Thanks for your interest in the scholarship!

The application for this round is closed as of July 31, 2020 at midnight.

The awardees will be announced soon!
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​Breastfeeding Support Professionals Scholarship 2020

Made possible with funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, this scholarship is open to CT residents historically under-represented among lactation professionals including, but not limited to, those identifying as African American/Black, Latinx, Indigenous/American Indian/Native American, Asian, Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander and LGBTQIA/gender fluid.

Applications will be accepted through midnight on July 31, 2020.

Scholarship recipients may receive up to $500 each in financial aid for costs associated with IBCLC,  CLC, or BC (for nurses) certification. Costs may include, but are not limited to, lactation specific education fees or course tuition, IBCLC mentorship costs, exam fees, and any required textbooks or materials.

Scholarship recipients will be selected by a committee from the CT Breastfeeding Coalition and the CT Department of Public Health. Applications will be prioritized according to the following:
1.  Applicant identifies from an under-represented group, required. 
2.  Applicant has met all requirements and plans to take the IBCLC exam in September 2020 or April 2021. (5 points)
3.  Applicant only needs to complete the education component to be eligible for IBCLC exam in September 2020 or April 2021. (4 points)
4.  Applicant has met some requirements or is on the pathway for IBCLC but still needs one or more component (eg. classes, mentorship, materials etc.) to complete requirements for the IBCLC exam. (3 points)
5.  Applicant has successfully taken the IBCLC exam, CLC course, training or college course in 2019 or 2020 and would like reimbursement. (2 points)
6.  Applicant is just starting out, wants to take an intro workshop or the CLC or BC course, and plans to work toward requirements for IBCLC. (1 point)

The CBC Racial Equity Working Group began meeting in May 2020. We are working to understand and change the systems and structures within our organization that have upheld White supremacy. If you are willing to help us become more Anti-Racist, please join this work. Email Monica Belyea to find our more. 

​The Connecticut Breastfeeding Coalition (CBC) Annual Report 2018-2019​

​The Connecticut Breastfeeding Coalition (CBC) has framed its work around the Surgeon General’s Call to Action to Support Breastfeeding since its inception in 2011. CBC’s Board of Directors serve as liaisons to six sector committees (Mothers and Their Families, Communities, Health Care, Employment, Public Health Infrastructure, and Research and Surveillance) and calls on health care providers, employers, insurers, policymakers, researchers, and the community at large to take steps to support mothers in reaching their breastfeeding goals. The information that follows the CBC Mission and Goals, outlines CBC achievements made this year.
Annual Report 2018-2019
File Size: 391 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
Annual Report of Connecticut Breastfeeding Coalition
File Size: 46 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER ONLINE FOR THE CONFERENCE

Conference Agenda

2019 Health Care Provider Seminar
March 28, 2019

Sheraton Hartford South Hotel
100 Capitol Boulevard
Rocky Hill
CT 06067

Kimberly Seals Allers, BS, MA: Promoting Equity and Diversity in Lactation Care
Carla Pileggi Caviola, MA-LPC/LMHC: Clarifying Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders
Lorelei Michels, DO (Dr Lorelei): Assessment of Tongue Tie and Suck Problems in the Breastfed Infant
Sharon Vallone, DC: How Manual Therapy can Support the Breastfeeding Dyad

Info and Registration

Press for Breastfeeding Friendly Campus Initiative

New Haven Register 
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​Southern Connecticut State University

Upcoming Events

March 29th 2018, CBC presents Southern Connecticut State University  with the 1st Breastfeeding Friendly Campus Award! Join us to congratulate SCSU and present this award to Professor and Director of Faculty Development, Michele Vancour and President Joe Bertolino. This award distinguishes SCSU for their work of making the campus accessible and providing lactation space to students, faculty, and visitors. Their unique approach to recruiting breastfeeding champions and alternate spaces alongside information and on site professional lactation support set a new standard for providing necessary support on campus. 

Press for Breast pump Access through Anthem

New Haven Register follow-up piece

New Haven Register
​
​U.S. News

CALL TO ACTION! Anthem BC/BS is considering reducing payments to medical equipment suppliers by 45%. Let them know that this is unacceptable and will reduce quality breast pumps to moms in CT. For more info see our Facebook page or contact us. Their policy decision is expected April 2018.

