Washington, DC                                                 Sacramento, CA


Overview:
Breastfeeding Ambassadors are the official CBC contacts for each member of California’s Congressional Delegation (U.S. Representatives and Senators), Assembly, and Senate, local government, hospital administrators, employers, and local media.  The volunteer should live or work within the congressional and state districts.  Ambassadors communicate CBC messages and positions on legislative bills or regulations to Members of Congress, Assembly, and Senate, local government and/or their staffs at key times, hospital administrators, employers, and local media.

Duties and Responsibilities:
  • Serve as the CBC liaison with the assigned federal and state legislators, local elected officials, hospital
administration, employers and local media. 
  • Familiarize yourself with the legislator’s position on issues of interest to CBC and interest of local media.
  • Develop a relationship with the legislator and the appropriate staff assigned to health issues in both the
DC /State offices and district offices and local media.
  • Request to be included in district mailings to constituents and to receive notices of local meetings/hearings conducted by the legislators.
  • Recruit other CBC constituents to attend local meetings and speak on CBC issues.
  • Maintain records of your advocacy correspondence/contacts. Document and submit report of all contacts (phone, letter, visit) and outcomes on the CBC Advocacy Activity Report Form and mail to CWA.
  • Contact Federal and State legislators a minimum of six (6) times per year (examples are an introductory letter, National Nutrition Month, Holiday Greeting, Breastfeeding Awareness Month, Public Health Week, at election time, in response to current issues and ALWAYS when an ACTION ALERT is received by CBC). You may also wish to offer to write an article on breastfeeding for the legislators’ newsletter.
  • Contact CWA office if additional information is needed or if specific follow up is needed with the contact.
  • Participate in legislative and advocacy training sessions, conference calls and media events.
  • Attend Federal and State Policy Education Days.
  • Orient new Ambassadors after term end and ensure that mentoring opportunities are provided.

Contacts:
Robbie Gonzalez-Dow, MPH, RD, Policy Advocate
California WIC Association
Phone: (831) 521-7208
Email




CBC Breastfeeding Ambassador Program
California Breastfeeding Coalition
Working Together For A Healthier California
California
Breastfeeding
Coalition
For more information about the CBC Breastfeeding Ambassador Program
click here.