September 2023

Breastfeeding Family Friendly Communities

for a more breastfeeding, chestfeeding, & human milk feeding,

family-friendly community

Community Chronicle

September 2023

Breastfeeding Family Friendly Communities
September 20 | 2 PM

Join Breastfeeding Family Friendly Communities for a Virtual After-Party!

After the National Breastfeeding Month celebrations, after the focused education and awareness-building, after the events, after the social media posts, after the proclamations...we invite you to an After-Party!! 

When: September 20 at 2 PM
Where: Zoom

We can support one other and restore energy together. Let's keep the 2023 National Breastfeeding Month theme going to renew our commitment and motivation by remembering “This Is Our Why" in September! 

Register Now
Continuing the Journey! Our Communities Inspire!

Breastfeeding Family Friendly Communities thanks you for keeping up the energy. This is the most challenging, longest, and undoubtedly the best month of the year for our advocacy efforts. The journey is both exhilarating and draining, but every moment is worthwhile.

We applaud the enthusiasm and drive demonstrated in cultivating inclusive and nurturing environments. From healthcare and childcare to official governmental proclamations and lactation assistance; from business recognitions to workplace contributions—your ceaseless work in providing educational outreach, essential resources, and robust advocacy is commendable. You're making an impact not just in your sector but across the entire spectrum of community life.

 

Why do we do all of this? Because families deserve a supportive backdrop in every setting—be it home, hospital, work, school, parks, shops, or dining establishments. Together, we are changing health outcomes and shifting parental perceptions towards a more complete sense of well-being. We're transforming the world one family at a time. Thank you for your unyielding commitment and all that you contribute.

Check Out What Our Communities Are Doing
RVAbreastfeeds celebrates 10
RVAbreastfeeds celebrates 10
This year #RVAbreastfeeds celebrates 10 years of human milk feeding advocacy and support. Enjoy video highlights of some of their activities over the years!
Play
Welcoming Franklin County to the Breastfeeding Family Friendly network!
Welcoming Franklin County to the Breastfeeding Family Friendly network!
Franklin County faces a unique set of challenges as a rural community. Unlike urban areas with an abundance of healthcare facilities and resources, rural settings like Franklin County often lack easy access to lactation consultants, postpartum care, and lactation support groups.
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Milestone Moment in Williamsport
On August 27, 2023, Father McCreary, Pastor at St. Boniface and St. Lawrence parishes in Williamsport, publicly signed the Pennsylvania Breastfeeding Coalition (PABC) Breastfeeding Welcome Here Business Pledges for St. Boniface and St. Lawrence parishes. Support from the congregations exceeded expectations, and families were invited to show their support by placing “Breastfeeding Welcome” stickers on church doors. The work in Williamsport serves as an example of working with faith-based programs in communities worldwide. By focusing on open dialogue, policy decisions, and continual education, Williamsport exemplifies how to create a breastfeeding-friendly environment in faith-based settings. From Christianity to Buddhism, scriptures and teachings across various faiths appreciate and support the act of breastfeeding, thereby enriching this community-wide effort. Williamsport is making strides in promoting breastfeeding support, closely following the “Ten Steps to a Breastfeeding Family Friendly Community.” We’d like to take this opportunity to highlight the milestones achieved by Williamsport over the last year, particularly focusing on Steps 1, 2, 4, and 7. Step…
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Celebrating the Work of Chester, Pennsylvania in Fostering a Breastfeeding-Friendly Community
In a world where each community faces its unique set of challenges, the city of Chester, Pennsylvania, stands out as a testament to resilience, innovation, and focus. Despite navigating through a labyrinth of structural and political hurdles, the community has made substantial strides toward becoming a breastfeeding-friendly haven. We’re excited to update you on the latest developments. Chester has made considerable progress since their first self assessment in February 2023. A Tailored Approach to Overcoming Limitations Recognizing the complexity of the challenges in engaging healthcare providers, hospitals, and educators in Chester, the local Delaware County Coalition decided to prioritize Steps 2, 4, and 7 of their community-based program. Given the limitations, Steps 5 and 10 had to be set aside temporarily, but this only fueled the team’s creativity. The team developed a window sticker with the affirming message, “We Support Breastfeeding.” These stickers are now proudly displayed in the windows of local businesses, symbolizing a community-wide embrace of nursing families. Policy &…
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Breastfeed Orange NC Celebrates National Breastfeeding Month
Breastfeed Orange NC (https://breastfeedorangenc.org) is celebrating National Breastfeeding Month with gratitude and joy, new energy and enthusiasm! Throughout the month, we have been recognizing our stakeholders and advocates and expanding our presence in the community to create a more breastfeeding-friendly environment for families in Orange County. We also have welcomed a team of students who will provide new perspectives and fresh insight into the work of Breastfeed Orange NC. Expanding and Celebrating Our Business Community One important area of focus during National Breastfeeding Month is our business community. Team members are reaching out to businesses and organizations that they visit regularly to apply for the Community Partner and Employer award. Over the years, our team has gained invaluable insights. They were true lessons learned for our team. With these lessons-learned in hand, we also have had great success this National Breastfeeding Month going door-to-door, visiting businesses we do not know, and encouraging them to sign on to the initiative to create a…
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Breastfeeding Friendly Designation

Breastfeeding Family Friendly Communities is a community-wide program to impact Health Equity by advocating for policies and practices that support optimal infant feeding. Any municipality or incorporated region may complete the Ten Steps Approaches and Measures. Work begins when two or more community members come together to lead the community in satisfying the requirements of the Ten Steps to a Breastfeeding Family Friendly Community.

Is your community interested in beginning the designation process to becoming a Breastfeeding Family Friendly Community? Contact us for resources to help your community get started on the journey. Take the first step and fill out the Interest Form.

Get Started

Using the Ten Steps to a Breastfeeding Family Friendly Community (Ten Steps), we will provide education, mentorship, and assistance to communities as they work to make changes so that every family that is chest/breastfeeding will be able to do so in a space that is welcoming and supportive of their efforts. With your donation, these communities are able to engage with local businesses, child care centers, and health care providers to support breast/chestfeeding families. 

 

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Together, we can make a difference!