Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) 

The Maternal, Child, and Adolescent Health Programs are committed to working with Los Angeles County public birthing hospitals to create a highly supportive environment for women who choose to breastfeed.  To work towards this goal, we have begun a recent project to achieve Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) certification for our County medical centers.  The Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) is an international program sponsored by the WHO and United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) to recognize hospitals and birthing centers that provide excellence in lactation services.  Please refer to our BFHI fact sheet (PDF) for more information on this initiative in Los Angeles County.

Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative Resources and Links:

• Baby-Friendly, USA - Administers the BFHI in the United States.  Information for hospital and birth centers on certification process.

• UNICEF Breastfeeding Initiatives Exchange - International authority on BFHI.  Includes list of Baby Friendly Hospitals by country, global facts, figures, and regional perspectives on infant and young child feeding.