CPHQ to Promote Baby-Friendly Hospitals through New CDC Project

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• Last Updated on Tuesday, 16 December 2014 15:10

The Center for Public Health Quality (CPHQ) in collaboration with Abt Associates, Carolina Global Breastfeeding Institute (CGBI), Baby-Friendly USA, and Lactation Education Resources will provide technical assistance and training to hospitals to support the attainment of the Baby-Friendly designation and determine the most effective models to achieve Baby-Friendly designation status. The Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative, launched in the United States in 1996, designates as “Baby-Friendly” hospitals that meet the criteria for women to optimally initiate and continue breastfeeding.   

Abt Associates’ new three-year, $6.6 million contract with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), will empower the partners to work with hospitals to help them encourage breastfeeding and receive a Baby-Friendly designation.

“The improved outcomes from optimal breastfeeding practices are numerous and substantial, yet far too few of our children are getting those benefits,” according to Dr. Greg Randolph, Director of the Center for Public Health Quality.  “We are thrilled to partner with CGBI, Abt Associates, and Baby Friendly USA to assist hospitals that serve areas with some of the lowest breastfeeding rates in the country in order to improve breastfeeding rates and decrease inequities.”

“We are excited to be able to lend our expertise to this CDC-funded effort,” said Miriam Labbok, MD, MPH, IBCLC, Professor of the Practice in the Department of Maternal and Child Health at the Gillings School and director of the School’s CGBI. The project will begin recruiting hospitals for this effort within a month, using a set of criteria to be announced shortly.

Stay tuned for progress and updates on this exciting initiative in upcoming newsletters!