Breastfeeding Peer Counselor Program (BFCP) BFPC-7 Referrals 1

Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention WIC Nutrition Program Effective: October 1, 2011 Policy No. BFPC-7 Revised: October 1, 2022 Referrals and Collaboration with Community Partners

Authority 22 MRSA §255 and §1951 10-144 CMR Chapter 286, §II.J.8 USDA All States Memorandum 04-27, “Breastfeeding Peer Counseling Grants/Training” (April 8, 2004)

Policy

1. Local Agency staff shall make internal referrals to the WIC Breastfeeding Peer Counselor Program. 2. Peer counselors shall follow appropriate referral procedures specified by the breastfeeding peer counselor supervisor for breastfeeding problems outside the peer counselor’s scope of work.

Procedures 1. Potential community partners for referrals include but are not limited to: 1.1. Breastfeeding coalitions 1.2. Pediatric offices 1.3. Businesses such as worksites and childcare centers 1.4. Case managers 1.5. Community groups and organizations that reach the target population 1.6. Early Head Start 1.7. Teen parenting groups 1.8. Cooperative Extension Program 1.9. IBCLCs in the community 1.10. La Leche League 1.11. Home visiting programs

Breastfeeding Peer Counselor Program (BFCP) BFPC-7 Referrals 2

1.12. Hospitals 1.13. Private physicians’ clinics 1.14. Health centers 2. Local Agency staff shall provide referral information to peer counselors and enter the referral into the SPIRIT referral screen.