North Carolina has received several awards recognizing the incredible dedication of communities, health departments, schools, daycares, workplaces and businesses that provide the essential support to make breastfeeding possible.
Breastfeeding provides important health benefits to both mothers and babies. It takes systemic and environmental change to succeed in increasing breastfeeding rates and in helping lactating people feel supported. Normalizing breastfeeding in the community is an essential step in this support and takes dedicated and caring people to make it happen.
“Being able to obtain this award helped us expand our knowledge and offer more services to our patients to positively promote breastfeeding," said Chrystal Williams, Nurse Manager at Roanoke Chowan Community Health Center. "We have been able to host breastfeeding support groups, offer breastfeeding education and handouts and partner with local organizations to educate those in the community about breastfeeding.”
Check out some of the amazing award recipients below.
NCDHHS' Division of Child and Family Well-Being Awards
The NC Maternity Center Breastfeeding-Friendly Designation recognizes maternity centers that have taken steps to promote, protect and support breastfeeding in their organization. You can find a list of all the award winners, including 15 who have received the full five stars and 19 other awardees, on the NCDHHS website.
The NC Breastfeeding-Friendly Child Care Designation recognizes licensed child care programs statewide that promote, protect and support breastfeeding. See the list of the 10 awardees and read more about the benefits of earning this recognition on the NCDHHS website.
North Carolina Breastfeeding Coalition Awards
The NC Breastfeeding Coalition is a non-profit organization bringing together health care providers, agencies, organizations, individuals, families and other breastfeeding advocates to support, protect and promote breastfeeding in North Carolina.
Breastfeeding-Friendly Community Partners create spaces where families can keep chest/breastfeeding and feel welcome to meet their infant feeding goals in all the places where they live, shop and play. Breastfeeding-Friendly Employers provide workplaces that have made accommodations to support families that wish to continue nursing their infants after returning to work.
The Family Friendly Clinic Award is awarded to those outpatient healthcare clinics that offer exceptional support for breastfeeding/chestfeeding/nursing families.
Breastfeeding Family Friendly Communities Awards
The Breastfeeding Family Friendly Communities (BFFC) initiative is a community-wide program geared to impact health equity, supported by the World Health Organization guidelines. The program works with communities to improve breastfeeding support services.
The Breastfeeding Family Friendly Communities designation is a 10-step process to create community-wide breastfeeding support by bringing together local stakeholders from diverse backgrounds, community groups, organizations, agencies and institutions. See the full list of those pursuing this community designation.
The NCDHHS Breastfeeding Coordination Team wants to show our love and appreciation for all those who help protect and promote breastfeeding in our communities. Learn more about breastfeeding promotion and support on the NCDHHS website.