Colorado Springs hospital among 45 in the state honored for breastfeeding efforts and healthier options
COLORADO SPRINGS, CO (July 5, 2023) - The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment recognized 45 hospitals, including St. Francis, for their efforts to promote breastfeeding and offer healthier food and beverage options through the Colorado Healthy Hospital Compact and Colorado Baby-Friendly Hospital Collaborative. These initiatives are part of the state’s work to promote healthy eating and active living to reduce the rates of death and disease from chronic illness among Coloradans.
At the June 14 event, CDPHE honored St. Francis Hospital for being Baby-Friendly designated (per Baby-Friendly USA) and awarded the Colorado Celebrate 6 Award of Breastfeeding Excellence. St. Francis was honored with the Celebrate 6 Award in 2020 and again this year. The Celebrate 6 Award of Breastfeeding Excellence honors hospitals for having implemented at least six of the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative’s Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding. These are evidence-based policies and practices known to increase breastfeeding success and improve maternal and infant health outcomes.
“Our team is prepared to fully support a mom’s decision to breastfeed and give her the assistance and knowledge she needs to breastfeed successfully and exclusively, if that is what she wants to do. Plus, the OB team receives additional hours of education and regular refresher knowledge so they can best support a mom’s decision to breastfeed,” said Candace Garko, Director of Women’s Services at St. Francis.
CDPHE honored all 14 Baby-Friendly designated facilities in the state for receiving and maintaining the prestigious certification from Baby-Friendly USA. The department supports maternity facilities in pursuing Baby-Friendly designation through the Colorado Baby-Friendly Hospital Collaborative which provides free training and resources to help hospitals implement evidence-based policies and practices that support breastfeeding and optimal infant care.
“These hospitals have worked hard to create change that supports Colorado families to breastfeed. With over 90 percent of Colorado families choosing to breastfeed their children each year, such policies and practices are essential,” said Stacy Miller, breastfeeding specialist at CDPHE and facilitator of the Colorado Baby-Friendly Hospital Collaborative.
Learn more about the Colorado Baby-Friendly Hospital Collaborative (CBFHC) at BreastfeedColorado.com or view a complete list of awarded hospitals here.
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