LAFAYETTE, Ind. — The Greater Lafayette Breast Feeding Coalition will sponsor a lactation station at this year’s Tippecanoe County Fair.

The lactation station will be located in the first aid booth and will be a special place for moms to go and nurse their babies in private. The booth will have rocking chairs, fans and breast feeding information.

The station will be staffed by staff members from St. Elizabeth Regional Health, WIC (Women, Infants and Children) and other members of the Greater Lafayette Breast Feeding Coalition. In addition to sponsorship from St. Elizabeth Regional Health and WIC, other groups involved with the lactation station include the Kathryn Weil Center for Education, La Leche League, Greater Lafayette Doulas, Healthy Families, Purdue Work Life, Purdue Cooperative Extension Services, Tippecanoe Community Health Clinic, Healthy Families and Babies Talk Lactation Services. The Tippecanoe County 4-H Exhibit Association is donating the space for the Lactation Station.

Many mothers and babies used the space during the 2007 fair. Volunteers from the various groups received numerous positive comments, ranging from the wonderful service, the cleanliness and coziness of the facility to information about breastfeeding. This year information will be provided on the new Indiana lactation law.

“With the new Lactation in the Workplace Act now in place, we hope that this service will be a great example for companies to accommodate their breastfeeding employees,” said Jennifer Fultz, BS, IBCLC of the Tippecanoe County WIC Program.

“Last year was our first year offering this service and facility for fairgoers. The response was overwhelmingly positive so we are again providing a special place for breastfeeding moms,” said Jackie Bahler, R.N. and division director of the Kathryn Weil Center for Education. “This demonstrates our commitment to families and breastfeeding.”

The lactation station will be available for use during this year’s fair from July 19 to July 26, 2008.

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — WorkLife Programs will serve as a campus liaison between supervisors and employees when Purdue launches its lactation support program on July 1.

The program is being established to comply with Senate Bill 0219, which requires employers to “make reasonable efforts to provide a room or other location, other than a toilet stall, in close proximity to the work area, where an employee can express the employee’s breast milk in privacy.”

Purdue is not required to provide additional paid break time to employees. In most situations, an employee can express her milk during normal meal and break times. However, additional time may be needed, and supervisors are encouraged to grant reasonable flex scheduling to accommodate the need.

WorkLife Programs will assist in identifying appropriate locations, scheduling and resources. Expenses incurred to address the bill are to be funded by the respective department.

In addition to working as a liaison, WorkLife Programs offers a number of resources for both the supporting department and the employee. Resources are available through the WorkLife Programs Web site at www.purdue.edu/worklife or by contacting WorkLife Programs at 49-45461 or worklife@purdue.edu.

“Lactation support helps to lower health care costs, turnover rates and absenteeism while increasing employee productivity and morale,” says Amber Simons, worklife/wellness specialist with WorkLife Programs. “We encourage employees to share this information to make others aware of the University’s spirit of support.”