The Multnomah County Board of County Commissioners dually proclaimed Aug. 1 to 7, 2024, as World Breastfeeding Week and Aug. 25 to 31, 2024, as Black Breastfeeding Week in Multnomah County. The joint proclamation, passed during the Aug. 15 board meeting, aimed to educate, support, and raise awareness about the benefits of breastfeeding and chestfeeding.
Presenters also highlighted the collaborative work across County health programs that supports families in Multnomah County.
Lactation Program Supervisor Cidnee Potter described the County Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program, which provides support for Multnomah County families, including pregnant individuals and children up to 5 years old, through food access, nutrition education, lactation support, health screenings and referrals.
WIC’s lactation team, Potter said, provides breastfeeding and chestfeeding support in multiple languages — including English, Spanish, French, Russian and Ukrainian — from early pregnancy through the child's first birthday, she said. WIC served over 19,761 families in 2023.
Multnomah County WIC’s breastfeeding services program was awarded the Gold Award of Excellence in 2023 by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, as well as the 2024 Premiere WIC Breastfeeding Award, for its work and effectiveness.
WIC is planning to expand access to virtual groups for Black and African families throughout Oregon, Potter said. “We are so honored to serve our families.”
Potter also shared about WIC’s collaboration with Healthy Birth Initiatives (HBI), which works specifically with County residents identifying as Black, African American, or African/Caribbean immigrants or refugees. HBI, she said, provides breastfeeding support and culturally responsive home visits, from pregnancy until the child is 18 months old. There are no income or insurance requirements for program participants.
The WIC team additionally partners with the County’s Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH) program, which serves the Black and African community. REACH often collaborates with other local programs to address chronic disease burden and disparities, particularly among Black/African immigrant and refugee infants, youth, adults and elders, said Asia Rubio, a REACH program specialist.
“We recognize that families face different challenges through policies, systems and environments that don't always recognize their needs,” Rubio stated.
REACH addresses barriers to chestfeeding and breastfeeding through partnerships with WIC, Black Parent Initiative (BPI) and the African American Breastfeeding Coalition of Oregon (AABCO). “Our collaboration efforts are producing real results.”
A recent collaboration with I Am MORE resulted in a “mama pod” lactation space at the Soul Restoration Center, decorated and integrated into a space celebrating African American culture.
“These lactation spaces provide safe and comfortable environments for nursing mothers and demonstrate our commitment to supporting breastfeeding and chestfeeding families in our community,” said Rubio.
Rubio added that REACH continues to normalize breastfeeding and promote lactation spaces, with a new space planned for the Northeast Health Center to serve staff and clinic visitors.
Board remarks
“We made such progress and particularity in communities that have been historically marginalized,” said Commissioner Sharon Meieran about breastfeeding support, “It’s just one of the ways that we can support society in general in supporting healthy families.”
Commissioner Jesse Beason highlighted the crucial role of breastfeeding. “Civilization as we know it would not be possible without breastfeeding and without the work of so many women who have been not just mothers, but have been a wet nurse to many, many children and allowed our communities to thrive.”
Commissioner Julia Brim-Edwards recounted the lack of lactation spaces when she first became a mother.
“It was bathroom stalls, closets, employee breakrooms, and you really had to work to do something that’s quite natural,” she said, and commended the presenters for their work in the community to support breastfeeding.
“I want to tell you what a valuable resource and asset you all are and just imagine the huge impact that you all make in our community,” said Commissioner Lori Stegmann.
Chair Jessica Vega Pederson thanked the programs for their work and the support they provide for Multnomah County families, “the work that you do for so many families is important."