SAVANNAH, Ga. - s4story -- (SAVANNAH, GA) — Healthy Savannah has released a new video public service announcement (PSA) featuring Savannah Downtown Business Association Director Mia Mance recognizing local organizations that provide designated lactation spaces and supportive policies for breastfeeding and nursing employees, customers, students, and guests as part of its "Breastfeeding Welcome Here" initiative.

The one-minute video is available online at https://healthysavannah.org/our-programs/breast... and will be shown on the City and County Government channels over the next several weeks.

Healthy Savannah recently gathered information from local individuals and businesses via an online breastfeeding landscape evaluation survey. Results from over 200 community members and 21 different employers about the biggest challenges and greatest needs indicate:

• Only 47% feel like Savannah is very supportive of breastfeeding parents
• Over half (55%) feel extremely supported at work to pump
• Over 60% indicate their employer does not have a lactation policy or they are not sure
• 43% of employers report not having a written lactation accommodation policy
• 67% of employers offer a private place for parents to pump
• 40% of employers say they would be interested in learning more

The initiative is funded through a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Racial & Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH) grant, administered by Healthy Savannah in partnership with the YMCA of Coastal Georgia. A key focus of the REACH grant is reducing disparities that discourage breastfeeding, particularly among Black mothers, by promoting policy, systems, and environmental changes in workplaces and public spaces.

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In Georgia, employers are required to provide reasonable break time and a private space, other than a restroom, for employees to express breast milk. Title IX further protects lactating students by requiring schools to provide reasonable accommodations without academic penalty. Despite these protections, many parents still report barriers to breastfeeding outside the home.

Savannah area businesses and organizations that participate in the "Breastfeeding Welcome Here" initiative include:

• Chatham County Sheriff's Office
• Coastal Health District – all locations in eight counties, including the Chatham County Health Department
• Enmarket Arena
• Gateway's Azalea, Jasmine, Magnolia and Chatham behavioral health crisis centers
• Georgia Southern University – three locations on the Armstrong campus, and three at the Statesboro campus.
• Grayson Stadium
• Juliette Gordon Low Birthplace Museum
• Mitsubishi Power Americas, Inc.
• Oglethorpe Mall
• Opportunity Center at Goodwill
• Otis S. Johnson Cultural Arts Center
• Savannah Children's Museum
• Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport

Organizations interested in being recognized as a "Breastfeeding Welcome Here" space or workplace can contact Healthy Savannah for guidance on compliance, policy development, and participation. Healthy Savannah is also developing an interactive map on its website of breastfeeding-friendly locations and encourages participating organizations to learn more.

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