Lawrence is the first community in Kansas to receive the Community Supporting Breastfeeding designation from the Kansas Breastfeeding Coalition. The designation recognizes communities that provide breastfeeding support across multiple sectors including businesses, employers, hospitals, child care providers and peer support.
The Breastfeeding Coalition of Douglas County, which formed during the past year, applied for the designation. Agencies involved in the coalition are the Lawrence-Douglas County Health Department, Lawrence Memorial Hospital, La Leche League of Lawrence, Lawrence OB-GYN Specialists, Lawrence Pediatrics, Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, and Pregnancy Care Center.
The Breastfeeding Coalition of Douglas County will celebrate the designation and recognize key businesses and partners during World Breastfeeding Week. The event will be 10 a.m.-noon Aug. 1 at the Lawrence Public Library, 707 Vermont St. There will be refreshments and activities.
To receive the designation, Lawrence met the following criteria:
• Have a local breastfeeding coalition.
• One or more community hospitals participating in the High 5 for Mom & Baby program. Lawrence Memorial Hospital participates in the program.
• At least 20 child care providers complete the Kansas Breastfeeding Coalition’s “How to Support the Breastfeeding Mother and Family” course. As of June 1, 64 Douglas County providers had completed the course.
• At least 10 businesses receive a Breastfeeding Employee Support Award.
• At least 25 businesses participate in the “Breastfeeding Welcome Here” program.
• Offer peer breastfeeding support groups. There are three in Douglas County: La Leche League Lawrence, Breast Is Best Social at the Health Department, and the Breastfeeding and New Parent Support Group at LMH.
Cary Allen, a breastfeeding peer counselor at the Health Department, said the success rate among mothers who want to breastfeed can be improved through support from their families, friends, communities, employers and policymakers. “This designation is exciting because it is an indication that we are building a culture of breastfeeding support in Lawrence.”