History of Breastfeed Durham

History of Breastfeed Durham

2014–2018: Founding and Early Development

  • 2014: Breastfeeding Family Friendly Communities (BFFC) was launched as a pilot project in Chapel Hill and Carrboro, NC, with leadership from the Carolina Global Breastfeeding Institute (CGBI), local government, and community partners.
  • 2018: Durham became the second BFFC community, initiating efforts to implement the “10 Steps to a Breastfeeding Family Friendly Community.”

2019: Community Engagement and Government Outreach

  • Fall 2019: Grassroots organizers—including Love Anderson, Gina Rose, Rachel Lewis, and Aubrey Delaney—launched advocacy efforts.
  • 2019: A pivotal meeting with Durham County Commissioner Heidi Carter introduced the Ten Steps model and led to ongoing county-level engagement.

2020: Early Milestones and COVID-19 Pivot

  • February 2020: Community leaders met with Commissioner Carter to propose a strategic breastfeeding plan.
  • Spring 2020: Breastfeed Durham pivoted to emergency COVID-19 support, launching a web-based resource hub.
  • Summer 2020: Business outreach and strategic planning intensified; Breastfeeding-Friendly Awards launched.
  • July 2020: Partnership formed with ICO4MCH and Durham County Department of Public Health.

2021: Centering Equity and Expanding Support

  • Spring–Summer 2021: Breastfeed Durham hosted inclusive events for Black and LGBTQ+ families, expanded their web presence, and certified over 30 local businesses.
  • July 2021: Co-hosted a community baby shower with MAAME, Equity Before Birth, and SisterSong.

2022: Building the Strategic Plan

  • Spring 2022: Initiated strategic plan development with DCoDPH and CHWs Bernadette Greene and Love Anderson.
  • June 2022: Collaborated with WIC office to align breastfeeding policies with equity goals.
  • Summer 2022: Deepened strategic planning and community assessments.

2023: Drafting and Finalizing the Plan

  • January 2023: Launched a Health Equity Impact Assessment and convened 20 stakeholders.
  • Spring–Summer 2023: Refined plan based on community input, national best practices, and equity-focused research.
  • December 2023: Strategic plan signed by DCoDPH Director Rod Jenkins, embedding human milk feeding into public health policy.

2024: Community Ownership and Policy Implementation

  • January 2024: Conducted a broader community needs assessment to update the strategic plan.
  • End of 2024: Final plan completed with a letter from Public Health Director Jenkins and broad support from Durham leaders.

2025: Implementation and Educational Achievements

  • February 2025: The Human Milk Feeding Strategic Plan was officially adopted by the Durham County Department of Public Health, marking a historic milestone for lactation equity in Durham.
  • February 2025: The Breastfeed Durham Gala drew record attendance and reinforced community support for lactation advocacy.
  • Spring 2025: Durham Public Schools officially achieved Step 10 of the BFFC initiative, integrating breastfeeding education into K–12 curricula.
  • February–May 2025: Duke University fulfilled Step 10 by launching breastfeeding-friendly education across its departments, while Durham Tech advanced in its campus-wide BFFC initiative.
  • May 2025: All 189 childcare providers serving ages 0–3 in Durham received breastfeeding normalization curriculum.
  • Ongoing: Durham continues to lead in educational integration, maternal mental health initiatives, and innovative programming, including community-led support groups and policy development.

Highlights of Durham’s Strategic Planning Journey

  • Grassroots Leadership: Community-led from the start, with families, lactation professionals, and health workers at the helm.
  • Government Collaboration: Early and sustained support from Commissioner Heidi Carter and DCoDPH.
  • COVID-19 Response: Pivoted to provide emergency breastfeeding resources, showing agility and commitment.
  • Equity Lens: A Health Equity Impact Assessment guided the plan, focusing on support for Black and marginalized families.
  • Global Best Practices: Informed by strategic plans from Colorado, NACCHO, and even New Zealand.
  • Durable Policy Change: Plan formally adopted in February 2025 by the Durham County Department of Public Health.

Looking Ahead

Durham’s Human Milk Feeding Strategic Plan will continue guiding cross-sector collaboration, equitable breastfeeding support, and systems-level policy change.

We honor the leadership and advocacy of every person who helped shape this journey—thank you for being part of our community.