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​Infant nutrition security is not a theoretical concern. It is a systems-level issue at the intersection of public health, equity, and resilience. When the systems that support infant feeding are disrupted—through supply chain instability, natural disasters, public health emergencies, or gaps in access to care—the vulnerabilities that have long existed become impossible to ignore.

​Recent crises have made one reality unmistakably clear: infant nutrition systems are interconnected, fragile, and deeply shaped by the policy, systems, and environmental conditions in which families live. Meeting this moment requires a clear organizing principle: human milk feeding is a cornerstone of infant nutrition security. When human milk feeding systems are weak, infant nutrition security is fragile, regardless of other safeguards.

Nourishing Thriving Communities: ​A National Plan for First Foods, Breastfeeding, and Lactation Support Through Policy, Systems, and Environmental Change is a field-driven national plan that advances infant nutrition security through policy, systems, and environmental change. Grounded in community leadership and informed by evidence, it provides a practical roadmap for aligning healthcare, public health, policy, workplace, and community efforts so that all families have a fair and meaningful opportunity to meet their infant feeding goals.

Nourishing thriving communities is a shared national framework convened to align cross-sector action.​

We all share the responsibility to create the policies, systems, and environments that allow families to meet their infant feeding goals. Community leaders, healthcare systems, employers, policymakers, advocates, researchers, and public health partners all have a role to play.

VISION
​STATEMENT

​To shape and strengthen policies, systems, and environments that advance community-wide support and ensure equitable, affirming, and culturally responsive care for breastfeeding, lactation practices, and infant nutrition security, by engaging diverse partners that honor families, foster intergenerational knowledge, and promote community self-determination.​​

Equitable infant nutrition security requires more than programs. it requires the policies, systems, and environments that allow families and communities to thrive.

Breastfeeding outcomes are shaped by an ecosystem, not just by individual knowledge or intention. Many disparities are shaped by structural conditions, including coverage gaps, workplace barriers, fragmented services, culturally mismatched care, and stigma. Structural approaches are necessary for scalable, durable equity.

PLAN OBJECTIVES

Expand Equitable Access to Lactation Care

• Advocate for access to lactation support and ensure this essential health service is fully covered by both public and private insurers.
• Advance equitable reimbursement for all lactation support providers.
• Invest in community-led, culturally responsive lactation services.
• Integrate lactation support providers into coordinated care teams.
• Embed breastfeeding standards into healthcare and public health systems.

Advance Policy & Funding for Equitable Lactation

• Ensure affected communities lead lactation policy decision-making.
• Leverage public commitments to advance breastfeeding-supportive policies.
• Expand paid family leave and workplace lactation protections.
• Increase sustained funding for community-based lactation support programs.

Confront & Regulate Predatory Marketing Practices

• Strengthen policies that restrict misleading marketing practices that undermine breastfeeding.

Strengthen Human Milk Systems & Infant Nutrition Access

• Strengthen donor milk banking and safe community milk sharing systems.
• Expand federal nutrition program support for access to human milk.

Enhance Community Capacity, Education, and Workforce Development

• Integrate breastfeeding education across the lifespan and sectors.
• Strengthen infant feeding preparedness and leadership in emergencies.
• Invest in a diverse and culturally responsive lactation workforce.

Shift Social Norms & Reduce Stigma

• Promote breastfeeding-friendly public spaces and business practices.
• Launch inclusive breastfeeding public health campaigns for marginalized communities.
• Increase diverse and inclusive breastfeeding representation across media and education.
• Expand community education on breastfeeding benefits and support resources

Strengthen Research & Data Governance

• Strengthen community capacity for breastfeeding data and research governance.
• Ensure community lived experience informs policy, systems, and environmental change

ADVISORY COUNCIL MEMBERS

Advisory Council Members
Love Anderson, Breastfeeding Family Friendly Communities​
Ifeyinwa Asiodu, University of California, San Francisco​
Brenda Bandy, Kansas Breastfeeding Coalition​
Jasha Lyons Echo-Hawk, Indigenous Milk Medicine Collective​
Porsche Holland-Otunba, Reclaim Black Motherhood, LLC​
Keisha Lockhart, After Birth LLC​
Angie Sanchez, Sacred Waters Collective
Amy Stiffarm, Berry Medicine Native Birth Work Initiatives
Kimarie Bugg, Reaching Our Sisters Everywhere​
Kimberly Moore-Salas, Indigenous Lactation Counselor Certification
Pauline Sakamoto, AANHPI Lactation Collaborative

Consultants
Kimberly Broomfield-Massey, Urban Metrics Consultants
Calondra Tibbs, Trifecta Advertising
Tiffany Young, Lenell and Lillie Consultants

Technical Writer
Clifton Kenon, New York University

Subject Matter Experts
Kimberly Glover, Breastfeeding Family-Friendly Communities
Diane Spatz, University of Pennsylvania
Marsha Walker, National Lactation Consultant Alliance
Michelline Williams, PeeDee Healthy Start

REQUEST A CONFERENCE OR EVENT PRESENTATION 

Are you interested in having someone from the USBC's team speak about Nourishing Thriving Communities at your conference or event? Fill out the form linked below to make a request.

Speaker Request Form