Boston Breastfeeding Coalition Newsletter
June 2021
|
|
"Every person deserves to have their voice heard and their perspectives considered when decisions are being made. Join us in speaking up for policies that put children and families first."- Start Early
|
|
Policy Toolkit
Take Action, Make Your Voices Heard
|
|
Taking Action means finding ways to advocate for Maternal Health. Making your voices heard, empowering the voiceless, and creating spaces where people feel free to share their stories
|
The Community Action Network, or CAN for short, is a group of community residents, representatives from community-based organizations, healthcare, government, and other groups that are working together to reduce racial inequities in infant mortality and poor birth outcomes in Boston through policy and community level changes. GET INVOLVED!
The Boston Breastfeeding Coalition was invited by Representative Majorie Decker to submit racial and equity language to H. Bill 3496: An Act to improve breastfeeding care, see the Policy Committee's response below. The language was later used to create legislation for an Act relative to the membership of the board of allied health professions. Learn More below! GET INVOLVED!
|
|
|
|
Over the years advocates within our communities have worked tremendously to shed light on issues and disparities our communities face. Let's Celebrate the Milestones.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Explore ways to get involved with some Advocacy tools. New to advocacy or policy work? Learn how you can make a change.
|
|
|
|
We love staying up-to-date with your news! If you want us to share out updates, events, flyers, webinars, or job opportunities, let us know. You can email us at bostonbreastfeeding@bmc.org or tag @bostonbreastfeeding on relevant Facebook posts and we can re-share on social media or add to our Coalition Newsletters.
|
|
|
Scholar Support Night Meeting |
Breastfeeding Mentor She-Tara Smith will be leading us in a review and discussion on the anatomy of lactation. We look forward to seeing you there! |
Tuesday, June 29th from 6:00pm-7:30pm |
|
Boston Breastfeeding Coalition Meeting |
Save the date, for the next Boston Breastfeeding Coalition Meeting. Come and join the conservation on breastfeeding equity in Boston. |
Thursday, July 15th from 12:00pm- 1:00pm |
|
Health Care and Safety Expert Consultants
The primary responsibilities of the consultant(s) will be to work with the State Breastfeeding Coordinator to provide technical assistance, support, and quality improvement expertise to birth hospitals in Massachusetts to promote best practices in breastfeeding-related maternity care. This includes education, training, and mock visits to birth hospitals on the pathway to Baby-Friendly. Other duties will include updating the MDPH Guidelines for Breastfeeding Initiation and Support, contributing to the “Becoming Baby-Friendly Toolkit” on the MDPH website, and other efforts related to statewide breastfeeding promotion activities.
|
|
A paraprofessional support person who gives basic breastfeeding information and encouragement to WIC pregnant and breastfeeding mothers and helps them prevent and handle common breastfeeding concerns.
|
|
The Department of Public Health (DPH) is seeking a consultant who will coordinate maternal and infant health initiatives to improve maternal and infant outcomes across the Commonwealth. The consultant will work within the Division of Pregnancy, Infancy & Early Childhood in the Bureau of Family Health & Nutrition (BFHN) and in close collaboration with the Office of Community Health Workers in the Bureau of Community Health & Prevention (BCHAP). Under the direction of the Director of Maternal Health Initiatives, the Consultant will be responsible for the development, implementation, and coordination of a doula credentialing process and provide programmatic support to additional maternal and infant health programs including perinatal mental health and maternal mortality and morbidity.
|
|
Boston Breastfeeding WARMLINE Lactation Counselor
Seeking virtual peer counseling opportunities? Our WARMLINE is seeking volunteers who have completed lactation counseling training and have experience as peer counselors.
|
|
Boston Breastfeeding Virtual Support Group Counselor
Our support groups are still meeting, just virtually! We are looking for more volunteers to help us support mothers. Any direct lactation mentoring done during virtual support groups can count towards IBCLC hours.
|
|
Check out the updated Free Lactation Support Guide, Share among your networks. Printable Flyer attached
Check out our website to register and join!
|
|
Webinar and Training Opportunities |
|
"Bmadzewen yawen I Mbish Water is Life" |
Presenter: Bethany Earl, RN, CNM, MSN
Description: Traditional practices are important to the identities of Indigenous families and their communities and the role of infant feeding is central to parenting. Traditional knowledge shared by Indigenous Elders is essential to sustaining traditional feeding practice and life-giving human milk. This webinar will have a primary focus on the importance of water on life in general and, in particular, how it affects breast milk. The presenter will include traditional teachings on the interconnectedness of water on all things in life hence the important phrase: water is life, all life.
Approved for 1 L-CERP, 1 nurse’s contact hour, 1 social work CE hour, 1 dietitian CPEU, 1 community health worker CEU, 1 certified health education specialist CECH, and 1 CME until June 15, 2022.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
“Beyond the Birth Suite: The Importance of Black Doulas in Pursuit of Maternal Infant Health Equity” |
Presenter: Kiara Baskin, CD, CLC
Description: Maternity care in the United States is characterized by racial and income disparities and, as a result, we continue to see poor maternal and infant outcomes. During this presentation, we will discuss the current state of maternity care, the history of obstetrics and gynecology, and the research surrounding doula support in pursuit of maternal-infant health equity.
Approved for 1 R-CERP, 1 nurse’s contact hour, 1 social work CE hour, 1 dietitian CPEU, 1 community health worker CEU, 1 certified health education specialist CECH, and 1 CME until May 18, 2022.
|
|
|
|
Professional Opportunities |
|
Call for Proposals: Supporting Racial Equity in Breastfeeding and Child Care Fund |
Michigan Breastfeeding Network is excited to announce an open call for applications from breastfeeding supporters and/or organizations led by Black, Indigenous, and people of color that partner with child care providers who serve Black, Indigenous, and families of color.
Applications will be accepted until July 2, 2021.
Thank you to MDHHS for securing this Title V funding to support local, community-based breastfeeding supporters.
|
|
|
|
The Children’s Mental Health Storytimes committee is excited to share 3 special storytime recordings for your family to watch. Each short recording is filled with stories, songs, activities, and resources related to a Social-Emotional theme. Each theme explores emotions that we may be feeling or have felt during the pandemic or now as communities are starting to re-open and there are more in-person happenings.
Watch the Storytimes!
|
|
This guide lists programs and organizations that provide free diapers to community members with updated contact information and eligibility requirements. The guide includes locations for Greater Boston, Northeastern Massachusetts, and Southeastern Massachusetts.
|
|
|
Regularly updated with descriptions, contact info, locations, hours, and website links for important basic family needs.
|
|
|
Free app available on Apple, Android, and desktop for families to locate and access free or low-cost, high-quality local food resources in their neighborhoods
|
|
Are you a Breastfeeding Scholar who is looking to connect with other Scholars?
Join the private Facebook Group just for Breastfeeding Scholars - a centralized location to stay updated on CERP offerings, scholarship opportunities, network with peers, and share and find resources.
|
|
Vital Village Network's Boston Breastfeeding Coalition is committed to improving access to breastfeeding support for every parent in Boston, promoting connections between individuals and organizations that engage in breastfeeding advocacy, and supporting pathways for professional lactation counselors. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
