As someone who has worked within the settings of WIC for nearly 7 years, (spending 4.5 of those years as a PC (peer counselor)), I strongly oppose the 2nd credential. Admittedly, I have direct experience with only two WIC clinics in east Texas, but my experience has been that WIC policies and protocols are loosely structured, perhaps purposely, and allow LA (local agency) management to interpret State language in ways which are detrimental to the purpose of promoting and supporting BF. FNS (Federal Nutrition Service) language, itself, needs to be strengthened. A case in point, The BF Intervention Design Study; Report #WIC-04-BFDSN, (dated 8/04 and available at www.fns.usda.gov/OANE/MENU/Published/WIC/BreastfeedingStudy.pdf), advocates for equating the IBCLC credential with that of CLC (Certified Lactation Counselor) and/or CBE (Certified Breastfeeding Educator). On page 28 of the study, it states: "While the provision of clinical supervision by IBCLCs has been recognized by some expert consultants, California's Survey of WIC State Offices suggests that access to IBCLCs may be fairly limited for many local WIC agencies. The Survey reported that, in 65% of states, less than 20% of WIC clinics have at least one IBCLC on staff. FNS may therefore wish to broaden the required credentials of PC supervisors to include other relevant professionals such as Certified Lactation Consultant, Certified Lactation Counselor, and/or Certified Breastfeeding Educator." If WIC, at the State level, can equate CLC, CBE, or whatever they deem appropriate, with IBCLC, there will not be an IBCLC on staff. In the state of Texas, state language says that the "LA BF Coordinator shall be trained as one of the following: 1)IBCLC, 2)DSHS TBE (trained BF Educator), 3)UCLA CLC, or 4)other comparable training as approved by the State Agency BF Coordinator. What's notable her is that a DSHS TBE can be attained by attending a 2 day, butt in the seat, everyone passes workshop. In Texas, this is all that is required to qualify to be a BF Coordinator, who is responsible for managing and supervising the PC program. Does ILCA recognize that State language is equating IBCLC with a 16 hour course? Is this a standard that we agree with? If you look at the language of the 2nd credential, you will see that although the IBLCE does state that the "competencies and scope of practice for this new credential will be significantly different from that of the IBCLC credential, and that individuals holding this new credential will be required to work under the supervision of an IBCLC", they later specify that "candidates will be required to complete 40 hours of practice under the direct supervision of an IBCLC as well as 500 practice hours under the guidance of an APPROVED mentor." Who is going to approve this mentor? The State Agency, presumably. Elsewhere in the 2nd credential document, you will find the language, "the new credential will work under the guidance of an IBCLC. Such guidance does not necessarily have to take place in the presence of the designated IBCLC, but that an understanding/arrangement exists whereby support and guidance is provided." So what you end up with is 40 hours out of 540 hours, being documented by an IBCLC, who may not ever even see the candidate. This is a great deal like the LAs in my area, who contract with IBCLCs that live 300 miles from the local office, and are utilized perhaps once a year, for 8 hours, to train new PCs. How effective is this? How does this even approach the original requirements for practice hours to qualify sitting for the exam, which were set at 900 for medical professionals, 2,500 for those holding a 4 yr degree, 4,000 for those with a 2 yr degree, and 6,000 hours for those with less than 2 yrs college education? The requirements for the 2nd credential state that "there is no minimum level of education required to pursue this credential. Candidates are expected to have both reading and writing skills at the 12th grade level." They are not even requiring a high school degree! This is NOT going to bring respect to the IBCLC credential or make us respected members of the health care team. Really, 540 practice hours, 40 of which are to be documented by an IBCLC who doesn't actually have to be physically present? This is a WIC dream. It certainly seems to me that someone is attempting to sell our profession to the highest bidder, who appears to be USDA/FNS WIC. It is well known that peer counseling became a line item in the Federal FY06 budget and WIC intends to use PCs as a core function of WIC. This endorsement and funding commitment at the national level should provide megabucks for anyone willing to board the train. Yes, there is money to be diverted to IBLCE, but are we actually willing to sell our profession to an agency with a long standing history of Code violations and direct ties to the formula industry? Do we want to align ourselves with an agency that is responsible for distributing formula to about 50% of the American public? Niki Konchar, IBCLC *********************************************** To temporarily stop your subscription: set lactnet nomail To start it again: set lactnet mail (or digest) To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet All commands go to [log in to unmask] The LACTNET email list is powered by LISTSERV (R). There is only one LISTSERV. To learn more, visit: http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html