Six steps to building local breastfeeding coalitions
1) Consider who influences a mother's decision to breastfeed.
2) What are the specific community linkages you already have and what linkages do you need to make?
3) How do you make participation in a breastfeeding coalition desirable to these influencers?
4) Invite these influencers to a meeting.
6) Develop an organizational structure.
Download the Growth of a Breastfeeding Coalition worksheet here to guide your work through the six steps below.
1) Consider who influences a mother's decision to breastfeed.
Take a moment and consider who influences a mother's decision to breastfeed. Some common answers include:
- Family
- Health Care Providers
- Child Care Providers
- Employers
- Church
- WIC and other social services
- Legislators
- Media
Think carefully about whether there are influencers that are very specific to your community, such as a large employer or vocal civic group. List these in the first column of page one of the worksheet.
2) What are the specific community linkages you already have and what linkages do you need to make?
In the second column of page one, write down corresponding specific names of community contacts you already know. These are the primary potential members of your coalition.
Now turn to page two of the worksheet. In the first column, list the influencers with whom you are not yet linked. In the second column, note where or how you can make these connections. These are the secondary potential members of your coalition, where targeted recruiting efforts will be necessary.
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3) How do you make participation in a breastfeeding coalition desirable to these influencers?
Whenever you invite someone to participate in the coalition, you will need to appeal to their motivations for involvement.
On the first page where you have listed the specific people you are already linked to, make notes about what you think will motivate them to participate, and also list ways you would like their help.
On the second page where you have identified linkages that are still needed, try to anticipate what will be compelling to them, as well as potential barriers to their involvement and ways you can work around them. Remember that this worksheet can be a fluid document you update as you get more information.
For many of the people on both of these lists, the health risks of not breastfeeding will be one compelling factor for participation.
Honing your skill to clearly communicate these risks will improve your outreach efforts.
- A list of risk factors is available for download here.
- Sample invitation letters are available for download here.
- The Breastfeeding Promotion Ideas: Closing the gap on racial and ethnic breastfeeding disparities section of this website has concrete ideas for community networking.
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4) Invite these influencers to a meeting.
You have identified the people you already know, and found the people you need to know.
Now set up a meeting time and location with consideration to bus access and parking, child-friendly facility or child care, interpreter services if appropriate and snacks, and invite all the likely participants. By being mindful of these aspects you are providing equal access to encourage diversified attendance.
Whoever can, will come. Remember, whatever the numbers, its a great beginning
Have everyone introduce themselves, stating why they are attending.
- This will help define the motivation or problems within your community
- Tell them your vision. Why did you ask them there?
Ask for a volunteer to take and later distribute meeting minutes. Meeting minutes from the start helps keep the group together.
Agree on some ground rules for the meetings.
- Respect
- Confidentiality
Discuss how often the group will meet, and venue feedback
- Monthly meetings keep the momentum going
- Some professionals appreciate the option of quarterly advisory positions
- Some groups take turns hosting
Give everyone something to do for the next meeting, so they feel valued and connected.
- Local breastfeeding statistics and resources will be important references for years to come. Assign research to learn:
- Breastfeeding statistics: national, state and WIC. For example, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) compiles breastfeeding data as part of the National Immunization Survey.
- Number of births in the local area and state and related census data (racial/ethnic, socio-economic, births to teen mothers, preemies and low birth weight, etc.) Much of this can be found with the Oregon Public Health Division PRAMS data.
- Risks of not breastfeeding. See: www.4woman.gov
- Local resources list for moms. Hospital and private lactation consultants, La Leche Leaders, childbirth educators, etc.
- People from this first group can help recruit other influencers on your list
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6) Develop an organizational structure.
Mission Statement:
Drafting a Mission Statement and by-laws will be important tools to:
- Clearly state your intentions
- Recruit new members
- Connect to other breastfeeding coalitions in Oregon, and
- Fundraise
- Please see the Governance Resources page for more information.
