The mission of the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners® (IBLCE®), a global organisation with, as of 2023, close to 36,000 International Board Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLCs) in 131 countries, serves the global public interest by advancing professional practice in lactation consultation and support through credentialing. As set forth in the Diversity, Access, and Inclusion in Global Lactation Credentialing section of its website, IBLCE genuinely embodies diversity in professional lactation care.
The recent news from the US state of Georgia’s Supreme Court ruling brings an opportunity to highlight the importance of equity and access to lactation care globally. Education cost, insurance reimbursement, state and/or federal legislation, and many other variables impacting professional practice are set and managed independently of IBLCE.
While IBLCE neither supported, nor had involvement with, the recent Georgia licensure legislation which was the subject of this litigation, the organisation appreciates the dynamics of the case, and continues to progress initiatives that support the diversification of the lactation field worldwide.
This year alone, IBLCE launched the Global Center for Lactation Training (GCLT) TM, an affiliated organisation that aims to make available credentialing products, services, and programming designed with a global perspective to meet a variety of professional goals and needs. Additionally, IBLCE’s affiliated organisation MILCC offers global scholarships to remove financial barriers to accessing the IBCLC credential.
IBLCE commends IBCLCs and other lactation support providers. It acknowledges and welcomes people with diverse educational and professional backgrounds, who provide lactation care and services across a spectrum of scopes of practice, celebrating the unique perspectives, skills, and expertise that can improve outcomes for breastfeeding families and meet the needs of diverse populations.
A culture of teamwork, respect, and mutual learning can only lead to better outcomes and a more comprehensive approach to lactation care worldwide.
The recent news from the US state of Georgia’s Supreme Court ruling brings an opportunity to highlight the importance of equity and access to lactation care globally. Education cost, insurance reimbursement, state and/or federal legislation, and many other variables impacting professional practice are set and managed independently of IBLCE.
While IBLCE neither supported, nor had involvement with, the recent Georgia licensure legislation which was the subject of this litigation, the organisation appreciates the dynamics of the case, and continues to progress initiatives that support the diversification of the lactation field worldwide.
This year alone, IBLCE launched the Global Center for Lactation Training (GCLT) TM, an affiliated organisation that aims to make available credentialing products, services, and programming designed with a global perspective to meet a variety of professional goals and needs. Additionally, IBLCE’s affiliated organisation MILCC offers global scholarships to remove financial barriers to accessing the IBCLC credential.
IBLCE commends IBCLCs and other lactation support providers. It acknowledges and welcomes people with diverse educational and professional backgrounds, who provide lactation care and services across a spectrum of scopes of practice, celebrating the unique perspectives, skills, and expertise that can improve outcomes for breastfeeding families and meet the needs of diverse populations.
A culture of teamwork, respect, and mutual learning can only lead to better outcomes and a more comprehensive approach to lactation care worldwide.