Breastfeeding Committee For Canada

Breastfeeding Committe For Canada | Comité Canadien Pour l’Allaitement The BCC is a registered not for profit organization dedicated to the protection, promotion and support of breastfeeding and the implementation of the Baby-Friendly Initiative (BFI) in Canada. The BCC was established in 1991, as a Health Canada initiative following the World Summit for Children, to establish breastfeeding as the cultural norm for infant feeding within Canada. In 1998, the BCC confirmed its commitment to the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) and expanded the initiative to include community health services, reflecting the continuum of care. The BCC’s BFI standards provide evidence-informed best practice for all mothers and babies around infant feeding. As the national authority for the BFI, the BCC is committed to the protection, promotion and support of breastfeeding and informed decision-making regarding the use of human milk substitutes. Mandate: The BCC is the national authority for the BFI with the mandate of overseeing the implementation, assessment and monitoring of BFI in Canada and to ensure compliance with the BCC’s BFI standards in BFI designated facilities. Our Vision: Canadian children are breastfed. The key areas of focus for the BCC to achieve this vision are to: - promote maternal and infant health by increasing breastfeeding exclusivity up to six months and duration rates up to age two years and beyond - increase the number of Canadian facilities that meet the standards for BFI assessment - integrate BFI in HSO/Accreditation Canada applicable standards for hospitals and community health services - strengthen relationships with federal and provincial/ territorial governments, professional associations involved with maternal-child health and health equity and with international organizations