Be a part of the #ILCA16 online community!

Whether you are participating in #ILCA16 face-to-face or live streaming, social media can help you reach your goals without distracting from your conference experience.

Not able to attend this year? You will be missed, but you can still join the conversation!

At the Conference

Fire up your laptop or mobile device . . . we have WIFI! We are so happy to tell you that the main conference space will have WIFI for conference attendees.

ILCA Facebook fans:

Are you “going” on the event page? Be sure you have marked yourself as “going” on the ILCA Conference event page, which you can find here. The page is already active with people making plans for extracurricular events, sharing tips and conference-going strategies, and coordinating rides. During the event, you’ll get updates on last minute schedule changes, events, pictures to share, and more!

Help us find your posts: use the hashtag! Sharing pictures on your Facebook page of you with your favorite speaker? New insights? Favorite quotes? Be sure to mark your posts with the hashtag: #ILCA16

ILCA Tweeps:

Join the backchannel conversation! Share your insights—and hear what others are saying—on Twitter. We’ll all be tweeting the ILCA conference on the hashtag #ILCA16.

BONUS! Thursday—Saturday, we’ll pick a tweet of the day at random from the #ILCA16 stream. Each winner will be eligible for a FREE 1-CERP-eligible webinar from the ILCA Knowledge Center.

Tools we use:

TweetChat keeps you focused. This great tool isolates the tweets on the hashtag you choose, which can keep you from feeling distracted by other topics during a talk. Follow along at the conference in the #ILCA16 room here.

Hootsuite for following it all. Ready to multitask? Hootsuite allows you to follow multiple streams (like #ILCA16 and #LEAC16, the hashtag for the LEAC Global Forum).

Following from Afar

Every year, the ILCA community around the globe follows along and joins the conversation!

On Facebook: Find others’ posts about the conference. During the conference, enter #ILCA16 in the Facebook search bar. You’ll find all the conference-specific news!

On Twitter: We’ll be live tweeting the plenary talks! Follow along at #ILCA16.

On Pinterest: Check out our #ILCA16 conference board here, where we’ll share insights and pictures from the conference.

On Instagram: We’ll share conference image highlights at #ILCA16. Tag your images too!

Amber McCann, IBCLC and Jeanette McCulloch, IBCLC, are the #socmed junkies on the ILCA Marketing Team. You’ll find one of us at the roving #ILCA16 sign in the Chicago Ballroom (6-10), where the plenary sessions are held.

What are your favorite ways to participate in the conference using social media?

The Lactation Equity Action Committee (LEAC) invites you to the LEAC Global Forum: Equitable Access to IBCLC Certification: Where Do We Go From Here?

Substantial roadblocks to attaining IBCLC certification exist worldwide, including challenges related to language, education, and systems of oppression. This forum will provide an overview of those barriers, the history of work conducted by individuals and organizations during the last two years, and resources and opportunities for finding solutions.

Who should attend: Everyone! The LEAC Global Forum is for those who are new to learning about barriers to the lactation profession as well as for those who are already hard at work doing their part to help make access to the lactation consultant profession more equitable. Participants will receive 1.5 continuing education units.

What: The LEAC Global Forum is a 90-minute, free session designed to help attendees learn how everyone can help increase access to the profession in their corner of the world. All are welcome. (Participants do not need to be registered at the ILCA Conference to attend. No registration is required for in-person participants. Free registration is required for live streaming participants). Topics include:

• Exploring the barriers to entry to the profession
• Learning about actions taken in the last two years by International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners® (IBLCE®), International Lactation Consultant Association® (ILCA®), and Lactation Education Accreditation and Approval Review Committee (LEAARC)
  
• Reviewing successful models that can be replicated around the world
• Identifying areas still needing improvement
• Finding resources for learning more and ways to get involved

