The Breastfeeding Family Friendly Communities (BFFC) initiative began in Chapel Hill and Carrboro, North Carolina (NC), with the support and coordinated efforts of a representative team from the Carolina Global Breastfeeding Institute (CGBI), the Chapel Hill Rotary Club, the Towns of Carrboro and Chapel Hill, La Leche League of Chapel Hill, and the Chapel Hill/Carrboro Chamber of Commerce, and later expanded to include the Orange County Health Department, Inter-Faith Council for Social Service, and the North Carolina Breastfeeding Coalition.
During National Breastfeeding Month 2015, the Mayors of Chapel Hill and Carrboro launched an initiative to become the first Breastfeeding Family Friendly Communities. They announced their intent to support the Breastfeeding Family Friendly Communities effort. The launch of this effort was held on August 10, 2015 at the Oasis Café in Carr Mill Mall, Carrboro, with a reception and presentation of plaques indicating each city’s Certificate of Intent.
In 2020, the initiative expanded into Orange County with a new stakeholders, Orange County Partnership for Young Children (OCPYC) and Piedmont Health Services (PHS). OCPYC is providing breastfeeding friendly training and technical assistance for childcare providers. They also reached out to the local Chambers of Commerce and supported the recent Proclamation by the Town of Hillsborough. PHS is expanding breastfeeding friendly practices in its health clinics in Orange County. Breastfeed Orange NC has a much wider community impact with the addition of these stakeholders. We hope that you and/or your organization will consider joining this important initiative.