The Kansas Reflector welcomes opinion items from writers who share our objective of widening the dialog about how public insurance policies have an effect on the day-to-day lives of individuals all through our state. Brenda Bandy and Jennie Toland are co-executive administrators of the Kansas Breastfeeding Coalition.

Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly declared August “Kansas Breastfeeding Month” throughout a ceremony July 29 in recognition of Nationwide Breastfeeding Month.

But for too many households in Kansas, breastfeeding is measured in days, not months. Though practically 90% of infants in Kansas begin out breastfeeding, fewer than one in three will likely be breastfeeding three months later.

The “alternative” to breastfeed isn’t a alternative in any respect for a lot of households. Lack of paid household depart, assist within the office, and lack of entry to lactation assist from folks with shared backgrounds and tradition, make breastfeeding appear inconceivable.

The obstacles to breastfeeding enhance for Black and Indigenous households. Breastfeeding charges amongst Black households is 9% decrease than the state common. Structural obstacles and historic trauma make it tougher for Black and Indigenous mother and father to have interaction in a standard apply that has sustained their households over generations.

But Black and Indigenous households in Kansas do breastfeed, regardless of bias and inequities.

The Wichita Black Breastfeeding Coalition “Latch Legacy” video reveals generations of Black households in Wichita who’ve breastfed. 

Stephanne Rupnicki of the Kansas Kickapoo Tribe has been acknowledged nationally as an advocate for Indigenous breastfeeding. She graces the duvet of the 2020 CDC Breastfeeding Report Card. She is working because the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation’s breastfeeding peer counselor to revive breastfeeding as the standard first meals for Indigenous households.

The Kansas Breastfeeding Coalition is working alongside these leaders in Kansas to handle racial disparities in breastfeeding in progressive methods. An efficient technique is thru investing in diversification of the lactation assist supplier workforce. Households need to obtain breastfeeding assist from those that share their background and tradition.

In alignment with this objective, the coalition, with assist from the United Methodist Well being Ministry Fund and the Kansas Division of Well being and Atmosphere, just lately awarded $8,000 in scholarships to assist eight aspiring Latinx, Black, and Indigenous lactation assist suppliers in Southwest Kansas, Kansas Metropolis, Topeka, and Wichita. 

That is along with the $14,000 awarded over the previous two years.

These students, and people from earlier years, share a ardour for offering lactation assist of their communities. They’ve demonstrated their dedication to supporting these communities by in search of to additional their training within the lactation subject. The KBC is dedicated to supporting these scholarship recipients within the pursuit of their targets.

“Breastfeeding is essential for the well being and wellbeing of each the father or mother and the kid. We’re excited to work with these people to construct a various lactation assist workforce so households in Kansas can obtain culturally congruent care,” stated Stephanne Rupnicki, Chair of the coalition’s board of administrators and Co-Founding father of the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation Breastfeeding Coalition.

The Kansas Breastfeeding Coalition continues to develop new and progressive methods to diversify the lactation workforce and contribute to equitable entry to breastfeeding assist for all Kansans in partnership with KDHE, United Methodist Well being Ministry Fund, and the Kansas Well being Basis.

With out equitable entry to breastfeeding assist and family-friendly workplaces, the selection to breastfeed isn’t a alternative in any respect.

We should work collectively to construct a tradition of breastfeeding assist in Kansas. For a listing of actions, see the 2022 State of Breastfeeding in Kansas report. We are able to take motion throughout Kansas Breastfeeding Month in August and in all of the months that observe.

Via its opinion part, the Kansas Reflector works to amplify the voices of people who find themselves affected by public insurance policies or excluded from public debate. Discover data, together with tips on how to submit your individual commentary, right here.