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, seventeen years later this local affiliate's
name has changed to 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.
Mothers Rally for Breastfeeding Rights in Harrisburg
State Senator Connie Williams hosted a rally in the Grand Rotunda of the Pennsylvania Capitol Building in Harrisburg on Monday, May 7th 2007. The event was in honor of Mother’s Day as well as to announce that one of her 3 breastfeeding bills she has written for the Senate has made it out committee and will go before a floor vote to be ratified as state law in the next few weeks. Pennsylvania is sadly one of 14 states that still has no statewide legislation that protects a woman’s right to breastfeed in public. Senate Bill 34 protects a woman’s right to breastfeed in public or private places.
Several speakers at the rally were House Representatives and State Senators who are rallying behind this legislation as well as breastfeeding mom Leigh Bellini who was asked by Berkshire Mall security in February to stop breastfeeding her 6 month old on a secluded bench and “go find a warm car or bathroom to nurse” or the local police might remove them. Representing Lactation Consultants as well as the interest of the healthcare community was one of our own Lactation Consultants for PRO-LC, Donna Sinnott, BBA, IBCLC who was there to rally the over 100 attendees in support of this very necessary human right’s bill. The coverage was on many local news broadcasts and in several newspapers. Donna was quoted on the news saying, “We need a law to protect the innocent" and in newspaper articles stating some of the benefits of breastfeeding. For more info about the rally and the bills, one can stay updated at www.senatorconniewilliams.com.
Click on link for the full story: http://www.wfmz.com/view/?id=94115
