Lynne asks,
"I guess I would have to ask how the new credential would necessarily
stop such unqualified/undedicated persons from pursuing IBCLC
credentials?  It is likely that the pay would be higher for an IBCLC vs
the new credential and if it is already so easy for someone to be
dishonest bout their BC hours and obtain approval to write the exam how
would adding an even easier credential help this unfortunate situation?
Unless I misread the info on the IBLCE site, the new credential is not
being coupled with an increase in the stringency of the standards for
obtaining IBCLC credentials."

My post was long already so I didn't go into great detail, but the staff
at these WIC offices was already in place, most are RD's.  When this new
goal was adopted, someone or someone's from every office were sent
through a 5 day course or whatever to gain CERPS and knowledge to sit
the exam.  They have certified an impressive number in the last 3 years
or so.  For some of them, this has been an area they were already drawn
to, so their certification was a bonus to them, an area they already
were inclined to work in.  For others, there was no one else in their
office to do it (get certification) so they did it, not necessarily out
of interest, but rather, as my husband is fond of saying, to check a
box, because someone in their office *had* to.  A new certification
wouldn't stop anyone from padding their qualifications to sit the exam,
but if a different one were offered, one more geared for what they do
and want to do, I would imagine such organizations would accept that
type of certification rather than only an IBCLC.  The pay would be no
different, because many such people are not hired to do only this but
lactation is an addendum to their regular job and that's what they get
paid for.  The way I see it, lactation support is getting to be more and
more in demand in various settings.  However the exact expectations for
these new positions varies, often by setting.  An LC in hospital is
expected to handle complicated problems as well as normal situations.
The WIC-type LC's often just do counseling and aren't prepared to handle
more complicated situations.  I may be wrong of course, but I doubt that
many of them use SNS's and follow up premie moms and so on.  They would
probably refer them out just as lay counselors should and do.  There is
a pyramid of sorts, of lactation helpers.  The IBCLC should be at the
top but there should be and are places for less qualified lactation
counselors.  It shouldn't be all or nothing.

I don't mean to denigrate the breastfeeding support given by WIC by any
means.  They are making a big difference for breastfeeding mothers in
our state.  However, I think this is an issue that should be addressed
or we risk eventually losing our professional credibility.

Marsha

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Marsha Glass RN, BSN, IBCLC~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mothers have as powerful an influence over the welfare of future
generations as all other earthly causes combined.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~John S. C. Abbot~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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