A Message from the Chair
Season’s Greetings!
As the busy holiday season is upon us and you’re taking in the sights and sounds of the season, I wanted to take a brief moment to welcome and thank current and new members to our organization, the Kansas Breastfeeding Coalition, Inc.!
After having served as your Treasurer for two consecutive terms, I am honored you elected me to serve as your Chair-elect and now as your Chair. I am thankful for our immediate past Chair, Brenda Moffitt, who will be following a new path professionally, for Michelle Finn, who graciously accepted the role of past Chair in 2019, and for Jo Dowling, our current past Chair. Above all, I am thankful for our Board members, our Executive Director, Brenda Bandy, and her staff, and all of you!! Many thanks to each of you for your continuous collaborative work to promote, protect, and support breastfeeding in our state!
Soon, we will be saying goodbye to 2018 and ringing in the new year and so this is a good time to let you know that your Board and staff continue their commitment in aligning the KBC’s activities with the KBC vision that “breastfeeding is normal and supported throughout Kansas.” This update as well as future updates will inform you of how our Coalition continues to work toward this vision while also exploring new opportunities to normalize breastfeeding in Kansas and to continue advocating for our breastfeeding families.
I look forward to a great year together and wishing you a healthy and safe holiday season!
Many thanks,
Lisette Jacobson
2019 Chair, Kansas Breastfeeding Coalition
|
|
KBC General Membership Meeting
The next General membership meeting will be
December 14th, 2018
, 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Please join from your computer, tablet or smartphone by selecting the "Goto Meeting Link" button below. You can also dial in using your phone :
United States: +1 (872) 240-3212; Access Code: 690-080-925
|
|
Sixth Annual Breastfeeding Conference Held
|
|
The Kansas Breastfeeding Coalition (KBC) hosted the 6th annual
KBC Breastfeeding Conference Nov. 1-2 in Wichita with a new 2-day format. Over 150 people from 65 communities in Kansas came together to learn new skills for engaging their communities and new information to improve breastfeeding support at the local level. This year’s conference featured an added day of “Hot Topics” in lactation with presentations from national experts in the lactation field. Throughout the two days of the conference, participants were able to network, share ideas and resources. The conference was made possible in part from the generous support of Kansas WIC, Wichita State University School of Nursing and WSU Community Engagement Institute. Mark your calendars for the 7
th annual KBC Breastfeeding Conference to be held in the fall of 2019!
|
|
Time to renew your KBC membership!
Your KBC membership expires Feb. 15, 2019. Renew your membership for 2019 by clicking the button below.
NOTE: If you attended the Kansas Breastfeeding Conference on
Nov. 1
s
t
, you received a free 2019 KBC membership good until February 2020. Why should someone join the KBC? For only $10 you receive up to date information about breastfeeding events, opportunities and initiatives. You are also building the capacity of the only state-wide organizations whose sole purpose is to promote, protect and support breastfeeding in Kansas. Members are also eligible to serve on the Board of Directors and vote at general KBC meetings.
|
|
Reminder to VOTE for KBC Board of Directors
KBC Members are encouraged to vote for the following open Board positions: Chair-Elect (Sarah Jolley & Christi Smith), Secretary (Susan Lukwago & Kara Watts), and Member-at-Large (Suzanne Bentley, Robin Rziha, & Treva Smith – choose one). Ballot is available below.
Only KBC members may vote. Voting closes Dec. 10
th and election results will be announced at Dec. 14
th KBC meeting.
|
|
Look where we’ve been!
- KU Public Health Grand Rounds, Nov. 7, Kansas City. Breastfeeding: Racial Disparities and New Research, co-presented with Hakima Payne with Uzazi Village and Dr. Lisette Jacobson, KU School of Medicine - Wichita. Recording of presentation.
- 42nd Annual Governor's Conference for the Prevention of Child Abuse & Neglect, Nov. 8-9, Wichita. Intersection of Breastfeeding & Safe Infant Sleep, co-presented with Christy Schunn, KIDS Network.
- Kansas School Board Association, Dec. 1, Overland Park. Presented a panel of school district superintendents, school board members and HR directors to discuss district implementation of a lactation support policy.
|
|
Look where we're going!
- 2018 Heartland Conference on Health Equity and Patient Centered Care, Dec. 6-7, Olathe. Exhibiting & presenting Adapting the 'Community Supporting Breastfeeding' designation for Tribal and African-American communities in Kansas
- Head Start/Early Head Start Home Visitor Conference, Jan. 17, Salina. Present “Breastfeeding Basics for Home Visitors”.
|
|
New “
Breastfeeding Employee Support Award”
recipients
:
|
|
- The Flesh Company, Parsons (Gold)
- Kearny County Hospital (Gold)
- Atchison County Health Department (Silver)
- Donnelly College, Kansas City (Bronze)
|
|
Building Local Breastfeeding Coalition
calls:
Building Local Breastfeeding Coalition virtual meeting will be Feb. 15
th from 9:00 – 10:00 a.m.. Come for support, ideas and sharing – leave inspired! These calls are designed to provide information and support to anyone interested in creating or strengthening a local breastfeeding coalition in KS. To join, use the button link below. You can also dial in using your phone at (669) 224-3412; Access Code: 438-671-789.
Save these 2019 dates for calls from 9-10 AM: May 17, Aug. 23 & Nov. 15
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
