Community Health Services Experience:Engaging the Community

Catharine Lowes RN BScN , IBCLC (RLC)

April 2015

To inspire participants to think “outside of the box “ when connecting to

community stakeholders

objective

Niagara

Breastfeeding Niagarapreviously the Niagara Region Breastfeeding Coalition

breastfeedingniagara.ca

The websiteVideo links Getting startedTrouble shootingLocal resourcesHow to write an advocacy letterAbout formulaMaking an informed decisionBreastfeeding in publicTopics for educatorsLink to Breastfeeding Matters in other languagesReducing pain during painful proceduresInformation for Dads

Engaging teachersBreastfeeding is a life skill which requires prior knowledge and attitudinal acceptance

Students benefit from• knowledge and confidence in how their bodies

work• male and female students learning about

breastfeeding• critical thinking as it applies to commercial

products such as the use of commercial infant formulas

Social Media

Breastfeeding Challenge

IT’S OK TO brEAsTfeed in PUBLIC (slogan stolen from Toronto Public Health)

BFI Community Advisory Network• Chair of Breastfeeding Niagara• Chair of the Public Health (PH)

Breastfeeding Committee• Hospital manager• Hospital IBCLC• Midwife• Manager of PH Reproductive Health• Community Doula• Managers of Ontario Early Years

Centre Programs• Manager of Canadian Prenatal

Nutrition Program (CPNP)• Native Centre - CPNP• Family and Children Services

representative• School team health promoter• Paediatrician (corresponding)

• Local prenatal instructors• Dr. office nurses (corresponding)• Positively Living Niagara - living with

HIV• Social Determinants of Health-

breastfeeding outreach nurse

New to our group • Dieticians from local super

stores• Manager of Ontario Works

(social assistance)

We would like• Food bank representative• Day care representative• Pharmacist• dentist

Collaboration between Hospital and Health Unit• Meet each month with the manager of Maternal Child

and Paediatric units• Share all of our resources• All BFI resources are endorsed by the health unit, the

hospital and the coalition• We have worked in collaboration in the past to:• Provide lunch and learns to hospital staff• Include hospital staff in our café style of learning days• Sponsor hospital staff to attend our BFI Expo• Include hospital managers in our BFI designation

planning and debriefing

Breastfeeding WorkshopTWO hour workshopOpen to families, students and health care providers

Topics include• Why families breastfeed• Baby led latching• Hand expression• How to know baby is getting enough• Review of the informed decision making process• Why families receive free formula• How to avoid formula supplementation in hospital• Why it is important to breastfeed in public

• Engage the unsuspecting partners (health inspectors, food banks)

• Become involved in provincial committees• Be inspired by other health units• Do not underestimate the power of passionate

volunteers• Consider creative educational models to engage

stakeholders (ex. Breastfeeding Café)• Have a presence in the community

Being Creative

Questions?

Catharine Lowes RN BScN IBCLC (RLC) BFI CoordinatorFamily Health DivisionNiagara Region Public Health905.688.8248 ex 7509 www.niagararegion.ca