Due to the national formula shortage, many infants are unable to receive adequate nutrition to support their physical development. In July 2022, the Washington State Department of Health released funding to support formula distribution to Black families in Washington State in partnership with BLKBRY.
***NOTE***
This funding is designated for Black families only. The pregnant, birthing, and/or lactating parent must be Black.
The Center for Indigenous Midwifery and Pacific Islander Health Board of WA have received funding to address the formula shortage and lactation support for their communities.
If you live in Pierce County, Tacoma Urban League is an additional site where you can pick up formula. Apply using the Pierce County option below. Once you submit your application, you will receive an email with instructions to schedule directly with Tacoma Urban League. Please feel free to contact Chelsea Lawyer chelsea@beingthevillage.com if you have any questions.
If you live in the Greater Seattle area, the Find My Formula Facebook group is an amazing resource as well. Mother and founder of this group, Jae Coleman collects formula donations and delivers to families in need. BLKBRY is also in partnership with them and the Find My Formula volunteers are helping to distribute formula to Black families.
Odessa Brown Children’s Clinic (thanks to Dr. Shaquita Bell) will be supporting Black families with babies having a difficulty tolerating formulas. They will provide basic triage and families will be able to schedule directly with them for support. Schedule with them for further support.
Tracy Corey, IBCLC owner of Nurturing Expressions is helping as well. They will help Black families all over WA State to obtain lactation pumps and supplies. Plus, they are able to run insurance. They will ship formula to those who get supplies through them as well. So, we can really make sure that these resources reach Black families all over Washington State.
Jada Metcalf, owner of Milk and Honey Company and an absolutely incredible lactation specialist. She is also the founder of The Future of Lactation, a movement dedicated to increasing the presence of Black and Brown lactation professionals and IBCLCs in your community. And the best part, she is providing materials to support prenatal lactation education, and collecting colostrum for folks that may have little ones born prematurely or with NICU stays.
Hand expression is a hand massage technique that removes milk from the breast/chest. This technique is useful to remove colostrum, a thicker form of human milk produced the first 3-5 days. Hand expression increases confidence and milk supply!
This tutorial is at no-cost for Black families!!
COMING SOON!
Utilizing the breast/chest friend kit familiarizes you with your body, helps to collect colostrum through hand expression (which can be difficult to extract with an electric pump in the early postpartum days), helps to drive the next phase of milk production, ensures your little(s) is fed if their are complications and will give lactating parents the confidence in understanding how milk production works and that you are enough.
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