Understanding Breastfeeding Legislation and Discrimination
The Breastfeeding Coalition of Washington (BCW) has developed a resource for women who have experienced harassment while breastfeeding. New content on the Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies website defines breastfeeding discrimination, includes information about local, state and federal legislation supporting breastfeeding, and provides numerous links to resources for employers who can support women who breastfeed. Also included are possible steps to take if experiencing harassment while breastfeeding. To access the resource, on the BCW homepage, click on “Breastfeeding Legislation & Discrimination.”
Breastfeeding advocates are encouraged to familiarize themselves with this information and refer women who need help and resources to the website. BCW is also researching the possibility of cosponsoring an educational forum or listening session with the Washington State Human Rights Commission on the subject of breastfeeding discrimination. |
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Target
audience: Mothers, breastfeeding advocates, employers, and others needing additional information on breastfeeding legislation and discrimination. |
Evaluation:
Number and frequency of visitors to the website will be monitored.
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Lead
agency role: The Breastfeeding Coalition of Washington (BCW) is a statewide coalition comprised of 1500 individuals and 22 local coalitions. The BCW is a program of Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition of Washington State (HMHB) and receives funding from the Washington State Department of Health. To prepare resources for the website, HMHB Intern Kirsten Leng convened a workgroup of community members who brainstormed ideas for assisting mothers and researched laws and regulations relating to breastfeeding and harassment. |
For
more information:
Kim Radtke
206-281-8032
Web: BCW Breastfeeding Legislation and Discrimination Resource
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Making Child Care Breastfeeding Friendly
A new resource for child care providers offers simple ways to support breast feeding. The recently developed brochure, Our Child Care Welcomes Breastfed Babies, offers several simple guidelines including:
- Provide a welcoming place that encourages mothers to breastfeed.
- Develop a trusting relationship with the breastfeeding mother.
- Ensure all staff receive training to best support breastfeeding mothers and babies.
- Store and handle breastmilk safely.
- Create a positive feeding environment.
Information on the benefits of breastfeeding and suggestions for each of the guidelines are also included. |
| Target
audience: Child Care Providers |
Evaluation:
Focus group input was used to develop the guidelines as part of Public Health-Seattle & King County’s Breastfeeding Friendly Child Care project. Informal feedback on the brochure has been very positive.
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| Partners: Public Health-Seattle & King County’s Child Care Health program partnered with Snohomish Health District’s Partners in Child Care program to develop the brochure. Staff from Partners in Child Care developed the format and did the graphic design for the brochure. |
Lead
agency role: The brochure was developed based on Breastfeeding Friendly Child Care guidelines that have been established by Public Health-Seattle & King County’s Child Care Health Program. The PHSKC’s Child Care Health Program combines the disciplines of public health nursing, nutrition, child psychology and health education to work together to provide consultation, technical assistance and training on issues of health, nutrition and safety. |
For
more information:
Adrienne Dorf
206-205-9026
Web: PHSKC’s Child Care Health Program, SHD’s Partners in Child Care Program |
