Tag Archives | webinars

What Are Your Educational Needs as an ILCA Member?

By lactationmatters on 10 January 2013 in ILCA News

By Judi Lauwers, BA, IBCLC, FILCA, ILCA Education Coordinator

As the IBCLCs’ professional association, ILCA provides a wide array of services and resources related to education. Information about these resources is available on ILCA’s website. ILCA recently sent a survey asking members about a variety of preferences and priorities. We are taking this opportunity to also ask what matters most to YOU in the area of education.

What do you need that ILCA does not already provide?

What does ILCA provide that is most important to you?

Here is what ILCA provides to its members. Click on the headings for more information:

Core Curriculum: Perhaps the most important resource is the Core Curriculum for Lactation Consultant Practice. This pivotal resource was developed by over 45 educators, long-time ILCA members and other professionals. The third edition was recently released and is available in the ILCA Store. The text is the ultimate reference for anyone working with breastfeeding families. Educators use it to develop and update course content. Students use it to prepare for the certification exam. Clinicians refer to it as issues arise in their day-to-day work with mothers and babies. Policy makers use it to guide policy development.

Webinars: ILCA began offering live webinars in 2011 and they have become very popular. Until the end of June 2013, attendance at all live webinars is FREE. Attendees who wish to receive continuing education credit can purchase the recorded session and complete the continuing education process.

CERPs onDemand: When is the last time you visited ILCA’s CERPs onDemand site? There are over 80 online continuing education opportunities through recorded webinars, conference sessions, and study modules from the Journal of Human Lactation. Study modules in the journal can also be completed by paper and mailed to the ILCA office. ILCA produced an online study module on the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes. We also have two study modules to compliment the Clinical Guidelines for the Establishment of Exclusive Breastfeeding (covering Strategies 1-10 and 11-20). Watch for a new edition to be released soon!

Conference: We can’t forget ILCA’s premier continuing education activity, our annual conference! The 2013 conference will be July 25-28 in Melbourne, Australia. Then back to the U.S. in 2014 for a conference in Phoenix, Arizona – one of the most popular venues for past ILCA conferences. Any ILCA members who would like to serve on the Conference Program Committee is encouraged to apply.

Educators: Educators can find links on a special Educator page to resources for curriculum development and clinical instruction.

Students: Students can find information on a special Student page for resources on recommended reading, selecting a course and how to prepare for the profession. ILCA’s Directory of Course Providers and Clinical Instruction Directory help students find sources for their education.

Committees: ILCA’s Education Committee and Clinical Instruction Subcommittee address a variety of education-related issues in the profession. Any ILCA member who would like to serve on one of these is encouraged to apply.

Resources: ILCA’s member newsletter, the eGlobe, posts Multi-Media Reviews and Teaching Tips for educators. A variety of other resources can be downloaded from the ILCA website.

We would like to hear from you!

Are there resources you need that ILCA doesn’t provide? Are there resources you think ILCA should discontinue? Which resources are most important to you?

Are you an ILCA member and interested in helping with education projects? Please send your comments and questions to education@ilca.org.

ILCA Now Offers FREE Webinars!

By lactationmatters on 20 December 2012 in ILCA News

By Judi Lauwers, BA, IBCLC, FILCA, ILCA Education Coordinator

Have you attended one of the International Lactation Consultant Association’s (ILCA) FREE webinars yet? They are available to both ILCA members and nonmembers. ILCA’s live webinar series offers you the opportunity to gain valuable education from international experts – all from the convenience of your home or workplace.

Through the end of June, 2013, you can attend ILCA’s live webinars for free!

Response to these free webinars has been resoundingly positive. Cathy Carothers launched the free webinars on October 23rd with a very popular presentation on Building Connections with New Families: When Talking is Not Enough. More than 90 people attended the first free webinar. Since then, more than 500 additional health care professionals attended webinars presented by Jeanette Panchula on counseling, Ted Greiner on breastfeeding and alcohol, and Phyllis Kombol on clinical instruction.

So why has ILCA started offering free webinars? The idea came from our esteemed ILCA board president, Liz Brooks. She had noticed that other professional associations offer free webinars and wondered if it might be feasible for ILCA to do the same. ILCA has a strong commitment to member services and also to professional development.

There are two primary reasons people attend a webinar. First, and hopefully foremost, is to learn! ILCA offers a wide variety of topics and speakers to provide learning opportunities that will help to strengthen your knowledge base and clinical skills. We are excited to offer these webinars at no cost in an effort to help advance the lactation consultant profession. The second primary reason for attending webinars is to earn continuing education credit. IBCLCs need 75 CERPs every 5 years and nurses also need contact hours. ILCA is a long-term provider with IBLCE and ANCC to provide continuing education to IBCLCs and nurses. Our providerships allow us to offer continuing education credit for our annual conference as well as all of our webinars and study modules. We offer that credit at a 50% discount to ILCA members as a special member service.

