Minnesota

Ensure families have access to the breastfeeding services they need,
and have better health outcomes, by developing sustainable partnerships across maternal and child health organizations.

Initiative Status:
Active since 2018

Led By:
Minnesota Department of Health

Minnesota

Ensure families have access to the breastfeeding services they need, and have better health outcomes, by developing sustainable partnerships across maternal and child health organizations.

Check out what's available to state & local leaders

Initiative Status:
Active since 2018

Led By:
Minnesota Department of Health

THE PROBLEM

Quality care is not accessible to all Minnesota families

In some areas, high quality, culturally appropriate breastfeeding and healthcare services may not exist. If quality services exist, families may not know about them. If families know about the services, they may not be able to access them at the right time or at all.

These barriers have a large impact on families’ health outcomes, and disproportionately affect Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC), people with limited income, and rural populations.

THE CAUSES

Why is this happening?

Socio-economic status impacts breastfeeding rates

Families with limited income encounter greater barriers to breastfeeding, such as lack of access to prenatal education, paid maternity leave, or workplace accomodations. In 2021, breastfeeding initiation rates for non-WIC infants were 93.6% compared to only 80.9% for infants enrolled in WIC.1

MINNESOTA BREASTFEEDING INITIATION AMONG NON-WIC & WIC INFANTS, 2021

93.6%

of non-WIC infants in Minnesota initiated breastfeeding.1

80.9%

of WIC-enrolled infants in Minnesota initiated breastfeeding.1

Racial disparities are evident across the state for breastfeeding initiation

From 2020 to 2021, overall breastfeeding initiation went from 89.4 to 88.9%. The biggest declines were in populations with already-lower rates of initiation.1

MINNESOTA BREASTFEEDING INITIATION, 2021

WIC breastfed infants are supplemented with formula at high rates

In 2021, Minnesota’s average breastfeeding exclusively rate among WIC-enrolled infants was 32.7%, well below the Healthy People 2020 goal of 85.8%.1

BREASTFEEDING EXCLUSIVITY AMONG WIC-ENROLLED INFANTS DURING HOSPITAL STAY, 2021

See Minnesota WIC Reports & Data to learn more

Relationships across maternal and child health organizations need strengthening

Connections across communities — including hospitals and other maternal and child health organizations — could be strengthened or developed to promote collaboration, communication, and referrals.

THE INITIATIVE

Improve families’ access to care

The Minnesota Community Collaboration Project focuses on improving families’ access to adequate breastfeeding services and other evidence-based maternity care practices.

Maternal and child health organizations are provided resources and support for developing sustainable partnerships that work toward improving breastfeeding rates by addressing access to services, continuity of care, and consistent messaging. State and local organizations can benefit from…

State Program Alignment

State Program Alignment

Find alignment opportunities by analyzing state-level policies, programs, and priorities.

Increase Referrals

Partnerships & Referrals

Enhance referral systems by leveraging existing networks and building new connections.

Collaborative Learning

Collaborative Learning

Get expert technical assistance and learn from other communities on how to improve access to care.

LOCAL RESOURCES & SUPPORT

What’s Available to Local Leaders

Coffective works alongside local organizations to focus on achieving shared goals related to increasing access to care for the maternal and child health population. The opportunities below are available in your state.

Community Partnership Collaborative

The Community Partnership Collaborative aims to develop sustainable partnerships among the participating organizations and their identified partner organizations – such as WIC, public health, hospital, prenatal clinics, home visiting, community groups, and coalitions that are leading efforts to improve maternal and child health to implement local collaborative community goals.

Coffective provides each organization with technical assistance and $5,000 (in the form of gift cards, incentives, and other Coffective-purchased items) to develop and implement an initiative within their community.

 

Cross-Border Collaborative Activities

Community Partnership Technical Assistance is provided to WIC, hospitals, and other organizations along and across state borders to develop sustainable partnerships, expand networks, and align services.

Sharing & Learning Calls

Coffective works with state leaders to host opportunities for local organizations to learn from and share with others who are doing similar work. This is done with state and regional sharing calls.

  • Regional Sharing Calls are an opportunity to learn, and share lessons learned and resources across states.
  • State Sharing Calls are an opportunity to share lessons learned, identify needs, and resources within states and across similar agencies.

State leaders and Community Partnership Coordinators will share call dates as they are scheduled.

