Washington, DC, June 18, 2026 — The National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO), the voice of the country’s over 3,300 local health departments, has awarded three public health organizations a total of $60,000 to serve as peer ambassadors providing breastfeeding support for local health departments. Bolstering NACCHO’s Strengthening Breastfeeding Initiatives Community of Practice (CoP) for Local Health Departments, peer ambassadors are providing technical assistance and critical resources to help advance breastfeeding outcomes and initiatives in their local communities. These efforts target three critical areas outlined in the 2024 Improving Breastfeeding Outcomes Community of Practice: the need to address workforce capacity and infrastructure gaps, partnership development and sustainability, and community-centered planning and involvement.
Each Blueprint Peer Ambassador is assisting the CoP using a peer-learning and networking model that guides local health departments in implementing the recommendations from NACCHO’s Continuity of Care in Breastfeeding Support Blueprint. As a result, local health departments are also receiving implementation tools and connection opportunities through NACCHO’s virtual learning communities.
The following sites were awarded $20,000 each:
Augusta University Research Institute, Inc - Augusta, Georgia
Augusta University Research Institute (AU) has an extensive record of implementing breastfeeding, maternal health, and cross-sector care coordination initiatives throughout Georgia. Under its previous NACCHO CoC Blueprint award, AU developed the Mother’s Informed Lactation Knowledge and Support (MILKS) model, which standardized lactation education, improved provider consistency, and embedded referral protocols across prenatal and postpartum settings.
Breastfeeding Family Friendly Communities - Durham, North Carolina
Breastfeeding Family Friendly Communities (BFFC) functions as a technical assistance hub to help local health departments, coalitions, and community partners implement comprehensive systems and environmental changes related to breastfeeding initiatives. Partners are engaged through co-created strategic plans, community roundtables, and joint needs assessments to bridge the national CoC framework with local needs.
Black Mothers’ Breastfeeding Association - Detroit, Michigan
Black Mothers’ Breastfeeding Association (BMBFA) has served as a catalyst for comprehensive lactation support and system-wide improvements both locally and nationally. Utilizing the CoC Blueprint, BMBFA has been able to implement community-driven models, support clinical-community linkages to strengthen coordination of care for maternal and child health populations and sustain multi-sector partnerships.
The Blueprint Peer Ambassadors are providing peer learning to local health departments across the United States that are part of the NACCHO Continuity of Care in Breastfeeding Support Community of Practice. The program is set to conclude on July 31, 2026.
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About NACCHO
The National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) represents the over 3,300 local governmental health departments across the country. These city, county, metropolitan, district, and tribal departments work every day to protect and promote health and well-being for all people in their communities. For more information, visit www.naccho.org.
