Dallas Area Breastfeeding Alliance
Honors Breastfeeding Supporters in the Dallas Area
At the 7th Annual Recognition Luncheon
Celebrating World Breastfeeding Month

In honor of World Breastfeeding Week, DABA held its annual Recognition Luncheon at Dallas City Hall on August 13th to honor the work of a professional organization that supports breastfeeding mothers.

This year's event lauded the work of The Joint Commission, which is a national organization which provides accreditation services for US hospitals. This year, in January, they announced a new set of Quality Core Measures for hospitals specific to maternity care. One of the indicators is for exclusive breast milk feeding and the overall goal to improve exclusive breast milk feeding rates (estimated as low as 30% in some parts of the country). Celeste Milton, MPH, BSN, RN Associate Project Director Department of Quality Measurement traveled to Dallas from The Joint Commission Chicago office in order to accept the award on their behalf. She explained how their advisory board made the recommendation for adopting the breastfeeding criteria and how the measure will be implemented.

Several guest speakers presented information related World Breastfeeding Awareness Month including Darlene Irwin, Manager of the City of Dallas WIC program and Eddie Longoria, the USDA FNS Southwest Regional WIC Director.

The event was highlighted by an official reading of the City of Dallas Mayor's proclamation naming August "Breastfeeding Awareness Month." The proclamation was read by Dallas City Councilwoman Delia Jasso, who represents District 1.

The recognition luncheon was coordinated by DABA and the City of Dallas Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Program, and was sponsored by The Texas Association of Local WIC Directors.

Dr. Elizabeth Stehel, Associate Director of Pediatrics for UT Southwestern Medical Center introduced Celeste Milton and explained how this important support will promote breastfeeding in the hospital settings.

Kathy O’Brien, a certified Doula and breastfeeding advocate brought a display of her beautiful photography showing mothers and infants breastfeeding in every day settings. Her display is part of her Nursing is Normal project.

DABA would like to thank all its partners for making 2010's event successful.

Cheryl Brien-Warren, Luncheon Committee Chair, poses with the 301st Fighter Wing, Ft. Worth Naval Air Station, Joint Reserve Base Honor Guard who presented the color guard at this year's luncheon. Cheryl's granddaughter, Command Sergeant Major Kimberly Hazard, from Fort Worth ISD JROTC introduced the Honor Guard for the opening of the luncheon. Senior Airman Broadway, right, is a WIC Peer Dad.

Vanessa Patterson and Kelly Williams volunteered at the registration table. They are both serving with the Department of State Health Services Region as Dietitian interns.

Kathy O'Brien and her husband Danny O'Brien display beautiful photographs of nursing mothers, which is the heart of their business, "Nursing is Normal."

Celeste G. Milton accepts the 2010 Recognition Award on behalf of the Joint Commission from Deborah Parnell, DABA President. She and is looking forward to displaying it in her office in Chicago.

DABA Luncheon Committee with Award Recipient. Left to Right: Ruth Chenault, DABA Secretary, Judy Eastburn, Co-Past-President, Annette Frantz, Co-Past President, Hitesh Bakshi, DABA treasurer, Celeste G. Milton, Guest Speaker, Beth Knapp, DABA Liaison for Guest Speaker, Deborah Parnell, DABA President, Cheryl Brien-Warren, DABA President Elect and Luncheon Chair.