Boston Breastfeeding Coalition Newsletter
September 2022
"Every moment is an organizing opportunity, every person a potential activist, every minute a chance to change the world."
- Dolores Clara Fernández Huerta,
labor leader, civil rights activist, and co-founder of the National Farmworkers' Association
Social Entrepreneurs: Featuring Charlene Fraser
I have been a childcare provider since 2002. My experience includes caring for newborns, multiples, special needs and children of various ages. Being an international board certified lactation consultant, I have extensive knowledge and expertise with breastfeeding, sleep and feeding schedules. With a Bachelor’s degree from Northeastern University in Human Services and a concentration in Family and Children’s Services, I am able to gently guide and support new parents as they transition home with their newborn. 

My approach promotes healthy newborn sleep routines and enables families to create a schedule that best meets their needs while also feeling reassured with the love and care their newborn is receiving.
Charlene's work is extensive both in the services she provides as a post-partum doula, lactation consultant, a newborn care specialist, and her roles volunteering and being a part of multiple community-centered organizations. Charlene peer counsels with VVN, is the Treasurer of the Massachusetts Lactation Consultant Association, and is an active member of the Boston Breastfeeding Coalition, MA Breastfeeding Coalition and DONA International.
Services offered by Charlene:
  • Doula Services:
  • A post-partum doula can help the entire family transition when welcoming the baby home after birth.
  • Lactation Consulting:
  • A lactation consultant provides guidance for breastfeeding and assists in solving any issues that may arise. A lactation consultant can also help nursing mothers return to their careers while supporting breastfeeding their baby.
  • Newborn Care Expertise:
  • A newborn care specialist educates parents on newborn care, from sleeping to soothing, parenting, and illness/sickness.

Charlene has also partnered with The Lactation Network and is now accepting various insurance policies!
Hispanic and Latinx Heritage Month
To celebrate Hispanic and Latinx Heritage Month, we have below some resources aimed at Hispanic and Latinx parents, caregivers, and birthing families.
Baby Safety Month
This month-long awareness campaign aims to spread knowledge about the safety of children's products and educate families on ensuring their children's safety.
Network Events

This year's theme is CRAFTING OUR LEGACY: Collaborative Action for Love, Liberation and Joy. This is a space where you can connect with resident leaders, organizers, and community-based organizations around the nation and reflect on our collective work promoting structural change.
Do you have a story of community leadership that you'd like to share with the Vital Village Community? We invite you to submit an abstract for our annual Vital Village Summit Poster Program on October 18th and 19th.

Please complete the abstract submission form by September 30 at 11:59pm EST
Mattapan Hugs and Play
10:30am to 12:30pm
Held every other Wednesday (next group September 28th)

Join the Mattapan Family Engagement Network for Mattapan Hugs and Play, a parent/caregiver and child playgroup for infants and toddlers! Included will be circle time, story time, independent play, as well as education about child development for parents and caregivers.

Please email hugsandplay@gmail.com with any questions.

This event is held at the Mattapan Public Library at 1350 Blue Hill Ave, Mattapan MA 02126
Resources
Formula Shortage Guidance
HHS has launched the Information for Families During the Formula Shortage web page that contains a comprehensive list of resources and guidance for families seeking formula during the shortage. Use the Baby Formula Shortage Social Media Toolkit to help direct people to the resource page.

The American Academy of Pediatrics has also released a guide on what to do if you cannot find any formula, which you can find here.

If you are interested in learning more about specific advice for those partially breastfeeding, currently not breastfeeding, and those exclusively breastfeeding, please consult the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine Guide here.
The Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA) has partnered with Mass Cultural Council to offer free or discounted admissions to many of the Commonwealth's museums and cultural institutions through the EBT Card to Culture Program. Residents who receive DTA benefits can get discounted admission by showing their EBT card. Through 2022, these organizations are also accepting P-EBT cards. This program includes 127 discounted or free locations in Greater Boston, such harbor tours, music lessons, museum tickets, concerts, etc. Learn more here!
Legislation Highlight
Providing Urgent Maternal Protections
The Providing Urgent Maternal Protections (PUMP) for Nursing Mothers Act (H.R. 3110/S. 1658) was advanced by the Senate HELP Committee with unanimous, bipartisan support on May 25, 2021, but has not yet been considered by the full Senate, even though it was passed in the House with a strong bipartisan vote last October. The PUMP for Nursing Mothers Act is the strongest workplace lactation law ever proposed in Congress and would close the coverage gap by expanding protections, as well as provide further guidance for nursing employees and employers.
If you are interested in more information, you can find a variety of tools and resources, press the button below:
Creating a Respectful and Open Environment for Natural Hair
(CROWN) Act
The Creating a Respectful and Open Environment for Natural Hair (CROWN) Act aims to create protections for natural and protective hairstyles to prevent race-based hair discrimination in school and work environments. Forcing conformity to Eurocentric beauty standards is costly, from the economic impact of spending money to alter one's hair texture and the lack of Black hair products and salons/barbershops, to the personal impact that such discrimination has on the individual.
Although Massachusetts recently signed the CROWN Act into law, that is not yet the case on the federal level. The CROWN Act passed the House of Representatives and is now in the hands of the Senate. If it were to pass, natural hairstyles would be protected under Titles VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act, as well as other civil rights laws.
If you are interested in more information or want to find out how to support the passage of the CROWN Act federally, please see the buttons below:
Employment Opportunities
Research Assistant in Equity in Pregnancy Initiatives
The OB/GYN department and the Health Equity Accelerator are looking to hire a new Research Assistant II for our Equity in Pregnancy initiatives. The person in this role will support research operations and participate in evaluation of projects within the Equity in Pregnancy portfolio. You can read more about the role and apply here. Please reach out to Giavanna Gaskin (Giavanna.Gaskin@bmc.org) if interested, or with any questions. You can find the LinkedIn posting here.

