BCBC (Baby Café Breastfeeding Counselor) Mentoring Program

This curriculum is offered to interested community members or professionals seeking Breastfeeding Counseling education, or those who need the qualifying hours for the IBCLC (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant) exam.

This is a "Student-directed" program for accruing the 1000 clinical hours for Pathway 1. 

Before applying, locate your closest Baby Café and speak with the Lead Facilitator about being your mentor.

(All tracking, recording, and documentation is done online via the Baby Café USA website password accessed BCBC portal.)​

Guiding Principles
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​​Breastfeeding expertise combines theoretical knowledge of human lactation with effective intervention and support. Baby Cafés combine the expertise of  skilled practitioners and other mothers in a professional but non-clinical environment and are ideal learning sites for students. The focus is on evidence-based information, the culture of breastfeeding and family life, ongoing support, and high-level intervention. The BCBC program, with professional staff as mentors, offers a wide variety of situations and counseling experiences. A single session may have a mix of “crisis” issues  requiring immediate intervention and “ongoing ” issues with older babies. BCBC students will receive basic instruction on positioning and latching, addressing supply issues, and treatment of sore nipples, as well as recognition of problems requiring IBCLC intervention. The course also covers key elements in counseling, group facilitation, and taking relevant history notes.

​All licensed Baby Cafés are run by a range of approved staff including IBCLCs, CLCs, CLSs, CLEs, midwives, nurses, WIC Peer Counselors, and other accredited breastfeeding counselors. IBCLCs are the preferred mentors for the program, but in cases where IBCLCs are not facilitating the Café every meeting, other experienced mentors may be approved on an individual basis. 
In the Baby Café setting, breastfeeding education is interactive, experience-based and learner-centered.

Fees:
$300.00 commitment fee paid to BCUSA on enrollment  

The fee covers online curriculum materials and guidance from BCUSA when necessary. All documentation is online. Upon completion, the graduate receives a certificate of completion and will be able to identify herself as a BCBC (Baby Café Breastfeeding Counselor).

Scholarship Opportunities:
​In cases of financial hardship, BCUSA offers scholarship opportunities for the BCBC program fee.
Applicants interested in a scholarship should be connected to an active Baby Café and have commitment from a mentor before contacting BCUSA : [email protected]

Curriculum Components

1. Required Reading:
If these books are unavailable, the applicant can contact [email protected] with titles of books for curriculum approval
  • Read through and be familiar with:
    The Breastfeeding Answer Book (large or pocket versions-La Leche League)
          (Alternatively) Breastfeeding Answers: A Guide to Helping Families, 2nd Edition (Morbacher) 
          *Special emphasis on the topic of counseling:
         Chapter 1 of “The Breastfeeding Answer Book: Giving Effective Breastfeeding Help”         
  • Read at least one of the following:
    The Breastfeeding Atlas (Clay; Hoover).
    Clinical Lactation- A Visual Guide (Riordan; Auerbach)
  • Additional recommended reading:
    The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding (published in many languages - La Leche League)​
          Ultimate Breastfeeding Book of Answers (Newman; Pitman)
          Chapter 5 of “Counseling the Nursing Mother, A Lactation Consultant’s Guide” by Judith Lauer and Anna Swisher. 
2. Tracking and documentation (online via student password entry)
  1. Document the session dates and observations
  2. Select one or more mother/baby pairs to report on (minimum of 20 SOAP reports in total)
    1.  Describe breastfeeding issue/record amount of time spent with the mother
    2. Enter SOAP (Subjective, Objective, Assessment, Plan) notes on chosen pairs
3. Clinical Skills Assessment (online via student password entry)
  • The student marks specific competency skills/goals/objectives when they acquire that knowledge. This list serves as a tool to monitor the overall skill development.
  • The mentor acknowledges the student’s proficiency of each skill when observed during Café sessions.
  • Skills are based on a framework of categories outlined in the Core Competencies (from the United States Breastfeeding Committee (USBC). Includes, but is not limited to:
    • a. Basic anatomy & physiology of the breast and Stages of lactation
    • b. The role of breastfeeding and human milk in preventing disease/ risks of formula
    • c. Evidence-based contraindications to breastfeeding
    • d. Protecting privacy and confidentiality
    • e. Impact of health care practices (pregnancy, birth, etc) on breastfeeding outcomes
    • f. Role of behavioral, cultural, social and environmental factors in infant feeding decisions, behaviors and practices
 4. Final exam and mentor reflection (online via student password entry)
  • The 20 question, multiple choice exam is not graded
  • Questions may be previewed anytime to facilitate student’s education
  • Questions are modeled off counseling-content questions in IBCLC exam
  • Exam is reviewed - student receives commentary on incorrect answers 
  • Mentor contributes a written reflection on the student’s strengths and weaknesses for breastfeeding counseling roles
 
