About the BCW
Mission
The mission of the Breastfeeding Coalition of Washington is to promote, protect, and support breastfeeding as vital to the health of our communities.
Vision
Our vision is that Washington state champions breastfeeding as the foundation for lifelong health and wellness.
Goals
- Advocate and implement best practices that support lactation within hospitals, birthing facilities, health clinics, workplaces, and childcare facilities.
- Promote and protect a supportive environment for breastfeeding, chest feeding, and the use of human milk.
- Increase equitable access to accurate information, lactation services, and culturally relevant, person-centered support.
- Promote success among coalition members by facilitating communication, diverse membership representation, and visibility in local communities.
Governance
- Bylaws (2020)
- Meeting Minutes (coming soon)
Board of Directors
JonaRose Feinberg, MA, IBCLC
Jona holds an MA in Communication and is an IBCLC in private practice with a particular interest in supporting families with twins/multiples. Her focus is connecting families with resources, and increasing access to breastfeeding support. She lives in Edmonds and is the proud mother of teenage twins.
Mara Andrus, RDN, CD, CLE
Mara is a nutrition consultant in Community Health Services with Public Health Seattle and King County and the Breastfeeding Coordinator for Public Health Seattle and King County.
Stacy Hackenmueller, MS, RDN, CLE
Stacy works with the WIC program at Yakima Valley Farm Workers Clinic and co-chairs the Yakima Valley Breastfeeding Coalition. Stacy’s passion is on building intersectional relationships in maternal child healthcare and supporting equitable access to breastfeeding education and support.
Patricia Alva, MBA-HCM
Patricia is Chair of the Pierce County Breastfeeding Alliance and works in the WIC Nutrition Program at Sea Mar Community Health Centers.
Alex Sosa, MS, IBCLC
Alex is Director of the Simkin Center at Bastyr University. She was formerly the Breastfeeding Promotion Manager at WithinReach and the Coordinator of the Breastfeeding Coalition of Washington.
Monica Richter, MD, PhD, IBCLC, FAAP, FABM
Dr. Richter is a Fellow of the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine, a member of the Executive Committee of the AAP Section on Breastfeeding, and the Breastfeeding Co-coordinator for WCAAP. She is a Pediatrician at Valley Children's Clinic in Renton and a Clinical Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Washington. She is married with two grown children and one grandson.
Delores Baccus, RN, IBCLC
Delores is the Breastfeeding Peer Counselor Manager for Public Health Seattle & King County's Breastfeeding Peer Counseling Program, co-chair of the Pierce County Breastfeeding Alliance, and Executive Director of Mahogany Moms.
Jean O'Leary, MPH, RD
Jean is the Breastfeeding Coordinator and Breastfeeding & WIC Food Supervisor for the Washington State WIC Nutrition Program.