CCMH Awarded for Breastfeeding Friendly Worksite

August 01, 2017

CARROLLTON, Mo. – Carroll County Memorial Hospital joined a growing number of Missouri businesses by becoming a Missouri Breastfeeding Friendly Worksite. Breastfeeding friendly employers proactively support employees who choose to breastfeed their infants. They provide time, space and other benefits to maintain breastfeeding after a mom returns to work. Employers who provide these supports see a positive impact on their business’s bottom line.

The Missouri Breastfeeding Coalition awards businesses on three different levels – bronze, silver and gold. Carroll County Memorial Hospital achieved the silver level. They achieved this by providing employees with policy and education, a private room for breastfeeding, flexible breaks, and many resources, just to name a few.

CCMH’s dedicated private lactation room has a comfortable chair, small table, electricity, nearby sink with running water, clock and a library of breastfeeding resources.

Employers that provide lactation support services report higher employee retention, lower absenteeism, higher morale, greater productivity, reduced health care costs. Many studies have also shown improved short- and long-term health of the breastfeeding mother and her child.

“Lactation support programs are a growing trend in businesses today as a means of improving family services to employees,” said Cindy Gilman RN, CCMH Director of Quality.

Over 70 percent of Missouri mothers choose breastfeeding as the optimal form of infant feeding. Yet, many of these women do not meet their breastfeeding goals. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has identified returning to work as a major reason why many women stop breastfeeding.

The Missouri Breastfeeding Friendly Worksite Program was created by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) in 2013 to bring an increased awareness about the importance of worksite lactation support. The program recognizes employers with policies supportive of their breastfeeding employees. Such policies provide a flexible work schedule for milk expression breaks; offer a private space, other than a bathroom, where the employee can pump or breastfeed; and ensure easy access to a safe water source and place to store milk.

“We want our employees who are new mothers to know that we support their decision to continue breastfeeding,” said Jeff Tindle, CCMH CEO. “We are extremely pleased to be designated as a Missouri Breastfeeding Friendly Worksite.”

Missouri Breastfeeding Friendly Worksites represent a wide range of employment sectors, settings and worksite sizes. To be designated as a Missouri Breastfeeding Friendly Worksite, an employer must submit an application to the DHSS. Application materials can be found at http://health.mo.gov/living/families/wic/breastfeeding/support.php. A listing of recognized businesses is available on the Missouri Breastfeeding Coalition’s website, http://www.mobreastfeeding.org/.

For more information on the Missouri Breastfeeding Friendly Worksites Program, visit the program’s website, http://health.mo.gov/living/families/wic/breastfeeding/support.php, or contact the State Breastfeeding Coordinator at 573-526-4792.