I have had a very short time living in California and working with the
Public Health Nurses here - they do make home visits and address many
issues besides physical assessment of mom and baby (safe housing,
educational resources, referrals for counseling of many different types). 
(Unfortunately, they don't visit EVERY woman who delivers - something that
was brought up in our Breastfeeding Task Force by a very frustrated
middle-class dad who wished he could have had their services!)

Do they "bully" a mom when they insist she take her baby to the 2 week
checkup?
Do they "bully" a mom when they repeatedly call her to get her children
vaccinated?
Do they "bully" a mom when they make home visits and insist mom put her
baby on his/her back to sleep?
...you get the idea.

It took many decades to go from "free cigarettes" handed in all the
airplanes (see how old I am!) and white-coated doctors encouraging "low tar
xxxx brand".

Changes in eating habits - lower salt, lower sugar, lower fats - have taken
decades also, and we haven't reached everyone, nor will we ever!  Does this
mean we should stop educating, promoting and supporting ("bullying?")???

Not in my opinion!

Jeanette Panchula, BSW, RN, IBCLC, LLLL
Vacaville, CA
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