Color-Filled Breastfeeding: Clinical Lactation Training Program Scholarships

Funder: Kansas Breastfeeding Coalition (KBC) with support from Kansas Health Foundation Impact Grant

Geographic Scope: Kansas

Focus Areas:

• Providing hands-on clinical lactation experience to individuals
• Offering mentorship with experienced lactation consultants at local hospitals, health departments, and other settings
• Increasing the number of lactation consultants in Kansas, specifically BIPOC consultants
• Addressing inequities in breastfeeding rates and access to culturally congruent lactation care

Eligibility:

• All Kansans eligible to apply to the program
• Scholarships specifically reserved for: Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) students
• Students will be paired with experienced mentors at local clinical sites

Award Details:

• Full scholarships provided to BIPOC students
• Program covers hands-on clinical lactation training
• Students receive mentorship experience at local healthcare facilities

Program Focus: Addresses health disparities where:

• Breastfeeding initiation rates for Black families are 8.6% lower than state average
• Black infants are more than twice as likely to die in infancy than white counterparts
• Access to culturally congruent lactation care is critical for improving infant mortality outcomes
• Program Coordinator: Sapphire Garcia-Lies
• Address: 8101 College Blvd. Suite 100, Overland Park, KS 66210
• Email: info@ksbreastfeeding.org
• Phone: (620) 255-5344

Background: The Kansas Breastfeeding Coalition received an Impact Grant from the Kansas Health Foundation to create this clinical training program. The program reflects KBC's commitment to addressing inequities in breastfeeding rates and increasing access to lactation care from culturally competent providers.

How to Apply

1. Contact the Program Coordinator: Sapphire Garcia-Lies is recruiting students for the program
2. Express Interest: Students should contact the KBC to express interest in the Color-Filled Breastfeeding Clinical Lactation Training Program
3. BIPOC Students: Specifically encouraged to apply for full scholarship opportunities
4. Enrollment: Once selected, students will be paired with experienced mentors at local clinical sites throughout Kansas

Contact for Application:

• Kansas Breastfeeding Coalition
• Email: info@ksbreastfeeding.org
• Phone: (620) 255-5344
• Address: 8101 College Blvd. Suite 100, Overland Park, KS 66210

Note: Detailed application procedures should be requested directly from the program coordinator.