Community Breastfeeding Support in the Time of Public Health Emergencies
Originally presented on December 22, 2020
Overview
There is a strong evidence-base documenting the health benefits of breastfeeding for women and infants. Despite widespread professional recommendations for exclusive breastfeeding until six months, followed by continued breastfeeding up to 1 year or longer, these public health goals are often not met.
Efforts to advance these goals and reduce racial/ethnic, socio-economic, and cultural disparities have been challenged this year by the COVID-19 pandemic. The speakers will discuss evidence-based strategies to reduce breastfeeding disparities, including improved hospital, post-partum, and community lactation support.
They will discuss the unique challenges posed by COVID-19, the impact on breastfeeding, and successful community strategies to overcome them, including tele-health, Baby Cafes, home visiting, Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infant and Children (WIC) breastfeeding supports and the Breastfeeding-Friendly Communities initiative.
Target Audience
Local and state public health professionals, clinicians (physicians, midwives, health care providers, nurses) and lactation specialists.
Federally funded through the New York State Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC).
Webcast
Learn More
Speakers
Priscilla DeJesus, MPA
Project Coordinator, Creating Breastfeeding Friendly Communities at the East Harlem Action Center and the Brooklyn Neighborhood Health Action Center Baby Café
Barbara Dennison, MD
Director, Policy and Research Translation Unit, Division of Chronic Disease Prevention,
New York State Department of Health
Clinical Professor, Depts of Epidemiology and Statistics & Health Policy, Management and Behavior, University at Albany College of Integrated Health Sciences
Sharon N. Marshall, CLC
Program Manager, NYC Department of Health & Mental Hygiene Brooklyn Breastfeeding Empowerment Zone (BFEZ) and the Newborn Home Visiting Program
Kelsey Munn, RD, IBCLC, CDN, CLC
Community Lactation Consultant
Bellevue Women’s Center at Ellis Medicine, Schenectady
Learning Outcome and Objectives
As a result of this activity, the learner will increase their knowledge and competence on cultural and socioeconomic disparities in breastfeeding and the importance of community support networks for breastfeeding parents.
After watching this webcast participants will be able to:
- Summarize evidence-based strategies to reduce disparities in breastfeeding initiation, exclusivity and duration
- Describe current recommendations to support breastfeeding for pregnant women and new mothers and their infants during public health emergencies, such as COVID-19
- Explain how community support networks, Baby Cafés and home visiting programs support women to breastfeed for a longer time period.
Activity Materials
Evaluation, Post-Test and Certificate
Continuing Education Credits
Continuing Education Credits for this activity expired on December 31, 2023. We encourage you to fill out the evaluation as your responses help us to plan future programs.