About Us

Executive Committee President Sahira Long Vice President: Michal Young Treasurer: Jacquelyn Benton Co-Secretary: Sharon Swinburne Kathleen Logan

Board of Directors 2011-2013 Term: Saundra Bishop Angela Ewing-Boyd Mudiwah Kadeshe Gwendolyn West 2010-2012 Term: Sharon Swinburne Kathy Logan Jenny Tender Michal Young

Our Accomplishments

2003

June 2003: DC Breastfeeding Taskforce was created as a Community Demonstration Project for National Breastfeeding Awareness Campaign

August 2003: DC Breastfeeding Drop-in Clinic opening

September 2003: Howard University Hospital Conference: Recapturing the Breastfeeding Tradition: The State of Breastfeeding in the African-American Community

2004

October 2004:

• Howard University Hospital Surgical Grand Rounds: Impact of Breast Surgery on Breastfeeding
• Panel discussion on Management of Routine Breastfeeding Problems in Busy Medical Setting

December 2004: DC Breastfeeding Coalition Established

2005

August 2005: World Breastfeeding Week Activities:

• Participation in Breastfeeding Fair at Children’s Hospital
• Howard University Grand Rounds: When Breastfeeding Does Not Come Naturally by Dr. Michal Young
• Children’s Hospital professorial rounds: The Risks of Not Breastfeeding by Dr. M. Young

September 2005: DC Breastfeeding Coalition incorporated as 501(c)(3) organization

December 2005: Collaborated on Workplace Breastfeeding Friendly Awards

2006

January 2006: DC Breastfeeding Resource Guide completed; 10,000 English copies and 5,000 Spanish copies distributed.

May 2006: Website launched

August 2006: World Breastfeeding Week Activities

• Providence: Basics of Breastfeeding for Healthcare Providers by Dr. Sharon Mass
• Unity Healthcare (Upper Cardozo Health Center): Impact of Birth Practices on Breastfeeding by Dr. M. Young
• WIC/ Farmer’s Market: Breastfeeding Celebration

2007

May 2007:

• Partnership with DC Public Schools Head Start and Early Head Start Programs established
• Participation in Community Health Education Fair in Trinidad section of NE

June 2007: Drs. Young and Tender testified in support of The Child’s Right to Nurse Human Rights Amendment Act of 2007

2008

June 2008: 10,000 English copies of 2nd edition of DC Breastfeeding Resource Guide published and distributed

August 2008: World Breastfeeding Week activities:

• DC Breastfeeding Friendly Hospital Initiative begun
• USBC Meeting: Breastfeeding Promotion Act Advocacy Toolkit Presentation by Dr. Sahira Long

2009

February 2009: Most Breastfeeding Friendly Website, Policies and Practices Awards for 2008 presented Georgetown University Hospital

June 2009: Organized Breastfeeding Advocacy Day to promote the Breastfeeding Promotion Act of 2009 (sponsored by DC and VA Chapters of American Academy of Pediatrics)

August 2009: DC Breastfeeding Friendly Hospital Initiative (DCBFHI) Follow-up Evaluations begun

October 2009:

• AAP Section on Breastfeeding Program: DCBFHI Poster Presentation by Dr. Sahira Long
• Received DC Chapter of AAP Advocacy Award

November 2009: Assisted USBC with Breastfeeding Promotion Act Legislative Briefing

2010

January 2010:

• Assisted USBC with organizing Lobby Day portion of State Breastfeeding Coalitions Conference (SBCC)
• USBC SBCC:
  • DCBFHI Poster Presentation by Dr. Sahira Long
  • Breastfeeding Advocacy Day Poster Presentation by Dr. Jennifer Tender
  • Breakfast Table Topic Discussion on Strategies to Improve Breastfeeding
  • Rates in Low-Income, Minority Women facilitated by Kathleen Logan, Gwendolyn West, and Drs. Long, Tender and Young

March 2010:

• 2009 Breastfeeding Friendly Hospital Awards presented to Georgetown University Hospital
• Most-Improved Awards presented to Howard University Hospital (Practices), Providence Hospital (Website) and Washington Hospital Center (Policies)
• DCBFHI Presentation to Maryland Breastfeeding Coalition by Dr. Sahira Long

April 2010:

