Here is some information about the GLOPAR project which a few of you have
been asking about. Please call or write to me if you want more information
than what I post here.

NABA (National Alliance for Breastfeeding Advocacy) is coordinating the
GLOPAR project in the US. GLOPAR stands for Global Participatory Action
Research, which is investigating the state of breastfeeding worldwide. WABA
(World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action) created GLOPAR in 1993 as a part of
a long term effort to mobilize groups and individuals around the world to
promote, protect, and support breastfeeding. GLOPAR is a rapid assessment of
the state of breastfeeding in a community. A community can be a hospital,
region, county, state, public health district, etc. A set of questions is
being developed by a committee to be used to provide a snapshot of what is
actually happening with breastfeeding in the US (non-commercial survey!!).
The actual asking of the questions is designed and hoped to stimulate change.
The snapshot of breastfeeding will act as a needs assessment for developing a
national strategic plan for breastfeeding reform. A US national report card
on breastfeeding has been developed by NABA and is available for use as a
mobilizing tool. It can be photocopied, used for handouts, overheads or
posted where you work. Such a report card was suggested by WABA to be used in
conjunction with the asking of questions. If you want a copy of the report
card drop me a note.

Last July, WABA held a 2 day workshop to train partners in the aims of GLOPAR
so that they may develop their respective national programs and train
"co-researchers" to disperse and ask the prepared set of questions. Karin
Cadwell from NABA, Edith White from the Center for Breastfeeding Management
Training, and Cathy Liles from La Leche League represented the US. A training
program for those interested in becoming co-researchers on this project is
being held in Orlando, Florida, January 9-11, 1996 immediately preceeding the
International Conference on the Art and Science of Breastfeeding and Human
Lactation. Participants do not need a research background. The training is
free but participants are responsible for their own expenses. Anyone is
welcome, but we are especially looking for representatives of breastfeeding
task forces, coalitions, and groups.

Information gathered from this project will be reported to WABA and will form
the basis of an action strategy for the US. NABA is facilitating a
Breastfeeding Leadership Roundtable directly following the GLOPAR training.
This meeting includes invited delegates from national organizations working
on breastfeeding as well as government agencies, leaders in the breastfeeding
field, etc. The Roundtable has as its goal to create action strategies to
fulfill the intent of the Innocenti Declaration.

For information on GLOPAR registration or conference materials contact:
Karin Cadwell
8 Jan Sebastian Way, #13
Sandwich, MA 02563

Call or write to me if you need more information, want questions answered
about NABA, or need a real person on the other end of the line!
Marsha Walker
254 Conant Rd
Weston, MA 02193
617 893-3553
Fax 617 893-8608