Speakers include:
Modia Batterjee, DHA
Aiden Farrow
Cynthia Good Mojab, MS, LMHCA, IBCLC, RLC, CATSM
Sherry Payne, MSN, RN, CNE, IBCLC
Jennifer Welch, IBCLC-RLC

When: 21 July, 5:00 pm – 6:30 pm CDT (click here to see the event in your local time; during the #ILCA16 Annual Conference and Meeting – all are welcome) [EDITORS NOTE: please note the corrected time zone link revised 5 July]

Where: The Sheraton Grand Hotel (the site of the #ILCA16 Conference and Annual Meeting), 301 E. Water Street, Chicago, IL, USA, 60611

This event is free and no registration is required for in-person participants. FREE live streaming of the LEAC Global Forum is also available for those who cannot attend in person! Click here to register.

Who: Organized by the Lactation Equity Action Committee, an independent group addressing inequity in access to the International Board Certified Lactation Consultant® (IBCLC®) certification. Co-Chairs: Carole Dobrich, RN, IBCLC, ANLC, and Millie Goins, B.S., IBCLC. Location and live stream provided as an in-kind donation from ILCA, who is hosting the forum during their annual conference.

Continuing Education Credit: ILCA is an approved provider of Continuing Education Recognition Points (CERPs) with the IBLCE. Our approval number is CLT-108-7. The Global Forum is approved for 1.5 CERPs. ILCA is accredited as a provider of continuing nursing education by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation. Our approval number is ILCA-P0286. Accepted for BRN credit by the Board of Registered Nursing. The Global Forum is approved for 1.5 Contact Hours. This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the Essential Areas and Policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) by Connecticut Children’s Medical Center. Connecticut Children’s Medical Center designates this educational activity for a maximum of 1.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits(s)™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. The Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) accepts hours without prior CDR approval and recognizes approval by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). When recording hours on the CDR Activity Log, indicate the provider as “ILCA (ANCC).”

As someone who cares about national and global breastfeeding agendas, you are invited to an opportunity to hear from and be heard by those who share your challenges, hopes and aspirations. Join worldwide, national, and regional leaders in lactation as together we “bridge today’s vision with tomorrow’s reality” at the Second Annual Partner’s gathering. Influencing the Global Breastfeeding Agenda: A Workshop of the ILCA Global Partners Initiative will be held this July immediately preceding the ILCA 2016 conference and all are invited to attend, either in-person or via live-streaming.

The free workshop will kickoff with an opportunity to learn about the agendas of leading worldwide organizations, including:

• World Health Organization (WHO) technical officer Laurence Grummer-Strawn, MPA, MA, PhD
• World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA) Co-Directors Amal Omer-Salim and Jay Sharma
• Breastfeeding Promotion Network of India (BPNI) Central Coordinator Dr. Arun Gupta

Participants will then be invited to work in small, action-oriented groups alongside the ILCA national and regional partners with the goal of:

• Identifying local and regional strengths and barriers to breastfeeding
• Expanding local and regional recognition of the IBCLC certification
• Growing the breastfeeding dialogue across sectors
• Identifying partner resources and collaboration opportunities
• Building capacity of skilled lactation care such as developing IBCLC mentoring programs
• Understanding regional BFHI practices, Code Monitoring and Compliance
• Exploring opportunities for the global partners network

Since the inception of the ILCA Global Partners Initiative, a number of global breastfeeding issues have surfaced among the partners. This workshop is a part of the growing momentum of the ILCA Global Partners Initiative, including on-going partner discussions and the addition of new partners from Saudi Arabia and South Africa.

The myriad of global challenges to breastfeeding did not happen overnight and they did not happen in isolation. This “unlearned behavior” has evolved from the conscious and unconscious collective efforts of many. It stands to reason; the remedy will come only through the deliberate collective actions of many, like you.

If you want to take an active role in shaping the future success of the global breastfeeding community, please join us for this special event in person, or through live streaming. ALL ARE INVITED TO JOIN.