• Facebook page for DCBFC launched
• DCBFC awarded grant to host the Business Case for Breastfeeding training and conduct business outreach activities in collaboration with Maryland Breastfeeding Coalition (MBC)
• Drs. Tender and Young meet with representative from the DC Department of Health Care Finance to discuss improving coverage of lactation services and equipment among Medicaid patients in the District

May 2010:

• Presentation to the Mayor's Commission on Food and Nutrition on the State of Breastfeeding in Washington, DC and the DCBFHI by Drs. Tender, Long, and Young
• 10,000 copies of the 3rd edition of the DC Breastfeeding Resource Guide published

June 2010:

• Dr. Sahira Long participates in CDC expert panel meeting to Develop a National Strategy for Breastfeeding-Related Maternity Care Practices in Atlanta, GA

July 2010:

• DCBFC and MBC host Business Case for Breastfeeding training in Greenbelt, MD

August 2010:

• DCBFC and MBC announce 1st annual Regional Breastfeeding Friendly Worksite Recognition Awards

September 2010:

• Dr. Tender presented at OB/Gyn Grand rounds at WHC regarding prenatal discussions on breastfeeding by residents and attendings

October 2010:

• Carol Ryan presented Implementing The Joint Commission Core Measure: Exclusive Breastfeeding on Discharge at the 20th Annual Art of Breastfeeding Conference: "The Past, Present, and Future of Breastfeeding" in Chapel Hill, NC
  
• AAP Section on Breastfeeding Program:
  • DCBFHI Final Results Poster Presentation by Dr. Sahira Long
  • Breastfeeding Advocacy Day Poster Presentation by Dr. Michal Young
• DCBFC establishes DC Perinatal Lactation Quality Care Collaborative to address breastfeeding-related maternity care practices

2011

January 2011:

• DCBFC and MBC distinguish 10 local businesses with Inaugural Regional Breastfeeding-Friendly Workplace Awards
• Dr. Sahira Long and Gabriela Garcia meet with representatives from DC Department of Health to discuss ways to improve DCBFC and DOH collaboration on breastfeeding support and promotion efforts
• Dr. Sahira Long invited to present "Healthcare and Community Support in Action" at the US Surgeon General's Call to Action to Support Breastfeeding

February 2011:

• Dr. Sahira Long writes MomsRising blog about African American mothers and breastfeeding in celebration of Black History Month

March 2011:

• DCBFHI Final Results Poster Presentation by Kathy Logan at National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners Conference
• DCBFC and MBC award 5 local business a Business Case for Breastfeeding Mini-grant to establish or augment their employee lactation support program
• DCBFC collaborates with Children's National Medical Center and DC WIC State Agency to establish the Children's National East of the River Lactation Support Center

April 2011:

• Drs. Long, Tender and Young met with a legislative aide from Senator Mikulski's office to discuss USBC letter requesting dedicated federal funding to support breastfeeding promotion

June 2011:

• DCBFC team participates in Susan G. Komen Global Race for the Cure to spread the word about the protective benefit of breastfeeding against premenopausal breast cancer

July 2011:

• Dr. Tender launches study of breastfeeding education for residents and medical students rotating at Holy Cross Hospital and George Washington University
• DCBFC hits 200+ fans on Facebook

August 2011:

• Senator Merkley and Representative Maloney introduced the Breastfeeding Promotion Act of 2011 in both houses of Congress

September 2011:

• Dr. Long presents "Answering the call: Obstretric support for breastfeeding in action" to the DC Section of the American Congress of Obstetrics and Gynecology

December 2011:

• The Washington Post does a story on the East of the River Lactation Support Center
• DCBFC conducts survey of DC OB/GYNs to assess knowledge, attitudes and practices of breastfeeding

2012

February 2012:

• Dr. Long does a blogpost on breastfeeding for MomsRising during black history month
• Georgetown achieves Baby Friendly Designation! Congratulations!
• DCBFC launches the 2012 DC Breastfeeding Friendly Hospital Initiative

March 2012:

• Breastfeeding Peer Counselor speaks to parenting teens at Anacostia High School during their Breastfeeding Workshop as part of the .New Heights Program.

