On June 17th, we joined Breastfeed Orange NC in celebrating Carrboro, North Carolina, becoming the first community to officially complete all Ten Steps required to be designated as a Breastfeeding Family Friendly Community! Carrboro’s completion of the Ten Steps was a community-wide effort demonstrating what’s possible when local governments, healthcare institutions, businesses, and families come together to achieve a shared goal of improving infant and family health.
Overview of Carrboro’s Ten Steps
- Steps 1 & 2: Carrboro’s elected leadership demonstrated commitment early on with public proclamations, signage, and department-wide support from Town staff, communications teams, and first responders. Their actions fostered a welcoming atmosphere across the community.
- Steps 3–6: Orange County Health Department and Piedmont Health Services played a pivotal role by ensuring access to lactation support and education. UNC Hospitals’ continued Baby-Friendly designation further amplified healthcare-based support.
- Steps 7 & 9: Carrboro’s business community embraced the initiative. Dozens of employers and organizations pledged to support lactating employees and welcome breastfeeding families—transforming the community landscape to meet the everyday needs of families.
- Step 8: Local clinics, employers, and businesses affirmed their commitment to the International Code of Marketing of Breast-Milk Substitutes—resisting formula marketing and promoting informed decision-making for families.
- Step 10: The education sector, including Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools and Orange County Partnership for Young Children, helped normalize breastfeeding through the inclusion of diverse books and visuals in classrooms and childcare centers.
A Milestone for the National Movement
Carrboro’s official designation is more than a local victory it’s a beacon for what is possible nationwide. As the founding community of the BFFC initiative, Carrboro now stands as a living case study for others seeking to adopt the Ten Steps and cultivate breastfeeding-supportive ecosystems. We celebrate the Breastfeed Orange NC team, whose leadership and deep community ties made this possible. We are particularly grateful to advocates like Quintana Stewart, Alisha Bailey, Kim Nguyen, Lua Breneman, and many others for their tireless work.
Reflection on the Historic Milestone
“I remember Kathleen speaking so passionately about how the designation belongs to the whole community. Others echoed that sentiment saying things like, “If you can’t get it done in Carrboro, where can you get it done?” But that comment stayed with me. It made me pause. Has Carrboro always been this supportive, or do we just tell ourselves that about certain communities once they’ve succeeded? I know we forget the uphill work of those first few years. The truth is, this work changes communities, but only because of the people who commit to it long before the recognition comes. That’s what makes Carrboro’s designation so powerful. It is a deeply supportive community. Just look at their health department, their Baby-Friendly hospital, their energized mayor, and their full calendar of community events. But that support was built over time. For me, the most moving moment was hearing Mayor Barbara Foushee speak about the critical role of local government in this moment. It was a reminder that systems change is happening, one town at a time.” – Love Anderson, President & CEO Breastfeeding Family Friendly Communities
Learn More
For communities considering embarking on this journey, Carrboro offers both inspiration and a roadmap. You can read more about Carrboro’s journey and view their proclamation on the Breastfeed Orange NC website:
To learn more about the BFFC designation and how your community can join the movement, check out the Ten Steps to a Breastfeeding Family Friendly Community!