Local Breastfeeding Supporter Meetings
These meetings are intended as a space for MIBFN, local breastfeeding supporters, and statewide partners to share, listen, and learn alongside each other as a way of informing each of our statewide and local breastfeeding support strategies. Our meeting model is based on networking, incubating ideas, taking action, and achieving outcomes.
Who Participates
MIBFN collaborates with organizations and individuals to bring about actionable, system-level changes that are centered on the diverse experiences of Michigan families with young children. Meetings are open to breastfeeding supporters in Michigan – we are continuously working to widen our circle, with a focus on centering marginalized families. To view a list of the organizations we are currently inviting and who are participating in these meetings, click here. We are so honored to serve in solidarity with breastfeeding supporters. If you would like to join our next meeting of breastfeeding supporters, please email hello@mibreastfeeding.org for more information.
Group Norms
These group norms were adapted from Emergent Strategy by adrienne maree brown:
- This is a BRAVE space
- Listen from the inside out, or listen from the bottom up (a feeling in your gut matters)
- W.A.I.T.–Why Am I Talking?
- Make Space, Take Space (a post-ableist adaptation of “step up, step back”)
- Confidentiality–take the lessons, leave the details
- Be open to learning
- Be open to someone else speaking your truth
- Building, not selling–when you speak, converse, don’t pitch
- Yes/and, both/and
- Value the process as much as, if not more than, you value the outcomes
- Assume best intent, attend to impact
- Self care and community care–pay attention to your bladder, pay attention to your neighbors
Meetings and Main Themes
We are so honored to share space with the incredible breastfeeding supporters who join these calls. Please click below to view printable summary reports and the themes that guide our actions in response to the meetings.
- Breastfeeding and COVID-19 in April and May 2020
- August 2020 Breastfeeding Awareness in May and June 2020
- Breastfeeding Advocacy in July 2020
- Solidarity in Breastfeeding Advocacy and Birth Justice in August 2020
- Education in September 2020
- Summary Report of April-September 2020 Breastfeeding Supporter Meetings
- Community Building in October 2020
- COVID-19 Community Updates in November 2020
- COVID-19 Birth and Breastfeeding Justice and Serving Incarcerated Families in December 2020
- Mental Health and Breastfeeding in January 2021
- Dismantling Systemic Racism for Effective Breastfeeding Support in February 2021
- Showing Up to Support Families During COVID-19 in March 2021
- Investing in Local Breastfeeding Supporters in May 2021
- Creating New Ways to Build Community in June 2021
- Centering Families in Birth and Breastfeeding Systems in July 2021
If you were a participant in these meetings and have lost your link to the full meeting notes, please email hello@mibreastfeeding.org for more information.
Outcomes, Links, and Resources
In response to the information shared about Breastfeeding and COVID-19 during the April, May, June, October, and December 2020 meetings, we:
- Created a resource webpage for COVID-19
- Advocated for doulas to be allowed into hospitals to support birthing families (links to Executive Orders: 2020-07, 2020-37, and 2020-72)
- Opened access to participate in local coalition meetings virtually using MIBFN GoToMeeting account and technical support
- In partnership with Southeast Michigan IBCLCs of Color, hosted a fundraiser to provide PPE, equitable compensation for skilled lactation support, and lactation support supplies
- In partnership with Tameka Jackson-Dyer, IBCLC, CHW of Southeast Michigan IBCLCs of Color, recorded and published a bonus Great Lakes Breastfeeding Webinar, “Pushing Through: Community Breastfeeding Support in a Pandemic”
- Created and published a Child Care and COVID-19 resource for child care providers
- Created and published a Workplace and COVID-19 resource for employers
- Submitted CRF Rapid Response Initiative proposal in partnership with LactPower; Learn, Play, Grow; YOLO Breastfeeding, and Southeast Michigan IBCLCs of Color
- In partnership with Sekeita Lewis-Johnson, DNP, FNP-BC, IBCLC, Mia Roetherford, BA, IBCLC, Elon Geffrard, BS, CLC, ICCE, CD(DONA) recorded and published a bonus Great Lakes Breastfeeding Webinar, “Innovative Community Solutions to Support Breastfeeding”
- Created and began implementation of a COVID-19 outreach and advocacy program with birthing hospitals, grassroots organizations, and WIC Agencies in every county across Michigan
- Participated in direct advocacy with Michigan Department of Corrections to change their October 2020 standards to allow breastfeeding during video calls