Thursday March 30th 8:00-4:15 Rocky Hill, CT

February 13th 2017 6-8pm Hartford, CT

February 14th, 2017 10 am-2 pm Guilford, CT 

Ongoing Projects:

With the new administration in the White House and the start of the 2017 Connecticut legislative session underway, several items regarding breastfeeding support, access to breast pumps, and professional lactation supports are in danger of being eliminated. Please reach out to our representatives on the Public Health Committee to voice your support for protecting breastfeeding mothers, babies, and lactation consultants.

This link can help you find how to get in touch with the.
https://www.cga.ct.gov/ph/PHC%202017-2019%20PHC%20Membership%20List.pdf

Also, below is a sample form letter to help you get started in reaching out. Please amend with your own personal experience and stories. Stories help those unaware of the challenges that exist connect with the issue at hand.  

Dear (insert representatives name here)
I am writing today in support of Act HB 6487: An Act Concerning the Licensure of the Lactation Consultant. I am a seasoned RN, IBCLC here in CT, working at (Your hospital name/workplaces here) and (if applicable:" in my own business, a private practice in lactation care"). ( Insert your experience and background here ) I have (#) years of experience caring for mothers and babies, and would like to share with you why this Bill is vital to our healthcare system here in CT.
Women want to breastfeed their babies. I know; I care for and struggle alongside them every day, in our capitol city and in their homes. Over 75% of mothers in the US start breastfeeding. But those numbers drop off. Most mothers that don't meet their OWN breastfeeding goals didn't have access to a professional to help when it was needed.
(Please change this part up :))
At least (#) women a week call our office at (insert location) looking for lactation help after they go home from the hospital. They often have had outdated or poor breastfeeding advice from another healthcare provider, or are confused about conflicting advice. (Insert your experiences or thoughts here. Example: "Many of their challenges are very complicated medical and assessment issues only appropriate for an IBCLC level of expertise. We recently had a doctor’s office call us urgently for help with a mom and baby who had lost 19% of her birthweight, a very serious situation potentially requiring hospitalization. Our NICU, neonatal intensive care unit, admitted a significantly jaundiced and dehydrated baby from home. This young, Latina mom had not gotten any help with breastfeeding while at home, as she did not know where to go or who to ask. An immigrant, non-English speaking mom I cared for had less than ideal breastfeeding care and support in her MD office. Days later, she came to the ER with a high fever, and had developed a massive breast access, or pus-filled infection, requiring frequent doctor visits and two surgical procedures".)
The scenarios above involved moms and babies covered with HUSKY insurance. There is a huge potential for fiscal impact if we can provide appropriate and highly educated breastfeeding care to these moms before they come to the ER.
Breastfeeding saves lives and money. Robust research shows us this. The Surgeon General states clearly in this 2011 Call to Action: "International Board Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLCs) are an excellent source of assistance for breastfeeding mothers. IBCLCs are health care professionals certified in lactation management. They work with mothers to solve breastfeeding problems and educate families and health care professionals about the benefits of breastfeeding. Research shows that rates of exclusive breastfeeding and of any breastfeeding are higher among women who have had babies in hospitals with IBCLCs on staff than in those without these professionals."
Licensing IBCLCs-
-Protects the public. Licensure guarantees the IBCLC has met certain uniform criteria that ensures the public and other healthcare providers can expect a high level of education and experience. Licensure will clearly define what services an IBCLC can legally perform.
-Will clarify the "Alphabet Soup" of breastfeeding helpers available to mothers. It's tough to understand the levels and experience of help available to them, and this creates unneeded and potentially harmful confusion for new parents.
-Ensures access to an excellent level of care for all mothers. Currently the ACA mandates breastfeeding visits, care and supplies be covered. This is not the case as insurance companies and other entities, such as Medicaid, are not making it easy for moms to find IBCLC care. Insurers cite that they only cover and contract with "licensed healthcare providers".
-Will validate and advance the profession. If we are truly able to advocate and create policy to elevate the care of families, licensure makes us a known and accepted member of the healthcare team. It also attracts others to a new and important career path, and makes employment and inclusion in healthcare teams viable.
Please consider supporting this important Bill, from a fiscal standpoint as well as a strong protection for new families to get the care they deserve.
Sincerely,
(Your name, title, and contact info)

​CURRENT PROJECTS
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WORLD BREASTFEEDING WEEK 2015- HARTFORD HOSPITAL