Promoting breastfeeding support at work

In March 2010, the Breastfeeding Mothers' section of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act was passed by Congress, requiring employers to provide time and a place for breastfeeding employees to pump milk. In response to this legislation, we started the New Orleans Louisiana Breastfeeding Support Program (NOLA BSP), with the goal of informing employers about the new law and building capacity to comply with it by providing them with information and tools to establish workplace lactation programs. The program identifies and visits appropriate businesses that express an interest in the program. Program staff guide them through a self-assessment of their physical and policy environment, their workforce demographics and the development of a plan. Businesses that establish lactation support are provided materials and assistance that is culturally tailored to the needs of their specific business type. Through the program we have discovered that successful entrée and follow through with businesses are facilitated through a variety of networks, including women's groups. Response to the initiative has been varied. So far, 25% of first-time contacts have expressed interest in establishing lactation support, and of these, 55% have already started implementing support. Follow-up with the remaining organizations that have expressed interested is currently being conducted. Several approaches have worked well in engaging organizations in the lactation support discussion, including attending business networking events and being able to capitalize on new construction and renovation.