Laura, I am now a member of Breastfeeding USA's Board of Directors, so I 
will try to shed some light on what sets this new national breastfeeding 
organization apart.

The mission of Breastfeeding USA is to provide evidence-based 
breastfeeding information and support, and to promote breastfeeding as 
the biological and cultural norm.  All of its Breastfeeding Counselor 
Candidates are required to have breastfed a baby for at least one year, 
but they are not required to agree with a specific parenting philosophy, 
except to the extent that their parenting style affects breastfeeding.In 
other words, if they breastfeed in a way that's counter to the evidence 
(for example, using a strict feeding schedule), Breastfeeding USA would 
probably not be a good fit for them.  All mothers, including those 
employed and in school, are welcome to apply.When a Breastfeeding 
Counselor is ready to begin working in her community, she is free to 
provide breastfeeding support in whatever way seems best suited to that 
area. This includes regular mother-to-mother group meetings, classes, 
drop-in locations, phone and email helping.The possibilities are endless.

One of Breastfeeding USA’s unique offerings is its standardized 
instruction known as the Centralized Education System.  To ensure 
mothers receive quality breastfeeding help, Breastfeeding USA provides 
each of its Breastfeeding Counselors with the same online and telephone 
preparation in key areas, such as counseling skills, the science of 
lactation, breastfeeding management, group set-up and dynamics, and when 
to refer.  During this training, all prospective Breastfeeding 
Counselors learn the same material and are quizzed on vital information 
at the end of each section.  The Comprehensive Course, which is geared 
to those who have never been in a mother-support role, takes about three 
to four months to complete and uses in part the innovative Moodle 
e-learning online software platform.   For those who already have 
experience as breastfeeding counselors with other organizations, an 
Accelerated Course is available that takes about three to four weeks to 
complete.  Breastfeeding USA also helps its Breastfeeding Counselors 
keep their knowledge current by requiring 20 hours of continuing 
education every three years.  You can read more about its educational 
program in Hale Publishing's November 2011 Medications & More newsletter 
at: 
http://www.ibreastfeeding.com/newsletter/2011/11/breastfeeding-usa-new-educational-paradigm

Another unique aspect of Breastfeeding USA, which especially drew me to 
it, is its commitment to transparency and to being accountable to its 
members.  If its members are unhappy with the direction the organization 
is taking, they can easily vote out those in charge and replace them 
with people willing to go in a different direction.

I'd be happy to answer any other questions.  I firmly believe that, as 
Celina expressed so eloquently, that more women will find the help they 
need if there are more choices in breastfeeding support.  Breastfeeding 
USA may be a better fit for some mothers and it may also be a better fit 
for some of those who feel a calling to help breastfeeding mothers.   It 
is currently the fastest-growing breastfeeding organization in America.

Warm regards,
Nancy Mohrbacher, IBCLC, FILCA, LLLL, Breastfeeding USA Breastfeeding 
Counselor
Chicago suburbs


I think that the more options moms have for breastfeeding support, the 
more moms will breastfeed. I also embrace diversity. I am just wondering 
why a new organization appeared that is so much like LLL. I am wondering 
what need they fill that wasn't being addressed. I'm thinking that there 
must be some philosophical difference, otherwise ...why? It's not like 
for profit companies where there is natural competition. Both LLL and BF 
USA seem to have the same goals. I am also curious to know how their 
philosophies differ so that I might know what moms are looking for and 
not finding in LLL that I could provide. So far, it doesn't look like we 
have any BF USA groups in my location. I would be interested in 
attending a group to see how they are run. Like I wrote, I do not have 
any pre-formed opinions about this, I'm just asking questions because 
something about the existence of this organization is surprising me. I'm 
not sure I even know why. I visited the website for BF USA and found it 
to have comprehensive breastfeeding information and it is well organized 
and accessible. I read about how to become a counselor and the process 
sounds as if it will make for very knowledgeable counselors. I just 
wonder what the existence of this hip, new orginazation means about and 
for LLL. Writing about this and thinking about it has led me to think 
that it isn't necessarily that this organization fills an unmet need for 
moms but maybe that the counselors themselves feel like the organization 
is a better fit for them. Is this it? 
***************************************************************


             ***********************************************

Archives: http://community.lsoft.com/archives/LACTNET.html
To reach list owners: [log in to unmask]
Mail all list management commands to: [log in to unmask]
COMMANDS:
1. To temporarily stop your subscription write in the body of an email: set lactnet nomail
2. To start it again: set lactnet mail
3. To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet
4. To get a comprehensive list of rules and directions: get lactnet welcome