Dr. Camara Jones, MD, MPH, PhD, is a public health thought leader and pioneer, known for (among many things) her gift for telling stories that take your understanding of – and ability to break down – structural health inequities to the next level.
Have you heard her speak about the cliff of good health yet? Start learning from Dr. Jones today with this quick video:
Then join us at #ILCA19 to continue the conversation, where we are honored to host Dr. Jones’ presentation, Achieving Health Equity in Breastfeeding: Naming and Addressing Racism and Other Systems of Structured Inequity.
As Michele Griswold, ILCA Past President shared with us, “Hearing Dr. Jones speak on racial health inequities was so powerful that it ultimately changed the course of my academic career. Her analogies take the complexities of the structural factors that create inequities in health care and make them clear in a way that inspires systemic change.”
We asked IBCLCs from all over world what lactation consultants do and when families should seek their help.
WHAT is an IBCLC?
An IBCLC is a healthcare professional who specializes in the clinical management of breastfeeding and chestfeeding.
As Zoe Faulkner, an IBCLC in the United Kingdom, shared, “IBCLC lactation consultants provide experienced, expert and evidence based support to families, appropriate to the families circumstances, from establishing feeding in the early days to managing a complex situation.”
WHY should I seek the care of an IBCLC?
Lactation consultants shared with us a variety of reasons that you might seek an IBCLC. We summed them up for you here:
Lactation consultants can help any time you have questions about breastfeeding and chestfeeding. From pregnancy and birth throughout your feeding relationship, an IBCLC can support you.
As Micaela Notarangelo, an IBCLC in Italy shared, “IBCLCs offer solutions, explanation, empowering, and support. We are supported by knowledge, experience, understanding, and empathy.”
IBCLCs work in a variety of healthcare settings, including hospitals, pediatric offices, public health clinics, and private practice, where care is provided in your home or the consultant’s office in the community.
No matter your role in lactation, you will find what you need to better ENGAGE with your work at #ILCA19.
If YOU provide clinical care…
Gain practical skills at our pre-conference Clinical Skills Rotation, on topics including tongue tie, massage, and supporting families after an intensive care stay or emergency.
Find clinical skills during our Concurrent Sessions from supporting the first hours of lactation, problem solving tough cases, and strategies for supporting common – and less common – breastfeeding challenges.
If YOU are an advocate…
Keep up-to-date on the latest advocacy issues and get the tools you need to be most effective, from sessions on the international policy and advocacy “big picture” to case studies on effective strategies on the ground around the globe.
Plus, make connections with colleagues from all over the world. You never know who you will end up sitting next to!
If YOU are a leader in your community…
Bring back the latest research and trends in the field to your local community. Take advantage of sessions on body dynamics, the role of neohormones, techniques for assessing swallowing, and more.
Find the sessions, connections, and relationships you need to meet YOUR goals.
Every year, the Journal of
Human Lactation (JHL) hosts a
photo contest for the coveted cover spot for the four issues published during
the coming year. The annual photo contest is your opportunity to contribute to
the journal and highlight your community.
JHL is seeking photos illustrating lactation professionals’ education role, which could be an individual teaching session, leading a group session or many other possibilities.
Photos need to meet JHL publication requirements (dpi 300 x 300; jpeg file, and at least 4” tall and wide).
A photo release is required from all persons in the photo and these need to be submitted with the photo.
The photographer will need to sign a non-exclusive copyright – in other words, allowing JHL to use the photo, but the photographer is free to use it elsewhere as one chooses.
The Journal of Human Lactation (JHL) is soliciting manuscripts about ethical issues pertaining to lactation and breastfeeding or chestfeeding for the February 2020 issue. Ethical discussions of these topics have been limited within the professional literature, despite the short- and long-term health benefits of human milk to families and communities’ health and wellbeing. JHL welcomes articles about a broad range of ethical concerns.
The Guest Editors welcome original research, literature reviews, case studies, insights into policy and practice and other types of manuscripts. Email inquiries concerning specific ideas for manuscripts for this special issue are also welcomed (e-mail addresses below).
As the president of the board of directors of the International Lactation Consultant Association® (ILCA®), I deeply value listening carefully to you, our members. I also want to be transparent with you about our organization. In 2019, I will be sharing with you the things that have excited me, the ways ILCA is stepping forward, and invite you to tell me what is and is not working for you as an ILCA member.
We have set big goals for the year ahead. We want to provide you with outstanding education and connection – whether in person or virtually. We are working to increase access to education, improve technology to serve you, and provide you with additional tools as we work together towards equity in the profession. We are excited to be doing this work together with you, our members and volunteers.
I cannot wait to see you 24 – 27 July in Atlanta, Georgia, United States for ENGAGE, our annual conference and general meeting. In addition to this great opportunity to get together, our board of directors will also be embarking on an international listening tour so that we can hear from you in your own community. Keep an eye on your weekly ILCAlert for more information.
We are working hard to increase access to member benefits. Soon, we will offer closed captioning on all recorded webinars. The expectation is that this visual word tool will allow more of our members to experience these great educational sessions, while laying the foundation for providing translations of these webinars.