Accompany Doula Care is looking for an Executive Director. This position is a full-time exempt employee, who is committed to addressing inequities in birth work and has the ability to support our diverse, dynamic, and growing organization. If you have a background in development and nonprofit management, an interest in working in a non-profit start-up environment, and a passion for maternal and child health or public health, we would like to meet you! Learn more here.
Volunteer Opportunities

There is a variety of volunteering opportunities at Rosie's Place! You can help out in the food kitchen or teach a class. High school students can learn about social justice issues while earning community service hours, and you can coordinate a drive for much-needed items!

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.
TBK empowers children, youth, the elderly and families to take charge of their health and well-being through hands-on cooking classes. These classes are led by professional chefs and teach students to create cost-effective meals at home with kitchen safety and nutrition lessons. The program also works closely with partners to build culturally aware curriculums, respecting the diversity of our foods while teaching youth to cook healthier versions of ethnic dishes. If you are interested in TBK classes for your group or organization, please email Haley House's Program Director Jay Vilar, to get started: jvilar@haleyhouse.org and if you are interested in volunteering with Haley House, you can click here to learn more.
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.
Educational Materials, Resources, and Webinars
"Equity & You: Raising Anti-Racist Children" Virtual Town Hall
Tuesday, September 27th 2022
12 PM - 1:15 PM ET 
Featured Speakers:
  • Dr. Ibram X. Kendi, Founding Director of the Center for Antiracist Research at Boston University, author, and MacArthur Fellow
  • Tanya Nixon-Silberg, Founding Director of Little Uprisings
  • Moderated by Dr. Eduardo Ochoa Jr., Arkansas Site Principal Investigator of Children's HealthWatch, pediatrician, and Vice-Chair of Diversity and Health Equity at University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences.

Our "Equity & You" series this year explores how each of us can personally be an agent for change right where we are. We invite you to join this month's virtual town hall, Raising Anti-Racist Children, where we will discuss developmentally appropriate strategies for teaching children about racism, empowering them with tools to recognize and call it out no matter their age, and intentionally creating opportunities to build, exercise and support inclusivity and equity in their environments.

The program will include: A conversation between Dr. Ibram X. Kendi and Dr. Eduardo Ochoa Jr. on Dr. Kendi's newest book, How to Raise an Antiracist; An opportunity to learn about strategies and tools for engaging children in antiracism with Tanya Nixon Silberg. Register below today!
NCBC Fall 2022 Virtual Breastfeeding Conference
Friday, November 4
8:30am - 4:00pm MDT
This course is intended for physicians, physician assistants, international board certified lactation counselors, lactation professionals, registered nurses, registered dietitians, nurse practitioners, certified midwives, doulas, and other professionals working with pregnant patients and/or new parents.
Topics include:
  1. Teaching babies to nurse
  2. Mastitis and lymphatic massage
  3. Help! Breastfeeding makes me feel bad, sad, or mad
  4. Lactation support for children with special needs
*5.5 CERPs and CEUs have been applied for on behalf of Nurses, Registered Dietitians, and Lactation Professionals.
*Event will be recorded and viewable until 01-04-2023 for those who register that cannot attend live.
2022 Enhancing Community Resilience to Improve Maternal Health
Friday, November 18
10:00 AM – 4:00 PM EST

This year's workshop will be a hybrid experience with both in-person and virtual options!
Tickets are limited for in-person attendance and RSVP is required. Breakfast & lunch will be provided for the in-person experience.
Virtual attendance will be on Zoom and live from the Boston Public Library.
March for Moms look forward to elevating innovative programs from community-based organizations that are providing postpartum support in different regions of the United States!
In an effort to continue supporting the reproductive wellness needs of women, Love Your Menses is pleased to offer a FREE 8-week postpartum education and support group for Black and Brown pregnant and postpartum individuals living in the Greater Boston area.

Our postpartum education and support group features:
  • Weekly educational sessions
  • Sister circles 
  • Group chats with postpartum doulas and OB/GYNs
  • Postpartum care packages and other giveaways
  • and MUCH MORE!

Timeline:​ The Fall session program will take place from September 2022-November 2022.

Learn more about the program and the eligibility requirements/apply here: https://www.loveyourmenses.com/postpartum
Black Mothers' Breastfeeding Association (BMBFA) has announced the launch of its Birth & Breastfeeding Leadership Institute. The Birth & Breastfeeding Leadership Institute is a virtual national leadership development program designed to advance community-level leadership for racial justice and equity in maternal-child-health.
Applications due October 7th!

To build equity capacity of individuals and organizations, and address health inequity, National Healthy Start Association’s Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health Community Care Initiative (AIM CCI) provides this web-based comprehensive curriculum for professionals who work in community-based service organizations. RELS is accredited by APHA, meaning learners can receive free continuing education credits for the successful completion of each module.
Resources
Breastfeeding and Mental Health Pocket Guide
Mental health providers should know the positive correlation between breastfeeding and mental health and the negative correlation between weaning and mental health and speak to patients about the importance of breastfeeding for positive mental health outcomes. Download the Breastfeeding and Mental Health Guidance Pocket Guide at mibreastfeeding.org/tools under the “Mental Health” tab.
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.
Resources and tools to help institutions, community organizations, schools, and worksites to improve consistency and collaborations with other organizations to ensure a seamless support system for lactation.
The Blueprint, developed with a public health lens, aims to increase local capacity to implement community-driven approaches to support chest/breastfeeding, centered on the needs of populations disproportionately impacted by structural barriers that leads to low rates of breastfeeding.
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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.