Breastfeeding fundamentals Why is breastfeeding such a big deal to your employees? Why isn’t infant formula an acceptable option? Why does breastfeeding warrant special accommodations in the workplace? Look to this one-page summary for answers to these questions. more info…
Business Case for Breastfeeding In 2008, the U.S. Department of Health and Human and Services published a comprehensive resource kit to help employers create breastfeeding friendly worksites. The kit includes: a worksite breastfeeding support policy, timeline for implementing a lactation support program, return on investment info, promotional flyers and table tents, newsletter article, case studies and more. It is available hard copy from the Department of Health website; some components are available soft copy for download. more info...
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Lactation Toolkit Provides an example of how to create a comprehensive lactation, or breastfeeding, support program for nursing mothers at the work site. more info...
Child Care Centers Resource Kit - Ten Steps to become Breastfeeding Friendly (1/09) Developed for Wisconsin this concise, easy to follow resource kit is complete with a self appraisal questionnaire and step by step guidance and resources. more info...Colorado Breastfeeding Rates As an employer, you may want to get a feel for how many of your employees will require lactation accommodation in the workplace. It may be helpful to reference this document, which summarizes the percent of Colorado mothers who breastfeed their children at various ages (birth, 3 months, 6 months, 1 year). more info...
Colorado Department of Labor Workplace law information andsupport for employers more info...
Colorado Employer Toolkit This simple, informative six page document includes everything Colorado employers need to know to begin supporting breastfeeding employees in compliance with the new law. Included are: a summary of the Workplace Accommodations for Nursing Mothers Act, information about how supporting breastfeeding employees helps your bottom line, specifics on the three basic elements of a successful lactation program, fast health facts, and a sample workplace breastfeeding support policy. more info…
Investing in Maternal and Child Health This toolkit, from the National Business Group on Health, presents strategies and tools to improve the health of children; adolescents; and women before, during, and after pregnancy. Its scope includes, and goes well beyond, breastfeeding (the full document is over 300 pages long). With respect to breastfeeding, the toolkit states that lactation programs have been found to reduce overall healthcare costs (based upon actuarially-driven cost-impact assessments), increase employer attractiveness and improve productivity. The toolkit recommends and details specific lactation benefits within preventative postpartum care coverage. more info...
The Milk Memos: How Real Moms Learned to Mix Business with Babies – and How You Can, Too This book was co-authored by a member of the Colorado Breastfeeding Coalition. It is a one-of-a-kind guide to balancing motherhood and work, based on actual journals kept by a group of IBM women during their visits to the company’s employee lactation room. The journal entries, full of humor, support and encouragement, are interwoven with concrete, practical advice on topics ranging from breastfeeding to child-care to sleep. Many employers, large and small, have provided or recommended this book to new mothers – and mothers’ responses have been very positive. more info…
Moms on Board A Colorado organization that can help you establish, enhance, and/or maintain lactation programs, policies and facilities. Moms on Board offers: education for employers and working mothers, support and “getting started” coaching for breastfeeding, working mothers, and lactation program implementation services. more info…
Percent of companies offering lactation programs The Society of Human Resources Management conducts and publishes a survey each year regarding healthcare and wellness benefits. Here you will find information on what percent of companies offer lactation programs by company size and industry. more info…
Sample lactation policies Documenting your lactation policy in writing means spelling out the parameters of the program and specifying company and employee responsibilities. This helps solidify the policy, standardize implementation, and minimize confusion or debate. We have collected some excellent model policies for your reference.more...
Sample lactation rooms - Here are some photos showing actual lactation rooms ranging from basic to deluxe. more...
Sample communication to employees and managers Communication is key to a successful workplace lactation program. Here you will find information you can use to communicate with current, new and prospective employees as well as managers and supervisors. (link coming soon)
Support for breastfeeding in the workplace (from CDC) The Center for Disease Control and Prevention published this document, which includes rationale for workplace lactation programs, evidence of their effectiveness, description, characteristics and examples of successful lactation programs, legislative information, and recommended actions. more info…