To achieve all of our goals, we need your help. Soon, we will launch a new structure for our volunteers. We have heard you. Our present way of engaging with volunteers has been challenging and we have not always made the space for you to work to the best of your ability. The board of directors is committed to providing direction so that you, our volunteers, can put your expertise into action. Our volunteer application process will open soon!
Of course, big goals require funding. I am pleased to share that we have approved our 2019 ILCA budget. While this year’s budget may be ambitious, I believe that we can achieve our goals and be fiscally responsible. While we have not historically published our current year budgets, I encourage our members to explore our financial audits and minutes for our past Board of Directors meetings (please note that this link is available to members only). And, as always, I am happy to engage with you about ILCA’s financial health and priorities.
We are currently looking for a new member to our Board of Directors to fill the role of Secretary. You can read more about the position in our recent post at Lactation Matters. Please consider whether you or a colleague would be a good fit to help provide leadership as we work together to “transform world health through breastfeeding and skilled lactation care.”
I want to hear from you. It is vital that I know what joys and challenges you face in your daily work and how ILCA can better support you through our core values of knowledge, equity, and diversity. As we experienced at last year’s conference, we truly are better together. You can email me anytime at president@ilca.org.
Do you love bringing together lactation consultants and ensuring they have the skills they need to provide high quality, evidence based care?
Consider playing a key role in the ILCA Annual Meeting and Conference by applying to become the Conference Program Task Force Chair (CPTF).
This two-year position includes an honorarium and attendance at the ILCA conference. The CPTF helps guide the selection of plenary and concurrent workshops.
While primarily focusing upon how “knowledge guides our practice, strengths our value, and supports our role in transforming global health,” all of ILCA’s three core values are essential to the tasks of this position.
The CPTP works alongside the ILCA Education Manager and coordinates closely with the members of the volunteer Conference Task members.
Do you want to work alongside leaders from around the globe to shape the future of ILCA and your profession? Do you want to help set our path within the global breastfeeding community?
Consider becoming a candidate for a position on the ILCA Board!
The ILCA Board of Directors is seeking candidates for the Secretary position, which has been temporarily filled by Director Ger Cahill. Ger volunteered to step into the role after the term of the previous Secretary expired. The board is grateful for her time as secretary and look forward to her continued role as Director.
We asked some of our current board members to tell us a bit about what it means to them to serve the profession in this capacity:
“I feel very honoured to be part of the current ILCA Board of Directors. We know there are many IBCLCs and skilled breastfeeding supporters around the world that are yet to access the benefits of ILCA membership, including the Journal of Human Lactation, our education and professional development programs and our conference.
We are working to deepen relationships globally, to increase our advocacy work and to improve equitable and international access to our programs, while at the same time being mindful of the needs of our valued current members. It’s an exciting time to be involved!” ~ Iona Macnab, BA(Hons), LLB, IBCLC
“Working for the ILCA Board is a wonderful and satisfying experience. We are a group of people from all across the world, who get together, sometimes in person and most times while sitting in our own houses, and make decisions which in the long run can impact world health – can there be a more satisfying way to spend your time and energies?!” ~ Sabeen Adil, MD, IBCLC
“Being on the board is like being part of an international family. Everyone is far away so you look forward to the times you do get to spend with one another at meetings.
The board work – whilst not hard per se – can be challenging, making decisions that will affect the future of the organisation, bearing in mind the diverse international scope we are striving for, is not an easy task. So while the brain is definitely challenged at times, having colleagues who are fun, like-minded, brave and resilient and who I can also call friends, is the bonus that is worth the work.
Meeting so many people worldwide at various meetings and conferences has been a huge bonus for me. Only through working on the board could I have had so many opportunities to do this. ~ Ger Cahill, BA, IBCLC
ILCA is seeking candidates who are alert to regional and cross-cultural differences as they occur within the global breastfeeding community. Candidates will be sensitive to the challenges of ensuring equitable access to positions of leadership within ILCA for currently under-represented groups.
To learn more about the Secretary position, including a detailed job description, we invite you to visit the Volunteer Opportunities page on the ILCA website.
Let potential clients know that your Hospital-Based Facility or Community-Based Agency recognizes the role of the International Board Certified Lactation Consultant® (IBCLC®) in protecting, promoting, and supporting breastfeeding by applying for the IBCLC Care Award.
The IBCLC Care Awards are promoted to new families and the general public which means your facility can enjoy the benefits of positive public relations in your community, including:
Enhanced attractiveness to potential patients
Competitive edge in recruiting lactation consultants, nurses, midwives, mother support counselors and other medical staff
General goodwill in the community by providing excellent care in helping new families reach their breastfeeding goals
Visit the IBCLC Care Directory to see which Hospital-Based Facilities are already benefiting from the IBCLC Care Award program!
Are you a nurse who loves to ensure our education guides our best possible practice as lactation consultants? ILCA is seeking a Lead Nurse Planner (LNP). This remote position is compensated and includes attendance at the ILCA Annual Meeting and Conference.
The LNP ensures that ILCA maintains its status as a provider of professional development for healthcare professionals, which gives ILCA the ability to educate individuals worldwide.
To reach as many healthcare professionals as possible, ILCA offers education with a variety of continuing education credits, including those available to nurses. To maintain compliance with the organizations that grant those credits, the LNP must meet certain requirements (click here to learn more).
