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6th Annual Breastfeeding Awareness Walk

Community Bridges Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Program is holding its 6th Annual Breastfeeding Awareness Walk on Friday, August 10 from 3:00pm to 6:00pm at Watsonville Downtown Plaza.

This year, Community Bridges WIC Program, in partnership with Salud Para La Gente, celebrates the ten-year anniversary of the California Lactation Accommodation labor law of 2002. Studies show that workplace accommodation can increase worker health, morale and return-to-work rates, and that for every $1 spent on accommodation, businesses can save an extra $3 in increased productivity and reduced absences. Employers can receive assistance with implementing the law from 2:00-4:00pm.

Mayor Eduardo Montesino will speak to the community about the many benefits of breastfeeding.

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The United Way of Santa Cruz County and the Santa Cruz County Breastfeeding Coalition will be presenting the annual Family Friendly Workplace Awards. This year’s honorees are Driscoll’s, Reiter Berry Farms and Affiliates, and Central California Alliance for Health. Reiter Berry Farms will also be acknowledged for implementation of a written Lactation Accommodation policy, as will the Pajaro Valley Community Health Trust and Community Bridges.

WIC walkers will be wearing matching t-shirts and visors proclaiming “Breastmilk.  Anytime.  Anywhere.” There will be a raffle for prizes, healthy food demonstrations, and breastfeeding resource tables from Santa Cruz County organizations. Radio station Jose 107.1 will broadcast live from the event.

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The walk marks the 20th anniversary of World Breastfeeding Week, an event launched by the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA) to protect, promote and support breastfeeding. The walk is one of many similar events planned throughout California, and is sponsored by The California WIC Association, the California Breastfeeding Coalition, and the California Department of Public Health.

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