No baby should ever go hungry, and every parent deserves access to the support and supplies they need to meet their infant feeding goals. 

With funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Division of Nutrition Physical Activity and Obesity (DNPAO), the U.S. Breastfeeding Committee is using the platform "Rebel.Science" to host a brand-new survey tool. This simple and easy-to-use survey aims to support maternal and child health and First Food field stakeholders in getting timely and accurate data on infant feeding at the organizational, state, and national level.

Technical Assistance Sessions

Do you keep getting stuck in the set-up process? Are you interested in participating but don't know where to start? Register for a session below! Please reach out to [email protected] with any questions or concerns. ​​​

Rebel.Science at a Glance

By participating in this data collection project, you will be able to see how your organization or group's experience compares to others in your state and the nation while informing the lactation field and policymakers to affect change. You can use your data in a number of ways: to make the case for increased breastfeeding support in a community, for funding opportunities or grant applications, and so much more. We can't wait to see what you will do!

Big Data Can Make a Big Difference

Data collection can be messy and difficult. But what if we could make it easy? What if we can share a simple tool that your organization can use to collect clear and concise information about the infant feeding experience of parents with young babies? ​

Introducing Rebel.Science
Across the nation, many organizations, including doctor offices, community health centers, home visiting programs, parent support groups, WIC sites, etc., are engaging in a national experiment designed to build a repository of real-time data on maternal/parental feeding intent and status, maternity care practice, and access to breastfeeding/lactation support and supplies. 

Play the video to the left to discover how this tool can collect data for yours!

Five Simple Questions

These five simple questions were formulated to better understand the needs of new parents nationwide:
  1. Before I had my baby, I planned to feed:
  2. Since I had my baby, I have MOSTLY fed:
  3. I was in the same room with my baby almost the whole time I was at the hospital/birthing facility:
  4. I received the breastfeeding/lactation support I needed after I left the hospital/birthing facility:
  5. I received the breastfeeding/lactation supplies (e.g., breast pump and replacement parts) that I needed:

Now, the experiences of our communities can begin to tell their own stories. From trends in infant feeding during emergencies and natural disasters to pandemics to legislation that enacts barriers, we can finally look at real-time data and work towards changes that help to protect and promote breastfeeding in the U.S.

Brand Your Survey in Three Easy Steps

1. Create Your Data Project

You'll be able to customize and brand your data project right from the start. Upload your logo, add images representing your organization, and create emails inviting others to participate. Get creative! You can customize the look and feel of your data project to represent best the populations and communities you serve. Click here to get started now!

​Want different images than the ones we have embedded in the tool but don't have your own? Consider browsing our image gallery and download any photos that meet the size requirements. 

2. Share Your Survey with Parents

Taking the survey was designed to be a quick and straightforward process. Parents can participate on any device in under two minutes! After completing the survey, they can immediately see their data displayed on a graph. When a parent sees real-time data about the infant feeding experiences in their community, they can see a bigger picture for opportunities for change.

3. Use Your Data for Change

With graphs, downloadable reports, and access to real-time survey results, it's easy to share the specific impacts on your community with others. From grant funding applications to making a case to policymakers, access to quality data can help shape how future generations access breastfeeding and lactation support.
Ready to make big changes? Join the Rebel.Science Data Project as a collaborator and start collecting your data today!

Frequently Asked Questions

For questions related to branding and replicating the tool with your customized information, email [email protected]. For USBC member organizations and for USBC-related questions about the use of collected data from this tool, visit us in the First Food Connection Hub's Rebel.Science Collaborators group! 
Does this survey have or require an irb?
No. This is not a research study. We are not testing a hypothesis or performing an experiment. The tool collects real-time experiential information from mothers/birthing parents with infants up to six months old. Organizations branding the tool can interpret trends and changes in infant feeding practices and supports in the specific communities and populations they serve. ​
Who can brand this survey tool?
The USBC developed this tool with funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity (DNPAO). As such, any domestic entity can brand and adopt this survey for use with their patients, clients, or customers who have recently given birth and are caring for an infant up to six months old. 
​
This tool is designed for adoption by service organizations and maternal and child health programs that provide clinical or social care, peer or professional support, education, etc., to families with young babies. This includes, but is not limited to every doctor’s office, community health center, Healthy Start program, parent support group, WIC site, etc., that adopts this simple survey tool will have real-time trending data on infant feeding experiences (e.g., intention, reality, systemic support, and access to breastfeeding/lactation support and supplies) among their program participants. 

