Grants Available for the Infant Friendly Workplace Program
Funding Period: Must complete project by September 30, 2024
Introduction
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, over 87% of babies start out breastfeeding. However, this rate decreases significantly after their mothers return to work. Approximately 77% of mothers with young children (birth to age 5) work, which is the fastest-growing segment of the North Dakota workforce.
With most North Dakota mothers returning to work after having a baby, businesses have a unique opportunity to provide an Infant Friendly Workplace. The Infant Friendly Workplace Designation was established in 2009 by the North Dakota state legislature and provides assistance and recognition for businesses who have breastfeeding support policies for mothers returning to work.
Businesses who support breastfeeding mothers may experience many benefits, including retaining experienced employees, higher productivity and loyalty, and fewer employee absences to care for sick children.
Availability of Funds
The North Dakota Health and Human Services (HHS) Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Program announces the availability of funds to support the Infant Friendly Workplace Designation. The primary focus of the funding is to assist workplaces with creating a private environment of space for breastfeeding employees. Workplaces may request up to $500 in federal MCH funds to assist with creating the private environment.
Funds will be available on a first come, first serve basis.
Requirements
- Submit an Infant Friendly Workplace Program grant application.
- Create and adopt a breastfeeding support policy*.
- Apply and become designated as an Infant Friendly Workplace*.
- Complete project by September 30, 2024.
- Submit a picture of the breastfeeding environment and an invoice of expenses upon completion of the project.
* Assistance will be provided to businesses, as needed, to create the breastfeeding support policy and complete the Infant Friendly Workplace Designation application.
Funds may be used to create a private environment which may include a chair, side table, partition, refrigeration, door lock, room aesthetics and signage for private environment.
Funds may not be used for (1) purchase and improvement of land, construction or permanent improvement of buildings or purchase of major medical equipment; (2) matching other federal grants; or (3) providing funds for research or training to any entity other than a public or private non-profit entity.
MCH prohibits exclusion from participation, denial of benefits or discrimination in any program or activity funded in whole or in part with MCH monies on the basis of race, color or national origin, sex, age, religion or handicapping conditions.
How to Apply
To apply for the funds, workplaces must:
Submit an application, which can be found here: https://ndhealth.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_9Fgyz97gKt0bKxo
(The following questions are asked on the application.)
- Name of Agency/Workplace
- Name, address, email and phone number of contact person(s).
- Does your workplace currently have a private environment for breastfeeding employees?
- If yes, please describe your current environment and proposed changes.
- If no, please explain how you will use funding to create a private environment.
- Please explain your workplace’s need for external funding to create space and how item(s) will be used to promote and sustain support of breastfeeding in the workplace.
- Please describe the approval process (person and his/her position or role; example Human Resources - policy approval) necessary to implement your project and how their support will be obtained.
- What are your plans to promote the space?
- Itemized budget. Total budget cannot exceed $500.
- Do you agree to create and adopt a breastfeeding support policy?
- Do you agree to apply and become designated as an Infant Friendly Workplace?
- Do you agree to submit a picture of the breastfeeding environment created upon completion of the project?
- I approve that the picture of our breastfeeding environment may be used for Infant Friendly Workplace designation promotional and educational materials.
Application Deadline
Workplaces may apply through August 1, 2024.
Notification of Grant Awards
Applicants will be notified of funding decision within 30 days of submission.
Questions
For further information about the application process, contact
Mikaela Schlosser
Maternal and Child Health Nutritionist
Family Health & Wellness
701-328-4529
mlschlosser@nd.gov