A Message from the Chair to IBLCE Stakeholders
Although this is no ordinary time, as IBCLCs and examination candidates many of you are currently on the frontlines of the COVID-19 public health crisis that the world is facing. On behalf of the entire Board of Directors and the team at IBLCE, please know we recognise what all of you are doing to fight this threat to public health. We are thinking of you, and will continue to do so, in the days ahead.
Several of us, your IBLCE Board member colleagues are also on the front lines. A physician is working in the hard-hit United Arab Emirates, an academic and epidemiologist is supporting her clinician colleagues at her university. Another Board member is nursing the sick in the Greater
New York City
area where the number of those with COVID-19 is on the rise. A nurse-midwife continues to work with mothers giving birth during this crisis. I am continuing to provide lactation consulting through the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) programme here in North Carolina. We are all in this together and united by our continued commitment to breastfeeding families all over the world!
In the midst of all this, I believe it is important for you to know that IBLCE continues to be available to you and continues, even during this time, to move forward.
- While IBLCE was disappointed to have to reschedule the first examination administration of the calendar year (previously scheduled for March 30 - April 3), this was the prudent decision under the circumstances. I know this was also disappointing for those studying for the IBCLC examination; however, please know that IBLCE will provide updated information as it is available. Updates will be posted to the IBLCE website, and pushed out via social media (Facebook and Twitter).
- Our commitment to serve you led us to have our IBLCE Board meeting virtually last week and strategic planning is in progress (see article below). Additionally, an Officer election was held and I am excited by IBLCE’s new leadership team.
- Our senior staff team is both seasoned and stable, having a combined 90+ years of direct experience with IBLCE. Our global customer service team remains available by email and country-specific information may be obtained via our network of IBLCE Coordinators. IBLCE is here for you during this time.
Please rest assured that IBLCE continues to move forward during this challenging time.
Please stay well, stay strong, and thank you for all you do for breastfeeding families, now and always.
Norma Escobar, IBCLC, RLC
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Marin Skariah
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MSN, FNP-BC, RNC-MNN, IBCLC, currently serving as IBLCE’s Treasurer, has been elected to the position of Chair-Elect. The Board held this special election due to the resignation of Shakira Henderson, PhD, DNP, MS, MPH, RNC-NIC, IBCLC, from the IBLCE Board. Marin will continue to serve in the role of Treasurer until the IBLCE Board conducts an election to fill the Treasurer’s role.
Marin is from Westchester, New York and is currently the Nursing Professional Development Specialist (NPDS) for Obstetrics and Labor & Delivery at NYU Langone Health at the Tisch Campus. Marin received her BSN from Mercer University in Atlanta, Georgia and her MSN from SUNY Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn, New York. Marin is committed to making a difference by incorporating best practices through advocacy, research, and parental education to improve quality of care for breastfeeding children and families.
IBLCE thanks Shakira Henderson for her past Board service and looks forward to welcoming Marin to the role of Chair-Elect upon the election for IBLCE Treasurer.
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IBCLC Examination Administration
March / April 2020
As announced on Friday, March 13, 2020, the March 30-April 3, 2020 IBCLC examination administration will not be taking place on those dates and is being rescheduled due to COVID-19. Detailed information may be found on IBLCE’s
homepage
including
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).
Please bear in mind that the dates for the rescheduled IBCLC examination administration have
not yet been set
given this highly dynamic situation. Thank you for also awaiting further guidance from IBLCE rather than our testing vendor, Prometric. Please do not contact Prometric to reschedule your examination as IBLCE has not yet provided new dates to them; as this situation continues to change and the examination was to be offered to over 1,800 candidates in approximately 55 countries, IBLCE is assessing this situation but has not yet rescheduled.
Please bear in mind that the rescheduling of this examination until later in 2020 does not impact the certification status of current IBCLCs who had intended to take the examination in March/April 2020.
Opening of Application Window for September 2020 IBCLC Examination Administration
It is anticipated that the application window for the September 2020 IBCLC examination administration will now open the first week of April 2020. The deadline for such applications has been extended until Friday, May 29, 2020.
IBLCE will push out a notice via Facebook and Twitter when the applications are available!
IBLCE Strategic Planning Update
Several weeks ago, IBLCE disseminated a strategic planning survey to its English- speaking stakeholders. Thank you to all who responded, as IBLCE received over 4,000 responses! IBLCE has translated the survey and it will be disseminated in due course to IBLCE stakeholders in all of IBLCE’s examination languages.
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Thank you for responding to IBLCE’s strategic planning survey. Your opinion is important and is valued!
[1] This information is provided for general information purposes only.
As COVID-19 is a highly dynamic situation, please carefully note publication dates of the source material as guidance may change over time. If you have any questions about the information, please contact the World Health Organization directly.
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This briefing is being translated and will be disseminated in all examination languages in the immediate future.
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