeeding equity everyday.
This week we celebrate Wendy McGrail. Wendy recently celebrated 40 years in her career at WIC! Wendy has been an important advocate for and supporter of BreastfeedLA. In fact, she was our Spotlight Volunteer Award recipient in 2017.

Spotlight on Wendy McGrail, MPH

Wendy recently shared the following observations with us, and we believe it gives you a good idea of what an integral part she is at WIC and with the greater LA breastfeeding community:

I can’t believe that 40 years have passed! I feel like I have “grown up” at WIC. During this time I have gotten married, raised my children and now am enjoying my grandchildren. I have had many fabulous opportunities over the years with the WIC Program: working out at the centers as a nutritionist and supervisor, helping our agency open new sites and grow during the early years of WIC, participating on state and national WIC committees, training new employees, supporting and promoting breastfeeding as a co-breastfeeding coordinator, and now most currently connecting our community partners with WIC as Regional Breastfeeding Liaison. I am honored to work at such a wonderful organization, with such fabulous co-workers, to help families live better lives, a mission that I truly believe in and am passionate about, both at WIC and outside of WIC.

We are so blessed to know and work with Wendy, she is an amazing resource for BreastfeedLA and for families in Southern California!
Partner News & Opportunities
More info and register at www.breastfeeding.org
For more information on local partner events visit our website at
Research Round-up
New Study in Pediatrics : Addressing Racial Inequities in the Southern United States
Recently released in the Journal of Pediatrics is an important research study about adherence to the WHO 10 Steps and how better compliance with the 10 Steps is linked to lower racial breastfeeding inequities across hospitals. Local data mirrors this research as well. This demonstrates the importance of continuing to ensure hospitals are following the WHO 10 Steps to Successful Breastfeeding. 

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
Welcome in spring with a NEW job that  you love!

Postings are updated! 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
Denise Parker
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
Sara Hahn
Zanette Pettersen
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