By Talei Moore, Tucker O’Donnell, and Trent Johnson

NACCHO is excited to launch a new executive summary report showcasing findings from the 2025 Improving Breastfeeding Outcomes in the U.S. Southeast Community of Practice (CoP). NACCHO initiated the CoP because Local Health Departments (LHDs) are vital in promoting breastfeeding practices and are well positioned as health leaders and community partners to improve breastfeeding outcomes. 

Alongside the Community of Practice (CoP), NACCHO also convened a group of breastfeeding leaders at local partner organizations, the ‘Southeast Breastfeeding Advisory Council,’ to provide additional context to the CoP findings. These two groups shared insights to identify opportunities to strengthen Continuity of Care for breastfeeding families across the Southeastern region of the United States. 

In 2021, NACCHO developed the Continuity of Care in Breastfeeding Support: A Blueprint for Communities. Referred to as ‘The Blueprint’, this tool outlines seven recommendations to improve breastfeeding outcomes through systematic change. The first four recommendations focus on improving community lactation infrastructure, and the other three focus on building the capacity of the local lactation workforce. Each recommendation is fitted with strategies and resources that are ready to use.

The executive summary report highlights findings from the CoP and Advisory Council meetings and provides four key themes for LHDs and partners to consider when building and implementing a breastfeeding program. To read the executive summary report, please click here.

To review the visual brief, please click here.

For more information, please visit the NACCHO’s breastfeeding and early childhood nutrition webpage. To stay updated on the latest breastfeeding and early childhood nutrition initiatives and opportunities at NACCHO, subscribe to the Maternal, Child, and Adolescent Health newsletter.