International eNewsletter from the Board of Directors
Volume 1, Issue 1
This issue marks the inaugural eNewsletter from the Board of Directors of the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners
® (IBLCE
®). IBLCE and the Board of Directors do much more than administer the International Board Certified Lactation Consultant
® (IBCLC
®) examination and are pleased to share information about the many initiatives in which IBLCE is involved.
In this issue you will learn about the advocacy initiatives of
Elizabeth "Kaili" Stehel, Chair of the Board; a public health presentation by
Aimee Eden, IBLCE Public Representative; and read about
Angela Love-Zaranka, in the new feature, "Board Director Profile".
You will also find information useful to you as an IBCLC
® such as a new press release now available for distribution regarding your (re)certification or timely news in the lactation arena on IBLCE's
Facebook page and
Twitter feed.
You will note that the IBLCE eNewsletter uses British English rather than American English. IBLCE is using the British form, as it is an international organisation and of those who speak English worldwide, most use the British, rather than the American form of English.
We hope you enjoy this new offering from IBLCE.
Holiday Donations to MILCC Scholarships!
Make a monetary donation to MILCC in someone's name instead of braving the stores this holiday season! MILCC Pins are also still available. Visit
www.milcc.org for more information.
IBLCE Grows Exponentially
As a result of the 2011 examination administration, there are now over 25,000 IBCLCs in 90 countries! The recent examination increased the number of current certificants greatly and now there are more certified lactation consultants to serve women and their families.
Congratulations to all the newest IBCLCs!
IBLCE Chair Advocacy Initiatives
IBLCE Chair, Elizabeth "Kaili" Stehel, recently testified in support of breastfeeding at the Department of Health and Human Services' public comment session in Dallas on essential health benefits. Kaili's testimony emphasised the importance of breastfeeding from both a professional and personal perspective.
 |
Shauna Nafziger with baby Madison
|
Kaili's sister Shauna Nafziger, a stay-at-home mother who holds a Master's Degree in Child Development, also testified, bringing along her infant daughter. Shauna emphasised that she was speaking up on behalf of the babies who cannot talk but deserve the benefits of breastfeeding. Shauna testified that many of her friends struggled with breastfeeding, eventually giving up, often due to inadequate support.
The head of lactation services at Parkland, a major Dallas hospital, who is also the regional representative for the U.S. Breastfeeding Committee (USBC) spoke at the event, as did a representative from the local WIC lactation care centre in Dallas. Between all the speakers' comments, many important points were addressed, including the evidence-based Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding.
Kaili acknowledged with gratitude the email the United States Lactation Consultant Association (USLCA) sent to the American Academy of Pediatrics Section on Breastfeeding, which she received as a member of the list-serve. Kaili recently noted, "I believe it is only by working together that we will accomplish all that we dream of in regards to breastfeeding. Please keep forwarding these opportunities. We can make a difference."
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
 |
Chair Kaili Stehel presenting at the "Let's Move" webinar
|
Kaili Stehel also recently gave a webinar on breastfeeding for the "Let's Move" anti-obesity campaign, a signature program of the Obama Administration. Designed for childcare workers, the webinar, held on December 16, was sponsored by the National Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
IBLCE recently learned that Stephanie Chafee, the First Lady of Rhode Island, as well as Denise Laprade, IBCLC and Marsha Walker, IBCLC, worked to stop the practice of giving away "goody bags" containing formula. Kaili Stehel and Sara Blair Lake, IBLCE Executive Director, wrote to the First Lady of the state to commend them on this important step to encourage breastfeeding.
Read the online article
IBLCE Public Representative Presents at Annual American Public Health Meeting in Washington
 |
Aimee Eden, IBLCE Board Public Representative (right), presenting at the 2011 APHA conference.
|
Public Representative for the IBLCE Board,
Aimee Eden, recently presented preliminary results from her dissertation research at the 2011 American Public Health Association (APHA) 139th Annual Meeting & Exposition in Washington, D.C. As part of a panel called "Implementing Social Change That Promotes or Supports Breastfeeding," her presentation was entitled "Lactation Consulting: The Expanding Role of IBCLCs in Breastfeeding Support."
Based on qualitative interviews with 30 practicing IBCLCs who work in diverse contexts and come from a variety of backgrounds, Aimee discussed how IBCLCs perceive their role in breastfeeding support, and the challenges they face in the workplace. Aimee noted that IBCLCs find the work they do to be highly rewarding and necessary, given the lack of breastfeeding knowledge and expertise among other health professionals, but noted that there is still a long way to go in terms of recognition.
It is hoped that the findings from Aimee's research can inform initiatives to increase the number of IBCLCs to recommended levels.
Thanks to Aimee for promoting lactation consulting at this important public health conference.
As an ongoing feature, the IBLCE eNewsletter will feature an IBLCE Board member and include information about the focus of the Board member's work on behalf of the IBLCE certificant and the public.
Angela Love-Zaranka
 |
IBLCE Board Member Angela (center) visiting a Washington, D.C. monument with friends.
|
Angela Love-Zaranka has been a mother-to-mother support counsellor for over 20 years, an IBCLC since 1997 and an IBLCE Board Director since 2006.
As the Chair of the Audit Committee for the Board, Angela serves on the committee and oversees the audit cycle for IBLCE.
She has worked at a military hospital in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area for the past 10 years. Angela is involved with all aspects of direct patient care and educates patients, staff and family practice residents. She enjoys providing lactation expertise in a multi-disciplinary setting.
The military hospital at which she practices has approximately 1,200 births a year and will soon be opening a Level II NICU in the new facility. Angela's hospital is working towards baby-friendly status through the new Baby-Friendly USA 4-D process.
Her professional interests include incorporating new technologies into her IBCLC practice and focusing on non-profit management. Angela is also an Associate editor for Clinical Lactation.
Angela has been married for over 25 years to her husband who works for the U.S. Department of State. They have four children: 25, 22, 19 and 14 years old. In her spare time, Angela enjoys cooking, board and video games, hiking and integrative medicine.
IBLCE Well-Represented at ICE Annual Conference
Several members of the IBLCE team attended the recent annual conference of the Institute for Credentialing Excellence (ICE) Annual Conference in New Orleans. The ICE conference is the premier credentialing event in the United States. Attending on behalf of IBLCE were Aimee Eden, Public Representative; Sara Blair Lake, Executive Director; Leon Gross, Psychometrician; Donna Moore, Examination Manager; and Anna Utter, IBLCE Regional Director for the Americas.
Topics of interest to IBLCE included "Customer Service for Each Generation," "Benchmarking Best Practices in Credentialing" and "Public Members: How They Add Value." The event provided a wealth of useful information that the IBLCE team plans to implement in the coming days.
ICE even recognized IBLCE in the Americas' website at a plenary session, emphasising the user-friendliness of this pathways page:
www.americas.iblce.org/pathways.
The IBLCE certification program holds the prestigious National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) accreditation through the Institute for Credentialing Excellence. IBLCE has held this valued accreditation since 1988.
IBLCE Wishes You and Yours a Happy Holiday
and a Joyous New Year,
Board of Directors and Staff of IBLCE
The theme for World Breastfeeding Week 2011 focuses on engaging and mobilizing youth intergenerational work with the catchy slogan of: "Talk to me! Breastfeeding - a 3D Experience". Many tend to look at breastfeeding support in two-dimensions: time (from pre-pregnancy to weaning) and place (the home, community, health care system, etc). But neither has much impact without a THIRD dimension - communication! 
