"The BFHI is a global program initiated in 1991 by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in response to the Innocenti Declaration (1990). This program encourages and recognizes hospitals and maternity facilities that offer an optimal level of care for mothers and infants. A Baby-Friendly™ hospital/maternity facility focuses on the needs of the newborns and empowers mothers to give their infant the best possible start in life. In practical terms, a Baby-Friendly™ hospital/maternity facility encourages and helps women to successfully initiate and continue to breastfeed their babies, and will receive special recognition for having done so. Since the inception of the program, over 14,800 hospitals worldwide have received the Baby–Friendly designation."- Breastfeeding Committee for Canada (BCC) The National Authority for the WHO/UNICEF Baby-Friendly™ Hospital Initiative (BFHI) in Canada

Starting on the BFI journey? Contact Kathy Venter (bfi@breastfeedingontario.org) for help with resources and ideas... "Step by Step, Day by Day, that's the Baby Friendly Way"

For background information about the Baby Friendly Initiative, see the following key documents, or go to www.breastfeedingcanada.ca:

• Innocenti Declaration



• Rights of the Child



• The Code



• The Ten Steps



• The 7 Point Plan



• Canadian Facilities Designated as Baby-Friendly



• BFI Hospital Self Appraisal Tool (To be used in conjunction with the BCC BFI Practice Outcomes Indicators for Hospitals (posted below))



• BCC BFI Practice Outcome Indicators for Hospitals and Community Health Services



• Part 1: Guiding Assumptions



• Part 2: The Ten Steps and Practice Outcome Indicators for Baby-Friendly&tm; Hospitals



• Part 3: The Seven Point Plan and Practice Outcome Indicators for the Protection, Promotion and Support of Breastfeeding in Community Health Services (CHS)



• Part 4: Checklists and Appendices





• BFI Assessment Process and Costs: a description of the Baby-Friendly Journey



• BFI Assessment Flowchart: an Overview of the BFI Process



• Calculation of Exclusive Breastfeeding Statistics: Hospitals & Birthing Centres



• OBC Brochure with 7 Point Plan