Linda Smith wrote (in part):
>Large well-respected national BF organizations such as National Childbirth
>Trust and Nursing Mothers Assn of Australia have very rigorous programs to
>train and "credential" their counselors. I don't know whether NCT and NMAA
>(etc) have disciplinary procedures to remove inappropriate counselors from
>their ranks. If they do, then in international regulatory terms, their
>conferred titles would be considered credentials.
>
><snip>
>In my opinion, Individuals representing ("accredited by") national
>breastfeeding organizations such as NCT and NMAA are well-respected in their
>respective countries (and elsewhere) and have done phenomenal work to turn
>the public tide back to breastfeeding, whether or not their programs have
>disciplinary components. I hope someone from these organizations will
>address this issue in more detail.

Linda, in the case of NMAA, it is very unlikely that 'inappropriate'
Counsellors would make it to being qualified at all, as they would
most likely be 'caught' before or during the training process. As I
assume with LLL training as well, NMAA training involves a number of
experienced Counsellors nurturing and following the progress of
Trainee Counsellors and by the time they are ready to qualify, much
is known about them and their potential ability to be a worthwhile
Counsellor. However, if one did get through and then later change to
display inappropriate behaviour, there would certainly be steps taken
to 'pull her into line' or remove her (in a very caring, NMAA way, of
course!).
******************************************************************
Joy Anderson B.Sc. Dip.Ed. Grad.Dip.Med.Tech. IBCLC
Nursing Mothers' Association of Australia Breastfeeding Counsellor
Perth, Western Australia.   mailto:[log in to unmask]
******************************************************************

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