Pathways to Lactation Consulting for Human Sciences Students

The goal of the proposed project is to enhance the human sciences education at CSUN by developing a curriculum to prepare diverse workforce to serve in an emerging profession in the human sciences as Lactation Consultants. This proposal would prepare our underrepresented students, particularly Hispanic students, from nutrition, family consumer sciences and health sciences to take part in an innovative human science curriculum and complete the didactic lactation education requirement to become an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant. By doing so, we would also increase the number, quality, diversity and retention of baccalaureate students trained to become Lactation Consultants, as well as address an acute national challenge to increase the number and diversity of students entering the human science field as Lactation Consultants. Among other products, we would develop informational materials about the lactation consultant program at CSUN, develop curriculum and related materials for the two lactation courses; obtain course approval from the lactation accrediting agency; develop a detailed manual for the lactation internship describing the role, responsibilities and procedures that are involved in the participation in the lactation internship. Among other outcomes, by June 30, 2020, we would enroll in the Lactation Education: Prenatal and Perinatal Period course 300 undergraduate human science students; enroll in the Lactation Education: Postpartum Period course 90 undergraduate human science students at CSUN; and 25 undergraduate human science students will complete a 100 hour lactation internship at a USDA affiliated organization.