Mission, Values & Strategic Plan

The San Diego County Breastfeeding Coalition’s mission is to improve the health and wellbeing of our community by protecting, promoting, and supporting breastfeeding through education, outreach, advocacy, and service.

Our Vision

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Our Values

  • Human milk is a health, social, ecologic, and economic resource for our community.
  • We are committed to reducing race and socioeconomic- disparities in health outcomes by supporting lactation in all cultures, ethnicities and sectors of our community.
  • We are dedicated to serving everyone inclusive of race, ethnicity, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, physical or mental ability, socio-economic status, political views, gender identity, sexual orientation, family structure, or other protected status.
  • We are committed to increasing access to lactation education for BIPOC (Black, Indigenous & People of Color) candidates and elevating BIPOC to leadership positions in our organization
  • We recognize that not all people and lactating individuals identify as female and endeavor to use gender inclusive language within the framework of inclusivity of all breastfeeding, chestfeeding, and human milk-feeding.
  • Mothers or parents have the right to make an informed decision regarding their child’s feeding.
  • Community acceptance and support are integral components of lactation success.
  • Health professionals, business leaders and policy makers have a vital need for access to accurate information and play a critical role in the support and promotion of lactation.
  • Breastfeeding/chestfeeding is an integral component of parenting, and the family is an essential   support.
  • Mother-to-mother support, peer counselors, doulas, childbirth educators and other support persons play a vital role in promoting and supporting breastfeeding in the community.
  • We provide current, accurate, scientifically valid and culturally sensitive information.

SDCBC Founders

Nancy Wight MD, IBCLC, FABM, FAAP & Mary Sammer MS, RD

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A Look Back with Co-Founders Nancy Wight, MD & Mary Sammer

Our History

The Coalition is a non-profit 501(c)3 association whose dedicated members and volunteers perform all activities. The San Diego County Breastfeeding Coalition has been serving the San Diego community since 1994 promoting community health and business healthcare savings through support for breastfeeding in our County. Today it consists of physicians, dietitians, lactation consultants, and other professionals who are passionate about making breastfeeding attainable for all families in the San Diego and Imperial Counties.

The SDCBC is an award-winning chapter of the larger California Breastfeeding Coalition as well as a 2018 San Diego Public Health Champion under the HHSA’s Live Well Program. Select highlights of recent SDCBC programs and accomplishments to date include:

  • Distribution of hospital grade, multi-user, and personal breast pumps and education resources via the BREEAST Program to medically and socially high-risk families through the generous support of Rest Haven Children’s Health Fund.
  • Continued production and distribution of our Breastfeeding Resource Guides (English and Spanish) to help families obtain necessary breastfeeding resources and support
  • Multiple health care professional breastfeeding education programs
  • A county-wide billboard campaign “Good Health Begins with Breastfeeding”
  • Development and distribution of educational materials for employers and employees on working and breastfeeding, in conjunction with the March of Dimes and Rady Children’s Hospital
  • Creation and distribution of an interactive CD “Breastfeeding and the Bottom Line” for businesses and human resource professionals
  • A “Breastfeeding Welcome Here” window-sticker program to encourage patronage of breastfeeding-friendly establishments
  • Donation of over 200 breastfeeding books to San Diego County Libraries

The San Diego County Breastfeeding Coalition is a registered nonprofit association driven by the mission to protect, promote, and support breastfeeding through education, advocacy, and outreach in our community. As a 501(c)(3) organization, we rely on our generous donors, members, and volunteers to continue our mission for thousands of families across San Diego County. Your contribution is very much appreciated and will go directly towards supporting breastfeeding families in our community.