The Louisiana Office of Public Health, Bureau of Family Health (BFH) is comprised of the Title V Maternal and Child Health Program and the Title X Family Planning Program within the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals. The Bureau manages family planning services, pregnancy prevention, mortality surveillance (Fetal, infant, child, and maternal), pregnancy and maternal child health educational initiatives, as well as domestic violence prevention.
The BFH works to increase breastfeeding rates in Louisiana in order to improve infant and child mortality and morbidity through a multilevel strategy including the following distinct efforts:
Hospital quality initiative and designation program (The Gift)
Training for hospital administration, physicians, nurses, medical providers and their staff
Staff support for a statewide breastfeeding coalition (Louisiana Breastfeeding Coalition)
The BFH provides qualified public health students with a rewarding practicum/internship. Students will gain valuable public health experience, specific to maternal and child health/breastfeeding. Students will provide programmatic support to a statewide breastfeeding initiative targeting LA employers with a focus on program planning, implementation, and evaluation.
The BFH and the Louisiana Breastfeeding Coalition are jointly seeking a Practicum Student for Summer through Fall 2016.
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The mission of the Louisiana Breastfeeding Coalition (LBC) is to make breastfeeding the norm in Louisiana. Through outreach, advocacy, and education, the Coalition focuses on removing barriers to breastfeeding for women, their children and families. This practicum will focus primarily on the Workplace Breastfeeding Support Program, which works with Louisiana employers to provide time, space, and support for women who are breastfeeding or pumping milk in the workplace.
Detailed description of the internship
Primary Purpose: To implement and evaluate the Louisiana Workplace Breastfeeding Program targeting Louisiana employers.
Goals
1. Gain experience in program implementation and evaluation in the “real world.”
2. Analyze, summarize and present data.
3. Develop skills related to public health project management, implementation and evaluation.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
To learn how breastfeeding influences the health of both mother and child by becoming familiar with the biological, physiological and nutritional aspects of breastfeeding and breast milk.
To learn effective ways of engaging a target audience through outreach to the public and to the private sector.
To develop skills in partner coordination and management.
Other objectives as appropriate for the student’s interests and experience.
RESPONSIBILITIES AND ACTIVITIES FOR PRACTICUM:
Conduct outreach to employers to encourage them to comply with laws related to workplace breastfeeding, and to inform them about the program
Conduct follow-up with participating workplaces
Manage process of certifying eligible employers as Breastfeeding-Friendly Workplaces
Coordinate with members and partners, including the Tulane University Mary Amelia Women’s Center and the LA- DHH-OPH-Health Promotions team on program activities
Design and maintain database of contacts with employers and partners
Maintain Workplace Breastfeeding Support Program of LBC web site
Together with LBC staff, develop a plan for project implementation and timeline for practicum activities
For more information or to apply, please contact Marci Brewer at Marci.Brewer@la.gov.
