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Texas Breastfeeding Coalition Stakeholders Meeting
Austin, Texas, October 6, 2006
Participants:
- Jennifer Banda - Texas Hospital Association
- Pamela Berens, MD - University of Texas Health Sciences Center
- Jennie Costilow - Senator Van de Putte’s aide
- Jeannette Crenshaw, MSN, RN, IBCLC, ICCE - Texas BF Coalition
- Rep. Jessica Farrar – Texas legislature, District 148
- Rani Garcia, JD - Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld Law Firm
- Sara Gill - UT Health Science Center in San Antonio
- Albert Gros, MD - Texas Association of Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Judy Gros - Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner
- Judy Hopkinson, PhD, IBCLC - Baylor College of Medicine
- Linda Jackson, IBCLC, LCCE - Texas Breastfeeding Coalition
- Kat Jackson - Texas Breastfeeding Coalition
- Siobhan Kubesh - Consortium of Texas Certified Midwives
- Joy LeBlanc - Ob/Gyn - representing US Representative Ron Paul
- Beth Lloyd - Texas Association of Local WIC Directors
- Chan McDermott - DSHS - representing Brian Castrucci
- Kathy Parkes, RN, IBCLC, RLC - La Leche League of Texas
- Hawley Poinsett, MS, RD, LD - Texas Dietetic Association
- Krystal Revai, MD, MPH - Texas Pediatric Society
- Silvia Reveles - March of Dimes
- Jennifer Rodriguez – Legislative aide to State Representative Mike Villarreal
- Lindsay Rodgers, MA, RD, LD - DSHS - Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity Program
- Janet Rourke, MSHP, CLE - Texas Breastfeeding Coalition
- April Rudge - Mothers’ Milk Bank at Austin
- Julie Stagg, MSN, RN - Texas Breastfeeding Coalition
- Marilyn Swanson – USDA/CSREES National Program Leader for Maternal and Child Health
- Stephanie Tabone, MSN, RN - Texas Nurses Association
Agenda and notes:
10:45 Registration/ Completion of membership applications
- Notes: Twenty-seven individuals attended the meeting in the gracious accommodations provided by AkinGump. Coffee and rolls were provided and attendees networked during the registration period
11:05 Welcome - Janet Rourke and Judy Hopkinson
- Notes: Janet Rourke welcomed attendees and explained the purpose of the meeting.
- Judy Hopkinson reviewed the relationship between the TXBC and legislative action. Membership in the TXBC neither requires nor prohibits lobbying activities. The TXBC is, however, committed to transforming our culture into a breastfeeding friendly environment and this requires awareness of the legal as well as societal and clinical factors that impact breastfeeding. She then introduced the legislative representatives in sequence.
11:10 Legislative support:
- Jennie Costilow - legislative aide for Senator Van de Putte – Ms. Costilow introduced herself and read a statement from Senator Van de Putte affirming her support for breastfeeding and maternal and child health issues.
- Jennifer Rodriguez - legislative aide for State Representative Mike Villarreal – Ms Rodriguez introduced herself and reviewed the status of the licensure bill which Rep Villarreal’s office is preparing for the next legislative session. A packet of materials including a copy of the bill and sample letters of support was distributed to those stakeholders who are able to participate in lobbying activities.
- Dr. Joy LeBlanc - representing Congressman Ron Paul - Dr LeBlanc introduced herself and explained that she is an OB-Gyn in private practice in Friendswood, Texas and the daughter of Congressman Ron Paul. She explained that both she and her father are very supportive of breastfeeding.
- Rep. Jessica Farrar - Expressed her gratitude for the gathering and commented that the people gathered around this table have the ability and apparently the will to make a significant impact on breastfeeding rates in Texas. Rep Farrar also described the legislation she sponsored last year and said that she will reintroduce this bill in the next session. Since we had not prepared materials on this bill, Judy Hopkinson volunteered to send out an e-mail to participants with the bill number and additional information after the conference.
11:20 The Texas Breastfeeding Coalition - from concept to reality - Rani Garcia
- Notes: Rani Garcia presented a powerpoint presentation describing the genesis of the Texas Breastfeeding coalition. A copy of that presentation is attached. She then opened the floor for general introductions
11:30 Round table introductions
- Notes: All participants introduced themselves and described their efforts to promote breastfeeding and their personal experiences with breastfeeding. The variety of experiences was remarkable and many of the personal stories were quite moving.
12:15 Lunch and networking
- Notes: An excellent buffet lunch was provided for participants who returned to the meeting room to eat and continue networking. Ideas for future collaborations were generated during the lunch period and brought up in the next session.
12:55 Collaborative initiatives - Jeannette Crenshaw and Linda Jackson
- Jeannette Crenshaw kept the meeting on target calling participants back to work promptly at 12:55. Participants were divided into four work groups and were charged with answering the following questions:
- 1. What collaborative initiatives would be feasible & effective to improve breastfeeding rates in Texas?
- 2. What resources are needed?
