Centering a holistic standard of care

Bloom Lactation Cohort

Supporting Our Communities Through Holistic Lactation Support & Care

Join Our Bloom Lactation Specialist Cohort

Registration is now open
Photo of Dr. Sekeita Lewis Johnson, DNP, FNP-BC, IBCLC training on baby weighs. Cohort members Khalilah Harris, JD, Ed.D, and Shante Ferguson attentively focused on building their skill set. Painting on wall is from artist Lauren J. Turner.

 

The Bloom Collective is passionate about getting more Black and Brown folks trained to better support families along their lactation journeys. Through the Bloom Lactation Cohort over 65 Black and Brown folks have participated in our Bloom Lactation Cohort to become Certified Breastfeeding (Lactation) Specialists (CBS), since 2020. The certification is through a collaborative partnership with Lactation Education Resources and Bloom Collective as an opportunity to increase lactation support persons who are committed to centering holistic care, equity and justice.

The Bloom Lactation Cohort centers the historical and contemporary issues Black and Brown mamas and birthing persons face and advances a holistic community of care model. The cohort participants gain a deeper understanding of:

  • Historical and Contemporary Implications for Lactation
  • Disability Justice, Care & Support
  • LGBTQIA+, Queer, Trans, & Gender Affirming
  • Maternal Mental Health (Perinatal Mood & Anxiety Disorders)
  • Structural Determinants of Health
  • Reproductive Justice Framework
  • Contraception & Lactation Support
  • African, Indigenous & Black Southern Postpartum Traditional Care
  • Herbalism & Nutrition

Cohort Overview

The Bloom Lactation Cohort seeks to increase decolonized, inclusive and liberatory lactation education and enrichment opportunities.

Cohort Orientation starts Sunday, October 22, 2023

Cohort participants will receive:

  • 95 Hours of Didactic Self-Paced Online Modules
  • Certification Examination
  • 18 Hours of Enrichment Learning
  • Community of Support & Practice
  • Access to Resources
  • After successful completion, participants will be a Certified Breastfeeding Specialist and all hours count towards becoming an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC)
  • Costs $800 (Payment Plans Available)

Bloom Cohort Registration

Registration for the Bloom Lactation Specialist Cohort is open for folks to join us in delving deep into the world of providing holistic care to community members through cultural humility, inclusivity, and committed to “doing no harm.” Registrants can live anywhere in the country, and must be committed to holistic, anti-racist, decolonized, liberatory and gender expansive care. We center Black people in this cohort, but you do not need to be Black or Brown to be a participant.

The self paced modules though LER are all virtual, and our cohort will meet monthly every 2nd Sunday from 3 PM to 5 PM. Participation is mandatory. We understand life comes up and shifts need to be made, we just ask all participants communicate. In order to truly deepen your scope, you must commit to participating. Not communicating, or participating can remove you from the cohort as we are working to be intentional with our community of practice and learning.

Please complete the registration form, as we want to get to know you and your background, and what brings you to this work.

Payment plans are available for cohort registrants. Please select the plan that works for you in your application. Scholarships are available for Black & Brown folks who live and/or serve Greater Baltimore. More information on Scholarships is below.

Registration Form
Photo is of cohort participant Leah Hairston, MSSW, FSD, PE, CBS during our in-person clinical trainings. On the wall, is a painting by Lauren J. Turner entitled, "Breastfeeding in the Park."
Bloom Lactation Cohort

Scholarships

The Bloom Collective is passionate about getting more Black and Brown folks trained to better support families along their lactation journeys. Through the Bloom Lactation Cohort over 40 Black and Brown folks have participated in our cohort to become Certified Breastfeeding (Lactation) Specialists (CBS), since 2020. The certification is through a collaborative partnership with Lactation Education Resources and Bloom Collective as an opportunity to increase lactation support persons. Our scholarships are funded through a portion of a grant and generous funders who believe in increasing Black & Brown support persons in lactation.

Scholarship recipients must identify as Black or Brown, and live in or already be serving Greater Baltimore (which includes up to 30 miles from Baltimore City). There are limited number of scholarships available. Please be thoughtful and intentional in completing your applications.

Register

Past Cohort Facilitators

Janiya Mitnaul Williams, IBCLC

Program Director, NCAT Human Lactation Program, North Carolina A&T University

Sekeita Lewis Johnson, DNP, FNP-BC, IBCLC

Southeast Michigan IBCLCs of Color and Mama’s Mobile Milk & Lactation Education Resources

Stephanie Etienne CNM, MPH

Co-Founder, The Bloom Collective, Herbalist, Filmaker, "Listen to Me" Documentary

Jennifer Day IBCLC, RLC

Owner, Feed the Babes, Co-Founder Southeast Michigan IBCLCs of Color, Community Building Project Manager, Michigan Breastfeeding Network

Desirée Israel, LCSW-C, CBS

Co-Founder, The Bloom Collective & Perinatal Mental Health Alliance for People of Color

Moss Froom, FSD, CBE

Owner, Moss the Doula, Trans & Queer Centered Full Spectrum Doula & Childbirth Educator

Reginald Day, CLC

Founder, Get At Me Dad, Fatherhood Expert, Southeast Michigan IBCLCs of Color, co-Facilitator, Nature's Playhouse

Tanay Lynn Harris CBS, CPE, PD

Director & Co-Founder, The Bloom Collective

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