CONTINUING EDUCATION/RE-CERTIFICATION: 
  • Once certified by BCUSA,  certificants  are required to acknowledge continued accrual of breastfeeding/counseling knowledge every three years, from the date of first certification. This can be obtained by working/volunteering regularly at a Baby Café or other support group, by attending conferences and webinars, or by pursuing a higher level of lactation education.
​
How to apply to the BCBC program:
  1. Read the BCBC Curriculum Ethics and Scope of Practice Policy (below FAQs)
  2. Locate the closest Baby Café; Speak with the Lead Facilitator about being your mentor
  3. Lead Facilitator must agree to act as your mentor before applying
  4. Mentor and Applicant agree upon a start date
  5. ​Applicant fills out BCBC Applicant Form online
  6. Upon acceptance the applicant will receive a password to enter the BCBC Portal
  7. Fee is mailed to BCUSA

Baby Café USA Training Program (BCBC) FAQs

What is a BCBC?
A Baby Breastfeeding Counselor who has been trained at a Baby Café by the Lead Facilitator and fulfilled the requirements of the program. The Lead Facilitator mentors and guides the student through gaining clinical and counseling skill
What role(s) can a BCBC fulfill once she is certified?
Once certified, BCBCs are prepared to:
  • Facilitate a Baby Café meeting and continue to volunteer under their mentors
  • Fill a paid staff position of a Tier 2 or 3 Café.
    • A solo BCBC cannot independently run “Café meetings”
  • If a Baby Café is not available where she lives, a BCBC might start one through BCUSA, or apply to function as part of another organization
    • (i.e. WIC, LaLeche) within the scope of their BCBC certification.
  • The scope of BCBC certification is aligned with LLL and CLC practice scopes.
  • The program qualifies for the counseling hours necessary to take the IBCLC exam
As long as she maintains certification, and is involved with a current Baby Café, the BCBC will have continued access to the Baby Café resource bank, and hopefully will maintain a relationship with the mentor and IBCLC associated with that Baby Café. Our hope is that many BCBCs will continue their education to become IBCLCs, work within Baby Cafés, or qualify for staff positions similar to those currently filled by CLCs and other certified lactation counselors.

How many hours of training are required before the counselors are considered certified?
Candidates will be required to regularly attend their Baby Café for approximately 24 months. This will vary depending on the candidate’s prior knowledge and experience.
The candidates must demonstrate competency in the clinical skills outlined in the curriculum, as well as master the key elements of counseling, group facilitation, and taking relevant history notes. Competency is monitored through each student's Skills Checklist by the mentor.  Exceptions would only be made for illness or other compelling reasons
Once certified, are there any requirements for hours of continuing education? 
Recertification will require a minimum of 18 breastfeeding CEUS in 3 years.
What is the first step?
Start attending a Baby Café and speak to the facilitator about your interest. Once she has agreed to mentor you, you will fill out the application form online
What is the process for handling violations and what are the consequences of violating the policies?
Baby Café USA has in place an internal board review process for revocation or denial of BCBC certification requiring all issues/complaints to be examined and recorded in writing; this will be reviewed by the Baby Café USA board.

BCBC Curriculum Ethics and Scope of Practice Policy
Baby Café USA (BCUSA) non-profit recognizes that it has a duty to protect any person that uses the service provided by Baby Cafés and/or mentoring programs sponsored by or associated with Baby Cafés. 
 
All mentored students have a clear responsibility for protecting the safety and privacy rights of both infants and parents attending the Baby Café. 

