State Health Agency Breastfeeding Promotion and Support

Public health agencies are a key partner in increasing breastfeeding rates. They play a role in improving breastfeeding in the workplace, hospitals, and the community. ASTHO is supporting state health agencies and other partners in their state to enhance breastfeeding efforts.

National Breastfeeding Month

Please join ASTHO, the United States Breastfeeding Committee, and partners as we celebrate National Breastfeeding Month (NBM), and this year’s theme, Many Voices United, by amplifying breastfeeding advocacy efforts throughout the month of August. Featured below are various resources from ASTHO:

infographics highlighting early brain development as a benefit of breastfeeding and promoting breastfeeding support through perinatal quality collaboratives,
toolkit including various strategies on policy, data, and partnerships,
the importance of continuity of care and breastfeeding best practices in the community,
a webinar to learn how to work across boundaries programmatically to incorporate an equity lens to breastfeeding initiatives,
and state health policy update highlighting the importance of addressing breastfeeding policies in health equity work.

ASTHO is happy to recognize National Breastfeeding Month 2020. We hope you will join us in celebration.

Learning Community to Improve State Health Agency Capacity for Breastfeeding Promotion and Support

ASTHO, with support from CDC's Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity (DNPAO), is working with states to increase breastfeeding through a virtual learning community.

Advancing Breastfeeding Promotion and Support in States Toolkit

From 2014-2018, ASTHO supported states in designing, implementing, and improving strategies to increase breastfeeding initiation and duration rates through the first cohort of the ASTHO Breastfeeding Learning Community. This toolkit is a compilation of state highlights, resources developed, and lessons learned from participating states, with a focus on improving hospital policies and practices, enhancing peer and professional support, and encouraging breastfeeding-friendly worksites.

Resources

Partnerships in ActionBelow are resources and case studies that provide examples of state health departments can successfully engage partners across the state in breastfeeding activities.
- ASTHOReport - Perinatal Quality Collaboratives Support Breastfeeding
- ASTHO Issue Brief - Enhancing Health Equity in Breastfeeding Opportunities and Outcomes
- ASTHO Issue Brief - State Health Departments and Breastfeeding Coalition Partnerships
- ASTHO Infographic - Breastfeeding Best Practices in Healthcare Settings
- ASTHO Infographic - Breastfeeding Best Practices in the Community and Workplace
- ASTHO Infographic - Summary of State Sponsored Programs
- Case Study - Arkansas Promotes Breastfeeding Through Public and Private Partnerships
- Case Study - Illinois Women’s Prison Promotes Breastfeeding and Maternal and Infant Health
Breastfeeding in HospitalsBelow are resources and case studies that provide examples of how state health agencies can effectively support breastfeeding in hospitals.
- ASTHOBrief - Breastfeeding Support Through Perinatal Quality Collaboratives
- ASTHO Case Study - Rhode Island: Collaborating to Increase Breastfeeding Rates
- CDC Maternity Care Practices Survey - mPINC
- Georgia's Hospital Recognition Program - Georgia's Partnership to Improve Infant Mortality Rates
- ASTHO Issue Brief - Increasing Supportive Breastfeeding Practices in Birthing Facilities, Year 1
Breastfeeding in the WorkplaceBelow are resources and case studies that provide examples of how state health agencies can effectively support breastfeeding in the workplace.
- ASTHO Issue Brief - State Experiences with Incorporating Worksite Lactation Accommodations
- ASTHO Issue Brief - Ensuring Workplace Compliance with the Federal Lactation Accommodation Law, Year 1
- ASTHO Fact Sheet - Worksite Wellness: Breastfeeding Promotion
- ASTHO Case Study - Nevada Infants-at-Work Program
- ASTHO State Success Story - Improving Breastfeeding in South Dakota: Helping Businesses Support Customers and Employees
- ASTHO Webinar - Healthy Maternity Policies
- Center TRT - Support for Breastfeeding in the Workplace
- Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division - Nursing Mothers Portal
- HHS Office on Women's Health - Supporting Nursing Moms at Work: Employer Solutions
- North Dakota Infant Friendly Designation Program - Workplace Support
- North Dakota Health Maternity Policies in the Workplace - ND Embraces Healthy Maternity Policies in the Workplace
Breastfeeding Peer and Professional SupportBelow are resources and that provide examples of how state health agencies can effectively enhance peer and professional support for breastfeeding.
- Baby Café USA - Setting up a Baby Café
- HHS Office on Women's Health Campaign - It's Only Natural
- National Association of Professional and Peer Lactation Supporters of Color
- USDA FNS WIC Resources - WIC Works
- CDC DNPAO State Stories- State Program Breastfeeding Highlights
- DC Department of Health State Story - DC Supports Peer Counseling to Improve Breastfeeding Rates
- Delaware State Story: Improving Breastfeeding in Delaware: Creating Breastfeeding-Friendly Communities
- CDC Breastfeeding Support Fact Sheet - State Health Departments Provide Community-Based Breastfeeding Support
- ASTHO Issue Brief - Improving Peer and Professional Support, Year 1
Breastfeeding Laws and Policies
- Association of Maternal & Child Health Programs - State Opportunities and Strategies for Breastfeeding Promotion through the Affordable Care Act
- National Conference of State Legislatures - Breastfeeding State Laws
- Office of Women's Health - Breastfeeding Policies at Work
- United States Breastfeeding Committee – Legislation and Policy Information
- United States Department of Labor - Employment Protections for Workers Who Are Pregnant or Nursing
- Vermont Department of Health - Resources and Sample Policies

Maternal and Child Health

BREAST CANCER DISPARITIES ONLINE TOOLKIT