Advocacy

Prevent Obesity through Breastfeeding

Communities Putting Prevention to Work

- Cook County, Illinois

HealthConnect One is a proud partner in the Communities Putting Prevention to Work (CPPW) initiative, funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Led by the Cook County Department of Public Health and the Public Health Institute of Metropolitan Chicago, the CPPW partnership in suburban Cook County is using obesity-prevention strategies to enact policy, systems and environmental change.

As breastfeeding reduces a child’s risk of being obese or overweight by 22%, breastfeeding promotion and support are critical strategies for obesity prevention.

Breastfeeding Goals

Our goals for breastfeeding policy, systems and environmental change in suburban Cook County include:

Add exclusive breastfeeding rates to the Illinois Hospital Report Card. Accomplished March 2, 2011!!
Implement five or more of the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding at suburban Cook County hospitals.
Establish breastfeeding support referral systems at four of Illinois' leading health provider associations.
Introduce legislation in the State of Illinois to allow for reimbursement of breastfeeding support, including peer counselors.

HealthConnect One relies on your action and feedback to make these objectives a reality. Following are some ways to take action!

Take Action

1. Implement Baby-Friendly Steps at Your Hospital

Implementing the steps for Baby Friendly is a key part of this initiative. For more information on the research behind Baby Friendly – including implementing individual steps – check out our new Becoming Baby Friendly fact sheet.

2. Get Involved

Community involvement is an essential part of the Communities Putting Prevention to Work initiative. To learn more about CPPW opportunities in suburban Cook County, visit the CPPW Community Toolbox.

To join HealthConnect One in this work, please contact HC One's CPPW Project Coordinator, Sadie Wych at swych@healthconnectone.org or (312) 878 -7023.

Model Communities

We offer a hearty congratulations to all of the CPPW Model Communities grantees, announced January 26, 2011! HC One is happy to be working with Little Company of Mary Hospital and Northwest Community Hospital to implement Baby Friendly Steps, and with the City of Blue Island and the Prevention Partnership, Inc. to develop and implement breastfeeding promotion projects.

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