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Alberta Breastfeeding Committee (ABC)

The Alberta Breastfeeding Committee (ABC) is a multidisciplinary committee consisting of health care providers, representatives from: Alberta Health and Wellness; Alberta Health Services; Alberta Perinatal Health Program; provincial professional associations; university and community college educators; regional breastfeeding coalitions; and independent experts, along with consumers, who are interested in protecting, promoting and supporting breastfeeding in Alberta. Support is being provided to the ABC by Alberta Health and Wellness, Alberta Perinatal Health Program, Young Family Wellness Initiative, the Breastfeeding Committee for Canada and the Regional Health Authorities.

Vision

Breastfeeding is the norm in the province of Alberta

Mission

The ABC will provide leadership in the promotion, protection and support of breastfeeding in Alberta as the cultural and biological norm for children, mothers, families and communities.

Objectives

To promote breastfeeding through:

	Facilitating education for health care providers and community and agency partners regarding breastfeeding and food security
	Facilitating education for health care providers and community partners regarding breastfeeding as a determinant of health
	Providing on-going expert advice and recommendations on breastfeeding research, policy, and program development and direction to governments and organizations
	Developing partnerships and collaborative strategies to protect, promote and support breastfeeding.
	Providing a forum for addressing breastfeeding issues in Alberta (informed decisions making for professionals)

To protect breastfeeding through:

	Facilitating mother's awareness of her rights to breastfeed anywhere, anytime in Canada
	Facilitating education for health care providers and community and agency partners regarding the International Code for the Marketing of Breastmilk Substitute and all Subsequent Relevant WHA Resolutions.
	Facilitating support and awareness around options for women returning to the workplace

To support breastfeeding through:

	Setting standards for data collection in Alberta
	Providing and updating policies based on evidence
	Facilitating the education of all health care workers in maternal/child care
	Facilitating the implementation of the Baby Friendly Initiative™ in Alberta
	Supporting initiatives to increase the duration rates of breastfeeding
	Promoting and supporting peer support programs
	Facilitating networking & support for agencies, teams, and organizations that work with breastfeeding families
	Recognizing the achievements of those who work in this area
	Supporting the importance of breastfeeding friendly communities

Preliminary discussion across the province regarding current breastfeeding practices in Alberta identified a wide variation in:

	Knowledge, skills and practice of health care providers in supporting breastfeeding families
	Policies regarding breastfeeding
	Data collection around breastfeeding
	Awareness re: breastfeeding issues, and the Baby-Friendly™ Initiative

Annual Reports

The ABC Annual Report - September 30, 2009 - coming soon

The ABC Annual Report - June 12, 2008

The ABC Annual Report - June 15, 2007

The ABC Annual Report - June 15, 2006 - PDF file

The ABC Annual Report - June 20, 2005 - PDF File

Strategic Plan

The ABC Strategic Plan - PDF File

Goal

A primary goal was drafted as follows, in October 2003:

By 2009, the following minimum breastfeeding rates will be achieved within each health region in Alberta:

85% initiation

50% at 6 months

35% at 12 months

20% at 18 months

ABC Contact Information

Electronic mail

General Information: general@breastfeedingalberta.ca

Webmaster: webmaster@breastfeedingalberta.ca

Links in this document are intended to serve as a reference list of resources on breastfeeding.

The ABC does not endorse any product, web page or resource materials with the exception of all of the

WHO and UNICEF Global Initiatives, the Baby Friendly™ Initiative, Innocenti Declaration

the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes and subsequent WHA Resolutions,

and the national documents from the Breastfeeding Committee for Canada.

Send email to webmaster@breastfeedingalberta.ca with questions or comments about this web site.
Copyright © 2009 Alberta Breastfeeding Committee
Last modified: 02/26/09