Proclamation

A proclamation is a starting point for the community, and the proclamation provides the team with some leverage or authority to talk with community partners and staff at other agencies. The written proclamation provides a public statement that the government welcomes and supports breastfeeding, chestfeeding, and human milk feeding. It also holds the government accountable to welcome nursing families in the community.

Download an example proclamation.

  • By creating a written statement supporting breastfeeding, chestfeeding, and human milk feeding that is routinely communicated to all, the government holds itself accountable to the community and provides the entire community with a clear understanding of the government’s position. 
  • It can be used to declare or recognize a special occasion, event, or cause, and can serve as a statement of policy or intent. A proclamation can be used to encourage the community to become more supportive and welcoming to breastfeeding, chestfeeding, and human milk feeding families. 
  • Proclamations can help to raise awareness, promote positive change, and inspire action.

Suggested Approaches

Approaching a local government body to do a “Breastfeeding Family Friendly Community” proclamation can be a great way to start the process of becoming a designated Breastfeeding Family Friendly Community. Here are some suggestions on how to get started:

  1. Establish a Team: To get started, establish a team of two or more stakeholders who represent the diverse backgrounds of families in your community. Some of these community members may already be active in your local government or community organizations and can work with you to establish an equitable foundation for your initiative.
  2. Timing: Approach governments during National Breastfeeding Month, National Minority Health Month, or even just before an election, when governments are more receptive to a breastfeeding initiative. 
  3. Do Your Research: Start by learning about your local government body. Know the history of your community. Find out who the decision-makers are, such as city council members, mayors, and county commissioners, and gather contact information. Look for any policies or guidelines that support breastfeeding or family-friendly initiatives.
  4. Connect with Community Members: Reach out to community members who are passionate about breastfeeding and family-friendly initiatives. You can connect with local lactation support groups, parenting groups, and advocacy organizations. These groups can help you organize and mobilize community members to show support for the proclamation.
  5. Develop a Proposal: Develop a proposal for the proclamation that includes key messages, supporting data, and potential actions. The proposal should be concise, yet persuasive, and should highlight the benefits of a Breastfeeding Family Friendly Community. Be sure to include examples of other communities that have successfully passed similar proclamations.
  6. Connect with Decision-Makers: Meet with decision-makers, such as city council members or mayors, to discuss the proposal and answer any questions they may have. Be sure to include the Town/City/County Manager and others in the government who may not be elected officials yet are responsible for the administration and implementation of the government decisions. It is important to listen to their concerns and address any issues they raise. You can also offer to provide additional information or resources to support their decision-making.
  7. Follow Up: Follow up with decision-makers after the meeting to express appreciation for their consideration of the proposal. Be sure to stay engaged and offer to provide ongoing support and resources to help with the implementation of the proclamation.
  8. Mobilize Support: Mobilize community members to show support for the proclamation. This can include attending the meeting, sharing the proposal on social media, and contacting decision-makers to express their support. Having a strong community presence can help to show decision-makers that there is a significant demand for a Breastfeeding Friendly Community.
  9. Re-Proclaim: Re-proclaim yearly. Your first proclamation may not have covered all the Steps, because your community was not ready. Each year, you can add more Steps as your community grows in its understanding of the importance of this initiative. Re-proclaiming also is an important way to celebrate success.

Approaching a local governmental body to do a Breastfeeding Family Friendly Community proclamation can lay the foundation for working with less-supportive systems and institutions in your community. By doing research, connecting with community members, developing a proposal, contacting the local government, engaging with decision-makers, mobilizing support, and following up, you can help to create a more supportive and welcoming community for breastfeeding, chestfeeding, and human milk feeding families.

Is your government ready?

  • Does your local municipality council support breastfeeding, chestfeeding, and human milk feeding? 
  • What education might the members of your municipal council need to support the initiative?  
  • What are the laws concerning breastfeeding in public?

Equity is the Cornerstone

As you work towards creating a breastfeeding-friendly community, keep in mind that health equity is the cornerstone of the Breastfeeding Family Friendly Communities (BFFC) initiative. BFFC implementation teams work to ensure that families receive lactation education and resources that are equitable, accessible, culturally appropriate, and free from the marketing influence of manufacturers of breast-milk substitutes. BFFC teams also work to address the community structures that put breastfeeding, chestfeeding, and human milk feeding out of reach for families. BFFC supports families to be informed about the importance of breastfeeding, chestfeeding, and human milk feeding and to be able to safely breastfeed/chestfeed in the many places and spaces that families shop, work, play, dine, relax, and interact with others in the community.

Creating a Breastfeeding Family Friendly Community takes time and effort, but it is a worthwhile endeavor that benefits everyone in the community.