Direct service organizations will find this tool useful in understanding the infant feeding experience (e.g., intention, reality, systemic support, and access to breastfeeding/lactation support and supplies) of the mothers and caregivers in their service community.    
Can my organization get help setting up this survey tool?
Yes! Please join the Rebel.Science Collaborators group in USBC's First Food Connection Hub (FFCH).  
 
USBC staff and the Rebel.Science Development Team is here to support you! We'll be taking questions in the FFCH, and you can also connect with other users and sign up for scheduled support sessions. 

​For questions related to branding and replicating the tool with your customized information, email [email protected].
we are all set up! now, who exactly is the audience?
The survey tool is designed to gather information from people meeting the following criteria: 
  • Gave birth within the last six months, and; 
  • Are active caregivers of their baby.  
Can we change the survey questions to better fit our clients and families?
The short answer is no. Although you can brand the tool with your logo, color scheme, and even images relevant to the community you serve, implementing organizations cannot tweak or modify the survey questions.  

The USBC engaged a diverse group of stakeholders, including members, research partners, and our funder, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), to design this simple, mobile-friendly assessment with questions that are broadly applicable to communities across the nation. Our hope is that every doctor’s office, LSP practice, community health center, Healthy Start program, parent support group, WIC site, etc., that adopts this tool will find utility in having real-time data trends on the infant feeding experiences (e.g., intention, reality, and insights into maternity care practices and access to breastfeeding/lactation support and supplies) of their patients, clients, customers, and program participants.   
​
 And the long answer is yes. Your organization can develop a different tool with questions tailored to your program or community. Your survey can focus on infant feeding or any other topic where you need accurate real-time data to transparently share with survey respondents, programmatic and organizational leaders, funders, and, even, policy makers to advance programmatic initiatives or inspire community change. However, you would not be able to compare your tailored data with the data collected through the USBC’s Infant Feeding Survey. 

You can reach out to [email protected] to design a Rebel. Science tool that meets your organizational information needs.  
how long will we have access to the data we collect?
Your data will be available for two years after you close your data project.  ​
can we get help interpreting this data?
For non-USBC members: Please email the development team with any technical assistance questions related to replicating this tool and sharing it with your audience at [email protected]. For all other questions and concerns, please email [email protected]​.​
Will our information and our client's information be identifiable? how will this data be used, and by whom?
  1. Anonymity is a priority. Participants do not submit any identifiable data.  
  2. No information is mined from their browser, device or other apps. 
  3. No data is sold.  
  4. Your organization's survey data will be represented graphically in the state and national charts. Only you and the USBC can download your individual survey data for analysis. ​
what is the purpose of this survey? and what can i do with this tool?
This survey tool aims to empower organizations like yours ​to collect and analyze real-time trending data on infant feeding experiences from the patients, clients, customers, group members, etc., served by your organization.  

Beyond your data, remember, "Together, We Do Great Things!" This is the heart of our collective impact approach to advance policy, systems, and environmental changes to help mothers and birthing parents meet their infant feeding goals. An essential element of any collective impact initiative is a shared measurement system where organizations use a common set of indicators to track and evaluate trends and outcomes collectively. Survey adopters can compare their program data to all data from their state and the nation.  ​

This tool allows you to survey your community or a specific group of people with five questions about each person's infant feeding experience by replicating the parent tool created by the U.S. Breastfeeding Committee. The responses to these questions can be compiled into data that paints a picture of the feeding journey from pregnancy through 6 months of age for the mothers and lactating parents who have responded. Once you have gathered the quantity of data that meets your needs, you can reference it and its changes on an ongoing basis.  
 
Every doctor's office, LSP practice, community health center, Healthy Start program, parent support group, WIC site, etc. that adopts this tool will find utility in having real-time data trends on the infant feeding experiences (e.g., intention, reality, and insights into maternity care practices and access to breastfeeding/lactation support and supplies) of their patients, clients, and program participants.  Survey adopters can compare their program data to all data from their state and the nation. 
i finished branding my survey. Now what?
It's time to launch the tool! Remember to share the link to your survey with a select group of respondents. It is important that you receive accurate data that reflects the true experiences of your respondents.  

Whatever you do, please DO NOT SHARE your branded survey link on public platforms like your website, Facebook, Instagram, etc. because you run the risk of getting skewed data. If you indiscriminately share the respondent link, you run the risk of getting responses from: 
  • bots (and no one want to hear from a bot!),  
  • individuals who are not served by your program, or  
  • people served by your organization that have not given birth in the last six months.  
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