Below are the Personal Experience Requirements for those interested in applying to the Breastfeeding Counselor Education Program.
To apply to become a Breastfeeding USA Counselor you must:
I. Be a member of Breastfeeding USA
- Applicant is a current member of Breastfeeding USA.
II. Support the mission and policies of Breastfeeding USA
- The application process will have you acknowledge that you have read the Bylaws, Code of Ethics, and Statement on Breastfeeding, and commit to working within the parameters and scope of a volunteer Breastfeeding Counselor as outlined in the Code of Ethics, Section 3.1.
lll. Be interested in learning more about breastfeeding and breastfeeding support
- Understand the effectiveness of peer-to-peer support
- Exhibit an understanding of the cultural barriers to breastfeeding success
- Have a desire to learn more about breastfeeding and human lactation, and to share that knowledge within your community
- Be committed to promoting breastfeeding to become the cultural norm
lV. Have personal experience with the biological norm for breastfeeding
- Value nursing at the breast as the biologically normal way to nourish, nurture and comfort your baby regardless of your own breastfeeding journey
- Have breastfed or pumped milk for your baby for a minimum of 6 months. If baby has weaned, their needs were respected during the weaning process
- Have started giving your baby complementary foods (solids) when they demonstrated readiness, usually around the middle of the first year for a healthy, full-term baby
- Recognize and respond to your baby’s cues
- Further recognize and respond to your baby’s need for your presence as well as your breast milk
V. Communicate effectively and respectfully
- Value the diversity of parents’ experiences and recognize the role that social values and cultural norms play in mothers’ decisions
- Exhibit a willingness to put aside your own personal biases when helping others
- Exhibit empathy and a respectful attitude towards others
- Have sufficient command of the English language to complete education in preparation for accreditation, and carry out the responsibilities of a Breastfeeding Counselor
- Practice consistent and clear email communication, including being willing to read and reliably respond in a timely manner to messages from the organization
- Demonstrate, or be willing to develop, effective communication skills and an understanding of the principles of adult learning
- Listen attentively and respond to parents with sensitivity and validation of their feelings
- Exhibit respectful parenting communication, empathy, and understanding of children’s needs and developmental abilities
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Adopted 2/2011
Revised 5/2012
Revised 4/2023