The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #60690

Christine A. Mulford, RN¹, Suzanne Herron, RN, NP, C, MPH², Lori B. Feldman-Winter, MD³, and Judy Donlen, RN, DNSc, JD². (1) Women and Childrens Services, Kennedy Health System, 485 Hurfville-Crosskeys Road, Sewell, NJ 08080, (2) Southern New Jersey Perinatal Cooperative, 2500 McClellan Avenue, Suite 250, Pennsauken, NJ 08109, 1-856-665-6000, sherron@snjpc.org, (3) School of Osteopathic Medicine-Department of Pediatrics, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, 40 E. Laurel Rd. Suite 100, Stratford, NJ 08084

The Southern New Jersey Perinatal Cooperative (SNJPC), a Maternal Child Health Consortium (MCHC) operates several programs to improve the health of mothers and children in Camden, New Jersey. With the exception of a modestly funded regional WIC breastfeeding initiative, there are no programs targeted to increase the breastfeeding rate. Better breastfeeding practices can contribute significantly to infants', children's, and women's short-term and long-term health and improving breastfeeding rates is a national initiative.

In August, 2003, the Ad Council will launch a three-year national campaign to raise breastfeeding awareness. The US DHHS Office of Women’s Health is funding Community Demonstration Projects (CDP) to help local communities provide support to families whose interest in breastfeeding will be generated by the ad campaign. The Camden CDP has two aims: a) enhance breastfeeding promotion and support in several existing MCH programs and b) raise awareness and improve communication among breastfeeding families’ care providers.

The modest CDP funds will support staff time to identify and fill the gaps in the breastfeeding support in Camden. The project includes forming a community stakeholders' advisory committee, expanding implementation of a provider education program developed by the New Jersey AAP breastfeeding coordinator, upgrading an already existing breastfeeding warmline to answer calls from consumers in English and Spanish, and enhancing the ability of current outreach workers to promote and support breastfeeding among their clients. The CDP gives a boost to each of several existing programs, with the goal of blending them into a more supportive mix of breastfeeding services.

Learning Objectives:

• Participants will be able to:
• Identify potential collaborative partners within their community to develop a breastfeeding support project
• Recognize gaps in breastfeeding support in their community
• Develop an outline for a breastfeeding support project in their community

Keywords: Breast Feeding, Community Collaboration

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: I am employed by the Southern New Jersey Perinatal Cooperative.