April 2012:

• Drs. Tender and Long meet with DC Department of Healthcare Finance to discuss reimbursement of lactation services and equipment under DC Medicaid

May 2012:

• 2012 DC Breastfeeding Resource Guides released

June 2012:

• Howard University and Providence Hospitals selected to participate in Best Fed Beginnings Collaborative to become Baby-Friendly

August 2012:

• Dr. Long presents poster on .Addressing Breastfeeding-Related Maternity Care Practices Collaboratively. during USBC National State Breastfeeding Coalitions Conference
• DCBFC members participate in USBC Advocacy Day on Capitol Hill
• DCBFC hits 300+ fans on Facebook
• DCBFC participates in USBC social media campaign for National Breastfeeding Month "Twenty Actions in Twenty days"

September 2012:

• Dr. Long serves as a guest speaker for Best Fed Beginnings Region B presentation on Culturally Sensitive Maternity Care Practices

October 2012:

• Dr. Long presents poster on .Addressing Breastfeeding-Related Maternity Care Practices Collaboratively. during Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine Meeting and AAP NCE
• Alexandra Sims presents poster on .Survey of Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices of DC ACOG Members Related to Breastfeeding. during AAP NCE
• Inaugural DC Breastfeeding Promotion Mother Baby Summit at Providence Hospital
• DC DOH is one of 16 recipients of the DC/MD Breastfeeding Friendly Workplace Award! Congratulations!

November 2012:

• DCBFC awarded grant from W.K. Kellogg Foundation to continue services and research on improving breastfeeding rates among African American women at the East of the River Lactation Support Center

2013

January 2013:

• DC Breastfeeding Resource Guides translated in Spanish
• Dr. Tender presents on breastfeeding during Grand Rounds at Providence Hospital

February 2013:

• Dr. Long participates in #BlkBFing: Making HERstory blog carnival sponsored by ROSE, USBC and MomsRising
• Dr. Long participates in the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.s First Food Forum: Growing a Movement So All Children Thrive
• Dr. Tender presents on breastfeeding during Grand Rounds at Providence Hospital

March 2013:

• DCBFC article The DC Breastfeeding-Friendly Hospital Initiative: An Evaluation of Hospitals. Support for Breastfeeding in the Capital of the United States published online for the Journal of Human Lactation
• Dr. Long presents on breastfeeding during Grand Rounds at Providence Hospital

