Staff from Healthy Start in Baker and Duval Counties, Northeast Florida Healthy Start Coalition/Nurse Family Partnership, the Magnolia Project, UF Health/Shands Jacksonville, Episcopal Children’s Services – Early Head Start and a private midwifery practice in Gainesville honed their breastfeeding counseling and support skills during a three-day training this week in Jacksonville.
The 20-hour course, facilitated by Mirine Dye, MPH, IBCLC, featured active learning and hands-on exercises as well as a chance for different home visiting agencies to meet and share perspectives. The training covered the basics of breastfeeding counseling and communication to pregnant women, trouble shooting problems before and after the baby is born, and assisting mom to overcome various barriers.
Held at the Magnolia Project, the training was sponsored by Florida MIECHV and its professional development partner, the Ounce of Prevention Fund of Florida. Two additional trainings are planned in Sarasota and Pensacola.