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For release October 31, 2005

Three Contra Costa employers will be honored at a ceremony Friday, November 4, by receiving Mother/Baby Friendly Awards from the California Breastfeeding Coalition and the Contra Costa Breastfeeding Task Force.

The three workplaces - honored for providing extra support for employees wanting to continue breastfeeding their babies after returning to work - include Contra Costa County Administration in Martinez, Contra Costa Children and Family Services in Antioch and The Nurture Center in Lafayette.

The awards are being given at 9:30 a.m. November 4 at a meeting of the Contra Costa Breastfeeding Task Force at the Contra Costa County Schools Insurance Group Training Room, 550 Ellinwood Way in Pleasant Hill.

Nancy Hill, a member of the Task Force and Public Health Nutritionist with Contra Costa Health Services' Family Maternal and Child Health Program, said the awards are going to workplaces on the cutting edge of a relatively new workers' rights issue.

"With the passage of Assembly Bill 1025, California is one of the first states in the country to reduce barriers to breastfeeding by requiring employers to provide unpaid break time and a private space to express breast milk during the workday," said Hill.

"Breastfeeding-friendly workplaces have been shown to decrease employee absenteeism for new mothers by 57% due to the health benefits for both mother and baby," Hill added. "Employee retention and productivity are increased along with loyalty and morale."

Immediately after the brief awards ceremony, Hill said, the Task Force will hear a talk titled "Assessing the Rapidly Growing Infant: Indicators for Intervention" by Jane Heinig, PhD, IBCLC.

For more information about the awards or the Contra Costa Breastfeeding Task Force, contact Nancy Hill by email at nhill@hsd.cccounty.us or phone at 925-313-6260.

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