Our Members: Individuals

	Sister Hope Bauerlin has been a Lactation Consultant since 1995. She believes it is every child's right to Breastfeed and the Mother's privilege to give her infant the best start in life. Her strengths are pre-natal teaching and immediate follow -up in the hospital and home.
	Jacquelyn Bell-Benton, BSN, CBE, IBCLC has been a Board Certified Lactation Consultant since 2000. She also has over 18 years experience in various specialties of Maternal-Infant Health and is treasurer of the DC Breastfeeding Coalition. Her Breastfeeding philosophy: “Care has to be individualized and constructed for the unique behaviors of each mother/baby couplet.”
	Saundra Bishop first found out she was pregnant she thought nursing was weird and gross and had no interest in breastfeeding. Her pro-breastfeeding husband encouraged her to do research. After realizing the medical benefits, she begrudgingly agreed to breastfeed for "just 3 months". She now hopes to breastfeed her daughter, Ella, for longer than 2 years. She believes it was lack of education on a societal level that led her to the conclusion that breastfeeding was not better than a breast milk substitute.  Her breastfeeding journey has lead her to do advocacy work to support other mom's who are new to the world of breastfeeding.
	Claudia Booker is a La Leche League-certified breastfeeding peer counselor, DONA and ICTC certified birth doula, midwife birth assistant, and CAPPA-certified childbirth educator. She has founded Birthing Hands of DC, a company which provides a full range of birthing care, doula services, breastfeeding education and support, and related services to prepare women living in the Washington, DC, Maryland and Northern Virginia areas for birth and motherhood.
	Eileen Dufton After strictly breastfeeding her son over 32 years ago, Eileen has been a strong advocate for all moms who wish to do the same. She has been helping moms of preemies and moms separated from their newborns for over 30 years in the hospital setting.  Eileen developed her own web site to offer the latest reviews of literature and studies to moms of preemies and breast feeding moms as well as sites that offer the same.
	Angela Ewing-Boyd IBCLC is a Program Director at the Family Health and Birth Center, a non-profit birth center dedicated to bringing affordable, family-centered maternity, well-woman, and well-child care to all who need it in the District of Columbia. She has a B.A. in Social Work, and has received training as a childbirth educator, doula and breastfeeding peer counselor.
	Jade R. Howard RN,BSN, CCE, CLC has been a labor and delivery nurse for 9yrs on high risk units in both the NY and Washington, DC Metropolitan areas. She’s been a Certified Childbirth Educator for 2yrs and was recently certified in lactation counseling. She finds great joy in assisting new mothers and their babies with breastfeeding which makes her job that much easier and enjoyable.
	Mudiwah A. Kadeshe, RNC, CCE, IBCLC is currently the Director of Parent Services at Washington Hospital Center. “I am privileged to support families throughout the birth process.” Mudiwah credits her mother, who breastfed nine children, for her “holistic” approach to breastfeeding.
	Kathleen Logan RN, MSN, CPNP, IBCLC has been working with children and their families as a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP) since 1984 and became certified as a Lactation Consultant in 2000. She is working as a PNP and Lactation Consultant for Kaiser Permanente in the Washington Hospital Center newborn nursery and special care nursery. Kathleen is enthusiastic and passionate about promoting, providing, and supporting breastfeeding with a special interest in the management of maternal stress in the newborn period and its effects on breastfeeding practices.
	Sahira Long, M.D., FAAP, IBCLC is a board certified pediatrician and mother of two. She is president of the DC Breastfeeding Coalition and a general pediatrician at Children’s National Medical Center working at Martin Luther King and Good Hope Road Clinics. She is passionate about bridging the gap in the healthcare services received by the medically underserved and believes breastfeeding is one way to accomplish this preventively.
	Dia L. Michels is an internationally published, award-winning science writer who has written or edited over a dozen books for adults and children. Her titles include "Milk, Money and Madness," "Breastfeeding Facts for Fathers," and “If My Mom Were a Platypus.”  Dia is founder and president of Platypus Media, an independent press creating and distributing materials that promote attachment parenting, breastfeeding and co-sleeping. She lives with her husband and their three children in Washington, DC.
	Jennifer A. Norman is a wife, breastfeeding mother, and a Senior Manager in the Federal Government. After expressing just a little bit of milk for her premature daughter 20 years ago with no support or education on the importance of continuing so that her daughter could receive all the natural things her little body needed to catch up, she decided 14 years later that breastfeeding would be a requirement if she had any other children. Two children later, she is a breastfeeding advocate and support person. She is passionate about being on the ground to get the word out about the benefits of breastfeeding and supporting mothers who are on the fence about nursing. She believes that any amount of breast milk makes a difference but exclusivity and longevity are important to the child and mother's long term health.
	Dr. Mary Revenis is a neonatologist at Children’s National Medical Center, and Chair of the District of Columbia American Academy of Pediatrics Fetus and Newborn Committee.  Her interests are promoting breast milk feeding to infants in the intensive care unit, and support of mothers who have returned to work.
	Carol A. Ryan, MSN, RN, IBCLC - Director, Parenting Services, Georgetown University Hospital, International Lactation Consultant Association representative to the US Breastfeeding Committee, Chair of the USBC Membership Committee, author, lecturer, mother of 3 adult children, 2 grandchildren, RN of 40 years.
	Sharon Swinburne has worked in the healthcare industry for twenty years.  She is currently a Sales Consultant with Medela, Inc. and secretary of the DC Breastfeeding Coalition.
	Dr. Jennifer Tender is a board certified pediatrician, lactation consultant and mother of three.  She is a general pediatrician at Children's National Medical Center and chair of the education committee of the DC Breastfeeding Coalition.  Jennifer Tender's research interests include identifying barriers to breastfeeding among women receiving WIC.
	Michal A. Young, M.D., FABM, FAAP is currently an Associate Professor of Pediatrics at Howard University College of Medicine, Interim Chairman of the Department of Pediatrics, Director of the Newborn Services at Howard University Hospital, and Director of the B.L.E.S.S. (Breastfeeding Lactation Education Support Services) Initiative at Howard University Hospital. She also serves as one of the Breastfeeding Co-coordinators for the D. C. Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, vice president of the DC Breastfeeding Coalition, and is on the Advisory Board for the International Lactation Consultants Association.

Our Members: Corporate

• Washington Hospital Center
• Family Health and Birth Center

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