Breastfeeding Friendly Employer Project
Supporting breastfeeding women when they return to employment outside the home is an essential part of increasing Vermont's breastfeeding rates.
The Breastfeeding-Friendly Employer Project helps Vermont employers adopt breastfeeding-friendly policies in the workplace, and recognizes who do so. This project also provides mothers and child care providers with information to help all Vermont babies receive breastmilk for the recommended first year of life.
Encouraging mothers to breastfeed their babies (pdf) is a key strategy of the Fit & Healthy Vermonters Obesity Prevention Plan.
Project Resources
Breastfeeding Friendly Employers in Vermont
A list of businesses that support and promote breastfeeding in the workplace.
For Employers
Information about becoming a Breastfeeding-Friendly employer, including an application to join the project.
For Working Mothers
Information about choosing childcare, expressing breastmilk, choosing a breast pump, and how to make plans with your employer that allow you to continue providing breastmilk after your return to work.
For Child Care Providers
Tips for helping breastfed babies adapt to childcare, about milk storage and handling guidelines, and information about creating a breastfeeding-friendly child care facility.
Other Worksite Resources
Worksite Wellness Resource
This
Fit and Healthy Vermonters resource provides employers with steps and information to aid in planning, developing, implementing, and evaluating a worksite wellness program.
The Business Case for Breastfeeding:
Steps for Creating a Breastfeeding Friendly Worksite.
Toolkit components include Employee's Guide to Breastfeeding and Working, Easy Steps To Supporting Breastfeeding Employees, and The Business Case for Breastfeeding.
Vermont Workplaces Support Nursing Moms
This
fact sheet describes Vermont labor law related to breastfeeding in the workplace and suggests ways that employers and employees can work together to achieve breastfeeding recommendations for mothers and babies. Information about the workplace accomodation law is available from the Vermont Attorney General.
Project Information
The Breastfeeding-Friendly Employer Project was created as a result of recommendations by the Breastfeeding Study Commission, established by the Vermont Legislature in 2000.
The project is supported by the Vermont Business Roundtable, Vermont Chamber of Commerce, Vermont League of Cities and Towns, and the Vermont Departments of Health, Economic Development, and Personnel.
Thank you for your interest in this project, and please contact me with any questions.
Karen Flynn
Project Coordinator
P.O. Box 70, Burlington, VT 05402-0070
802-652-4171