Breastfeeding Initiatives in Kansas
The Heart of Our Movement
Equity is an essential aspect of our breastfeeding initiatives in Kansas.
The Kansas Breastfeeding Coalition is committed to advancing equity and becoming an actively anti-racist organization. Through partnerships, advocacy, and culturally responsive practices, we work to ensure that every family-regardless of race, culture, geography, or circumstance-has the support, resources, and respect they need to thrive.
With that goal in mind, the KBC strives to use an “equity lens” to inform and guide our external work and also an “equity mirror” to examine our internal structures, culture, and policies.
Postpartum Health Indicators: Kansas Fact Sheet. Postpartum Assessment of Health Survey. Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health. Accessed Month Day, Year. Available from: https://www.publichealth.columbia.edu/file/15126/download?token=PG6D49UM
Women stop or avoid breastfeeding due to inequalities
Whether the reasons are medical, cultural, psychological, or monetary, the reasons that parents stop or avoid breastfeeding their children are avoidable.
With proper resources, support, and education, we can increase the number of mother’s breastfeeding with our equity-informed breastfeeding initiatives in Kansas.
We work at both the personal and systemic level to support breastfeeding parents from all backgrounds through advocacy and community building.
Resources for breastfeeding initiatives in Kansas
- Breastfeeding and race
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- Breastfeeding Disparities and Recommended Strategies To End Them in New York. (2024).
- Racism and the Colonial Roots of Gendered Language in Public Health and Biomedicine (USBC, Dr. Aunchalee Palmquist)
- Advancing Black Community-level Leadership for Birth & Breastfeeding (BMBFA)
- Achieving Breastfeeding Equity and Justice in Black Communities: Past, Present, and Future (Asiodu, et.al.)
- First Food: Women of Color Removing Barriers to Breastfeeding – video (HealthConnect One)
- Saving the Lives of Moms & Babies: Addressing Racism and Socioeconomic Influencers of Health
- Overcoming Barriers to Inequity in Lactation (webinar, 8/2021) by Mahmee
- Health Equity 101: Meet the Lactation Consultants Working to Address Racial Disparities in Breastfeeding
- 2021 Equity in Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation Webinar Series (4 webinars)
- Great Lakes Breastfeeding Webinar Series (equity-focused breastfeeding education)
- “Progress in increasing breastfeeding and reducing racial/ethnic differences – United States, 2000-2008 Births”
- “Removing Barriers to Breastfeeding: A Structural Race Analysis for First Food”, by the Center for Social Inclusion
- Rooted and Rising: Black Families Navigating Racism, Hardship, and Hope Findings from the UNC-Gallup Black Family Census Study (February 2026)
- “Speak Up”, Comments from KBC 2018 Breastfeeding Conference presentation by Shannon McKenney Shubert
- “The Right Decisions Need the Right Voices” – The Lancet, Dr. Monica McLemore & Dr. Elizabeth Choo
- Dignity in Pregnancy and Childbirth online training FREE evidence-based implicit bias program for perinatal providers
- Black breastfeeding organizations and resources
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Organizations
- Black Breastfeeding Week
- Black Mamas Matter Alliance
- Black Moms Connection
- Black Mothers Breastfeeding Association
- Black Women Do Breastfeed
- Breastfeeding Sisters That Are Receiving Support (BSTARS) (log in required)
- Breastfeeding Support Group for Black Moms (Facebook)
- CinnaMoms (Los Angeles, CA)
- District of Columbia Breastfeeding Coalition (Washington, DC)
- Mo/Kan Black Breastfeeding Coalition
- National Association of Peer & Professional Lactation Supporter of Color
- National Database of Lactation Support Groups for Families of Color ~ Curated by Nekisha Killings, IBCLC, RLC
- Reaching Our Sisters Everywhere (ROSE)
Resources
- Advancing Black Community-level Leadership for Birth & Breastfeeding (BMBFA)
- African American Breastfeeding Peer Support: All Moms Empowered to Nurse
- Black Women Do Breastfeed, Despite Intense Systemic Barriers in the U.S.
- The B.L.A.C.K. Course (education)
- Black Breastfeeding after a History of Trauma
- Black Breastfeeding: Making HERstory (photo album)
- Black Breastfeeding Week
- Breastfeeding Communities for Fatherhood: Laying the Groundwork for the Black Fatherhood, Brotherhood, and Manhood Movement
- Breastfeeding Initiation by Mother’s Race & Ethnicity in Kansas, 2016-2018 (KDHE)
- Breastfeeding Medicine June 2021 special issue “Special Issue on Breastfeeding and the Black/African American Experience: Cultural, Sociological, and Health Dimensions Through an Equity Lens—Part 2
- Breastfeeding Medicine, Feb. 2021 special issue:
- Breastfeeding and the Black/African American Experience: Cultural, Sociological, and Health Dimensions Through an Equity Lens
- Breastfeeding Myths and African Americans
- Breastfeeding Sisters That Are Receiving Support: Community-Based Peer Support Program Created for and by Women of Color
- Chocolate Milk Documentary
- Community Data into Action: An African American Breastfeeding Blueprint, Andrea Serano, Reaching Our Sisters Everywhere (ROSE)
- Disparities in Breastfeeding Among U.S. Black Mothers: Identification of Mechanisms
- #EveryGenerationMatters: Intergenerational Perceptions of Infant Feeding Information and Communication Among African American Women
- Fact Sheets, Black Mothers Breastfeeding Alliance
- The Historical, Psychosocial, and Cultural Context of Breastfeeding in the African American Community
- Health in Her Hue – app to connect Black women to culturally competent healthcare providers, services, and health content
- “Irth” app – “Yelp-like” platform for the pregnancy and new motherhood journey, made by and for people of color.