BFFC Designation Step 1

Requirements (pass if at least three are in place).

  1. The written and signed proclamation includes actions to support the remaining nine steps.  
  2. The written and signed proclamation is shared via all local media outlets/social media, as available, once per year.
  3. Local media have hosted a discussion of this issue with lactation experts at least annually.
  4. A copy of the Ten Steps designation and the local proclamation is widely distributed at least annually, possibly during World Breastfeeding Week (In US, National Breastfeeding Month)

Download the Global Criteria for additional information.

How to Write a Proclamation

To write a proclamation, you will need to follow a specific format and include certain elements. Here are some guidelines for writing a proclamation:

  1. Start with the title: The title should clearly indicate that the document is a proclamation. For example, “Proclamation of [BREASTFEEDING FAMILY FRIENDLY COMMUNITY].”
  2. Write the opening statement: This should introduce the proclamation and provide context for its purpose. The opening statement should be concise and impactful.
  3. Include the body: This is the main section of the proclamation where you will outline the purpose, goals, and objectives of the document. The body should be divided into different sections with clear headings and subheadings.
  4. Define the scope: It is important to define the scope of the proclamation and who it is intended to benefit. This could include specific groups, communities, or individuals.
  5. Include the specific actions to be taken: This is where you will outline the specific actions that will be taken to achieve the goals and objectives outlined in the proclamation. These actions should be clear, concise, and actionable.
  6. Write the conclusion: The conclusion should summarize the purpose and goals of the proclamation and restate the importance of the actions to be taken.
  7. Include the signature: The proclamation should be signed by the appropriate authority, such as the president, governor, or mayor.
  8. Publish and distribute the proclamation: The proclamation should be published and distributed widely to ensure that its purpose and objectives are communicated effectively. Publish yearly to remind the community about what has been proclaimed.

Remember to keep your proclamation concise, clear, and actionable. Use language that is easily understood by your target audience and provide examples to help illustrate your point.

Sample Proclamation* 

BREASTFEEDING FAMILY FRIENDLY COMMUNITY

WHEREAS, families are a priority in the Town of [town/city], and part of helping families to thrive is ensuring that they receive community support to develop and sustain healthy lifestyles; and

WHEREAS, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics, American Academy of Family Physicians, and other leading health organizations, breastfeeding is the optimal food for infants; and

WHEREAS, breastfeeding is associated with lower rates of childhood illness, such as obesity, diabetes, and infectious diseases, as well as reduced risk of maternal breast and ovarian cancers and a faster recovery from childbirth as compared to formula feeding; and

WHEREAS, breastfeeding promotes social-emotional development, benefits the entire family, and is associated with lifelong health and development; and a parent’s decision to feed human milk to infants directly or by expressing should be supported by family members and the community; and

WHEREAS, promoting best practices in human milk feeding for healthcare providers and clinics encourages families to start and continue to feed human milk; and

WHEREAS, assisting businesses and organizations to welcome chest/breastfeeding families and to support lactating employees helps families to meet their optimal infant feeding goals; and 

WHEREAS, creating a local Breastfeeding Friendly Child Care designation supports parents and childcare staff to continue breastfeeding and offering expressed milk, when returning to work or school, and supports childcare staff with on-site breastfeeding facilities or spaces; and

WHEREAS, encouraging our local education systems to include breastfeeding and human milk feeding curricula at all levels normalizes breastfeeding, and collaborating on community resources and building community awareness can positively impact breastfeeding success; and

WHEREAS, our community is proud to have attained broad support and direct community actions (e.g.,  [Hospital] has attained Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative designation; the [Health Department] has received the [Breastfeeding-Friendly Clinic Award]; and childcare programs in our community have been designated breastfeeding-friendly); and

WHEREAS, by providing a supportive and welcoming environment, a breastfeeding friendly community encourages families of all races, ethnicities, and family structures to initiate and continue optimal infant feeding/nursing;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that I, [Mayor/Commissioner Name], [Mayor/Commissioner Title] of the Town/City/County of [town/city], do hereby proclaim the Town of [town/city] to be a “BREASTFEEDING FAMILY FRIENDLY COMMUNITY.”

This, the XXth day of Month 202X.

*Please Remember: You need to start where your community is.  Adjust the language of this proclamation to fit your community’s needs based on the philosophy of your legislators and representatives. For example, in Durham, we have been able to re-proclaim with increasingly more gender-inclusive language and increased strength and resolve over the years. Be flexible. Your local team of advocates might not get everything the first time. As the community becomes more aware of the importance of this proclamation, the team can re-proclaim to add components of the Ten Steps and more inclusive language.

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