North Dakota Breastfeeding Coalitions

North Dakota Breastfeeding Coalitions 2012

Bismarck-Mandan Breastfeeding Partnership – The Bismarck-Mandan Breastfeeding Partnership was founded in 1998 to promote, educate and support breastfeeding. Members consist of certified lactation counselors and other health professionals, including nurses, dietitians and nutritionists. Community organizations represented include local clinics and hospitals, local and state health departments, WIC, and educational institutions. For more information, visit the Partnership’s website at www.gotmomma.com or contact Jeanine Wall-Hebert, MS, RD, LRD, CLC – Custer Health WIC Program – 701.255.3397 or [email protected]; or Nancy Overson, LN – Custer Health WIC Program – 701.255.3397 or [email protected].

Building Healthy Families Coalition (Williston Area) – The Building Healthy Families Coalition helps all new and expectant parents be the healthiest and best possible parents by providing resources, a continuum of training and ongoing support. For more information, contact Susan Elsbernd, education director – Mercy Medical Center – 701.774.4182 or [email protected].

Fargo-Moorhead Area Breastfeeding Association – The Fargo-Moorhead Area Breastfeeding Association is composed of heath-care professionals who work together to protect, promote and support breastfeeding. Our primary health-care goal is to ensure access to comprehensive, current and culturally appropriate lactation care and services for all women, children and families. For more information, contact Linda Bates, RD, LRD, CLC – Fargo/Cass WIC Program. – 701.277.1455 or [email protected]; or Jan Medford, RN, BSN, IBCLC – Essentia Health – 701.364.8858 or [email protected].

Greater Grand Forks Breastfeeding Coalition – Every community must work together to ensure a child's right to breast milk and a woman's right to breastfeed. The Greater Grand Forks Community Breastfeeding Coalition advocates for promotion of breastfeeding as well as public, workplace and social support. For more information, contact Mandy Burbank, RD, LRD, Grand Forks Public Health, [email protected] or 701-787-8128.

North Central Breastfeeding Partnership (Minot Area) – The North Central Breastfeeding Partnership is a coalition that advocates for mothers and babies. Through community education and support, the Partnership strives to raise the awareness of the importance of breastfeeding with the overall goal of improving the health of area communities. For more information, contact Loa Orvik, RD, LRD – First District Health Unit – at 701.852.1376 or [email protected].

Southwest Breastfeeding Network (Dickinson Area) – The Southwest Breastfeeding Network (SWBN) consists of community members, breastfeeding mothers, health professionals and WIC breastfeeding peer counselors. The Network’s goal is to improve the health of the community by promoting, educating and providing support for breastfeeding babies and their families in southwestern North Dakota. The SWBN was created in 2005 as a part of the WIC Breastfeeding Peer Counselor Program and continues to meet on a monthly basis in Dickinson, N.D. SWBN membership is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Barb Truchan, LN – SWDHU WIC Program – at 701.483.1942 or [email protected].

Turtle Mountain Breastfeeding Coalition - The Turtle Mountain Breastfeeding Coalition strives to improve support to breastfeeding mothers through education and access to reliable resources. The Turtle Mountain Breastfeeding Coalition consists of health care professionals and community members. For more information, contact Jeanna Strong, RD, LRD, IBCLC, Turtle Mountain WIC Program – at 701.477.6436 or [email protected].

Barnes County Breastfeeding Coalition – The Barnes County Breastfeeding Coalition is an outgrowth of our community ACHIEVE (Action Communities for Health, Innovation, and Environmental change) grant. Our goal is to increase support for breastfeeding in the workplace. Barnes County’s coalition is available to offer technical assistance by way of education and strategic planning to ensure that all worksites are compliant with our state and federal breastfeeding laws. In addition, we promote the state’s infant friendly designation that supports working mothers. For information, contact Sue Milender at 701.845.0483, ext. 9 or [email protected].