- #LatchedLegacy – video (Wichita Black Breastfeeding Coalition)
- “Logic Model for the Call to Action to Support Breastfeeding for Black Families”, by Black Mothers Breastfeeding Association
- Office on Women’s Health It’s Only Natural Campaign
- “Q & A with Sherry Payne: An Innovator In Lactation Equity” – comment section very important
- Racial disparities persist for breastfeeding moms. Here’s why. PBS Newshour
- Racial Disparities in Sustaining Breastfeeding in a Baby-Friendly Designated Southeastern United States Hospital: An Opportunity to Investigate Systemic Racism
- Saving Tomorrow Today: An African American Breastfeeding Blueprint
- Sister-to-Sister, Let’s Talk Breastfeeding (African American handout resource)
- “SPEAK UP for Black Women”, Debra Bingham, DrPH, RN, FAAN
- Structural Racism and Barriers to Breastfeeding on Chicagoland’s South Side
- “Top Five Reasons We Need A Black Breastfeeding Week”, by Kimberly Seals Allers
- US Breastfeeding Committee webpage with tools and resources
- Uzazi Village – serves the KC metro area
- WIC peer counselor video: Teach Me How to Breastfeed
For Dads:
- Hispanic breastfeeding organizations and resources
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Binational Breastfeeding Coalition
Latina Breastfeeding Coalition
Resources
Lactation in Latino Communities: Identity and Traditions in Maternal Child Health (5/28/21) by Paulina Erices hosted by KS WIC
Barriers to Breastfeeding for Hispanic Mothers
“Breastfeeding in Latinx Communities: Innovative Partnerships Through Authentic Community Engagement” Slides from USBC conference, must be logged into USBC site to view
“Reclaiming Latino/Hispanic birth and breastfeeding traditions” blog
- Indigenous Peoples breastfeeding organizations and resources
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Resources
- An Easy Guide to Breastfeeding for American Indian and Alaska Native Families
- Breastfeeding Education with Stephanne Rupnicki
- Complimentary Feeding: Children Born to Native American Families (2023, ASPHN)
- First Food is Medicine: A Toolkit to Support Tribal Policies to Protect the First Food
- “Generational trauma among Native American cultures affects infant feeding”, Our Milky Way blog post
- Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Council
- It’s World Breastfeeding Week – Here’s My Story
- Understanding Breastfeeding in the Native American Community (presentation slides)
- “Native American Women DO Breastfeed”, by Camie Jae Goldhammer
- Normalizing Breastfeeding in New Mexico (video)
- What Indigenous Women Want in Pregnancy and Birth: Perspectives on Care Preferences Across the United States
- WIC & Health Resources for Native Peoples
Facebook Groups:
- LGBTQIA+ Breast/Chestfeeding organizations and resources
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Birthing and Breast or Chestfeeding Trans People and Allies, Facebook Group
Lactation Care for Transgender and Nonbinary Patients: Empowering Clients and Avoiding Aversives, Trevor Kirczenow MacDonald
Lactation Support and the LGBTQI Community
Ten Strategies for Supporting LGTBQIA Families
Transgender parents and chest/breastfeeding, by Trevor McDonald
Transwomen and Breastfeeding: A Personal Interview
Tips for Transgender Breastfeeding and their Lactation Educators, by Trevor McDonald
Words Matter: Providing Breast-Chest-Bodyfeeding Support to LGBTQIA2S+ Families
Get Involved With The KBC Today!
We regularly advocate for necessary breastfeeding support in Kansas. Join us in breaking down barriers to breastfeeding!
Frequently Asked Questions
- Why is equity important in conversations about breastfeeding?
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Breastfeeding parents come from all racial, ethnic, and economic backgrounds. Many parents are also part of the LGBTQIA+ population. All families deserve to receive culturally congruent breastfeeding support.
- What is the importance of breastfeeding?
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Breastfeeding is important for both children and their parents. Not only is breast milk uniquely designed for infants and toddlers, but breastfeeding is also shown to prevent certain illnesses in both the mother and child.
- How does KBC support equity?
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Through our breastfeeding initiatives in Kansas, we support families of all backgrounds in getting access to the resources and support they need to provide for their families.