Safe Recruitment Procedures
BCBC students will:
  1. Provide background check documentation. 
  2. Signify that this Ethics and Practice Policy has been read and is understood. 
  3. Read the Toolkit thoroughly and be familiar with the policies, roles and responsibilities of Baby Café staff. (available from your Baby Café Facilitator)
Each mentored student will adhere to the following ethical guidelines:
The student will be responsible for his/her conduct at all times and will stay within the role of a student and observer. The student will:

  • Wear appropriate clothing, conservative jewelry, and will have groomed, clean fingernails;
  • Treat all attendees equitably without regard to age, ethnicity, national origin, marital status,
  • religion, or sexual orientation;
  • Be attentive to the group discussions and listen respectfully without interrupting conversations;
  • Not engage with personal communication devices while attending Baby Café sessions except in emergency situations;
  • Not initiate side-conversations with Baby Café attendees;
  • Participate in the group as an observer and not direct subjects for discussion;
  • Contribute in group discussions;
  • Not contradict statements made by the Facilitator in group but will ask for clarification from the Facilitator after the session;
  • Participate in set-up and closure of Baby Café unless unable to due to extenuating circumstances;
  • Make themselves available after Baby Café for review and clarification of situations observed during the session;
  • Respect intellectual property rights and not copy, borrow, or take any documents from Baby café without permission from the Facilitator;
  • Inform the Baby Café Facilitator if it appears that the health, welfare or safety of an attendee or colleague is at risk.
 
  1. Student documentation will identify the infant/parent by a number only- omit any reference of names. 
  2. A student will not be alone with, or assume responsibility of any infant or child attending Baby Café. 
  3. The student will not accept, or offer to have, any contact via phone or internet with any parent, infant, or child attending Baby Café. 
  4. The student will not accept offers or take photos with a phone or other recording device, of any parent, infant, or child infant attending Baby Café. 
  5. The student will not touch infants or mothers while attending and observing during Baby Café, unless the Baby Café Facilitator in charge is present, and has permission from the parent. 

BCBC Scope of Practice:
  • The student will promote, protect and support breastfeeding as it relates to the scope of practice of a Baby Café Breastfeeding Counselor (BCBC). The student will be learning how to:
  • Assist mothers to meet their own breastfeeding goals, asking her what they are when appropriate;
  • Stress the importance of exclusivity goals without condemning mothers in the group who may be feeding formula either by choice or for medical reasons;
  • Respect individual cultures of families, their relationships, and their beliefs, and respectfully ask for clarification if necessary where it concerns breastfeeding;
  • Offer sufficient and accurate information to enable parents to make informed decisions;
  • Avoid expressing verbal or physical disapproval of parents’ choices;
  • Offer accurate, complete and objective information about any commercial products discussed by attendees at a Café meeting, while upholding the World Health Organization (WHO) Code of marketing;
  • Base his/her recommendations on evidence-based practices for optimal breastfeeding outcomes and not on personal experience;
  • Preserve the confidentiality of attendees by refraining from revealing any attendee’s personal information, except to a referral IBCLC for which permission has been granted by the attendee.
  • The BCBC Counselor may NOT:
    • Give medical advice
    • Give a medical diagnosis
    • Prescribe medication
    • Carry out treatment
  • The student will disclose any actual or apparent conflict of interest, including a financial interest in relevant goods or services, or in organizations that provide relevant goods or services.
  • The student will withdraw voluntarily from the program, forfeiting any and all fees paid, if she/he has:
    • A physical or mental disability that could be detrimental to attendance at a Baby Café;
    • Engaged in substance abuse that could affect performance as a student;
    • Personal situations that may prohibit finishing the program through to completion.

Procedures concerning violation of protocols, abuse, or neglect 
1. The student will speak directly and confidentially to the Baby Café Facilitator regarding any concerns or issues observed or overheard during Baby Café that involve:
  • Suspicion of misconduct or violation of protocols by any volunteer or employee of the Baby Café;
  • Suspicion of mistreatment, neglect, or abuse of any infant, child, or parent attending Baby Café. 
2. The Facilitator will contact BCUSA and detail the violation. 
3. In the case where the student is not satisfied with the Facilitator’s response, or feels uncomfortable discussing the issue with the Facilitator, she/he should file a formal complaint with the Baby Café USA Board by either:
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