Families are healthier when their workplace supports women during pregnancy and while breastfeeding. Mothers are the fastest growing segment of the U.S. labor force with 1/3 of mothers returning to work within three months after birth. Breastfeeding support from an employer can help reduce the barriers a mother may encounter when returning to work and help her meet her breastfeeding goals.
And it is good for business!

Congratulations to these Breastfeeding Friendly Worksites!

Your efforts to support breastfeeding families will have a positive and lasting impact on the health and well-being of all Colorado families - thank you!

North Suburban Medical Center
Legacy Christian Fellowship
City of Centennial
Arapahoe County Detention Center
Topgolf Centennial
  

Why should I support a breastfeeding employee?

Offering a nursing employee support provides a 3:1 return on investment through lower health care costs, decreased sick time taken due to infant illness, higher retention rates, improved productivity and loyalty and a positive public image- improving recruitment potential. 

Mutual of Omaha found that employees who participated in their lactation support program had newborn health care costs that were three times lower than employees who did not participate.

 A 2-year study conducted at CIGNA found the company saved $60,000 in reduced absenteeism rates for employees who participated in their lactation support program.

Mutual of Omaha reported an 83% retention rate among women employees after implementing a lactation support program compared to the national average of only 59%.
    

What can I do to support a breastfeeding employee?

There are Federal and Colorado laws that protect breastfeeding mothers in the workplace. A breastfeeding mother's needs are simple and few. All Colorado employers are required to:

• Provide reasonable time (unpaid or paid break and/or meal time) for mothers to express milk at work for up to 2 years after the birth of her child
• Make reasonable efforts to provide suitable, private space (other than a bathroom stall) in close proximity to her work area
• Not discriminate against a woman for expressing milk in the workplace

Where do I start?

Tri-County Health Department can help! 
We have resources and staff available to help you with any part of the process from completing a worksite assessment, creating a breastfeeding support program/policy, setting up a private space and more. Staff is happy to visit your worksite to provide technical assistance and examples of what other worksites have done. Set up a site visit today.
    

What is the Breastfeeding Friendly Worksite Award?

Breastfeeding Friendly Worksite Certification
By meeting a few simple criteria, worksites of any type or size can receive Tri-County Health Department's Breastfeeding Friendly Worksite Award and be recognized in the  community as being a family friendly place to work and do business. This award acknowledges employers who have implemented breastfeeding friendly practices including having a written breastfeeding support policy and a permanent or flexible/temporary lactation space.

Breastfeeding friendly worksites will receive a window cling, a certificate to display and recognition in Tri-County Health Department programs, social media, press releases and on this website. You will also have the opportunity to list your worksite on the latchME app!
 
Funding Opportunities Available
As a piece of an overall worksite wellness grant initiative, Tri-County Health Department can help your worksite become a breastfeeding friendly employer. By choosing to create a plan for a lactation program or policy at your worksite, funding and other resources are available. For more information about this initiative, Contact Jennifer Tellis at 720-200-1521.

Nominate a Worksite
Would you like to nominate your worksite or a business you visited to receive a Breastfeeding Friendly Worksite Award? Tri-County Health Department would like to hear about your positive experiences. Fill out a nomination form and we will contact the worksite to thank them and discuss the Breastfeeding Friendly Worksite Award. 

Breastfeeding Friendly Worksite Award Quick Links

• ​Breastfeeding Friendly Worksite Award Information Flyer
• ​Breastfeeding Friendly Worksite Award Application
• ​​​Breastfeeding Friendly Worksite Self-Assessment Form
• ​​​Nominate a Worksite for the Breastfeeding Friendly Worksite Award 
• ​Request a Site Visit 
• Helpful Websites

What are other ways that TCHD provides breastfeeding support?

 
Tri-County Health Department recognizes breastfeeding as an important and effective preventive measure to protect the health of mothers and their infants and is proud to be part of the national effort to increase breastfeeding rates. The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) promotes breastfeeding as the optimal infant feeding choice and supports mothers through many programs. Contact your local WIC office for more information on the following programs: free breastfeeding classes, Pump Loan Program, Breastfeeding Peer Counselor Program (español), and/or free breastfeeding counseling by specially trained staff including international board-certified lactation consultants (IBCLC). Health care providers are invited to visit our Breastfeeding Resources for Health Care Providers webpage.

References available upon request.