WHAT: Second Annual Partners Meeting
WHEN: 13:00-16:00, Wednesday, 20 July 2016 (click HERE to see the time in your local time zone)
WHERE: Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers, Chicago, Illinois, USA
or Live Streaming (click HERE to register)
WHY: Impact global breastfeeding outcomes

Agenda:

• Welcome and Introductions – Decalie Brown, ILCA President (5 minutes)
• Overview – Michele Griswold, ILCA President-Elect (10 minutes)
  • Brief History
  • Agenda
• Presentations
  • WHO – Larry Grummer-Strawn: “The Global Breastfeeding Agenda: Implementation at the National and Community Level” (15-20 minutes)
  • WABA – Amal Omar-Salim and Jay Sharma: “Understanding the role of Civil Society Organisations in global breastfeeding advocacy” (15-20 minutes)
  • BPNI – Arun Gupta: “World Breastfeeding Trends Initiative (WBTi) Findings” (15-20 minutes)
• Break – MILK Trailer (15 minutes)
• Panel Discussion (30 minutes)
• Group Breakout – Michele Griswold, ILCA President-Elect (10 minutes)
• Groups Discussions (40 minutes)
• Break (15 minutes)
• Group Presentations and discussion (30 minutes)
• Closing Comments: Next Steps – Michele Griswold, ILCA President-Elect (10 minutes)
• Closing – Decalie Brown, ILCA President (5 minutes)

Registration is NOT required for participating on site. Registration IS REQUIRED for live streaming.

Reach hundreds of lactation professionals by becoming an exhibitor at ILCA’s Annual Conference — Celebrating Baby Friendly in the Hospital and Beyond: Helping Families Thrive Worldwide — in Chicago, Illinois, USA, 20-23 July 2016! #ILCA16 offers high-visibility booth space, as well as exclusive advertising and sponsorship opportunities at all levels, including break and mealtime sponsorships, promotional inserts, and conference program advertising. (Reduced rates are available to nonprofit exhibitors. Please see the Exhibitor Prospectus for available fees.)

Up to 800 lactation consultants, midwives, physicians, breastfeeding counselors, researchers, pharmacists, nurses, doulas, and other health professionals from around the world will attend the conference. This is your opportunity to ensure these highly educated lactation professionals, who have influence with expectant and new parents, as well as healthcare organizations, know about your products and services.

#ILCA16 offers several ways for your company, project, or nonprofit to get involved in the conference on many different levels.

Conference Exhibitors:

Reserving your booth space early ensures high visibility of your products and services. A standard 8×10-foot booth package includes:

• Contact with international leaders in breastfeeding,
• Badges for two (2) company representatives per 8×10 booth space rented,
• Lunch and breaks on exhibit days for two company representatives per exhibit space or one representative for non-profits and small businesses,
• 15 percent discount on any full conference registrations purchased for the organization’s representatives, and more!

Sponsorship Opportunities:

Gain greater visibility throughout the Conference with exclusive sponsorships! #ILCA16 sponsors have many opportunities to make their name and their products known to conference attendees. Sponsors can opt to have their name or logo printed on conference tote bags, badge holders, lanyards, or hotel keys; sponsor the Exhibit Hall Reception; furnish our Mother-Baby Room with relevant products; or sponsor conference meals and breaks. All of these exclusive sponsorship opportunities also include:

• Logo on the Conference section of the ILCA website, in a slide show before key sessions at the Conference, and on signage placed in high traffic areas throughout the Conference,
• Sponsor recognition in the Conference Program,
• One-time use of both the preregistration and final attendee mailing list,
• Full Page Black & White Ad in Conference Program, and more!

Promotional Opportunities:

#ILCA16 has promotional possibilities designed to fit all budget levels and to enhance your visibility at the conference. Choose from among a variety of creative opportunities such as:

• Tote bag promotional inserts,
• Having your promotional items or materials delivered to the hotel rooms of all conference attendees,
• Advertising on our Conference Mobile App,
• Rent the #ILCA16 pre-conference attendee mailing list, or
• Take advantage of our Exhibitor Promotion Package, with a mix of promotional opportunities to reach people before, during and after #ILCA16, at one package price!

