8/7/12 news article
Dayton Children’s honored for being breastfeeding-friendly businesses
Ohio Department of Health issues healthy Ohio breastfeeding friendly awards
The Ohio Department of Health (ODH) recently awarded its Healthy Ohio Breastfeeding Friendly Employer Award to The Children’s Medical Center of Dayton. They received the gold level award for initiatives that support breast feeding.
“Dayton Children’s is committed to promoting and protecting a mother’s right to breastfeed her child for as long as she chooses,” says Mari Jo Rosenbauer, NICU Lactation Consultant/ Resource Nurse.“We support our employee’s decision to provide the best possible start on the road to a healthy life for their children.”
Rosenbauer also notes that allowing employees to breastfeed to beneficial to not only the mother and baby but also to the employer. Supporting breastfeeding in the workplace has been shown to reduce turnover, cut rates of absenteeism, boost morale and ultimately reduce healthcare costs.
“Children that are breastfed have a reduced risk of many health problems, including diabetes, asthma, childhood cancer and obesity,” said ODH Director Ted Wymyslo, M.D. “We are proud to honor employers who are working to improve the health of our community’s littlest members by supporting employees and customers who breastfeed.”
Dayton Children’s will be presented with the award during the Healthy Ohio Business Council Meeting on September 11th from 9:00am-11:00am at Hartzel Propeller in Piqua, OH
ODH, with the assistance of the Ohio Lactation Consultant Association and other breastfeeding advocates around the state, developed the Healthy Ohio Breastfeeding Friendly Employer Award in 2011 to acknowledge employers who establish and maintain comprehensive, high-quality breastfeeding support programs for their employees.
A complete list of Breastfeeding Friendly Award Winners is available at www.healthyohioprogram.org. More information on becoming a breastfeeding-friendly business for customers and employers, visit www.womenshealth.gov/breastfeeding/government-in-action/business-case-for-breastfeeding.
For more information, contact:
Grace Rodney
Marketing Communications Specialist
Phone: 937-641-3666
marketing@childrensdayton.org
