Creating Safe, Supportive Environments for IYCF in Congregate Settings
Shelters, distribution sites, and other congregate settings are ubiquitous parts of disaster response. In this session, we discuss examples of congregate areas, ways to support families at those sites, and some ways to support the sites themselves as they support the families in feeding and caring for their infants and young children. Norma Escobar reviews types of congregate areas, challenges, and how to support needs of families with young children. Jodine Chase of Safely Fed Canada shares a case study of the Fort McMurray wildfire disaster, including challenges and risks of congregate areas they observed, and some ways to mitigate those risks.
This is Session 5 of the Nourishing Resilience Training Program on Infant and Young Child Feeding in Emergencies.
Presenters:
Norma Escobar, IBCLC, FILCA
Jodine Chase, Safely Fed Canada
Topics with time stamps:
- 0:00:00 – Introduction and homework review
- 0:09:33 – Self-Care Reminder, Congregate Area Examples
- 0:13:05 – Challenges of Congregate Areas of Displacement
- 0:16:43 – Family Needs in Congregate Areas and Shelters
- 0:20:44 – Supporting Breastfeeding in Emergency Shelters
- 0:30:16 – Fort McMurray/Wood Buffalo Wildfire Experience
- 0:52:21 – Observations from Fort McMurray/Wood Buffalo Experience
- 1:01:39 – Fort McMurray Flooding & overall take-aways
- 1:12:43 – Sponsor Appreciation & Homework
- 1:16:42 – Q&A
Thanks to the Jon Stickley Trio, an Asheville area band, for generously donating the use of their music. “Scripting the Flip” and “Della’s Walk” (c) Jon Stickley Trio, used with permission. www.JonStickley.com
Recorded Live: January 13, 2026
Session 5 homework
- Review Handouts
- Consider Joining SAFE Support and Strategic Core
- Signs for Congregate Areas – Choose, edit, or create signs to use
- Start learning about your community’s preparedness
- Field / Community Experience – RNA with 3 caregivers
- Complete the Evaluation
Full instructions, with everything you need for each step, are on the homework page. The handout is the same material as a printable PDF.
Finished? Complete the session evaluation.
Handouts and Links
Grouped by what you are trying to do. Every item on the session 5 homework page appears there with a description and a preview.
Signs you can print for your site
- Shelter signage — CDC
- Signs for congregate areas — Safely Fed Canada
- Area signs — Carolina Global Breastfeeding Institute
- Breastfed Babies Welcome poster — USDA
- Breastfeeding welcome artwork — Breastfeed Durham
Setting up the space
- Creating safer spaces — CDC guidance
- Baby Tents — UNICEF (video)
- Baby Friendly Spaces — Save the Children / ACF
- Blue Dot support centres — UNICEF
Assessing a site and making contact
- Site assessment, triage and quick reference tools — Safely Fed Canada
- L.I.F.E. Support Basic Kit — Carolina Global Breastfeeding Institute
- Contacting Sites for IYCF-E template — SAFE Team
Hand these to families
- Safe Infant Feeding Tips for Families (English)
- Alimentación segura para los bebés (Spanish)
- Resources for families and caregivers — all of ours in one place
- Resources for organizations and recovery sites
Research
Keep going with us. The SAFE Support and Strategic Core meets quarterly as a free mastermind for people putting IYCF-E into practice — shared problem-solving, peer support, and updates from the team. See the dates and register.
Please Support Our Efforts
If you find this training helpful, please support our efforts with a financial donation. Click below and select “SAFE Team” to earmark for IYCF-E education and disaster response support.
Thanks to our sponsors
This work is free because these people and organizations paid for it.
Marcia Brady Tucker Foundation
A private family foundation dedicated to supporting charitable organizations that align with its mission of giving back. Grants are made only as a result of the Foundation’s own initiative.
Breastfeeding Family Friendly Communities
Provides technical assistance to breastfeeding coalitions and health departments across the US, using the Ten Steps to a Breastfeeding Family Friendly Community. The SAFE Team is a project of BFFC.
In memory of Elsie Perry
Elsie Perry was a founding mother of La Leche League Boston in the 1960s. A gift made in her memory by her daughters funded an eleventh month of this training series.
BabyBjörn
Founded in 1961 and still family-owned, with a mission to make everyday life easier for parents with babies. If your community needs emergency baby gear, reach them at care@babybjorn.com.
Confident Pregnancy
Helps people be healthier, feel more confident, and find their inner strength. Tips for staying calmer and more resilient under stress at MelindaDelisle.substack.com. DBA Melinda Delisle Innovations.
Birthstone Center for Appalachian Perinatal Resilience
Strengthens perinatal health in Western North Carolina by centering families, uplifting birthworkers, and advancing equitable access to lactation, doula and maternal mental health support.
Sponsor this IYCF-E training
Interested in sponsoring or partnering with us? Get in touch.
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