The Capital Area Breastfeeding Coalition is a dedicated team in Mid-Michigan that aims to increase breastfeeding rates through education, advocacy, and resource support. The Coalition meets monthly and works on initiatives like supporting pro-breastfeeding legislation, hosting spaces at community events, developing education for expecting parents, maintaining an online resource guide, and fostering a culture where breastfeeding is accepted and supported. In 2012, the Coalition celebrated member Ann Siegle receiving an award for her work promoting breastfeeding and looks forward to ongoing partnerships and projects in the future.

1. Capital Area Breastfeeding
Coalition Update
MICHIGAN BREASTFEEDING NETWORK
QUARTERLY MEETING
SEPTEMBER 21, 2012

2. The Capital Area Breastfeeding Coalition is…
 A dedicated, Mid-Michigan team of:
 Breastfeeding Professionals
 Registered Nurses
 Lactation Consultants
 Le Leche League Leaders
 Breastfeeding Advocates
 A group formed to better serve and support
breastfeeding mothers via education, advocacy and
resource support.

3. Capital Area Breastfeeding Coalition
 Goal: To increase the number and duration of
women in the Lansing, Michigan area who initiate
and continue exclusive breastfeeding through the
recommended time period.
 The CABC meets monthly for a potluck dinner
meeting, complete with breastfeeding moms and
babies, toddlers, and great food. Minutes of the
meeting are sent out by email and posted to the
website. Everyone helps keep it going!

4. Five Initiatives of the CABC
Improve the state of breastfeeding in Mid-Michigan
by:
 Working to support pending legislation that will
make breastfeeding in public a mother’s civil right.
 Hosting breastfeeding and baby-friendly spaces at
local festivals and events to offer mothers and
children a place to relax, feed & gather.
 Developing a kit for doctors to educate their
expecting patients about breastfeeding.

5. Five Initiatives of the CABC
Improve the state of breastfeeding in Mid-Michigan
by:
 Development of a statewide Breastfeeding Coalition
web site that would distribute accurate information
about local breastfeeding resources.
 Fostering a culture where all babies in Michigan are
breastfed happily, successfully and with support.

6. Improve the state of breastfeeding in
Mid-Michigan by:
Working to support pending legislation that will
make breastfeeding in public a mother’s civil right.
In 2011, CABC members met with Susan Schmidt, legislative aide to
Representative Mark Meadows, and with MDCH Director, Olga Dazzo,
to advocate for pro-breastfeeding Michigan legislation. In addition,
CABC members asked the Director to look into the barriers to pump
loans and purchases for Medicaid eligible moms.
CABC designed and planned a policy-makers reception to increase
awareness of the need for legislative and policy support for
breastfeeding moms and babies. The theme and logo, “High Five for
Breastfeeding” were used for the reception posters and invitations.

7. High Five For Breastfeeding – September, 2011
 Coalition members
planned a reception
and designed a logo
and materials for
inviting area policy-
makers to attend and
learn more about the
coalition and its goals.

8. CABC High Five for Breastfeeding Reception
September, 2011

9. CABC High Five for Breastfeeding Reception
September, 2011

10. Improve the state of breastfeeding in
Mid-Michigan by:
Hosting breastfeeding and baby-friendly spaces at
local festivals and events to offer mothers and
children a place to relax, feed & gather.
In 2012, the CABC applied for space at the East Lansing Art
Festival, and organized volunteers and materials for a Mom
and Baby Tent, staffed throughout the 2-day festival,
including a drawing for a gift basket, a changing table, play
areas, drinking water, breastfeeding resource guides, and a
shaded place for moms and dads to sit. The tent was well-
utilized by families during the event. CABC plans to expand the
tent for the 2013 event.

11. East Lansing Art Festival Mom and Baby Tent

12. East Lansing Art Festival Mom and Baby Tent
Boobie beanies were
included in the gift
basket!

13. Improve the state of breastfeeding in
Mid-Michigan by:
Developing a kit for doctors to educate their
expecting patients about breastfeeding.
Coalition members have developed a Breastfeeding Resource
Guide for area physicians, and mailed it out in 2012. Discussion
continues on how best to develop, disseminate and update a kit
for doctors to use with their expecting patients.
Resource Guide can be found on www.Mibreastfedbaby.com
website.

14. Improve the state of breastfeeding in
Mid-Michigan by:
Development of a statewide Breastfeeding
Coalition website that would distribute accurate
information about local breastfeeding resources.
CABC launched a re-designed website with a schedule of
upcoming events, posting of meeting highlights, and the Mid-
Michigan Breastfeeding Resource Guide.

15. Improve the state of breastfeeding in
Mid-Michigan by:
To supplement the www.Mibreastbaby.com website,
the CABC redesigned the Facebook site

16. Improve the state of breastfeeding in
Mid-Michigan by:
Foster a culture where all babies in Michigan are
breastfed happily, successfully and with
support.
Getting the word out is an important key to promoting
breastfeeding and changing the culture. Celebrating and
publicizing breastfeeding efforts can be an important part of
creating and fostering support for breastfeeding.

17. Hometown Health Hero Award
The CABC nominated one of its members to become a Healthier
Hometown Hero, for using her public relations skills to promote
breastfeeding in the mid-Michigan area. The former Director of
the Michigan Department of Community Health, Olga Dazzo,
presented Ann Siegle, CABC Member, with a Healthier
Hometown Hero Award in April,2012. Congratulations to Ann
and to CABC!

18. Healthier Hometown Hero Award
 Ann Siegle and former
MDCH Director, Olga
Dazzo, at the Healthier
Hometown Hero Awards
ceremony at the State
Capitol, April 2012.

19. Healthier Hometown Hero Award
 Susan Schmidt,
Ann Siegle, and
Diane Revitte at
the State Capitol,
April 2012

20. Sparrow Best Fed Beginnings
Sparrow Hospital is one of nine Michigan Hospitals to
receive a grant to provide assistance in becoming a
Baby-Friendly Hospital. CABC is willing to partner
with Sparrow to provide input and community
outreach.

21. Sparrow Best Fed Beginnings
The Coalition has several members who are on the
core group for the Sparrow Hospital Best-Fed
Beginnings grant; CABC hopes to provide input and
also to have access to improved information for
area doctors and breastfeeding moms.

22. It’s been a busy year for the CABC…
What’s next?

23. What’s Next?
 Host the Michigan Breastfeeding Network Meeting
 Invite other Michigan Breastfeeding Coalitions to have a
page on the www.Mibreastfedbaby.com website
 Plan for next year’s East Lansing Art Festival
breastfeeding tent
 Work with Sparrow on the Bestfed Beginnings initiative

24. Thank You!
QUESTIONS WELCOME