The Asian Pacific Islander Breastfeeding Task Force

Please join us for the Asian Pacific Islander Breastfeeding Task Force general meetings.
All are welcome.

Meetings occur the 4th Wednesday bimonthly from 12PM – 2PM.

Join Meeting Here!

For more information please email Cindy Young at cyoung@breastfeedla.org or go to our events calendar page.


Current APIBTF Projects

Dede Diner Virtual Support Group

Dede Diner Flyer (full sheet)


API Photo Project

Visit our #AsianBreastfeedingStory Video Page!

View our API Photo Project Images Here Password ABTF2019

Request API Photo Project Images HERE

Visit us on Social Media here:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/APIBTF

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/apibtf/

Please be sure to reference “Elisabeth Millay/BreastfeedLA and API Breastfeeding Task Force” along with any image you use from the photo catalogue or digital file link.


Support the API Breastfeeding Task Force by donating here

About Us

The Asian Pacific Islander Breastfeeding Task Force of Los Angeles County is a group of passionate people who are dedicated to promoting and supporting breastfeeding in Asian community.

Los Angeles County is home to the largest Asian American population in the United States. Over half a million Asian Americans and 7,000 Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders reside in the San Gabriel and Pomona Valleys (Service Planning Area 3). In 2015, two-thirds of babies born at Garfield Medical Center and half of babies born at San Gabriel Valley Medical Center were Asian. Hospital data shows that most births were from first generation immigrants from Asia, the majority from China.

Barriers to breastfeeding in this community include:

  • Corporate interests that promote formula as better than breastmilk
  • Lack of lactation education for physicians & clinical practices that are not breastfeeding-friendly
  • Only 6% of lactation professionals in LA identify as Asian and Pacific Islander
  • Almost half of Asian Americans in the San Gabriel Valley are limited English proficient, yet prenatal medical visits offer little breastfeeding education using language-appropriate materials
  • Parenting style is deeply rooted in Asian and Pacific Islander culture and is not always congruent with current Baby-Friendly hospital practices

In August of 2017, concerned community members, professionals from hospitals, PHFE WIC, BreastfeedLA, and LA County Department of Public Health formed an Asian Pacific Islander Breastfeeding Task Force to address the lower rates of Asian and Pacific Islander breastfeeding identified at hospitals and local WIC offices.  The Task Force discussed barriers to breastfeeding faced by Asian and Pacific Islander families and identified potential strategies for overcoming these barriers.

Community members lead the Task Force, convening quarterly meetings and inviting new members.  Members have successfully sought funding for projects. With over 20 members, the Task Force continues to grow.

Objective:

The Asian Pacific Islander Breastfeeding Task Force recognizes the unique cultural and educational needs of Asian and Pacific Islander new parents.  The Task Force seeks to decrease inequities and normalize breastfeeding in Los Angeles County’s Asian and Pacific Islander communities by improving breastfeeding education and support practices, and by removing systemic barriers that prevent breastfeeding from flourishing.

Current Projects:

Provider Engagement: Training Asian Pacific Islander obstetric offices to provide prenatal breastfeeding education to patients

Community Engagement:  Creating a website for Asian language breastfeeding materials and Asian Pacific Islander Breastfeeding services; establishing a social media presence with an Asian Pacific Islander Facebook page

Public Campaign: Implementing a photo voice project funded through Birth Equity Leadership Academy with a goal of normalizing breastfeeding in the Los Angeles County’s San Gabriel Valley

Future Plans:

Plan for Sustainability: Expand membership to include Asian and Pacific Islander businesses, advocacy groups and more health care facilities;  evaluate the impact of our efforts

Provider Engagement: Conduct key informant interviews to learn views/perspectives of Asian Pacific Islander health professionals, resulting in targeted breastfeeding education and recommendations for system changes

Workforce Development: Identify current Asian Pacific Islander IBCLCs in Los Angeles County. Create opportunities to develop more Asian and Pacific Islander lactation professionals through the BreastfeedLA Lactation Education Specialist (LES) training program.

IN THE NEWS: Features on our photo exhibit

Our Resources Library

COVID-19 Resources

This community library is a collection of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AA and NHPI) in-language resources on the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). The resource links have been submitted by community members, leaders and national and community-based organizations that are actively working to improve the health & well-being of AA and NHPI communities. This project is community-powered and community-driven directly for communities. AA and NHPI In-Language Resources for Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Breastfeeding Resources

Paid Family Leave

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