Qualifications and Roles: State Breastfeeding Coordinator

The State agency ensures that the State Breastfeeding Coordinator has all of the following qualifications:

1. Holds a Bachelor’s or higher degree from an accredited college or university with an emphasis in any health or nutrition-related field.
2. Has successfully completed specialized training in lactation management and care (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) is preferred, but individual may be exam-eligible or have successfully completed other State-approved specialized training).
3. Has experience in program management.
4. Has expertise in breastfeeding management and promotion.
5. Has one or more of the following skills and experience:
   • Program development skills,
   • Counseling skills,
   • Community action experience,
   • Participant advocacy experience,
   • Education background and experience in the development of educational and training resource materials.

The State agency ensures that the State Breastfeeding Coordinator performs the following roles and responsibilities (depending on a State agency’s organization, another staff member under the State Breastfeeding Coordinator’s oversight may perform some of these responsibilities):

1. Identifies breastfeeding promotion and support services needed in the State in order to develop program objectives and goals.
2. Coordinates State breastfeeding promotion and support activities with other internal WIC Program operations and external agencies/programs and coordinates efforts according to the State plan.
3. Ensures that all State and local agency staff receive competency-based training on breastfeeding promotion and support.
4. Keeps current with up-to-date nutrition and breastfeeding information and disseminates this as well as FNS-provided information to other State and local agency staff.
5. Identifies methods/strategies that local agencies will use to promote and support breastfeeding.
6. Develops State policies, procedures and/or guidelines for breastfeeding promotion and support.
7. Monitors local agency breastfeeding promotion and support activities for compliance with Federal and State requirements.
8. Monitors State breastfeeding initiation and duration rates.
9. Evaluates State breastfeeding promotion and support activities.
10. Provides technical assistance and consultation on breastfeeding promotion and support to local agency staff.
11. Provides input on breastfeeding promotion and support expenditures as part of the State Nutrition Services and Administrative budget.
12. Identifies or develops appropriate breastfeeding education resources and materials.