Support for Breastfeeding in the Workplace (PDF | 134 KB)

DNPAO State Program Highlights

Support for Breastfeeding in the Workplace

State-Based Programs Support for Breastfeeding in discrimination against breastfeeding
the Workplace employees.
The Nutrition, Physical Activity, and • Allow sufficient maternity leave (at
Obesity Program (NPAO) is a Support for breastfeeding in the least six weeks) for mothers to
cooperative agreement between the workplace includes several types of establish breastfeeding.
CDC’s Division of Nutrition, Physical employee benefits and services including • Provide flexible work arrangements for
Activity and Obesity (DNPAO) and 25 writing corporate policies to support mothers returning to work, such as
state health departments. The program breastfeeding women; teaching part-time work, job sharing, flextime,
goal is to prevent and control obesity employees about breastfeeding; providing compressed work week,
and other chronic diseases through designated private space for telecommuting or a phase-back to full-
healthful eating and physical activity. breastfeeding or expressing milk; allowing time work load over several weeks or
flexible scheduling to support milk months.
DNPAO Target Areas expression during work; giving mothers • Encourage sufficient break time to
options for returning to work, such as breastfeed or express breast milk at
The state programs develop strategies teleworking, part-time work, and work, allowing at least two 20-30
to leverage resources and coordinate extended maternity leave; providing minute breaks (one morning and one
statewide efforts with multiple partners onsite or near-site child care; providing afternoon) during an 8-hour shift.
to address all of the following DNPAO high-quality breast pumps and
principal target areas: refrigerated storage; and offering or
referring professional lactation
• Increase physical activity management services and support.
• Increase the consumption of fruits
State Activities Supporting Since the development of the toolkit, 12
and vegetables Breastfeeding in the worksites were recruited to participate
• Decrease the consumption of sugar Workplace as pilot sites in implementing the
Worksite Wellness Program Toolkit.
sweetened beverages Massachusetts These sites were trained and provided
• Increase breastfeeding technical assistance on establishing a
Working on Wellness Initiative worksite wellness program.
initiation, duration, and The Massachusetts Department of Public
exclusivity Health developed the Worksite Wellness Massachusetts Contact
• Reduce the consumption of high Program Toolkit to provide guidance and Christina Nordstrom
energy dense foods tools for planning a worksite wellness Program Coordinator
• Decrease television viewing program. The toolkit includes Massachusetts Department of Public Health
information and resources that can (617) 994-9859
Strategies Related to assist worksites in supporting employees [email protected]
Breastfeeding to engage in healthy behaviors. www.mass.gov/massinmotion/
http://www.mass.gov/Eeohhs2/docs/dph/mass_i
DNPAO developed six guidance In addition to other public health topic n_motion/worksite_toolkit.pdf
documents to provide assistance and areas, the toolkit dedicates a section to
direction regarding each of the principal lactation support policies, programs, and New York
target areas. The guidance document resources. This section describes the
developed to address breastfeeding benefits of breastfeeding infants, Adapting and Implementing a One-
includes the following strategies: mothers, and employers, which include Day Training for The Business Case
health care cost savings, reduced for Breastfeeding
• Maternity care practices absenteeism, and improved employee The Business Case for Breastfeeding is a
• Support for breastfeeding in the morale and retention. national initiative sponsored by the U.S.
Department of Health and Human
workplace The toolkit also offers a list of suggested Services (HHS), Health Resources and
• Peer support policies for worksites to consider: Services Administration’s Maternal and
• Educating mothers • Develop a written policy describing the Child Health Bureau, and the HHS Office
• Professional support on Women’s Health. The program offers
• Media and social marketing employer’s lactation support program tools to help employers provide worksite
and prohibit harassment and lactation support and privacy for
breastfeeding mothers, as well as

