all-It is disheartening to hear the same story as mine from all over the country, but encouraging all the same to hear that we all keep working for better. My current strategy is to work with the local Healthy Start coalition (we meet this week) to establish a database. I don't even have any staff or time to have done so, so don't know our statistics for duration of breastfeeding. Our initiation rates have increased, and are now about 61% (up from 53% over 3 years, and our public health population is increasing at a good rate this year, but I have no idea of our rate at 6 months. Sad but true. I have written two grant proposals this year trying for $$, but have not been successful, and have very limited time to search for more. At the present time, our hospital will give no money for LC hours, AND is taking hours away to create case management positions. NOt that I feel they aren't needed-I hope to at least integrate BF into postpartum case management! I was a one man show in BF at my hospital for quite a while, then gained a CLE, and converted several others, so it's not so bad as it might be....but could be alot better. We've phased out a lot of formula co. literature, now use only our own or non-formula stuff for breastfeeding, and give discharge paks only if forced to. I dream the same dreams you do, KB, and probably every other LC! I am familiar with the video on Evergreen, and was just planning yesterday to purchase one. (probably with my own $, since you can't get much of THAT from the hospital either:(.It's great to meet with you all and chat - hooray for Lactnet! Who's going to ILCA this year?? Denise