PA-Breastfeeding Coalition Minutes of meeting July 16, 2003

Present:
Mary Ann Mihok Messiah College, Dietetic Educators, Ruth Solomon LLL of Eastern PA, Tracy Brown, Medela; Chris Mulford, PRO-LC; Joi McClain, PA PHD; Kay Hoover, PA Dept of Health; Ruth Wilf, Pennsylvania Hospital; Dawn Blanchard, Helen Vermilya, Wendy Shore, Memorial Hospital; Helen Quickel, York Hosp; Patricia Keister, York Hosp; Martha Kautz, Ephrata Hosp; Vicki Coen, Ephrata Hosp; Darla Davidson, Ephrata Hosp; Rosa Snyd-Boyd, Comm Action SW Wic; Kathy Romberger, Pinnacle; Jeanne Spencer, Conemaugh, Laurel Highlands, Kathie Wagner, Fam Health Council, Nursing Mothers’ Counselors, Karen Foard, PAMILC.

Meeting opened at 10:15 at the Pinnacle Medical Offices, Harrisburg Area
Corrections to April minutes: Fix the WBW Theme statement
Correct spelling of Donna More’s name
Treasurers Report: Balance 1389.95, Savings 448.41 in checking 1838.34
Membership dues due: Please pay today $20 give form to Rosa, Money to Kathy R.
In kind donations, mileage, postage, hours spent that weren’t reimbursed from somewhere else are all records that Rosa would like us to record and give to her at each meeting.

Upcoming meeting dates:
October 22 at South Ridge Motor Inn, State College,
January 21, 2004: bridge call from 12-2
bridge call number : ?????????PLEASE HELP FILL THIS IN!!!
Trouble? 814-863-1787 call if can’t get on.
April 21, 2004 Somerset Ramada ($49 rooms if any one needs it.)
Number for hotel 814-443-4646
July 14, 2004- Harrisburg Pinnacle offices

Upcoming meeting dates:
October 22 at South Ridge Motor Inn, State College,
January 21, 2004: bridge call from 12-2
bridge call number : ?????????PLEASE HELP FILL THIS IN!!!
Trouble? 814-863-1787 call if can’t get on.
April 21, 2004 Somerset Ramada ($49 rooms if any one needs it.)
Number for hotel 814-443-4646
July 14, 2004- Harrisburg Pinnacle offices

General Business:
*Rosa reports Loving Support Grant got more funding for supplies to make some more packets for drs offices, there are awards for peds/ obs based on number of thank you’s sent in local WIC

*Ad council project to launch in the fall, not a month picked yet— Office of Women’s Health Human services in DC, Ad Council( non profit) to raise public awareness on bf, 18 projects around country, Trenton, Philly are two of the more local areas that will have local number to get more info, other places have a national 800 number women’s health 1-800-944-wome, target first time parents who may otherwise not choose breastfeeding Babies were born to be breastfed is the theme

*Proclamation obtained by Barb Shocker, signed by Governor Rendell-
Looking for the rest of the originals, put on web page as soon as located
Web page-send out an email to everyone if they want to be listed in the contact section.
$$ for domain year that was missing was a contribution from Barb, mall gift certificate will be looked into getting. Web page add 9/13 conference, and the western pa conference. Decided that the site won’t have a hyphen-- ask Mike our computer guy if there is counter to record hits. Directions to both places in there are to be permanent.

Martha asking for approval of the milk guidelines in order to send it out with the next newsletter and to post on web site. Need a disclaimer that PABC is not responsible for any changes to content. We talked through all the guidelines and had a pleasant time bouncing ideas and gave Martha more work to do. Smallpox vaccine update information needs to be posted; statement copies of our newsletters posted on web site

From Barb Shocker: conference at Hershey May 3-4 2004 do we want to have a booth? At Grantville Holiday Inn, speakers so far, Barb Phillips from Boston, AAP Dr. Berlin, Dr. White, neonatologist talking about the near term baby, ABM, CMV baby- Dr McGgrew, and Lisa Marasco with polycystic ovary syndrome

Video Conference 8/5 730-930 am. Satellite downlink, equipment needed NICU Dr. Schandler, Lawrence, Arlene Hill, Mortons video clip on A baby needs his mother, Cheryl Reeves, 518-402-0335 is the contact person. Email creeves@albany.edu Conference is free, you may have to pay to hook through hosp or CIUnits

World Breastfeeding week activities-
Sent thank you note to Drs (Ruth Solomon) picnic Kathie Wagner (Lewistown) City Island Walk- fun times (Ruth Solomon) Chris workplace policies Rhode Island passed a policy in June.
Suggest for Agenda: legislation update possibility- talk about in October?
San Fran LLL conference Kay and Chris went.

