Community Breastfeeding Grants

Breastfeeding is the normal and unequalled way of feeding infants and young children. Breastfeeding supports healthy growth and development and provides substantial health benefits to the child and mother. Breastfeeding rates are highest in places where there are family and community supports, and where breastfeeding is a social norm. The Nova Scotia Provincial Breastfeeding Policy (http://novascotia.ca/dhw/healthy-communities/documents/Provincial- Breastfeeding-Policy.pdf ) outlines comprehensive action to protect, promote, and support breastfeeding.

In support of the Provincial Breastfeeding Policy and the Thrive! strategy, the Nova Scotia Department of Health and Wellness (DHW) is providing grants for community groups/organizations, family resource centres and local breastfeeding committees. The grants are meant to enhance work at a local level to increase sustainable, community based supports and/or networks for breastfeeding mothers and families. Connections to primary care and/or other care providers are strongly encouraged. Initiatives can be new or an enhancement of an existing initiative.

Grant Priority: Projects to receive funding will support collaborative work at a local level in developing and/or implementing innovative approaches for breastfeeding support. Projects are to have a focus on increasing sustainable community supports and/or networks for breastfeeding mothers and families.

Initiatives may address any of the multiple factors that impact successful breastfeeding experiences. This may be supporting normal breastfeeding challenges and/or meeting the needs of specific populations or circumstances.

Initiatives may include: community breastfeeding networks, community based support groups, peer breastfeeding support, workplace breastfeeding support, research to understand community needs for breastfeeding support, research or material development to understand needs for specific populations etc..

Criteria (must-include)

• projects must include partnerships (can be within same organization) • applicants must be a community-based group/organization, family resource centres or a local breastfeeding committee • projects must fit with the grant priority • 1-2 letters of support must be submitted with the application. These letters must state the partner’s contribution to the project (member of advisory committee, in-kind services/resources, etc…). • projects must ensure equity is considered in planning and delivery (accessible to all including cost, transportation, etc.) Priority will be given to applications which: • increase sustainable breastfeeding supports for breastfeeding mothers and families • build breastfeeding networks and connections with other support groups, care providers, primary care etc. • support vulnerable populations • include in-kind partnerships and/or matched funding • demonstrate likelihood of sustainability after the funding period • focus on more than one level of action (for example- an application may include 3 levels of action: breastfeeding support group, professional development and referral system with health care providers)

Ineligible groups or activities: • operational funding ( eg. funding for existing services and/or human resources, including salaries and staff replacement costs) • private, for-profit groups, individuals or businesses • purchase of breastpumps

Application deadline: Thursday, January 16, 2014 at 4:00 pm

Funding scope: maximum $25,000/project

Applications may be approved for some or all of the funding being requested. Applications will be reviewed by a committee; funding decisions are at the discretion of the review committee.

GRANT APPLICATION

Organization/Group Name

Project Title

Contact Person

Address

Phone Email

1. a) Please give a brief description of your project. b) What do you expect to achieve (goals)? c) What activities will you undertake to achieve these goals? d) Who will participate? (target audience/stakeholders, number of participants, geographic communities, etc.)

2. Who will be partnering on this project and how? Partnership examples include: collaboration with another group(s); in-kind/free use of expertise, equipment, space; financial contribution from others.

3. Describe how your initiative contributes to a wider sustainable breastfeeding network in your community. How will you know this change has taken place?

4. Describe any peer-professional connections (eg health care providers referring to breastfeeding support groups etc)

5. Identify what you expect will be the greatest change in your organization as a result of this project?

6. If Human Resources are identified in your budget, please describe how the money will be allocated and identify one of the following categories: enhance existing work, focused on one project, contribute to a sustainable position focused on breastfeeding.

7. Describe your population of interest and the anticipated impact of your initiative on breastfeeding babies, young children, mothers and families.

8. Describe the likelihood of sustainability of the work after the funding period and how you will know change has taken place. Please give two examples.

9. Budget

ITEM AMOUNT

Human Resources

Materials/Supplies/Equipment

Transportation

Participant Support (Child Care, Transportation, etc)

Food/Refreshments

Facility/Room Rental

Honorarium

*Other (must describe)

TOTAL

In addition to the above criteria, successful applicants will be required to submit a brief report on progress upon completion and may be asked to share their project’s story/results. Name (please print):______

Organization Name: ______

Signature of Applicant/Organization/Group Representative: ______

Bank account name: ______

Date: ______

If you have enquiries please send them to [email protected]

Email ([email protected] preferred method) or mail your completed application to:

Department of Health and Wellness, Attn: Christine Nicholson-Bowes 1894 Barrington Street PO Box 488, Halifax NS B3J 2R8

Deadline for applications is Thursday, January 16, 2014 4:00pm