Contributed report
Wright County Community Action (WCCA) has been named a Breastfeeding Friendly Workplace by the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) for its contributions to the health of parents and their babies.
MDH recognizes workplaces and county health departments that have demonstrated their commitment to supporting breastfeeding families by creating a workplace lactation support program.
“2023 has been a year of progress for WCCA,” Planning Manager Amy Kortisses shared. “We refreshed our office space to increase staff morale and designate space for client services. As a nonprofit, our mission is the reason we all work here. This recognition is just one of the added perks WCCA staff members get when working here. The lactation space was funded through Wright County’s Statewide Health Improvement Partnership (SHIP) program, and it also serves as a wellness room to help staff decompress and recover from compassion fatigue.”
Breastfeeding is a foundational way to ensure that babies receive optimal nutrition during the first formative years of life. Studies show that infants who are breastfed have better health outcomes as they grow. MDH recognizes organizations that have taken a leadership role in improving breastfeeding rates and meet the Healthy 2030 goals.
The designation acknowledges WCCA’s commitment to acting as a model for the community by supporting healthy families and receiving the business benefits of supporting nursing employees. The designation is achieved by adopting a written policy and educating staff about it; ensuring adequate break time for breastfeeding employees; providing a clean, private place to pump breast milk; and demonstrating a strong commitment to supporting breastfeeding in the workplace.
This is MDH’s recognition program, which was created and is supported by the state Women, Infants and Children program (WIC) and SHIP.
To learn how to apply for recognition, visit health.state.mn.us/breastfeedingfriendly.