Award of Excellence goes to the Hudson Valley Health Center (4/11)
Dr. Shah, NYS DOH Commissioner, presented HVHC with an Award of Excellence for doubling their rates of exclusive breastfeeding from 40% to 95% from July 2010 to January 2011. See the press release dated 4/8/2011 http://www.nyhealth.gov
More from HVHC http://hvhc.org/article_award_040811.asp
The U.S. Surgeon General's Call To Action (1/20/11)
The US Surgeon General, Dr. Regina Benjamin, has released The Surgeon General's Call to Action to Support Breastfeeding, outlining steps that can be taken to remove some of the obstacles faced by women who want to breastfeed their babies. The Call to Action indentifies ways that families, communities, employers and health care professionals can improve breastfeeding rates and increase support for breastfeeding. Visit the links for more information including the Call To Action document.
www.usbreastfeeding.org/NewsInformation/NewsRoom/201101SGCTA/tabid/190/Default.aspx
Breastfeeding Measures Added to Maternity Information (12/13/10)
The NYS DOH Commissioner Daines announced that new information on the proportion of newborns who are breastfed will now be provided by every hospital to expectant mothers when they attend prenatal classes, pre-register or are admitted to the hospital. The ten high-performing NY hospitals with the highest percentage of newborn infants exclusively breastfed during their hospital stay were announced. For more information see the press release.
www.health.state.ny.us/press/releases/2010/2010-12-13_breastfeeding_measures_added.htm
Healthy People 2020 Goals announced (12/2/10)
Breastfeeding goals have been updated and there are three more goals: Workplace lactation support, supplementation within the first 2 days of life, and facilities that provide recommended care for lactating mothers and their babies.
The New York State Department of Health Announces a Public Health Campaign, Breastfeeding...For my baby. For me. (9/10)
The NYS DOH WIC Program launched its breastfeeding campaign, Breastfeeding... For my baby. For me. The campaign will feature ads on TV, the internet and bus shelters and bus interiors. The campaign is funded by a grant from the USDA in recognition for WIC's high breastfeeding rates.
www.nyhealth.gov/breastfeeding
National Organizations ask Congress to Support Breastfeeding (3/10)The NYSBC joined other national organizations and state breastfeeding coalitions and signed a letter originating from The American Public Health Association requesting Congress to appropriate $15 million per year as a line-item for breastfeeding and to form an interagency work group on breastfeeding.
Other groups include: American Academy of Family Physicians, American Breastfeeding Institute, American College of Nurse Midwives, Every Mother, Inc, Healthy Children Project, National Alliance for Breastfeeding Advocacy, National WIC Association and many others.
Click here to view the letter.
New York State Department of Health sends a Call to Action to Increase Breastfeeding in New York State 8/09
State Health Commissioner Richard F. Daines, M.D., called on all healthcare providers to join the New York State Department of Health (DOH) and other stakeholders in efforts to increase awareness, reduce barriers, and improve knowledge and skills in promoting and supporting exclusive breastfeeding.
In an effort to improve the health of all New Yorkers, Commissioner Daines would like to ensure that New York mothers, health care providers, employers and all New Yorkers recognize the importance of breastfeeding is essential to giving future generations of New Yorkers a healthy start in life.
In an effort to increase breastfeeding rates, The Dept. of Health will be collaborating with Regional Perinatal Centers to provide training to health care providers and staff at hospitals that provide maternity services.
For more information see the links:
http://www.health.state.ny.us/press/releases/2009/2009-08-06_call_to_action_to_promote_breastfeeding_in_ny.htm
http://www.misn-ny.org/documents/NYSDOHcalltoactiontoincreasebf2009.pdf