For Immediate Release
Contact: Jayne Jackson, JayneJ@BMBFA.org, 800.313.6141 ext. 0
Detroit, MI– Black Mothers’ Breastfeeding Association (BMBFA) presents its 6th National Seminar, “The Relationship of Place, Race and Breastfeeding on Preterm Birth Outcomes ” on Friday, October 2, 2015. This is a full day event that takes place at Henry Ford Hospital, Buerki Auditorium, 2799 W. Grand Blvd., Detroit, MI 48202. The seminar is supported by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, and Henry Ford Health Systems. According to Kiddada Green, founding executive director of BMBFA, “Healthy behaviors and lifestyles begin with the first food, breast milk. And though to some, infant food choice may appear to be an independent one, we at Black Mothers’ Breastfeeding Association realize that there are many systematic and social factors that influence breastfeeding decisions. We further understand that the lives of the many premature babies who are born too small and too soon can be dependent upon breast milk.”
The 6th National Seminar is a conference including a plenary, keynote, workshops and lecture sessions from a diverse sector of notable experts. Topics include; neonatal intensive care units (NICU), public health, community-based doula care, human milk and human milk banks, and using verbal and visual arts for social change and racial equity in breastfeeding support. To increase breastfeeding in the United States, the current focus has been the implementation of research-backed steps to increase breastfeeding prevalence for healthy infants. The success of these programs has created an opportunity to ensure that all infants can receive the benefit of breast milk. In the keynote presentation, Dr. Diane Spatz from the University of Pennsylvania will discuss her Ensuring Human Milk & Breastfeeding in the NICU.
This Seminar will also investigate macrosystem factors related to breastfeeding. Racial disparities in birth outcomes have emerged as a national concern. Plenary speaker, Dr. Arthur James from The Ohio State University’s Wexner Medical Center, will use a historical lens to explore two significant factors and social determinants that impact birth outcomes: race and place. Applications for continuing education credit have been approved and include: CME, CHES, IBCLE, RD, RN & LMSW/LBSW. Attendees may self- apply for ACNM.
Onsite registration is available. The keynote speech by Dr. Diane Spatz will be available by live stream. Event details are located at www.BMBFA.org.
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Black Mothers’ Breastfeeding Association (BMBFA) is a non-profit organization founded in 2007. BMBFA’s mission is to reduce racial inequities in breastfeeding support for African Americans by building foundational networks of support, and strengthening systems to overcome historical, societal and social barriers to breastfeeding success. For more information, visit www.BMBFA.org.