Two Chickasaw Nation entities recently received distinguished international recognition for efforts to promote and support breastfeeding services.
The Chickasaw Nation Women, Infants and Children Supplemental Nutrition Program (WIC) and the Chickasaw Nation Medical Center (CNMC) received 2026 International Board Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLC) Care Awards from the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners and the International Lactation Consultant Association.
The IBCLC Care Award recognizes hospitals and community-based facilities across the globe that demonstrate a commitment to promoting, protecting and supporting breastfeeding and the lactation consultant profession.
Winners include facilities and programs in Spain, New Zealand, Canada, Malaysia and more.
The Chickasaw Nation WIC Breastfeeding Program received the Community-Based IBCLC Care Award for its commitment to expanding breastfeeding support services for families across the Chickasaw Nation. This is the third time the program has received the award, Chickasaw Nation WIC Breastfeeding Education and Promotion Manager Laura Robinson said.
“Chickasaw Nation WIC and the Oklahoma Breastfeeding Resource Center are the organizations in Oklahoma selected to receive the Community-Based award,” she said. “There are only the two in Oklahoma; we stand out. Part of the award is how available lactation consultants are with your department. We are 24/7. That is such a great thing because not a lot of WIC agencies are,” she said.
Chickasaw Nation WIC program serves eligible First American and non-First American families with nutritious foods, breastfeeding support and other educational resources. The program provides breastfeeding clients with registered lactation consultants, registered dietitians, specially trained breastfeeding peer counselors and prenatal breastfeeding classes. A 24-hour “warm line” breastfeeding consultation line is also available.
Clinics are located in Ada, Ardmore, Tishomingo, Sulphur, Pauls Valley, Purcell and Duncan, Oklahoma. WIC van locations include Chickasha, Newcastle, Kingston and Madill, Oklahoma.
The program continues to increase access through virtual consultations and classes, a growing team of international board certified consultants, breastfeeding educators and lactation specialists. IBCLC is the highest level of certification a breastfeeding professional can attain, Robinson said.
Certification involves meeting eligibility standards, including healthcare education, lactation-specific education and clinical practice experience requirements, and passing a rigorous professional certification examination.
The Chickasaw Nation WIC program provides more than 4,000 women, infants and children nutrition benefits and education. It provides specific support for qualifying breastfeeding participants, including pumping supplies, breast milk storage information and guidance on discussing a back-to-work pumping plan with participants’ employers.
“We offer a lot of support for employees. We help them with their insurance and then preparing to go back to work, working with the HR department. If we need to finalize something, we all work together.”
CNMC award
The CNMC received the Hospital-Based IBCLC Care Award in recognition of its commitment to professional lactation support and continuous improvement in breastfeeding care. The award recognizes the collective efforts of employees who help families receive consistent support before, during and after birth. This is the first time CNMC has received the recognition.
“CNMC is the only hospital in Oklahoma to receive the award,” CNMC Director of Obstetrical Services Ashley Kreis said. “The recognition reflects collaboration across the inpatient sector and our outlying clinics, including prenatal care and in the pediatric clinic, and many other hospital teams working together to support families throughout their breastfeeding journey.”
Through interdisciplinary education, coordinated care and a shared focus on patient outcomes, CNMC has strengthened breastfeeding support as an important part of the care continuum.
“All of our bedside nurses and our support staff are considered breastfeeding supporters,” she said. “They all do an abundance of breastfeeding support education. It’s required for our baby-friendly status.”
The Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) is a global program launched by the World Health Organization and UNICEF in 1991 to help maternity facilities support breastfeeding and mother-infant bonding.
“In the 1990s when (the baby-friendly initiative) was instituted by the World Health Organization, culturally a lot of people formula-fed. It was very much accepted as the gold standard of feeding your baby,” Kreis said.
“Now, I think most people are definitely dedicated to breastfeeding. They understand that it is optimal nutrition for newborns. We want (the families) to understand that we are going to support your feeding goals while you’re here, whatever that looks like for you. But we understand that breastfeeding is optimal, so that’s where they get that education.”
Breastfeeding information is also shared at prenatal visits and classes, as well as pediatric visits.
By meeting families where they are and creating new opportunities for support, the CNMC team demonstrates innovation while helping parents access resources throughout their breastfeeding journey. There are many opportunities for support as the CNMC welcomes an average of more than 100 babies each month.
“We delivered 106 babies in July, which is a new record. We are projected through the end of this fiscal year (Sept. 30) to deliver about 1,150 babies,” Kreis said.
Kreis said the recognition is validation from a governing body that CNMC staff consistently supports breastfeeding. “When our patients choose to deliver here, they understand we do follow those practices and we have the community support, which is excellent.”
For more information, or to learn more about breastfeeding, contact (888) 439-8970 or visit Chickasaw.net.