Feature

Massachusetts Department of Public Health to Announce Hospital Breastfeeding Awards

On October 6th, the Massachusetts Breastfeeding Coalition will be presenting its annual conference, Breastfeeding in the Baystate 2008, at the Massachusetts Medical Society in Waltham. As part of this event, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health will be recognizing hospitals that have taken significant steps to improve breastfeeding promotion and support as well as those that have demonstrated significant increases in their breastfeeding initiation rates. Special awards will be given to all birthing hospitals who have eliminated the distribution of commercial formula discharge bags.

To be considered for this award, hospitals must complete an application form to document which of the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding (based on the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative) are consistently implemented at their institutions and provide a short description of their experience with the application of each selected step. Submissions are due by September 2nd, 2008.

Applicants selected for the award will be notified by mid-September 2008. Please contact Rachel Colchamiro, State Breastfeeding Coordinator, at rachel.colchamiro@state.ma.us or 617-624-6153 with any questions or for application materials. For more information about the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative, please visit their website. Information regarding the Massachusetts Breastfeeding Coalition’s conference is available here.