I am writing this letter to tell you about my hopes for the US Baby Friendly
Hospital Initiative. As Audrey Naylor MD, DrPH of Wellstart International
and I have described to the National Breastfeeding Leadership Roundtable and
as you may have told by a telephone call, I have taken on the responsibility
of convening the corporate entity, BFUSA, which will have as its mission the
implementation of the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative, BFHI, in the United
States. A full time staff member, Adrienne Sines Pancoe will be funded by
the Healthy Children 2000 Project, Center for Breastfeeding until June in
order to meet the needs of hospitals and breastfeeding advocates in the BFHI
process as the new organization is developed. In addition, Cindy
Turner-Maffei, MA, IBCLC, has volunteered to work part-time as the program
moves forward. The Center for Breastfeeding telephone number and fax will be
utilized and a web site for BFUSA will be functioning in the near future in
order to keep you current with the process.

I have had the opportunity to speak with many of you in person, as has
Audrey Naylor, and we have been gratified by your support and care as you
expressed heartfelt desire to see BFUSA move forward. Everyone I have spoken
to has conveyed pleasure that the BFHI will become a new 501(c)3, BFUSA.

I am well aware that in the past there have been both philosophical and
procedural differences in the breastfeeding advocacy community in general
and around the BFHI in particular. I am determined that we can transcend
past differences through a genuine ongoing process of collaborative action.
We can and will met the challenges ahead if we can continue to remind
ourselves of the mothers and babies we serve.

Please join with me to prove that we are a community which is able to
nurture and care for ourselves as well as others, that we can raise above
hurts and grievances and settle differences fairly and meet the challenge of
our common goal together.

Very Truly Yours,

Karin Cadwell

Healthy Children 2000 Project
8 Jan Sebastian Way #13
Sandwich MA 02563
Telephone: (508) 888 8044
Fax: (508) 888 8050
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