Created June 2010

guidance to employees on combining on the number of demonstrated employees to breastfeed or pump and
breastfeeding and work. breastfeeding strategies. The award successfully adopted a written
presentations are coordinated with breastfeeding policy designed to
Using the national Business Case for World Breastfeeding Week to improve encourage breastfeeding among
Breastfeeding program, the New York local and statewide publicity. employees returning to work.
State Department of Health Obesity
Prevention, the Healthy Start Program, As a result of these efforts, 18 In addition to these efforts, Eat Smart,
and the New York State Breastfeeding organizations have received these Move More South Carolina also awarded
Coalition adapted a day-long training on awards, including various nonprofit the University of South Carolina a seed
breastfeeding to equip professionals in organizations and universities. grant for establishing a lactation support
businesses and public health agencies to program. This funding helped establish
implement or expand a lactation support The Business Case for lactation rooms in several buildings on
program in their business or Breastfeeding campus, breastfeeding education classes
organization. In 2008, the Rhode Island Breastfeeding led by a certified lactation consultant,
Coalition received training and funding the development of a peer mentoring
In 2009, nine trainings were delivered to implement The Business Case for support email listserv, and a lending
across the state and as a result, more Breastfeeding, a comprehensive library with books on breastfeeding,
than 300 professionals were trained and program designed to educate employers nutrition, and balancing motherhood
expected to recruit and assist at least about the value of supporting and work. The lactation support
one employer to implement a lactation breastfeeding employees in the program has been well-received by
support program. In addition to these workplace. Since then, the Coalition has University of South Carolina faculty
training efforts, tools are being partnered with the Rhode Island members, staff, and students, with over
developed for employers and employees Department of Health to promote The 100 people participating in the
including the Return to Work Toolkit, a Business Case for Breastfeeding to breastfeeding classes. In addition, the
resource tailored for low-income multiple community partners and lending library has averaged 10 requests
breastfeeding mothers making the businesses and to provide technical per month, posts and responses to the
transition back to work. Future plans for assistance to workplaces attempting to breastfeeding listserv have been made
the program include a multiphase better accommodate breastfeeding daily, and the new lactation rooms have
evaluation of training participants to employees. Rhode Island has obtained been frequently used.
assess program activities and factors additional funding to continue these
associated with successful worksite efforts for four more years. The Business Case for
implementation. Breastfeeding
Rhode Island Contacts In 2009, South Carolina was 1 of 10
New York Contact Emily Eisenstein states to receive funding to implement
Kyle Restina State Breastfeeding Coordinator The Business Case for Breastfeeding
Program Coordinator Rhode Island Department of Health program, a national initiative to foster
New York State Department of Health (401) 222-4605 breastfeeding friendly work
(518) 408-5142 [email protected] environments. In addition to these
[email protected] implementation funds, Eat Smart, Move
Kathleen Moren, RN, IBCLC More South Carolina provided funding to
Rhode Island Rhode Island Breastfeeding Coalition increase outreach and training to local
(401) 884-884-8273 businesses and to distribute mini-grants
The Rhode Island Breastfeeding [email protected] to 10 workplaces to implement The
Friendly Workplace Award Business Case for Breastfeeding
The Rhode Island Department of Health South Carolina program.
and the Rhode Island Breastfeeding
Coalition developed the Breastfeeding Breastfeeding Support in the Other related breastfeeding efforts
Friendly Workplace Award to publicly Workplace: Providing the Best include the development of a database
recognize organizations that Start to Eating Smart to monitor businesses within the state
accommodate and support the needs of Through support of Eat Smart, Move that currently support breastfeeding in
their breastfeeding employees. The More South Carolina, a statewide the workplace. Additionally, the South
annual award process begins with the partnership that includes the South Carolina Mother Friendly Recognition
distribution of a questionnaire to Rhode Carolina Division of Nutrition, Physical Program was established to create a
Island employers to assess their Activity, and Obesity; the South Carolina formal process for recognizing support
policies, facilities, and resources for Breastfeeding Coalition; and other of breastfeeding in the workplace.
breastfeeding employees and clients. stakeholders across the state; mini- Finally, the South Carolina Breastfeeding
Employers have the optional opportunity grants were provided to several Coalition is working with the Best
to complete the questionnaire to be businesses and institutions to establish Companies Group, an organization
eligible for recognition at the bronze, lactation support programs. In 2009, dedicated to finding and recognizing
silver, or gold level. The employer Lander University, Piedmont Medical South Carolina’s best employers, to add
questionnaires are then reviewed and Hospital, and Palmetto Baptist Easley breastfeeding support criteria to their
follow-up site visits are conducted by a Hospital were the first three institutions company assessments.
corporate lactation specialist to to receive workplace pilot grants for
determine the level of the award based lactation support. Each workplace has
since established a private area for

