CGBI has received funding from The Duke Endowment to improve maternity care and breastfeeding rates in underserved communities in the Carolinas.  Project teams from various healthcare systems who have committed to participating recently voted on the project name: Enriching Maternity Care Communities in the Carolinas, or ENRICH Carolinas for short. Through this project we plan to enrich not only the learning and practice experience of health and child care providers, but also the  patient experience, family engagement, and hospital systems commitment to the communities they serve with equitable and evidence-based care.

Through this project, the Carolina Global Breastfeeding Institute has the potential to positively impact more than 25,000 births in the Carolinas by increasing the number of hospitals that promote and support breastfeeding. With support from the Endowment, CGBI will partner with participating hospitals and Population Health Improvement Partners with guidance from Baby-Friendly USA to provide direct technical assistance and quality improvement methodology to ensure optimal maternity care practices. CGBI will support the hospitals as they pursue official state recognition and/or Baby-Friendly designation, and will work with them to ensure the sustainability of lactation services in the future.

ENRICH Carolinas Team at CGBI

In addition, CGBI will provide training and education to affiliated prenatal clinics and to child care providers and community leaders in the hospital communities. Continuity and support before, during and after the journey of birth is essential to addressing the barriers to success. By offering the CGBI baby bundle to these communities we hope to move the needle for duration and exclusivity of breastfeeding in the Carolinas. Catherine Sullivan will serve as PI on this project, Kathy Parry will serve as the Project Manager and Prenatal Education Coordinator.  Gigi Lawless and Julia Bourg will serve as ENRICH Carolinas Coaches working directly with the hospital teams.  Daina Huntley will serve as the lead on the child care and communities arm of the project. Abby Smetana will provide project logistical support and Thea Calhoun-Smith will help coordinate Learning Collaborative Meetings in years 1 and 3.

We are grateful to The Duke Endowment for sharing our vision to improve care in the Carolinas. Based in Charlotte and established in 1924 by industrialist and philanthropist James B. Duke, The Duke Endowment is a private foundation that strengthens communities in North Carolina and South Carolina by nurturing children, promoting health, educating minds and enriching spirits. Since its founding, it has distributed more than $3.4 billion in grants. The Endowment shares a name with Duke University and Duke Energy, but all are separate organizations.

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Phone: (919) 966-3774
Fax: (919) 966-0458
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Carolina Global Breastfeeding Institute
Department of Maternal and Child Health
135 Dauer Drive
422 Rosenau Hall, CB #7445
Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7445