Receive FREE Recognition as a Texas Mother-Friendly Worksite!!

The Texas Mother Friendly Program offers free recognition to companies that support women to express breastmilk while at the workplace.

This wonderful initiative supports our employees throughout their personal journeys as new mothers, and our WIC staff are able to present information about the program to your business.  Below are companies in the Tyler area that are current Texas Mother Friendly Worksites:

• Northeast Texas Public Health District (NET Health) - All 20 WIC Offices throughout East Texas
• Region 4/5 North offices of the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS)
• Texas Department of Aging and Rehabilitative Services (DARS) - 3 office locations in Tyler
• Tyler Regional Office of the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT)
• St. Paul Childrens Services - Medical Clinic, Dental Clinic, and Foundation Offices
• Texas Parks & Wildlife - 6 office locations in the Tyler area
  
• CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Hospital - Main Campus in Tyler
• Tyler Fire Department - Administrative Offices
• UT Health Tyler - Main Campus in Tyler
  
• Broadway Square Mall in Tyler
• University of Texas at Tyler

NET Health held the Texas Mother Friendly Luncheon that included employees of the Women’s Infants and Childrens (WIC) Clinics, as well as representatives of local Tyler companies who have implemented a mother-friendly space at their worksite, and who have already achieved Texas Mother Friendly recognition.

Click here to view the presentation given by Tecora Smith, the Director of the NET Health WIC Department.

The Texas Mother-Friendly Worksite Program allows fulltime staff members to bring their breastfed infants to work until the age of 5 months.  To help the staff in their breastfeeding success, they receive supplies such as a nursing cover, an infant wrap and sling, and a nursing pillow. 

When the infant reaches 5 months of age and is no longer able to come to work, the staff member receives a hospital-grade breast pump and collection kit to encourage further breastfeeding success.  We encourage mothers to breastfeed and work at the same time to show support and to reveal the value we place on breastfeeding.

Some of the benefits that are already evident from this program include:

• A smoother transition back to work because the breastfeeding mother can nurse on demand.

• The rate of absenteeism is reduced and employee retention is improved due to the mother’s high rate of overall satisfaction and contentment with her newborn by her side.

• The staff member feels a higher sense of loyalty to her employer because her breastfeeding goals are valued.

• Research has shown that WIC participants are more interested in discussing breastfeeding when they observe it firsthand.

• As the mother reaps the benefits of a successful breastfeeding relationship, she talks openly with others about her experience in the program.

For more information regarding the “how-to’s” of the Texas Mother-Friendly Worksite initiative, and to learn how your company can become a Mother-Friendly Worksite, contact us by calling (903) 593 - 8331 or email us at [email protected].