Additionally, ILCA provides other ways for you to illustrate your commitment to the lactation profession, while also getting additional exposure for your product or business. Companies and individuals can help ILCA expand its diversity and support new members from under-represented communities by donating funds toward ILCA membership scholarships. As an ILCA Donor, your company will receive special recognition at the ILCA Conference as an ILCA Membership Supporter through booth signage, the conference materials, and on the ILCA website. Gain further exposure and enrich ILCA scholarship and research grant opportunities by supporting ILCA’s new raffle! Please consider donating an item by emailing info@ilca.org.

Our conference exhibitors are key partners in creating the ILCA Annual Conference experience. Your displays, your products, and your support are part of what makes the conference the amazing experience it is. The exhibitor application deadline is 20 May! (Booth reservations will be accepted after this deadline if space allows, but late applicants will not be listed in the Official Conference App and Conference Program.) Please see the #ILCA16 Exibitor page for further information and application materials.

Visit the #ILCA16 Exhibitor Information Now! 

Learn from the leading experts in the world while connecting with the advocates making global change all while enjoying Chicago, Illinois, USA! Registration is now open for the 2016 ILCA Conference and Annual Meeting.

NEW IN 2016!

• SHORTER CONFERENCE FORMAT with the opportunity to earn up to 22 CERPs (including pre-conference sessions), nursing contact hours, and CME credit! Check out this year’s schedule here.
• MORE AFFORDABLE conference thanks to a shorter, three-day format.
• GREATER FLEXIBILITY with no need to preregister for specific concurrent sessions. Choose the sessions you like on-site.
• MANY OPPORTUNITIES to participate in our highly popular Clinical Skills Rotation on the pre-conference day. (Pre-registration required)
• FREE WIFI in all meeting rooms!

EXPERT SPEAKERS FROM AROUND THE GLOBE

Learn from the world’s leading experts on the topics that you need to provide the best possible lactation support. See this year’s plenary speakers here.

BABY FRIENDLY…and BEYOND!

This year’s conference theme is Celebrating Baby Friendly in the Hospital and Beyond: Helping Families Thrive Worldwide. Baby-friendly practices are those that support and promote breastfeeding—in all settings and stages—through the incorporation of the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding. This year’s conference celebrates these practices in hospitals, in clinics and physician offices, and throughout the family’s community.

2016 ILCA Conference and Annual Meeting
20 – 23 July 2016
Celebrating Baby Friendly in the Hospital and Beyond: Helping Families Thrive Worldwide
Sheraton Chicago Hotel and Towers
Chicago, Illinois, USA

The 2016 International Lactation Consultant Association Conference, Celebrating Baby Friendly in the Hospital and Beyond: Helping Families Thrive Worldwide, is being held at the Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers from 20-23 July 2016. This four-day conference combines research and practice presentations with clinical and research skill development.

We invite you to consider speaking at the 2016 conference. The ILCA annual conference showcases speakers with exceptional expertise and presentation skills in order to provide quality information to attendees. ILCA’s Call for Proposals provides an opportunity for ILCA members and others in the maternal/child health community to submit presentation proposals to share their insights, expertise and research with colleagues.

If you are interested in submitting an abstract, please visit the Speaker Submission Site to learn more about 2016 presentation formats, submission categories, and submission guidelines (you can also find the speaker guidelines here). The site will be open until 30 October 2015 (US calendar and Eastern Standard Time). When the site closes, the Conference Program Task Force and Professional Development Committee will begin their blind review of submitted abstracts. Submitters will receive notification via email by 30 November as to whether their work has been selected for presentation.

Submit your abstract HERE.

If you have any questions about the submission process or if you submit an abstract and do not receive email notification by 30 November, please contact us at info@ilca.org.