The SAFE Infant Feeding Team was launched in 2024 in response to gaps exposed during Hurricane Helene in Western North Carolina. At that time, volunteers from Breastfeeding Family Friendly Communities (BFFC) and the North Carolina Breastfeeding Coalition stepped in to fill critical needs for infants and caregivers in shelters. They provided infant feeding sanitation kits, lactation support, and training for disaster response staff.
This grassroots effort quickly grew into a coordinated network of infant feeding specialists, peer counselors, and advocates. Recognizing the growing frequency of climate-related disasters and public health emergencies, we formalized the SAFE Team to advance Infant and Young Child Feeding in Emergencies (IYCF-E) across the United States.
Today, SAFE builds capacity nationwide through:
✅ Training and technical assistance for emergency responders.
✅ Culturally responsive lactation and formula feeding support.
✅ Advocacy for policies that center infants and families in disaster planning.