Learn more about the opportunities available to local organizations

DASHBOARD

One Dashboard, Many Possibilities

Your state has access to an online platform that helps…

  • Families find breastfeeding and other maternal and child health services in their community.
  • Organizations share information about maternal and child health services with community partners and families.
  • Learn from the lessons of other communities.
  • Access resources for working together.
Learn more & sign up

LOCAL COORDINATION

Community Partnership Collaborative Projects 2022

Expand Access to Doulas

  • Cook County WIC worked to increase access to prenatal, birth and postpartum doulas that were low to no cost to those receiving services. To accomplish this, Cook County WIC, partnered with multiple agencies throughout the county to collaborate and create a cohort-based learning opportunity for prospective doulas to certify as a doula. As a result, there were 6 individuals who joined the cohort to become certified as a doula.

Increase Breastfeeding-Friendly Designated Childcare Centers & Homes

  • Houston County WIC worked to increase support to working, breastfeeding families. To accomplish this, Houston County WIC assisted childcare centers and homes become designated as breastfeeding-friendly. As a result, it is expected that 20% of childcare centers and 33% of childcare homes will become designated as breastfeeding-friendly within the next year.

Increase Breastfeeding Support Supplies

  • St. Louis Public Health & Human Services and Carlton County WIC worked to increase access to breastfeeding support supplies to local lactation clinics within the hospital setting. To accomplish this, St. Louis Public Health & Human Services and Carlton County WIC collaborated with the lactation clinics to determine the breastfeeding support supplies needed. As a result, 3 separate hospital lactation clinics were able to increase their breastfeeding support supplies to assist families.

  • Meeker McLeod Sibley Community Health Services worked to increase access to breastfeeding supplies. To accomplish this, they purchased breastfeeding support supplies such as breast milk storage bags, breast milk collectors, breast milk coolers, and a variety of flange sizes for breast milk pumps. The breastfeeding supplies are accessible at the WIC clinics and available for public health home visits. As a result, it is expected that over 50 families will benefit from the breastfeeding supplies, and ten families will be supported during home visits.

Raise Community Awareness of WIC

  • St. Louis Public Health & Human Services and Carlton County WIC also worked to increase community awareness and support of WIC. To accomplish this, St. Louis Public Health & Human Services and Carlton County WIC set up a booth during a community event called Twins Port Latch-on Event. As a result, multiple families were educated on the services offered through WIC, including 14 mothers and 3 fathers.

Expand Access to Breastfeeding Resource & Breastfeeding-Friendly Children’s Books

  • Washington County WIC worked to increase access to breastfeeding resource books and breastfeeding-friendly children’s books for families to normalize breastfeeding. To accomplish this, Washington County WIC collaborated with their local library to offer these books to their local community. As a result, approximately 100 books were purchased and put into rotation at the local library.

Boost Provider Support & Awareness of WIC

  • Multiple WIC agencies worked to increase provider engagement, support, and awareness of WIC. To accomplish this, WIC agencies hosted Lunch N’ Learn events at their local hospital. As a result, the WIC agencies strengthened previous relationships and developed new relationships with hospital staff..

Increase Certified Lactation Staff

  • Several WIC agencies worked to increase the number of accessible certified lactation staff. To accomplish this, agencies reached out to people in their organization or through partnerships to find individuals wanting to become certified as a lactation counselor. The Certified Lactation Counselor training course was purchased on behalf of the individuals. As a result, there were over a dozen new Certified Lactation Counselors across the agencies.

TIMELINE

Partnership History

Since 2018, Coffective and the Minnesota Department of Health have partnered to support community success across the state. See how our journey has evolved!

2018
2019
2020
2021
2022

2018

2018

Community needs assessed through statewide surveys and reports.

State WIC leaders provided technical assistance on state and local partner coordination.

2019

2019

Breastfeeding coalitions’ needs surveyed and provided custom reports.

Pilot of three local WIC agencies provided technical assistance on partner coordination.

Relationship-building webinars and toolkits provided.

2020

2020

Pilot of five local WIC agencies provided technical assistance on partner coordination.

All local organizations given access to Community Match.

Peer sharing webinars conducted.

2021

2021

Community partnership technical assistance available to five local WIC agencies.

All local organizations have access to Community Match and Organization Profiles on the Resource Platform.

Peer sharing webinars conducted.

State partner one-on-one meetings conducted.

2022

2022

Community Partnership Collaboratives.

Cross-Border Collaborative.

Local breastfeeding resource landscape completed.

Breastfeeding assessment survey completed.

Needs Assessment Summary.

Learn more about Minnesota’s initiative

Find out more about the initiatives, tools, and activities available to Minnesota maternal and child health organizations.

Contact us

Sources

  1. Minnesota WIC Reports & Data