The Power of Peer Groups. Laurie Haessly, MA, RD, IBCLC Breastfeeding Coordinator County of Riverside Department of Public Health

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1 The Power of Peer Groups Laurie Haessly, MA, RD, IBCLC Breastfeeding Coordinator County of Riverside Department of Public Health

Riverside County s Peer Counseling Project

Working Women ~ WIC@Work Teens in School ~

2 Breastfeeding Peer Counseling in WIC Special Project Funded by State WIC Program Riverside County s Peer Counseling Project Targets (due to traditionally lowest exclusive breastfeeding rates): African-American Women ~ Sistah Connection Working Women ~ WIC@Work Teens in School ~ WIC@School Fathers ~ Dads4Life **Peer Group Focused we connect new moms

3 Breastfeeding Peer Counselors are AWESOME Are trained to work with their SPECIFIC peers in group settings Have special insight into the needs and challenges of their peer participants (they are their true peers) Build trusting relationships Are viewed as role models

Why Breastfeeding Mothers Peer Groups? Most women STOP breastfeeding when they perceive life problems as insurmountable. Peer Groups offer safe places to discuss and resolve life problems.

4 Why Breastfeeding Mothers Peer Groups? Most women STOP breastfeeding when they perceive life problems as insurmountable. Peer Groups offer safe places to discuss and resolve life problems. Peer Counselors provide reliable, accurate information. Peer Groups create mini-breastfeeding cultures. Peer Groups are the glue that holds breastfeeding mothers together. Peer Groups meet monthly with the same mothers. Peer Counselors facilitate group discussions using our 10-part curriculum.

Connecting New Mothers Peer Groups are comfortable places to make friends, be with the same moms each month and practice exclusive breastfeeding.

5 Connecting New Mothers Peer Groups are comfortable places to make friends, be with the same moms each month and practice exclusive breastfeeding. Peer Groups are used as an incentive to exclusively breastfeeding. Peer Groups always have great breastfeeding role models present. Breastfeeding mothers need to meet, get to know each other and build friendships!

6 Peer Counselors Help Meet Emotional Needs Our 10-part curriculum focuses on the emotional needs of new mothers. PCs facilitate exploration of: Five tasks to embracing motherhood Five emotional needs of children Two important questions are asked at each group: What challenges have you encountered this month? What made motherhood good this month?

7 Peer Counselors Help Overcome Barriers Bottle feeding cultures Lack of correct information Lack of support - isolated Lack of role models Mothers feeling overwhelmed Transition to role of mother

8 Sistah Connection Low Breastfeeding Rates Lowest initiation Lowest duration Perinatal Health Disparities Highest infant mortality rate Highest maternal postnatal mortality rate Highest preterm, low and very low birth weight rate

WIC@Work Working mothers receive accurate information on how to return to work and maintain full milk supplies. Peer counselors assist mothers with flexible back to work plans.

9 Working mothers receive accurate information on how to return to work and maintain full milk supplies. Peer counselors assist mothers with flexible back to work plans. (WIC provides free electric pumps to working mothers.) Peer counselors arm working mothers with information on having conversations with their employers prior to returning to work. Peer counselors educate mothers regarding the Lactation Accommodation Law. Working mothers connect to share their successes and ask other mothers for advice.

WIC@School Teen mothers receive the information and support needed from

Teen moms need peer support from other breastfeeding teens.

(WIC provides free electric pumps to working mothers.

10 Teen mothers receive the information and support needed from their peer counselors to be successful breastfeeding their babies. Teen moms need peer support from other breastfeeding teens. Peer counselors assist mothers with flexible back to school plans. (WIC provides free electric pumps to working mothers.) Peer counselors act as liaisons with schools ensuring teens are given time to breastfeed their babies or time and a place to pump their milk.

11 Dads4Life Dads are critical in the support role of new mothers and their breastfeeding success. Dads discuss their important role of father. Dads explore the 5 critical needs of their children.

Our Successes & Replicability Exclusive 6 Month Breastfeeding Rates 2005 = 9.5% of AA Infants (18.4% all infants) 2010 = 24.3% of AA Infants (26.1% all infants) 2015 = 29.

12 Our Successes & Replicability Exclusive 6 Month Breastfeeding Rates 2005 = 9.5% of AA Infants (18.4% all infants) 2010 = 24.3% of AA Infants (26.1% all infants) 2015 = 29.8% of AA Infants (28.1% all infants) 2013 = 21.4% of WIC@Work/School Infants (28.0% all infants) 2015 = 28.3% of WIC@Work/School Infants (28.1% all infants) This is the Power of Peer Counseling and Peer Groups.

13 Take-Away Messages Isolation, stress and overwhelming feelings can cause women to stop breastfeeding. Utilize Peer Groups to overcome the isolation and stress: to create circles of friends to gain special insight of needs problems to help women find resources to build trusting relationships to role model positive behavior to build bridges with professionals and

14 THANK YOU!!! For More Information Laurie Haessly, MA, RD, IBCLC

Increasing Breastfeeding by Raising Emotionally Healthy Children

Increasing Breastfeeding by Raising Emotionally Healthy Children Gerald Newmark, PhD Co-Founder The Children s Project Laurie Haessly, MA, RD, IBCLC Public Health Program Director Riverside County Department