141st APHA Annual Meeting

In This section

293402
Model partnership approaches for community breastfeeding support: Making "the healthy choice the easier choice"

Wednesday, November 6, 2013 : 11:10 AM - 11:25 AM

Rachel Colchamiro, MPH, RD, LDN, CLC , Nutrition Division, Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Boston, MA
Roger A. Edwards, ScD , Bouvé College of Health Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, MA
Christina Nordstrom, MEd , Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Boston, MA
Jaime Corliss, MSW , Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Boston, MA
MA catalyst grants enable communities to create partnerships with local WIC programs and area hospitals to provide new mothers and their babies with breastfeeding support. Education, peer mentoring, access to post-discharge care and other supportive services based on ZIP code are components of this initiative. A comprehensive evaluation component is assessing the success of this initiative which complements the MDPH CDC-funded “Becoming Baby Friendly: Practical Solutions”. All components including the evaluation will be discussed.

Learning Areas:
Advocacy for health and health education
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs

Learning Objectives:
Describe the Massachusetts strategy for creating community partnerships to promote and support breastfeeding mothers and their infants. Discuss how this strategy might be adapted to your state or community.

Keywords: Breastfeeding, Obesity

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have been managing breastfeeding and MCH nutrition projects for the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and the Massachusetts WIC Program since 2001. I am currently managing a CDC-funded Breastfeeding Supplement grant aimed at enhancing post-hospital discharge breastfeeding support in Massachusetts. I am a Registered Dietitian and a Certified Lactation Counselor and hold a Masters Degree in Public Health Nutrition.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.