CREATING SPACEA LACTATION ACCOMMODATION PROJECT

THE MISSION

To improve support for breastfeeding mothers at

UCLA and encourage breastfeeding as a best nutritional practice by investing in lactation

accommodation, education, and support on campus.

Viral Facebook photo from Jacci Sharkey at her graduation from University of the Sunshine Coast

THE STORY How did Creating Space begin?

MOTHERS OF COLOR IN ACADEMIA DE UCLA (MOCA)

MOCA de UCLA is a student group and collective aiming to build systemic support and enforce policies that address the unique needs of mothers of color and allies at the University of California, Los Angeles.

http://mocadeucla.wixsite.com/mysite

Picture by MOCA de UCLA, Grassroots advocacy founder, community partner

THE STORY

• In 2014, a need was recognized after informal discussions with graduate students

• Several described difficulties in transitioning back to school after having children

• Many described being unable to breastfeed for as long as they desired

• Key barrier was being unable to find clean and private spaces to pump

• Sally Saleh*, championed the issue for Reproductive Health Interest Group (RHIG) project

• In 2015, RHIG was awarded the Healthy Campus Initiative Grant

THE PROBLEM Why is this important and what is happening at UCLA?

BREASTFEEDING RECOMMENDATIONS

Exclusive breastfeeding for first 6 months of life, with complementary feeding until 1 year and extended feeding as long as the

mother and infant desire.

(American Academy of Pediatrics: https://www2.aap.org/breastfeeding/faqsbreastfeeding.html)

FORMATIVE RESEARCH• Participant observation of community

events• Key informant interviews of MOCA mothers• Informal interviews with staff/faculty

mothers • Literature review• Examination of policies at UCLA and model

schools • Referrals to administrators • Background knowledge on breastfeeding-

friendly practices, provided by co-founder Sally Saleh

Picture by Jasmine Uysal from MOCA rally, 2016

PROBLEM STATEMENT1. Increased burden for low income and

minority mothers

2. UCLA policy is not enforced and policy alone is not sufficient to protect mothers rights

3. Lack of social support or visibility for mothers on campus

4. The UCLA built environment is not “breastfeeding friendly”

5. Lack of medical support for mothers on campus breastfeeding

Picture from Jessica Shortall is the author of Work. Pump. Repeat: The New Mom’s Guide to Breastfeeding and Going Back to Work

THE PROJECT How does Creating Space work?

IMPROVING THE BREASTFEEDING CLIMATE

Positive Breastfeeding Environment

Built Environment

Connecting Resources

Needs Assessment

Service Delivery

2016-2017 GOALS & OBJECTIVES

To improve support for breastfeeding moms at UCLA. 1. Create a collaborative consortium of partners to implement the project and support

parenting students.

2. Document the need and stories of mothers who have breastfed at UCLA.

3. Map, assess, and improve on campus lactation rooms.

4. Train three UCLA staff members as lactation educators and implement lactation

counseling services on campus.

CONNECTING RESOURCES

Creating a Breastfeeding Support Community at UCLA

PARTNERS & STAKEHOLDERS OF CREATING SPACE

NEEDS ASSESSMENT How great is the need? What are the problems?

NEEDS ASSESSMENTNeed: No existing data on UCLA pregnant or breastfeeding mothers, limited research at college campuses

Goal: To capture the needs and experiences of mothers who have breastfed/pumped at UCLA.

Research Questions: 1. How do mothers at UCLA experience breastfeeding on campus?

2. What services and supports have mothers at UCLA used? How could these be improved?

3. Has mothers’ breastfeeding experience at UCLA impacted their professional/educational pursuits?

Health? If so, how?

4. Did mothers encounter barriers when breastfeeding/pumping on campus? What were they?

5. How many mothers are in need of breastfeeding and/or lactation support?

NEEDS ASSESSMENTMethods: Exploratory study design

Mixed methods cross-sectional study

Progress: IRB approved, study is underway

Future Directions: Increase the evidence on breastfeeding in university setting

Propose larger cross-campus cohort study

Prompt UCLA administration to increase resources for breastfeeding support

Creating Space team members presenting at HCI “Dream Revolution”, 2017

BUILT ENVIRONMENT Increasing the quality, number, and accessibility of lactation spaces at UCLA

BUILT ENVIRONMENTNeed:Accurate and inclusive map of lactation spaces at UCLA

Standardized university protocol for finding and accessing rooms

Goal: To improve lactation accommodations at UCLA for breastfeeding moms.

Objectives:1. Identify and map all lactation accommodation rooms

2. Assess lactation rooms

3. Create digital map of rooms with contact and booking information

4. Making improvements to existing rooms and recommendations to HCI

BUILT ENVIRONMENT

Mapping:• Key informant interviews• Updating incorrect UCLA

lactation room map• Create new map in

partnership with UCLA transportation department

Improving:• Based off assessment and

needs assessment results• To be completed in Fall

2017 with HCI Funding• Further recommendations

to administration

Assessing:• Exploratory study• Two cross-sectional survey

assessments• 121 Question survey assessing:

accessibility, privacy, cleanliness, amenities, appropriateness, community needs, American Institute of Architects (AIA) lactation room standards.

