When BFFC began working on the Ten Steps to a Breastfeeding Family Friendly Community in Chatham County, we found a mix of rural landscapes and growing towns like Pittsboro, each with its own needs and perspectives. That work grew into EMBRACe, a coalition built through listening, adapting, and building relationships with local partners.
Foundations of Trust
One of the earliest successes came through healthcare partnerships. The local health department and WIC offices stepped up to support breastfeeding families, and partnerships with nonprofits and grassroots organizations helped close gaps in culturally appropriate resources for Spanish-speaking families.
Meeting Families Where They Are
EMBRACe integrated breastfeeding resources into home visits for new parents, meeting families in a setting where they felt comfortable. The coalition also worked with local businesses on lactation support, showing employers how small changes, like a private space for pumping, make a real difference in workplace culture.
Expanding Impact Across Chatham County
Along the way, EMBRACe built relationships with faith-based organizations to help distribute breastfeeding resources, and partnered with local Cooperative Extension agents on workshops for childcare providers about breastfeeding-friendly practices.
A Shared Journey Toward Equity
Chatham County’s journey reflects the power of collaboration. Working together, across sectors, languages, and geographies, EMBRACe built a community that supports breastfeeding families at every stage.
That steady work has paid off: EMBRACe has grown from a BFFC-supported coalition into its own independent nonprofit, carrying Chatham County’s breastfeeding-friendly work forward under its own name and leadership. BFFC is proud to have helped EMBRACe get its start, and we’re glad to see a rural county prove that with the right partnerships and persistence, progress is always possible.