Webinars are a great way to get continuing education. The live (and free) ILCA webinars are for viewing only and do not provide credit. For those who need CERPs and nursing contact hours, we record our webinars and have them available to purchase online and receive credit. Each webinar recording is posted on ILCA’s CERPs onDemand™ site one week after the live presentation. With the click of a few buttons, you can purchase the recorded webinar, answer a few continuing education questions, complete an evaluation and then print a certificate. The best part is that you will have full access to the recorded webinar until it expires – typically a period of one year.

You can attend the live presentation for free and you only pay if you need continuing education credit! We recognize that some may attend the free webinar simply for the learning opportunity and that is wonderful. We’re glad you are taking advantage of the program! At the same time, we hope if you need continuing education credit with IBLCE or ANCC, you will use the ILCA webinars to help meet your requirement. After attending the live presentation, please go to ILCA’s CERPs onDemand™ site to purchase the recorded webinar and go through the continuing education process to receive credit. This will likely be a factor in determining whether we can continue to offer the live presentations free after June.

We look forward to having you with us in our upcoming free webinars!

Click on one of the links below to register. After you register you will receive an email confirmation. You will also receive reminders one week before and again one day before the live presentation.

Developing a Successful Hospital Lactation Program: This webinar is presented by Rebecca Mannel, BS, IBCLC, FILCA and will be held on January 10, 2013 from 6:00 – 7:30pm EST USA and will be given in English.

Overcoming the Challenges of Baby Friendly Designation: This webinar is presented by Joyce McKeever, MS, RN and Trish MacEnroe, BS, CDN, CLC. It will be held January 17, 2013 from 4:00 – 5:30pm EST USA and will be given in English.

Gain de Poids Insuffisant: Approche et Etudes de Cas: This webinar is presented by Jack Newman, MD, FRCPC and will be held February 2, 2013 from 4:00 – 5:30pm EST USA. It will be given in French.

Poor Weight Gain: Approach and Case Studies: This webinar is presented by Jack Newman, MD, FRCPC. It will be held February 2, 2013 from 6:00 – 7:30pm EST USA and given in English.

Overcoming Breastfeeding Ambivalence: This webinar is presented by Diana West, BA, IBCLC on February 20, 2013 from 5:30 – 7:30pm EST USA. It will be given in English.

If you have questions about ILCA’s webinar process, please visit our website or contact us at webinars@ilca.org.

ILCA Announces New Educational Initiative to Advance Research-Based Education and Skills (FREE WEBINARS)

By lactationmatters on 10 October 2012 in Education, ILCA News

ILCA is pleased to announce a new educational initiative to advance research-based education and skills in our profession.

Through the end of June, 2013, both ILCA members and non-members may attend ILCA’s live webinars webinars at no charge.

During that time, access to all live webinars is free and you will pay only if you want continuing education credit. Webinar recordings and handouts will be posted on ILCA’s CERPs onDemand™ site within 2 weeks after the live presentation. Those who wish to receive credit can purchase the recorded webinar and print their certificate online. This also provides full access to the recorded webinar and materials for the length of time it is available online.

We extend this free service to our valued members to express our appreciation for your continued support of ILCA and its mission to advance the profession. This free access to live webinars also demonstrates to potential new members ILCA’s commitment to professional development and the valuable services available to members. Be sure to pass this information on to colleagues and invite them to take advantage of this special educational initiative.

Visit ILCA’s webinar page now to begin registering for your free live webinars! If you elect to purchase the continuing education credit, remember that ILCA members receive a 50% discount on all purchases on the CERPs onDemand™ site.

Liz Brooks, ILCA’s president, has this to say about the exciting initiative:

“ILCA is a professional association committed to providing high quality evidence-based information to our members, and other practitioners with interest. These free webinars meet Goal Two of our recently revised Strategic Plan: “Promote professional development through member services” via continuing education opportunities, use of technology, and offerings that promote the advancement and education of IBCLCs … who hold the essential credential for lactation support. Bringing people *to* ILCA to show them *what* ILCA does, and has to offer, is one way to build new membership. It reminds our current members of the value of their membership. The line-up of excellent researchers and presenters, offering their highly relevant and interesting material, ought to captivate any IBCLC. This simple notion of free, excellent education, is one way to attract those who love to learn, and to learn from the best. They will be similarly attracted to ILCA’s incredible Journal of Human Lactation, to the rest of our on-line learning modules and webinars, and to our penultimate educational offering, the annual conference. If folks need CERPs, those are easily obtained for the customary fees (half off for current members!). If folks just want great education, pure and simple, this is a great opportunity. Regardless, attendees will learn the latest evidence-based practice, making them better clinicians serving breastfeeding families. There is no downside in that!”

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