- Special thanks to Mothering Justice; American Friends Service Committee; Black Breastfeeding Caucus; Black Mothers Breastfeeding Association; Michigan Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics; Michigan Council for Maternal and Child Health; MomsRising; Narrative Nation, Inc / The Irth App; State Senator Erika Geiss; Your goodVillage Collective for collaboration on the MDOC advocacy
In response to the information shared about August 2020 Breastfeeding Celebrations during the May and June 2020 meetings, we:
- Created a resource webpage for August Breastfeeding Awareness celebrations
- Worked with Governor Whitmer to proclaim August 2020 Breastfeeding Awareness Month in Michigan
- Supported Bridging the Breastfeeding Gap – Our Stories event hosted by Oakland Breastfeeding Coalition and Learn, Lactate, Grow and sponsored by Blue Cross Complete
- Established and published August Breastfeeding Awareness information (webpage, press release, social media, and newsletter) in solidarity with local efforts
- Worked with Governor Whitmer to proclaim August 2020 Breastfeeding Awareness Month in Michigan
- Amplified event collaborators’ August Breastfeeding Awareness Month content and events through sharing and interacting with their social media channels all month long
In response to the information shared about Breastfeeding Advocacy during the April, May, June, July, and December 2020 meetings, we:
- Submitted comment to MDHHS in support of their Title V Block Grant Proposal
- In partnership with Southeast Michigan IBCLCs of Color, created and published a letter to pediatric medical providers
- Created and published updates to our Advocacy Platform
- Designed and shared COVID-19 flyer for employers in collaboration with the Center for Worklife Law
- Gathered comment on the State of Michigan Breastfeeding Plan and provided feedback to MDHHS (root causes of breastfeeding inequity, decolonizing data collection, systemic support for breastfeeding outcomes, and financial investment in breastfeeding support services, acknowledgment of and investment in traditional breastfeeding practices)
In response to the information shared about Solidarity in Breastfeeding Advocacy and Birth Justice during the August 2020 meeting, we:
- Began rebrand of Maternity Care campaign to better align with our commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
In response to the information shared about Education during the September 2020 meeting, we:
- Reaffirmed our commitment to center the Great Lakes Breastfeeding Webinars on the lived experiences of Black and Indigenous People of Color. More information was released on January 19th with the GLBW Update.
In response to the information shared about Community Building during the October 2020 meeting, we:
- Announced and participated in new partnership with Mi Milk Collective that centers Black birth and Black breastfeeding to combat infant and maternal mortality and address systemic inequities
- Invited local breastfeeding supporters to facilitate the meetings
- Invited local breastfeeding supporters to a full year of meetings at once by publishing the 2021 meeting schedule and calendar invites
These meetings, and everything that happens after, are a work in progress. Stay tuned to this page for updates and the progress of our efforts. If your organization’s outcomes are not listed, please reach out to hello@mibreastfeeding.org to share your update!
Accountability
The Local Breastfeeding Supporter Meetings are a brave space for the MIBFN team and those who participate. We honor the work being done in these monthly calls and in the time in between. We are so grateful for everything shared and feel very accountable for both transparency and action in support of the needs identified within the space. To that end, here are some of the areas we are still developing and look forward to continued growth:
Meeting facilitation: Currently, MIBFN staff facilitate the meetings with input from local breastfeeding supporters; in 2021, we intend to grow this to include meeting facilitation by local breastfeeding supporters.
Agenda setting: Always begins with introductions and transparency about note-taking; Agendas are sent (via google docs) to participants in advance of the meetings) Currently, MIBFN staff set the agenda items with input from local breastfeeding supporters; in 2021, we intend to grow this to include agenda-setting by local breastfeeding supporters.
Group records & accountability for action/outcomes:
- Meeting notes – format: google doc, de-identified and distributed to everyone on the participants list within 1 week of the meeting; purpose: detailed record of what was discussed to support creation of the Meeting Recap
- Meeting recap – format: PDF, approved by local breastfeeding supporters prior to wider distribution; purpose: to support MIBFN, Michigan WIC, and local breastfeeding support efforts to advocate and changes systems in solidarity with breastfeeding families
- Webpages – mibreastfeeding.org/local-meetings, mibreastfeeding.org/covid-19
- Additional communications – as necessary, dependent on the topic and requests of local breastfeeding supporters