Reading some of the discussions caused some alarm for me. I fear a chasm opening within our group. I suggest that while hospitals currently mainly require IBCLC's and LC support staff to be mainly from the degree programs such as nursing, instead of seeing insult/ discrimination we should rejoice that the door is opening for supporting moms in this generally restrictive enviroment. Lactation is still viewed by corporate bean counters as a non revenue generating therefore " not priority" program. The only way they "see" some return is by restricting to degreed staff they can possibly bill the insurance agencies or "pay" staff by funding out of designated nursing budgets. WIC and other external organizations/programs suffer from the same problems. While we are getting our foot in the doors, the funding is still limited and positions minimal. We're opening the doors for supporting our families but its such a frustratingly slow process with often unfair restrictions. Not to insult the wonderful educators here and their important lactation programs, I have seen many problems occur because of the ability for anyone, hospitals, WIC, individuals, etc. to attend a week long program, obtaining a certificate designation and then no real follow up educational/knowledge based recerts in place unless they go for their IBCLC. I suggest that sometimes this can harm us in gaining recognition of "value" within the current systems in place. I feel the same way about other programs ( like PICC certification) that hospitals send staff and yet there is no continued competency training/follow-up. What I learned 8 years ago has no requirement to check and see if I remain up to date, except by personal accountability and choice. It's frightening how easy it is to be "certified" in many areas and how minimal quality assurance follow up is required. We all have our value providing the supportive care of our breastfeeding families and bringing our communities back to the breastfeeding norm. For those fighting out side the institutional sector, its a real labor of love with minimal funding. Even for those "wage earners" the costs for IBCLC can be daunting and we have the added requirement of our employers to "justifing" our value daily in the system as more than a "touchy - feely program"....... it remains an up hill battle. We l continue to fight for the needed changes, from all our chosen areas/ fields of support. But I hope we can remain banded together. Let's not become our own internal enemies during this fight to return to a normal human process and acceptance. *********************************************** 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