I have observed similar attitudes in Phoenix. Recently, I called the County Hospital about their provisions for an on-staff LC. They have an RN doing BF counseling. I used to work there in the late '70s & early '80s as a BF counselor, first as a volunteer, then on staff as a salaried Counselor I, qualified by my 5 years' experience as an LLL Leader, when one of their minimum quals was a bachelor's, which I didn't have at the time. It was the first effort by any hospital in the state to provide BF counseling to new moms. Now, I do have a BA, and IBCLC, but they are not interested. They 'have the position filled' by their RN who was sent out for a short course in BF. Then I called the WIC personnel dept. They have RDs & nutritionists, also sent out for a short course in BF, and their peer counselors. (I know the lead RD at the Phx WIC, and her info is very good.) I asked if any were IBCLC and was told "we can't quite do that." I am under the distinct impression that the local medical community puts more value on training courses (the shorter & cheaper, the better) than on the exam and resulting Board Certification (and its cost to take & maintain). There is also instant shut-down when they learn I am self-trained by experience, personal study & LLL. They seem to believe that everything one needs to know about BF can be put in one chapter of a medical text. They have no concept that BF info/research could fill a set of encyclopedias! There are no IBCLCs on the staff of any private medical practice in Phx, & perhaps in all of AZ. A couple of hospitals are 'preparing' to apply for BFHI, but that can take a long time. We need (ILCA needs?) a good agent or PR firm to 'sell' the Board Certification of IBCLC, as well as the other certifications like CLC, CLE, what they mean, and how a hospital or private practice can benefit from having one on staff. Include in that reasons why the RN degree does not guarantee up to date BF info/skills unless that RN has made a personal effort to update her skills & training. (Sounds like personal study to me!) Don't ever try to count on the news media. Their entire focus is on conflict, anything that differs from the norm (or what they perceive to be the norm) like BFing an older baby who is walking & talking, using cabbage to resolve engorgement, the BFing mom w/poor info whose baby gets in serious trouble, etc. They print what I call the "Aint It Awful" story. To them, discussing all the fine points about BF is for advertising and PR 'hacks'. Reporters are a much higher life form--just ask them. For those not in the US, WIC stands for Women, Infants & Children. It's a federal program that provides coupons for specific food products for low income moms & kids. It includes abm. Mom's coupons end at 6 mos postpartum if she is not BFing, but she can continue to receive them if she continues BFing, up to 1 year, I think. My only complaint is I don't think they discourage abm enough and I suspect many of the moms are only token BFing, just to get the coupons. Didn't I read about certain elements in mom's urine that are present only if she is BFing? How about a urine test to stay on the program? After all, its in the best interests of the govt (taxpayers) that these moms do the most possible to assure the optimum health for their babies. Phyllis Adamson, IBCLC Phoenix, AZ "Today's might oak is yesterday's little nut who held his ground!" :-)