Using the
Breastfeeding Resource Guide
Leslie Del Gigante and Trudy
Hart
Co-Directors, Leader Accreditation Department
From: LEAVEN, Vol. 34 No. 5, October-November 1998, p.108
Under "Breastfeeding
Management Skills," the new Leader Accreditation Criteria (see
Policies and Standing Rules, Appendix 18.2) lists 15 categories
of basic breastfeeding management newly accredited Leaders are expected
to be familiar with. To achieve this, the policy requires that "the
newly accredited Leader will have completed the LLLI Breastfeeding
Resource Guide . . . or its LAD-approved counterpart . . . if available
in her language."
What is the BRG?
The Breastfeeding Resource
Guide (BRG) is based on the "Basics of Breastfeeding"
outline developed by the USWD Professional Liaison Department and LAD
representatives. The BRG lists questions and references to LLLI resources
under each of the 15 areas of breastfeeding management. The questions
can help a Leader Applicant confirm or establish her knowledge in each
area and explore the written resources LLL provides. When an Applicant
cannot access basic LLL written resources—if they are not available
in her language or for any other reason—a Leader/LAD representative
will help her locate suitable resources for each category.
How do Applicants Use the
BRG?
The BRG is a learning tool
each Applicant can use as it suits her best. Since completing the BRG
(or something similar) is now a requirement for accreditation, each
Applicant reports her work with it to the LAD representative.
Some people enjoy testing
their knowledge. They consider it fun to write answers and check them
against what they find in the suggested resources. Other people prefer
to use the list as a checklist of topics they will "research"
and/or discuss with an experienced Leader. Still others prefer a "human"
context to their learning: they might want to discuss or role-play one
or two situations at a time, looking up only what they do not feel confident
about. We encourage you to be creative and match this part of preparation
for LLL leadership to the individual’s learning style. An Applicant
can work with the BRG on her own, with a Leader, in Applicant workshops,
with another Applicant as a partner, in writing or as a role-play. She
might use one approach for the entire exercise or she might use a variety
of approaches.
LAD representatives may introduce
the BRG in different ways for different Applicants. They might send
the entire BRG to some Applicants and Leaders, listing various ways
they might use it. Or, they might incorporate one or two of the topics
into their letters to the Applicant and send the complete BRG later
on in the application.
How do Leaders Use the BRG?
Leaders are an Applicant’s
best resource as she prepares for the responsibilities of LLL leadership.
Take advantage (and let the Applicant take advantage) of your Leader
experience, how well you know each other, your proximity; meet on a
regular basis to discuss aspects of leadership preparation. To make
the most of the BRG, you might:
- Familiarize yourself with
the BRG. Ask your LAD representative for a copy. Review it with your
co-Leaders or as an enrichment for Chapter Meetings. Use it as a resource
when you are planning Leader and Applicant workshop and conference
sessions.
- In addition to thinking
about how you would like to use it, ask the LAD representative for
suggestions for using the BRG. Talk with the Leader Applicant about
how she thinks she’d like to work with it. Keep in mind your
insights and first-hand knowledge of the Applicant, her learning style,
her ideas and her preferences. Assess the Applicant’s progress
(together) as you work with the BRG.
- Use the BRG, in addition
to the outlines in the LEADER’S HANDBOOK (1998 edition) as a
resource for meeting planning. Refer to it often in discussions with
Applicants, tying it to your experience answering mothers’ breastfeeding
questions.
- Be available to answer
the Applicant’s questions about the BRG and LLLI references.
Provide feedback about the usefulness of this tool to the LAD representative.
Leader Applicants want to
prepare for LLL leadership; Leaders want to be effective resources for
mothers. The BRG can support the Applicant’s and Leader’s
realization of their goals.
We hope to have the BRG available in many languages as soon as possible.
Let us know if you can help translate.
Page last edited Sun Oct 14 09:32:07 UTC 2007.