Temple intern friend of Kay’s Joi—going to be a midwife after degree in public health
Kay: video footage being distributed Kay is using in her offices – very well done;
PROLC sponsoring 9/13 near the airport Nils Bergman and Michel Young NICU issues- should have gotten a brochure hosp contest display—gift is free registration to the 9/13 conference Dept of Public Health grant for LCservices added in community health centers division of maternal child and family health. Will have pens with the ad council slogan. Brought her medication card laminated to show us

Chris: resource guide bf in South Jersey- downloadable materials for parents who don’t speak English. Chris will email the links
Ruth Wilf-
Kathy Romberger- at Pinnacle, we have an interdepartmental bf task force at the hospital issues/ questions being discussed, LCs do some research to find out the scoop so good interplay. WBW nursing mother counseling party at Kathy’s house

Barb Shocker : conference info shared; Hershey WBW bfing displays at Babies r Us, LCs will provide refreshments for bf promotion and childbirth classes at Hershey, 1st Saturday in October.
Jeanne Spencer: Cambria County bf week, meet the commissioners will meet and receive proclamation EFNEP peer counselors for breastfeeding—what are they doing with the money, who can partner with them, are questions we have. Jeanne will be looking at it.

Maryann Mihok—dietetics educators representing, looking forward to her last year of teaching and is hoping to find someone to join us at PABC meetings in the future. Saw Tasha Dersham has a new baby-

Dawn Blanchard left Messiah. Now teaching anthropology at Lock Haven.
Ginnie Whitehaus has opened a doula bf support Comprehensive birth services business
Helen Vermilya- in-service and display for WBW, has sadly closed her store
Wendy Shore: breastfeeding discharge bags ladies aux bought, “The Premier Choice” is te slogan. The bags contain Wendy’s book, a spring express, mother support group flyers, business cards, dads’ brochure, magnetic white board record “what I did today” to record what baby did today at day care, frig tips for milk , web site NHS national health system www.breastfeeding.nhs.uk

Helen Q- York Hospital glad to be here!

Pat Keister- NICU York Hosp wants to join! Tried baby friendly still revisiting the idea, going to a task force format, bf in workplace working with businesses in York making up a questionnaire to see how they support new mothers returning to work.

Chris mentioned the talk by Barb Phillips from Boston who has a video talking about how much is actually spent on formula if the buying formula is the stickler.

Martha Kautz made a scrapbook memorializing the close of the Lancaster BF Center; brought Vicki and Darla from Ephrata. Wants to develop the Lactation Center of Lancaster County hopefully through the hospital

Rosa- WIC in Washington Green County

Allegheny County giving out t-shirts to babies at all county hospitals and workplace friendly awards

Westmoreland County, everyone has 5 places to go to to visit during WBW. Washington Green doing the county fair. Family Care Center. In the barn 8x8 AC donated water changing table pamphlets coalition staffed each night this year is donating a 24x24 building but fair board said no, but next year they will have a building that they will revise so this year they are in the barn and a tent. Changing tables in the restrooms. Loving Support grant got banners for hospitals for WBW. Peer counselor program with food stamp dollars family health council WIC, 2 peer counselors in Washington Greene. Phone support sometimes in the clinics

Vicki Lee Coen Ephrata Darla Davidson Ephrata-
IN the ABSORBTION STAGE OF Martha!!
Tracy- new baby 4 month, Medela Eastern Pa Southern NJ rep. Talked about Insurance reimbursement- will bend an ear of GHP (Geisinger) and to see if they will start including lactation support in their plan. Many hospitals discontinuing ob services

Committee Work:
Public policy: Drafted a letter that will be spread out model letter to WIC reauthorization to Congress

Provider educ: policies posted on web site breastfeeding policies, ad council campaign babies were born to be breastfed. idea send letter mentioning sending it to executives of insurance companies to beef up benefits. March of Dimes grants apps due in August 2004. support bf across the state billboards across the state so will be working on grants

Public info working on newsletter—sorted out duties breast pump reimbursement policies committee fair sheet, Jeanne sending me update of the anti-depression article
Did you know the BNN number quick clean bags, breastfeeding intake ob history form.

Meeting adjourned amid the sounds of pleasant goodbyes, with always the joy of spending time with like minded individuals.

Submitted by: Karen Foard, Secretary.