Abstract
COVID-19 and all its challenges have not stopped educators from seeking CAAHEP (Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Programs) accreditation for new Pathway 2 lactation education programs and LEAARC-endorsement for breastfeeding courses. There are currently 10 CAAHEP-accredited programs and five developing programs that are seeking CAAHEP-accreditation.
CAAHEP recognizes that international programs and the Committees on Accreditation (CoAs) that work with them have unique needs relative to seeking and maintaining accreditation. Recently CAAHEP established the International Accreditation Review Committee (IARC) and we are pleased to report that both Cheryl Benn, LEAARC Immediate Past Chair, and Jackie Long-Goding, LEAARC Executive Director, have been appointed as members of the IARC. One of the lactation education programs seeking accreditation is located outside the United States, and CAAHEP has agreed that LEAARC will pilot the IARC’s draft forms and processes for international programs seeking accreditation with this program.
LEAARC also provides breastfeeding courses with an opportunity to participate in a peer-review process of evaluation through the endorsement process. At this time LEAARC endorses 30 courses, with 11 of those located internationally. Visit our website: www.leaarc.org for information on the endorsement process.
LEAARC bid farewell to Ana Parrilla-Rodriguez, MD, MPH, FABM, IBCLC after the 2021 LEAARC Annual Meeting. Dr. Parrilla-Rodriguez completed 6 years of service assuring quality lactation education. Hailing from Puerto Rico, she brought the perspective of our Spanish-speaking communities, not only as a LEAARC-endorsed course director but also as a practicing physician and IBCLC. With the departure of Dr. Parrilla-Rodriguez and anticipated rotations of the Board in 2022, LEAARC is currently recruiting board members. Announcements have been sent to all program and course directors. If you are interested in either serving on the LEAARC Board or would like to recommend a colleague, please contact the Executive Office (office@leaarc.org) for more information.
The Board welcomes our newest member, Felisha Boyd, BS, CLC, MiLC, IBCLC, who joined us in early August. An IBCLC in private practice, Ms. Boyd has broad experience working with families of color. In addition, we are pleased to announce that Kristina L. Chamberlain, CNM, ARNP, IBCLC began her service as LEAARC Chair on June 21, 2021.
It is time to revise the Core Curriculum for Interdisciplinary Care, and this work is underway with Becky Spencer and Suzanne Campbell serving as co-editors. We are excited to announce that, in addition to updating the content in the first edition to reflect current practices in lactation, each chapter will include case studies to support learner engagement. We anticipate the Core Curriculum for Interdisciplinary Care, (2nd edition) will be published in mid-2022—just in time for the 2022 ILCA Conference!
Finally, we were so pleased to meet those who stopped by the LEAARC virtual booth at the 2021 ILCA conference and look forward to addressing any questions you have as a result of that experience.