Westbury, NY, July 22, 2024 — North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center has opened a lactation room at the Leeds Place— Serving Young People in Westbury to support the needs of breastfeeding mothers.
The Leeds Place is home to a variety of services offered by the Guidance Center, notably Good Beginnings for Babies, a program that provides support, counseling, advocacy, and education for pregnant and parenting teens. The new lactation facility will give all clients and staff members a comfortable area to express milk when nursing.
“Our lactation room provides access to a safe and welcoming space for nursing mothers to pump milk, breastfeed or chestfeed their baby,” says Dr. Nellie Taylor-Walthrust, Director of the Leeds Place. “This contributes to the bonding and well-being of both the child and mother, allowing her to care for the health of her baby without feeling shamed or judged.”
The lactation room was made possible due to a wonderful partnership with the Northwell Health Breastfeeding, Resiliency, Engagement and Empowerment (BFREE) team.
“We are so excited to have partnered with the Guidance Center to support parents by creating a pleasant and private lactation-friendly space for their community and employees,” said Pamela Reichert-Anderson, Program Manager of the BFREE team. “Our team was able to provide tools and resources for lactation support, as well as educate employers about the value of supporting lactation in the workplace. By increasing awareness about the benefits of breastfeeding and chestfeeding, we hope to make communities a more accepting place for parents by normalizing human milk feeding.”
Town of North Hempstead Supervisor Jennifer DeSena attended the opening, showing her support for this important initiative. “Nursing helps a mother bond with and nourish her baby at no cost. Thanks to this innovative collaboration, a nursing mother can find privacy in a beautiful, quiet room while her family receives vital mental health or substance misuse counseling,” she said. “That’s possible because the Guidance Center and Northwell Health are dedicated to improving access and support for our families.
“I’m especially thankful to Dr. Nellie Taylor-Walthrust for her 35 years of care at the Guidance Center, North Hempstead’s Substance Misuse Advisory Committee and our Yes We Can Center,” continued Supervisor DeSena. “Whether it’s diagnosing and treating maternal depression, supporting grandparents raising children, or assisting nursing mothers, the Guidance Center always leads the way.”
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