What is PRO-LC
On March 17th 1986 a meeting was held in West Chester,
PA to organize a local chapter of ILCA (International
Lactation Consultant Association). This was to be one
of the very first local affiliates. They decided their
name should be ILCA- Eastern Pennsylvania. The goals of
this local chapter were to provide continuing education
for members, networking, public relations (defining what
an LC is and does) and support for ILCA. Lactation consultants
and people interested in supporting breastfeeding came
from New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland and Pennsylvania to
attend meetings. Over time we have seen our profession
and our professional organization grow. Other affiliates
have formed and lactation consultants have become recognized
by the public and respected as members of the health care
team. Now, twenty-four years later this local chapter's
name has changed to Pennsylvania Resource Organization for Lactation Consultants (PRO-LC) and members from other states
and regions have left to form their own affiliate chapters
but the goals are remarkably the same.
Our Mission...
The purposes and objectives of this chapter are
- To protect, promote and support breastfeeding;
- To serve as a continuing education resource to further
the professional growth of lactation consultants, by
sharing knowledge gained through research and personal
experience;
- To enhance the reputation, image and credibility of
lactation consultants and ILCA in a responsible and
professional manner;
- to support the world-wide implementation of the International
Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes, as interpreted
by the World Health Assembly.
PRO-LC HAS TWO MEMBERS SELECTED AS FELLOWS OF THE INTERNATIONAL LACTATION CONSULTANT ASSOCIATION (FILCA)
The Board of Directors of the International Lactation Consultant Association (ILCA) announced in August 2007 the creation of the Fellow of the International Lactation Consultant Association program. It had been a long-time goal of ILCA to establish a program that would suitably recognize career-long achievements of their leaders, who serve as mentors in the field of lactation consultancy.
Self-nominated and self-funded designation as "fellow" is the typical manner of recognizing professional excellence in the health care field. ILCA members who have achieved a high level of professionalism, demonstrated by meeting independently-set criteria, will be permitted to attain this universal form of recognition.
PRO-LC is pleased to announce that two of our members were selected for FILCA designation in 2008, the first year of the program:
Meet Kay Hoover, MEd, IBCLC, RLC, FILCA
 |
Kay's parents Bea and Chuck Stevens with Kay in Las Vegas for her recognition as a Fellow of ILCA, July 2008 |
Kay Hoover has been a member of the International Lactation Consultant Association since 1985 and is very involved in her local chapter of USLCA, the Pennsylvania Resource Organization for Lactation Consultants. She has been a La Leche League Leader since 1971. Kay is a member of the Pennsylvania State Breastfeeding Coalition. She served on the board of directors of the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners from 1995 to 2001, served on the exam committee three times, and chaired the committee once.
Kay became an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant in 1985 and began her private practice in 1986. She has been a lactation consultant for Mercy Fitzgerald Hospital in Darby, Pennsylvania, Crozer-Chester Medical Center in Chester, Pennsylvania, and Riddle Memorial Hospital in Media, Pennsylvania.
Kay's job with the Philadelphia Department of Public Health for over 12 years was to assist the Philadelphia hospitals to become more supportive of breastfeeding. Her work for the Pennsylvania State University in University Park, Pennsylvania was to provide outpatient lactation consultations for the community and educate college students about breastfeeding.
Kay co-authored Candidiasis and Breastfeeding, published by La Leche League International. With Barbara Wilson-Clay, she co-authored The Breastfeeding Atlas (now in its fourth edition), and parent handouts Diapers of the Breastfed Baby, Pumping for your Premature Baby, and Sore Nipples/Yeast Infections.
Kay has co-authored a chapter in four books: Core Curriculum for Lactation Consultant Practice, 2002 and 2007, The Lactation Consultant in Private Practice, 2003, Breastfeeding and Human Lactation (3rd and 4th Edition), 2004, 2010, and the Handbook of Drug-Nutrient Interactions, 2004.
Meet Liz Brooks, JD, IBCLC, FILCA
Liz Brooks, JD, IBCLC, FILCA is a lactation consultant in private practice (since 1999) and lawyer (since 1983). She has worked as a prosecutor, litigator and lobbyist; she has expertise in ethics, administrative and criminal law. Liz shifted gears after the first of her three children was born, leaving the practice of law to stay home full-time. For 8 years she served as a volunteer breastfeeding counselor, and trained to take the IBCLC exam in 1997.
Now, she is able to combine her two professions. Liz is a well-received speaker in local, national and international venues. Topics include legal and ethical matters, and issues of practical administrative interest to the IBCLC.
Liz is familiar by training and experience with the challenges faced by lactation consultants. As an IBCLC, Liz has worked in:
- private practice (offering home visits, and formerly renting pumps);
- a hospital setting (offering prenatal education, "rounding" on breastfeeding dyads in the full-term and Level II NICU nurseries, and providing in-service education to nurses, doctors and midwives);
- a non-profit, community-based breastfeeding clinic (which provides IBCLC service to mothers on a sliding fee scale).
Liz currently serves as the Secretary on the Board of Directors of the International Lactation Consultant Association (2005-11) and is active in her local USLCA chapter PRO-LC. Being a leader in the professional association for IBCLCs lets Liz share her expertise in corporate governance and policy development -- but she keeps an eye on how organizational decisions trickle down to the day-to-day, working IBCLC.
