FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media contact: Jenny Levison
Phone: 212-248-2785 x1454; email: jlevison@thecsi.org
CSI Releases Report on Breastfeeding and Racial Equity
New York, NY — Today, Center for Social Inclusion (CSI) launched Removing Barriers to Breastfeeding: A Structural Race Analysis of First Food, a report outlining the barriers to breastfeeding that communities of color face, as well as recommended policies and practices to address racial inequity in First Food.
We release the report in conjunction with National Breastfeeding Month (August) and Black Breastfeeding Week (August 25-31).
The report highlights structural barriers that women face during pregnancy, at the hospital, and in their first weeks and months at home after the baby is born—including access to Baby-Friendly hospitals and certified lactation consultants, which are often lacking in neighborhoods of color.
“The fact that women of color face unique challenges in this space isn’t surprising. Our hope is that this foundational analysis gives a baseline to think more deeply about the barriers created by both policy and practice, and gives people the tools to take action to ensure that all women have the choice to breastfeed, “ says Simran Noor, who leads CSI’s First Food program. She adds, “Many in the field have championed this cause for years. We add to their vast knowledge in hopes that collective action will close gaps and give every baby the chance for a healthy start.”
The report was completed in conjunction with many in the breastfeeding world, including but not limited to: Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine, Boston Medical Center, Carolina Global Breastfeeding Institute, Health Connect One, Moms Rising, Mothering Justice, Reaching Our Sisters Everywhere (ROSE), and United States Breastfeeding Committee.
To view the report, visit:
To schedule an interview with Simran Noor, contact Jenny Levison at jlevison@thecsi.org
About Center for Social Inclusion:
Center for Social Inclusion catalyzes grassroots communities, government, and other institutions to dismantle structural racial inequity. We craft strategies and tools to transform our nation’s policies and practices that harm communities of color, in order to ensure better outcomes for all.
Visit www.centerforsocialinclusion.org.
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