- 3. Who needs to be at the table to make this happen?
1:20 Workgroup reports - Groups reported their top three (or in some cases two) ideas. Participants then voted for 3 initiatives each. The initiatives and the number of votes received were:
- Workgroups came up with 15 potential initiatives. Participants voted on the top projects we wanted to work on in the near future - the top vote getters were:
- · Media Blitz—Breastfeeding champions (Susan Dell, Ms. Perry, Women’s Leadership Conference, etc.) Identifying champions, spokespersons, explore how this ties in to existing and upcoming campaigns - received 12 votes
- · Legislation -Strengthen right to licensure law, breastfeed law, workplace bf--Texas Chamber of commerce, SHRM - received 12 votes
- · Surveying pediatrician and OB/Gyn offices that have LCs on staff-- how do they make this work? Identifying best practices in lactation support - received 10 votes
- · Development of a powerpoint presentation on breastfeeding and obesity prevention + impact on health. Sixth grade level; to be made available to local coalitions for presentations to the public. A train the trainer session was suggested for the next TXBC conference possibly with financial support from CDC funding and Texas Strategic Plan for obesity. - received 9 votes
- · Coordinating distribution of bf materials to health care professionals - received 9 votes
- Other suggested initiatives were:
- Forming workgroup for promoting Mother Friendly Worksites - received 5 votes
- Statewide education/advocacy campaign (Workplace, K-12 edu, advocacy) received 3 votes
- Coordinating funding for breastfeeding initiatives (grass roots organizations intervention ) - received 5 votes
- Research to Practice- received 1 vote
- Support of WHO/UNICEF baby-friendly initiatives in hospitals what’s working, what’s not, educating hospitals in their formulative stages - received 1 vote
- Workplace-HRSA Business Case for Breastfeeding received 2 votes
- TX Women’s Museum-exhibit on breastfeeding - received 2 votes
- Mother Friendly Public Places recognition - received 1 vote
- Submitting questions for BRFS
- Suggestions for other groups that need to be at the table included: AARP (grandmas), schools, celebrities in Texas who have breastfed, church groups, corporations that are supportive (Dell/IBM/food industry), educators on all levels, Texas Department of Agriculture, Texas Dental Association, Texas AARP, environmental groups, LULAC, immigrant groups - American Friends Services committee, AWHONN, Texas Diabetes Association, Insurance providers, Retail businesses and grocery stores, Human resources professional organizations, Felicia Lane who has made great strides toward achieving Baby Friendly status at her hospital in Sugar land, the Junior League, and other consumer groups, Susan Dell (Michael/ Susan Dell Foundation), Governor’s Council of Women, Women’s Museum in Dallas, Anita Perry (governor’s wife), Cooperative Extension in Texas (who are on board but could not be here today)
1:35 Goal setting:
- Notes: Discussion of the above initiatives led to some re-evaluations.
- Media blitz: Before launching a media blitz including celebrity spokespersons, it was decided to see whether there will be another national media campaign on the horizon.
- Legislative support: Because many of the members of the TXBC are unable to lobby, this will be handled by a subgroup working in close collaboration with the Central Texas Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies Legislative Action Group.
- Surveying of physician practices working with LCs: A concern was expressed that there were not many such practices. On further consideration, this was deemed an advantage. Kat Jackson felt that she could supply a list of those practices.
- Breastfeeding and obesity / child health powerpoint: During lunch, Dr. Gros had requested such a presentation for his hospital’s regular public seminar – thus it is “consumer driven”. Marilyn Swanson suggested we create a Spanish version as well. Other potential venues for airing such a presentation were identified including PTOs, HMOs, churches, and schools.
- Coordinating distribution of breastfeeding materials to health care professionals: This was identified as an ongoing activity conducted by the Texas Department of State Health Services with less than desirable results so far. A decision was made not to duplicate the ongoing efforts of the DSHS
2:15 Committee assignments and wrap-up
- The following committees were formed to work on projects before the January meeting:
- 1. Power Point presentation on obesity and breastfeeding that can be shared among members - Judy Hopkinson - chair, committee: Marilyn Swanson, Lindsay Rodgers, Silvia Reveles, April Rudge, Kathy Parkes, Linda Jackson
- 2. Legislative committee - Rani Garcia - chair, committee: Janet Rourke, Hawley Poinsett, Jessica Farrar, Julie Stagg, Jennee Costilow (for Senator Van de Putte’s office)
- 3. Identify physician offices with LC support - Pamela Berens - chair, committee: Kat Jackson, Sara Gill, Krystal Revai
- 4. Media blitz - identify celebrities to consider - Linda Jackson - chair, committee: Janet Rourke, Stephanie Tabone, Judy Gros, April Rudge
- The group decided Tuesday, January 30 would be a good date for the next coalition meeting to be held in Austin. This will provide an opportunity for coalition members to visit their legislators who will be in session and should be in Austin at that time.
2:30 The meeting was adjoined at approximately 2:30 pm.
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