Mom2Mom KMC: From Peer Mentoring to Community Culture Change
- Duration: 30 Mins
- Credits:
- Learning Format: Webinar
- Handout: Yes
- Origin: GOLD Lactation 2015
Abstract:
Research has established that peer support is the most effective support for breastfeeding mothers. Mom2Mom KMC is a breastfeeding peer support group for families stationed overseas in the Kaiserslautern Military Community (KMC) in Germany. Our vision is for a community-wide culture where breastfeeding is the normal and accepted way to nourish and nurture human babies. Over the past four years, Mom2Mom KMC has made great progress toward that culture change through a comprehensive grassroots effort of peer mentoring, online and social media presence, and forging partnerships with the medical facilities, lactation professionals, and other community resource organizations in the KMC. Breastfeeding mothers in the KMC have access to trained lactation professionals and peer support 24 hours a day through a closed Facebook group, weekly Breastfeeding Cafes, and trained peer mentors. Lactation professionals are rigorous in ensuring that the information offered is accurate and supported by evidence-based research. Mom2Mom KMC hosts an annual CLC training, and maintains a database of community lactation professionals willing to help mothers with complex breastfeeding issues. In addition, the organization works with community resources and local medical facilities to advocate for policies that follow best practices for breastfeeding support. Mom2Mom KMC is an entirely self-sustaining, volunteer-run organization, operating on a small budget; all services are provided free of charge. This presentation will offer a template for building a seamless network of support for breastfeeding families in any community, with a special emphasis on the specific needs of military families.
Learning Objectives:
Objective 1: Share the history and development of a 100% volunteer peer breastfeeding organization specific to the needs of military communities. Objective 2: Identify successful changes we have made in our community to protect, promote, and support breastfeeding, and identify current challenges we are still working to overcome. Objective 3: Present a template for creating a sustainable, affordable organizational model that centers around helping each mother meet her own individual breastfeeding goals, and creating a community culture that is breastfeeding-supportive.
