Parkland receives state designation as Texas Ten Step facility
Recognizes Parkland’s support for breastfeeding mothers
Parkland Health & Hospital System has taken a giant step toward improving the health of newborns and infants by earning the Texas Ten Step Program facility re-designation from the Texas Department of State Health Services.
The Texas Ten Step Program encourages breastfeeding as the preferred method of feeding for newborns and infants. Parkland is one of a growing number of Texas birth facilities that are supporting new mothers and their decision to breastfeed.
Based on the World Health Organization (WHO)/ UNICEF’s Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding, the program aims to assist birth facility’s support of breastfeeding mothers before, during and after delivery; encourages them to identify breastfeeding resources for the mother after she is discharged; and assists facilities in improving on national performance measures such as the Centers for Disease Control’s (CDC) Breastfeeding Report Card. The goal of the Texas Ten Step Program is to increase breastfeeding initiation rates to 82 percent.
Texas Ten Step facilities are asked to address 85 percent of the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding, be designated as a Texas Mother-Friendly Worksite, evaluate their breastfeeding policies, maternity care practices and educate all healthcare staff routinely with evidence-based courses.
“We have worked very hard to earn the Texas Ten Step Program designation,” said Donna Richardson, DNP, RN, NEA-BC, Senior Vice President & Associate Chief Nursing Officer. “Parkland is proud to join the other select Texas hospitals in promoting breastfeeding to our new mothers.”
For more information on the Texas Ten Step Program, call Veronica Hendrix, Program Coordinator at 512.341.4592, or visit the web site at www.texastenstep.org. To learn more about services at Parkland visit www.parklandhospital.com
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