2005 Recipients of Family Health Promotion
Award
Harbor
UCLA Medical Center
At Harbor UCLA Medical Center, the Pump Room is a busy place.
There are currently about 10 moms that use the pump room on
a daily basis. There is a sink and bathroom in the room.
Cloth diapers and cleaning spray are kept nearby for the
employees to use before and after use. Some of the
employees are return users! A couple of them have had twins.
Most of them pump for a year. Many are physicians that take
time from their busy schedules to make sure that they
provide their milk for their babies.
Kirkland and Ellis, LLP
Because studies have long linked significant health benefits
with breastfeeding, Kirkland and Ellis, LLP, a full service
law firm serving international clients, with offices in
London, Munich, Washington DC, Chicago, New York, San
Francisco and Los Angeles, has invested in the Lactation
Program to provide support for new mothers who choose to
continue to nurse their babies after returning to work. This
is just one of the many programs the firm provides to its
working parents to help give them the support and
flexibility they need to better manage their worklife
quality. Prenatal breastfeeding classes, postnatal
telephone support, a one month complimentary breast pump
rental for home use during maternity leave, a work site
breast pump, a private, secure lactation room, and a library
of breastfeeding educational books and videos make up the
Lactation Program.
KPFK 90.7FM Radio
At KPFK 90.7FM, Listener Sponsored Radio, breastfeeding
employees are encouraged to express their breastmilk after
returning from pregnancy disability leave. Many mothers use
their own offices and break time to pump. This is just one
of the many accommodations the firm provides to its working
parents to help give them the support and flexibility they
need to better manage their work life quality.
Los Angeles County, Department of Health Services, Maternal, Child & Adolescent Health
Programs
Two staff members of the LAC DHS MCAH Programs have developed
an Employee Perinatal Support Program, which consists of
five education sessions on the topics of preconception / interconception
care, healthy pregnancies, breastfeeding, optimizing
parental leave time, and prepared childbirth. All education
sessions except for the prepared childbirth one will be
one-hour sessions offered during lunch time. In addition to
the education sessions, breastfeeding employees will have
access to nine Certified Lactation Educators located in
offices throughout the County to help them with basic
breastfeeding issues/problems at no charge to them. The
program will begin with the breastfeeding class and parental
leave class beginning in September 2005, and the other
classes becoming available in 2006. The assistance from
CLEs will also begin in September 2005. LAC DHS Public
Health has four Lactation Rooms available to employees to
date.
Los Angeles Office of the City Attorney
The Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office has a long history of
family-friendly workplace policies. All new parents,
including fathers, mothers, foster and adoptive parents can
take up to four months to bond with their child. Before
women go on maternity leave, a personnel coordinator
conducts an exit interview to review the Office’s
breastfeeding and family leave policies. The Office created
a Mother’s Lounge for breastfeeding mothers and offers
job-sharing and flex-and part-time work options. The
Mother’s Lounge has two spaces separated by a partition.
Each space includes an electrical outlet, two chairs, and a
table. The Lounge also includes a refrigerator exclusively
for breast milk, masking tape and pen for labeling bottles,
informational posters and flyers, and a bulletin board on
the wall. For privacy, the Lounge also uses an “in use,
please knock” sign on the door. Onsite daycare is also
available for employees. “Having the Mothers’ Lounge in our
office is wonderful. I used the room three times a day when
I came back to work, and kept breastfeeding for nine
months,” said Martha, Senior Legal Clerk.
Lakeshore Learning Materials
Lakeshore Learning Material’s support for breastfeeding in
the workplace combined with its day care facilities on-site
has gained the company a solid reputation as one of the best
places to work. The Lactation Room is furnished with two
rocking chairs, an electric pump, refrigerator, bathroom,
changing table. The Room accommodates more than 25 mothers
annually. In addition to being used for mothers who express
their milk at work, mothers whose babies are cared for
onsite frequently use the Lactation Room as a quiet place to
nurse.
Mabā
The
Mabā,
pronounced ma-bay, a retail store, is the source for
much-needed products for pregnant mothers, fathers,
grandparents and toddlers in Beverly Hills. Employees and
customers are encouraged to put their feet up and nurse
their infants on the comfortable couch, equipped with a
nursing pillow and a footstool. Professional lactation
support is available onsite and a local support group meets
weekly. Experts are available to help mothers select the
best breast pumps and supplies that meet their needs.
Neutrogena Company, a Division of JNJ
The Neutrogena Company, a Division JNJ,
employs 928 permanent and 350 temporary employees in
manufacturing, service, research and development and the
corporate office in Los Angeles. The private Lactation Room
is supplied with 2 electric breast pumps, a TV, a radio,
accessories, and information booklets. All fifteen, 100%, of
the women who had babies last year choose to use the
Lactation Room when they returned to work.
Olive
View UCLA Medical Center
In September 2002, Olive View UCLA Medical Center opened a
Lactation Room that is in close proximity to the employees’
work area so it is easy to take time to express breastmilk
around their work time. Olive View UCLA Medical Center set
up Lactation Rooms, not only at the main hospital, but also
at the Mid Valley Comprehensive Health Center and the San
Fernando Health Center. An electric breast pump is provided
in the Lactation Room at the hospital. Currently, there are
22 mothers using the Lactation Room. The program has
resulted in less absenteeism due to child-related illness
and has increased the number of employees returning to work
after the birth of their child. “It's really a good program
to help promote the continuation of breastfeeding. It makes
coming back to work easier because you know that you do
something good for your baby at home. My baby has a really
great immune system and is healthier.” - Jennifer, RN
Paris Blues
In the fashion industry, 90% of employees are women, and
Paris Blues is trying hard to be breastfeeding friendly.
When mothers do not have a private office to utilize for
pumping, Paris Blues has set aside an office to be used for
pumping, accommodating mothers on a case by case basis
giving them the support they need to provide their milk for
their babies.
Salvation Army Glendale
Small firms can provide support to breastfeeding employees.
The Salvation Army in Glendale employs 11 people. Employees
are able to use their offices for breastfeeding and pumping.
New mothers are able to take breaks to express their milk
when needed. Even in a small office an understanding of the
importance of breastfeeding is necessary and welcome.
Torrance Memorial Medical Center
The Employee Lactation Program at Torrance Memorial Medical
Center is in its infancy. The Lactation Room, which opened
in March 2005, was designed for nursing bra fittings, pump
demonstrations and instructions, private lactation
consultations, and baby weight checks for parents after
discharge from the hospital. The idea of using this
Lactation Room for employees was initiated by the staff.
Some adjustments were made to make the room more comfortable
and the staff was informed of its’ availability. The
employees in the new West Tower building have utilized the
service most frequently.
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