RI Department of Health Breastfeeding Resources and Insurance Information

SECTION ON BREASTFEEDING

AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS

The Section on Breastfeeding, founded in 2000, is dedicated to providing networking and educational opportunities for AAP members interested in breastfeeding promotion and management. The Section believes that the enthusiastic support and involvement of pediatricians in the promotion and practice of breastfeeding are essential to the achievement of optimal infant and child health, growth, and development.  The Section conducts an annual section member business meeting and provides educational programming at the Academy’s National Conference and Exhibition.  In addition, the Section serves in a consulting capacity to the AAP Board of Directors on breastfeeding topics.

Membership in the Section is open to fellows of the Academy with an interest in breastfeeding and human milk. 

The Section is comprised of the following committees: Communications, Education, Finance, Legislative, Liaison, Membership, Nominations, Policy, and Research.  Each committee oversees different activities involving the Section. The Communications Committee maintains responsibility for the newsletter “Breastfeeding: Best for Mother and Baby,” the Web site, as well as other aspects of communications with members, including the AAP Chapter Breastfeeding Coordinators, and the general public. In addition, this committee has oversight responsibility for the development and revision of the AAP breastfeeding publications, such as New Mother’s Guide to Breastfeeding, Breastfeeding Your Baby: Answers to Common Questions, AAP/ACOG Breastfeeding Handbook for Physicians, and the Speaker’s Kit on Breastfeeding Promotion and Management.  The Education Committee develops educational programs for the Section and general membership at annual meetings. This committee also oversees the Breastfeeding Promotion in Physicians’ Office Practices and the development of new educational materials.

The Finance Committee is responsible for dues structure, oversight of all Section expenditures, special projects, and drafting the exhibits in the bylaws. The Legislative Committee addresses the existence or lack thereof breastfeeding laws.  The Liaison Committee establishes relationships with other AAP committees, sections, and outside organizations with a mutual interest in promote promoting breastfeeding and optimal maternal and child health. The Membership Committee is devoted to increasing membership in the Section, and and developing and promoting member benefits and other services available to members of the Section.  The Nominations Committee oversees section executive committee elections.  The Policy Committee develops and revises statements, publicationsclinical reports, and responses to chapter forum resolutions.  The 1997 policy statement, “Breastfeeding and the Use of Human Milk,” has been revised and published in February 2005, and the 2001 “WIC Program” policy statement is undergoing revision. The Research Committee identifies areas of research need, assists in the development of publications, and implements research activities that relate to breastfeeding. 

Members who are interested in joining the Section and one of its committees may send an e-mail message to lkotch@aap.org or visit the Section page on the Web site at www.aap.org/breastfeeding.