Baby Basics is a set of materials (book, planner, posters) and programs designed specifically to provide lower-income and lower-literacy populations with crucial prenatal health information and support. The materials are designed to be beautiful and easy to read, serving as a catalyst for learning and family literacy. Both materials and programs strive to engage and educate underserved parents to become effective users of the healthcare system and advocate for themselves and their families.
Benchmark: Sustaining Breastfeeding
Increase proportion of Healthy Start child participants whose parent/caregiver reports they were breastfed or fed breast milk at 6 months to 61%.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends exclusively breastfeeding for the first six months because breastfeeding is good for both the baby’s and the mother’s health. Benefits for the baby include decreased diarrheal illness, gastroenteritis, and respiratory tract infections, fewer allergies, and reduced risk of obesity and diabetes. Benefits for the mother include decreased obesity and Type II diabetes, reduced risk of breast cancer, and decreased postpartum depression.
A Performance Measure Resource Sheet is available summarizing recommended strategies and a selection of resources and evidence-based practices related to this benchmark to aid Healthy Start grantee organizations, partners and their staff in supporting the women and families they serve.
Featured Resource: Evidence-Based Practice
Breastfeeding Support Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Guideline
Outlines evidence-based assessment and intervention parameters designed to assist health care providers who care for breastfeeding mothers and their infants, women who are considering breastfeeding or those who are planning to breastfeed. Objectives: provide information necessary to promote breastfeeding, assess and evaluate factors that influence breastfeeding rates, and provide care and education during the preconception, prenatal, and postpartum periods aimed at facilitating a successful breastfeeding experience for mothers.
Grow and Glow in WIC
This standardized competency-based curriculum was developed to ensure that all staff attain a level of proficiency in the skills required to promote and support breastfeeding in the WIC setting.
Implementation of Healthy Maternity Policies
This webinar highlights successful strategies and best practices that have been implemented in the North Dakota and Nevada state health agencies to encourage breastfeeding and to help new parents return to work. In addition, Virginia describes how they work with businesses in their state to develop breastfeeding policies.
Learning Objectives:
- Provide an overview of ASTHO’s environmental scan of worksite wellness programs and policies in state health agencies
- Provide examples of how state health agencies can support and implement effective healthy maternity policies within their department.
- Provide examples of how state health agencies can support local business to develop and implement their own healthy maternity policies.
American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG)
ACOG is a professional and membership organization of women’s health care physicians. ACOG’s website includes resources and information for providers on practice management, continuing education, and advocacy, as well as resources for patients.
Breastfeeding Early Elective Delivery Prenatal Care and Education Reproductive Life Planning/Family Planning
Association of Reproductive Health Professionals (ARHP)
AHRP brings together healthcare professionals across disciplines and specialties for evidence-based training and network building. The website includes professional education opportunities, publications and resources on reproductive health topics, and advocacy information.
Breastfeeding Early Elective Delivery Prenatal Care and Education Reproductive Life Planning/Family Planning
Healthy People 2020: Maternal, Infant, and Child Health
Healthy People provides science-based, 10-year national objectives for improving the health of all Americans. For three decades, Healthy People has established benchmarks for various health domains (such as MCH) and monitored progress to encourage collaboration across communities and sectors, empower individuals to make informed health decisions, and measure the impact of prevention activities.
Alcohol/Drug Services Backbone Organization Breastfeeding Budgeting Case Management/Care Coordination Chronic Disease Common Agenda Communication Community and Organizational Partnerships Community Engagement Community Needs Assessment Continuous Communication Contracting Cultural Competence Data Utilization Depression EBP Implementation Father/Partner Involvement Group Processes/Facilitation Health Equity Health Literacy Healthy Weight Home Visiting Human Resources Immunization Insurance Coverage Intimate Partner Violence Leadership Life Course Model Mutually Reinforcing Activities Nutrition Oral Health Other Parenting Education Participant Recruitment and Retention Partner Involvement Patient-centered Medical Home Policy Prenatal Care and Education Prevention Program evaluation Project Management Project Risk Project Schedule Project Scope Quality Improvement Reproductive Life Planning/Family Planning Risk Assessment Root Cause Analysis Safe Sleep Shared Measurement Social Determinants of Health Socio-emotional Development for Children STDs including HIV Strategic Planning Tobacco Cessation
National Center for Education in Maternal and Child Health at Georgetown University
Provides national leadership to the MCH community around program development, as well as education and state-of-the-art knowledge, to improve the health and well-being of the nation’s children and families. Links to the Center’s MCH Library, National Action Plan to Promote Safe Sleep (NAPPSS), and Health Information Group.
Breastfeeding Early Elective Delivery Prenatal Care and Education Reproductive Life Planning/Family Planning
National Healthy Start Association (NHSA)
NHSA is committed to improving birth outcomes and health disparities that exist within communities of color throughout the US. As the membership association for Healthy Start programs nationwide, NHSA promotes the development of community-based maternal and child health programs, particularly those addressing the issues of infant mortality, low birth weight and racial disparities in perinatal outcomes.
Breastfeeding Early Elective Delivery Prenatal Care and Education Reproductive Life Planning/Family Planning
Office on Women’s Health
OWH provides national leadership and coordination to improve the health of women and girls through policy, education, and model programs.
Breastfeeding Early Elective Delivery Prenatal Care and Education Reproductive Life Planning/Family Planning
Zero to Three
A national nonprofit organization that provides parents, professionals, and policymakers the knowledge and know-how to nurture early development. The website includes resources on child development and behavior, early care and education, child maltreatment, and public policy.
Breastfeeding Early Elective Delivery Home Visiting Life Course Model Parenting Education Prenatal Care and Education Reproductive Life Planning/Family Planning Social Determinants of Health Socio-emotional Development for Children