South Carolina Contact will include a social marketing campaign Health agencies that intend to achieve
Teresa Hill, MS, RD, LD to disseminate breastfeeding support “Breastfeeding Friendly” status through
Nutrition Coordinator strategies to a broad variety of the Wisconsin Department of Health
South Carolina Division of Nutrition, Physical employment sectors. Services are provided resources, which
Activity, and Obesity include specific information and tools
(803) 545-4477 Texas Contact about the 10 steps required to receive
[email protected] Julie Stagg, MSN, RN, IBCLC, RLC the “Breastfeeding Friendly”
Texas Department of State Health Services designation. Among these tools is a self-
Texas (512) 458-7111 extension 6917 appraisal questionnaire that allows
[email protected] health agency staff to perform a quick
Mother-Friendly Workplace Policy http://www.dshs.state.tx.us analysis of the agency’s current
Initiative progress towards the 10 steps.
In 1995, the Texas Department of State West Virginia
Health Services (DSHS) was legislatively Since 2007, two local health
assigned to establish the Texas Mother- Business Case for Breastfeeding departments completed the
Friendly Worksite Program. The program Project Breastfeeding-Friendly Health
designates Texas businesses as mother- In 2009, West Virginia received a Department process, including the self-
friendly if they voluntarily have a written national Business Case for Breastfeeding appraisal questionnaire, which
policy to support employed mothers by grant to train breastfeeding contributed to their official
(1) having flexible work schedules to professionals on how to encourage and “Breastfeeding Friendly” designation.
provide time for expression of milk; (2) assist businesses to build workplace Currently, over 30 local health
providing access to a private location for support for breastfeeding employees. departments are working towards this
expression of milk; (3) providing access In September, 46 professionals designation.
to a nearby clean and safe water source completed a 2-day statewide training
and a sink for washing hands and event in which they were able to discuss Ten Steps to Breastfeeding Friendly
rinsing out any breast-pump equipment; the benefits of breastfeeding for Child Care Centers
and (4) providing access to hygienic businesses. The Wisconsin Partnership for Activity
storage alternatives for the mother to and Nutrition Breastfeeding Committee,
store her breast milk. Since the program As a result of the training, participants a team formed within the Division of
began, over 250 Texas businesses have from the training approached more than Public Health’s Nutrition, Physical
been recognized as Texas Mother- 20 businesses, and close to half of those Activity, and Obesity (NPAO) Program,
Friendly Worksites. In addition, businesses contacted made additional recognized child care centers as an
improved support for breastfeeding accommodations to incorporate policies important venue to support
mothers was identified as a priority that address breastfeeding in the breastfeeding mothers who are
objective in both the state’s strategic workplace. returning back to work. The Committee
obesity prevention plan and in the developed a resource toolkit that
Building Healthy Texans Statewide Future plans for this initiative include an provides child care center employees
Agency Wellness Program, which event in August 2010 to recognize and owners with accurate and
provides stronger infrastructure for both employers supportive of breastfeeding. consistent lactation support information
breastfeeding support and wellness In addition, the West Virginia Bureau of to support breastfeeding families whose
across DSHS programs and the state. Public Health is in the preliminary babies are in their care. The toolkit
phases of developing statewide mini- includes resources and tools to help
The success of the Texas Mother- grants program for employers to assist child care centers to plan and
Friendly Worksite Program prompted the with the necessary accommodations for implement an action plan to support
launch of the Texas Mother-Friendly breastfeeding employees. breastfeeding mothers, including a self-
Worksite Policy Initiative, which appraisal questionnaire to review
facilitates the development and West Virginia Contact existing practices and assess a center’s
implementation of worksite policies that Keri Kennedy current compliance with the
support breastfeeding statewide. The Program Manager requirements for the Breastfeeding
initiative builds upon the Texas Mother- West Virginia Office of Healthy Lifestyles Friendly designation. In addition, child
Friendly Worksite Program by providing (304) 558-5210 care center staff can earn continuing
training, technical assistance, [email protected] education units after reviewing the
educational materials, and additional information in the toolkit.
best-practice resources for developing Wisconsin
Mother-Friendly Worksites in state Since the development of the toolkit, it
agencies and other employment settings Ten Steps to Breastfeeding Friendly has been published and distributed to
across the state. Health Departments 26 local breastfeeding coalitions in the
The Ten Steps to Breastfeeding Friendly state, 70 WIC breastfeeding
DSHS will also fund targeted state Health Departments Initiative was coordinators, several state libraries,
agencies to implement Mother-Friendly developed to assist local health various conference attendees, and other
Worksite policies and to provide the departments, agencies, and tribal clinics NPAO Program partners.
appropriate tools, strategies, and in their efforts to protect, promote, and
equipment to increase breastfeeding support breastfeeding in their
support in the workplace. This initiative communities and to attain the
“Breastfeeding Friendly” designation.

The Business Case for
Breastfeeding
In 2010, the Milwaukee Breastfeeding
Coalition and the breastfeeding
committee of the Wisconsin Partnership
for Activity and Nutrition, a partnership
sponsored by the Wisconsin Department
of Health Services, received funding to
implement The Business Case for
Breastfeeding, a national initiative that
provides training and tools necessary to
work with businesses in offering
worksite lactation programs. Two
trainings were provided to local
breastfeeding coalition members, WIC
and public health personnel, and
community partners to support
businesses developing or enhancing
worksite lactation programs.

Following the training, a “wiki” Web site,
or shared workspace, was developed for
trainees working with businesses to post
information related to The Business
Case for Breastfeeding. The purpose of
this Web site is to share and utilize
resources that are being developed, and
input worksite activities related to
breastfeeding in a database of local
businesses. To date, over 30 businesses
have been documented on the Web
site’s database.

Wisconsin Contact
Kate Pederson, MPH, RD, CD, CLS
State Breastfeeding Coordinator
Wisconsin Division of Public Health
(608) 267-9186
[email protected]

Need more information?

Visit the CDC DNPAO Web site to learn

more information about our funded

state programs:


http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/stateprogram

s/index.html