Funded Projects

Problem:

While breastfeeding rates nationwide have increased, significant disparities persist. We propose to address these disparities by enhancing the leadership capacity of MCH professionals to develop community-appropriate breastfeeding promotion programs.

Goals and Objectives:

Goal 1: Provide training to enhance knowledge of community engagement for breastfeeding promotion in: disparities related to breastfeeding, community engagement, policy/advocacy issues, and data sourcing Objective 1: By 2013, conduct outreach activities to organizations in each state of our geographical region (MS, LA, AR) to increase awareness of KP program activities Objective 2: By 2013, develop and offer at least 10 online didactic training tutorials Objective 3: Develop and distribute community web-based informational materials Goal 2: Provide training/support to enhance skills in communication, community engagement, critical thinking, data driven program planning, internet usage for health promotion, policy/advocacy and networking Objective 1: Develop and deliver at least nine webinar training sessions by 2013 Objective 2: Provide hands-on technical computer lab-based training Objective 3: Offer at least 4 in-person workshop training for MCH professionals by 2013 Goal 3: Create a regional professional support network for sharing information and resources related to breastfeeding promotion Objective 1: Establish and market virtual community for MCH professionals by 2013 Objective 2: Develop and distribute training toolkits for future in-house training Objective 3: Host two annual open source conference for MCH professionals by 2013

Coordination:

1) LA, MS, AR Offices of Public Health and WIC Breastfeeding Coordinators, Greater New Orleans Breastfeeding Coalition, LA Breastfeeding Coalition will promote/participate in training sessions 2) The GIFT (Guided Infant Feeding Techniques) assist in content development, training and promotion of program 3) The MAC (Mary Amelia Center) will provide logistical support/content development

Methodology:

Goal 1: Activity 1: Develop content for tutorials Activity 2: Post/Archive tutorials on program website Activity 3: Promote tutorials to regional MCH organizations Activity 4: Conduct evaluation activities on tutorial sessions Goal 2: Activity 1: Develop content for webinars Activity 2: Locate and establish webinar trainers/presenters Activity 3: Promote live webinars to regional MCH organizations Activity 4: Archive webinar sessions for continual viewing Activity 4: Conduct evaluation activities on webinar sessions Activity 5: Locate and establish workshop trainers Activity 6: Promote in-person workshop opportunities to regional MCH professionals Activity 7: Conduct evaluation activities on workshop sessions Goal 3: Activity 1: Develop content and design program website Activity 2: Establish blog on program website Activity 3: Link program website to other MCH related sites for visibility, promotion and use Activity 4: Conduct evaluation activities on program website Activity 5: Organize venue, content, presenters and schedule for annual conferences Activity 6: Promote conferences to regional MCH professionals Activity 7: Conduct evaluation activities on conferences

Coordination:

1) LA, MS, AR Offices of Public Health and WIC Breastfeeding Coordinators, Greater New Orleans Breastfeeding Coalition, LA Breastfeeding Coalition will promote/participate in training sessions 2) The GIFT (Guided Infant Feeding Techniques) assist in content development, training and promotion of program 3) The MAC (Mary Amelia Center) will provide logistical support/content development

Evaluation:

Our program will use Process Evaluation to measure reach (participation), fidelity (adherence to program expectations), program receptivity and acceptability (by MCH professionals), and contextual factors will be documented. Participation in all planned events, online trainings, etc., will be counted and documented. Receptivity will be obtained through written/oral feedback from MCH professionals. Fidelity will be documented through staff observations and written reports

Experience to Date:

4 tutorials have been created and piloted by MCH professionals in the New Orleans area. An advisory group was also formed to provide guidance to the project and to review the first 4 tutorials. With the feedback from the advisory group, the second set of 4 tutorials are currently being created. Additionally toolkits have been created to accompany the tutorials, as well as, website development. Currently project staff is working on improving the web platform for tutorial delivery. Planning is in progress for an in person meeting of MCH professionals to facilitate the development of a professional network to promote breastfeeding.