STATE

Kansas Women’s Town Hall Report

New KBC Strategic Plan 

New Milk Depots in Kansas!

(Scroll to the bottom of the webpage.)

KBC is a Recipient of the KLC Leadership Transformation Grant - The Kansas Leadership Center (KLC) has selected 87 organizations across Kansas as 2023 Leadership Transformation Grant (LTG) partners. The grants will help the partner organizations create a culture that embraces change, tackles problems, and seizes opportunities. Click here for more information

KBC Funding Updates

Breastfeeding saves lives and so does investment in breastfeeding. We are committed to ensuring that our investments reflect our mission, vision, and core values. We are so grateful to our funding partners that have invested in this work over the past quarter. Click for a complete update.

Congratulations!

Congratulations to Logan Stenseng, KBC Member-at-Large, 2022-2023 Kansas Future Fellow! Logan is the Policy & Strategic Initiatives Coordinator for Thrive Allen County overseeing the development of the organization’s public policy program and building relationships with partners statewide. Logan also provides policy research and technical training to community members, as well as educational resources for lawmakers.

“Kansas Future Fellows imagine—and act on—leading-edge strategies today that inspire Kansas children and families to dream and thrive in the future. Future Fellows is a unique program developed by the University of Kansas Center for Public Partnerships and Research (CPPR).”

NATIONAL

USBC has released an Online Workplace Guide

The Global Breastfeeding Scorecard has been updated. It examines performance on critical indicators of the seven policy priorities identified by the Global Breastfeeding Collective at the national and global levels. Each action has 1-2 progress indicators and targets – to be met by 2030 – which serve as a call for action for policymakers worldwide to make breastfeeding support a collective national priority. Click here for more information

NEW Site for Breastfeeding Employees

The Department of Labor released an informational webpage on the rights of nursing employees. The webpage highlights protections available under the Break Time for Nursing Mothers law, which protects the right to take breaks at work to express milk, and includes resources and sources of help for employees with questions. 

4th Trimester Project

NewMomHealth.com 

4th Trimester Project is a resource designed to support birthing persons and families after birth. The website includes the latest medical evidence on a wide variety of postpartum care subjects and real, honest stories from moms to aid in postpartum planning. The site includes information, videos, and tools to assist new mothers and families with building their village of support, learning self-care, recovery, and creating a plan after birth. Baby care information and links to join a social network are also available. There is a section that contains extensive, evidence-based information for providers.

A new Maternity Care Deserts Dashboard from March of Dimes shows 48.6% of Kansas is considered a Maternity Desert compared to 35.6% of the US. 

The KBC recently signed The Pregnant Scholar’s letter with comments in support of the U.S. Department of Education's proposed new Title IX regulations for schools, colleges, and other educational institutions. These new regulations will, for the first time ever, recognize lactation as a pregnancy-related condition and set requirements for lactation break time, space, and other accommodations. 

Webinar

Addressing Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Breastfeeding Through Community and Hospital-Based Approaches

Wednesday, December 14, 2022

7:30 - 9:30 am CT

See the full program description and register HERE.

Resources

Trauma-Informed Breastfeeding Support

Free training hosted by KDHE Maternal & Child Health for those who support breastfeeding parents. Presented by Jennie Toland. 

• Part 1, May 18, 1:30 - 2:30 p.m. (register here) 
• Part 2, June 1, 1:30 - 2:30 p.m. (register here)

SECTION UPDATES

Child Care:

• Presentation on the Kansas Profile on 2021 Achieving a State of Healthy Weight - moving from a 3 to a 4 on IA1 with Alison Pilsner, University of Colorado, 2021 Healthy Weight Project Manager
• A high school Early Childhood teacher is incorporating the KBC’s training “How to Support the Breastfeeding Mother & Family” into her high school EC courses (USD 411). Thank you to KCCTO for supporting the enrollment of her entire class for the Oct. session!
• Technical training opportunity for those who work with child care providers (February 9, 2023, 10:00 – 12:00 – Register HERE)
• Continued discussion regarding what resources are most beneficial to child care providers & families.

Child Care Section meetings are held online on the 2nd Wed. of odd months from 12-1 p.m. Register HERE.

Hospitals:

Cara Gerhardt, High 5 for Mom & Baby Coordinator, provided a presentation on the application process and common myths. Those who are interested in receiving email communications and Ten Step Tuesday Tips can contact coordinator@high5kansas.org. Misty Scott shared information about her new role as Maternal Child Benefits Specialist for the KBC. Future Section meeting topics will include staff education, hands on training, and health care team communication.

The Hospital Section meets on the 4th Thursday of odd months from 12-1. Our next meeting will be Thursday, January 26 from 12-1. 

Local Coalitions:

The Local Coalitions Section had project sharing from Geary County Breastfeeding Coalition’s work with the Delivering Change Initiative and Ford County Breastfeeding Coalition’s Baby Expo. They reviewed the KBC’s Local Coalition Toolkit which provides non-grant ideas for generating revenue. Local Coalitions are invited to update meeting information on the Local Coalitions Calendar. Consider swinging by another coalition meeting for ideas, networking, and support! Future meetings will focus on learning moments on social media guidance and coalition management.

The Local Coalition Section meets on the 2nd Thursday of odd months. Our next meeting will be Thursday, January 11 from 12-1.

Public Health:

The Public Health Section continued the Deep Dive series into the Breastfeeding Friendly Local Health Department Criteria #3 - Staff Education. The Section viewed the staff education video together and discussed ideas on implementation. The KBC’s new Maternal Child Benefits Specialists shared about their work assisting pregnant and postpartum families in applying for Medicaid and CHIP. 2023 Public Health Section meetings will focus on the BF LHD Deep Dive series and Learning Moments.

The section meets on the 3rd Thursday of even months. Our next meeting will be Thursday, December 15 from 11-12.

It's the Holiday Season! Check out the KBC store to find a variety of apparel and more to gift your fellow breastfeeding supporters and yourself.