Methods:

RESULTS: UCLA COMPLIANCE WITH AIA LACTATION ROOM CODE

FINDING: FEW ROOMS ARE FUNCTIONING UP TO CODE

FINDING: INCONSISTENT & INAPPROPRIATE AMENITIES

APPROPRIATE

NOT

APPROPRIATE

FINDING:INCONSISTENT & INAPPROPRIATE SIGNAGE

FINDING: INCONSISTENT & INAPPROPRIATE ROOM ACCESSIBILITY

Map by Jimmy Tran, Healthy Campus Initiative Map from UCLA Human Resources

BUILT ENVIRONMENTFuture Directions:• 2017-2018 Academic Year: Improve existing rooms based on survey results • 2018 and beyond: work with UCLA Facilities to identify spaces for new rooms.

Map from UCLA Davis Breastfeeding Support Video

SERVICE DELIVERY Providing lactation education to moms at UCLA

SERVICE DELIVERYNeed:No existing lactation support services on campus and no existing referral system for lactation services

Goal: Provide lactation education and support services to students and workers on campus.

Objectives:1. Train three UCLA staff members as certified lactation educator counselors (CLECs) 2. Implement lactation educator service on campus with clinical bookings through ASHE and

breastfeeding support groups 3. Monitor and evaluate the use and quality of lactation educator services

LACTATION EDUCATION SUPPORT AT UCLAUCSHIP INSURANCE POLICY:“WELL-WOMEN CARE IS FREE OF CHARGE: At the SHC, you can receive a wide range of preventive exams and cancer screenings. UC SHIP covers free FDA approved contraception and mammograms as well as breast-feeding support.For covered dependents, there is free well-child care through Anthem Blue Cross network physicians. These are just a few examples of the coverage we provide for services and care attuned to a woman’s health concerns throughout her lifespan.”

(UCSHIP UC Irvine Brochure: http://www.ucop.edu/ucship/campuses/irvine/UCI%2013-14/UC-SHIP-UCI-Graduate-Student-Plan-Brochure-13-14.pdf)

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3 I want to clarify where this policy comes from. The citation gives the UC Irvine policy but is this supposed to be the same campus-wide?CRISTINA HUNTER O'LEARY, 5/15/2017

6 Yes it came from a UC Irvine brochure but the policy should be the same campus wideJASMINE UYSAL, 5/15/2017

LACTATION EDUCATION SUPPORT & SERVICEUCLA Certified Lactation Educator Counselors (CLECs) Carol Chen, Ashe Dietician Jean Libby, Students with Dependents Program Director Kaitlin Reid, Health Educator, Student Health Education and Promotion

Service Implementation: • Clinical care appointments at Ashe Student Health & Wellness Center• Drop-in office hours at the Bruin Resource Center & Ashe Student Health & Wellness Center• Educational workshops

Creating Space team members at SAC lactation room grand reopening, 2017

LACTATION SERVICES FLOWCHART

SERVICE DELIVERYFuture Directions: • Implement final service evaluation tool

• Collect evaluation questionnaire data

• Analyze and disseminate results to Ashe, and other stakeholders to improve campus services

• Increase service utilization

Example of educational handout, created by Cristina Hunter

THE VISION At the end of the day, what do we want UCLA to look like?

MODEL SCHOOLSUC DavisUC IrvineUC MercedUC BerkeleyMichigan StateArizona State

MOVING FORWARD 2017-20181. Complete the needs assessment and disseminate results to campus

administrators and partners

2. Use and publish exploratory data to further the inquiry and develop the evidence-base on breastfeeding mothers on campus

3. Create new lactation rooms and renovate existing rooms to bring UCLA up to code

4. Collaborate with Title IX and Breastfeed LA to develop appropriate breastfeeding and lactation policies at UCLA

5. Develop a breastfeeding students toolkit to ease the transition back to school for student-parents

6. Continue to develop strong community relationships and institutionalize campus support systems for mothers

CREDITS • Mothers of Color in Academia de UCLA (MOCA): Community Partners• Reproductive Health Interest Group (RHIG): Parent organization, funder• Healthy Campus Initiative, Be Well Pod: funder, support• ASHE Student Health & Wellness Center: Implementing stakeholder• Bruin Resource Center (BRC) : Implementing stakeholder• UCLA Student Health Education & Promotion : Implementing stakeholder• UCLA Facilities: Implementing stakeholder• UCLA Sustainability: Implementing stakeholder• Staff Assembly: Implementing stakeholder• Creating Space Graduate and Undergraduate Student Volunteers

Project Manager: Jasmine Uysaluysaljasmine@gmail.com(425) 985-0772