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
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
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