Nourishing Resilience # 5 – Homework

Session 5 – Homework Summary

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  1. Review Handouts
  2. Consider Joining SAFE Support and Strategic Core (S3C).
  3. Signs for Congregate Areas – Choose, edit, or create signs to use.
  4. Start learning about your community’s preparedness.
  5. Field / Community Experience – RNA with 3 Caregivers.
  6. Complete the evaluation for this session.
  7. Suggested donation of $5 per session (optional, greatly appreciated!)

Additional handouts and resources at the bottom

See our generous sponsors!

1. Review Handouts

The handouts listed below are new this session unless noted.

  • Signs for Shelters & Congregate Areas – CDC
  • Signs for Shelters & Congregate Areas – SafelyFed Canada 
  • Signs for Shelters & Congregate Areas – CGBI
  • Breastfeeding Welcome Sign – USDA
  • Breastfeeding Welcome Signs – Breastfeed Durham
  • Site Assessment Handout & Other Resources – Safely Fed Canada 
  • L.I.F.E. (Lactation and Infant Feeding in Emergencies) Support Kit from CGBI 
  • CDC Guidance on creating safer spaces
  • UNICEF “Baby Tents” video link
  • Baby Friendly Spaces Resource PDF from Save the Children
  • UNICEF Blue Dot Support Centers information
  • Research Paper – The Effect of Mass Evacuation on Infant Feeding: The Case of the 2016 Fort McMurray Wildfire. Maternal and Child Health Journal, 2018.
  • Contacting Sites about IYCF-E Templates*
  • Family Resources – SAFE Infant Feeding*
  • Site Resources – SAFE Infant Feeding*
  • “Safe Infant Feeding Tips for Families” poster*

*Indicates previously distributed handouts.)

2. Consider Joining SAFE Support and Strategic Core

Ongoing IYCF-E preparation & implementation support.

This is a quarterly support & strategy meeting for current & former SAFE training participants. The meeting is similar to a mastermind – inviting attendees to bring wins and challenges from their own efforts to implement policies and practices in their local area to improve infant and young child feeding in emergencies and other low-resource settings.
Meetings typically include updates from both the SAFE Team and participants, discussion on topics of interest, and breakouts for small group discussion, sharing of expertise, and brainstorming.

  • Currently scheduled for the first Tuesday of the second month of each quarter, at 1 pm Eastern.
  • Next session: February 3, 2026 – 1-2:30 pm Eastern
  • Register here.

3. Signs for Congregate Areas – Choose, edit, or create signs to use

Signs welcoming breastfeeding and instructing caregivers on where and how to safely feed their babies and clean infant feeding items help support breastfeeding and reduce illness. Decide which signs you think would be suitable to use in your area. If desired, edit available signs or create your own. Prepare to bring a set to shelters and other congregate areas in case there are none.

Be sure to check with your local breastfeeding coalition – they may already have a set of signs to use or adapt.
Signs you can use, adapt or use as inspiration follow in the handouts list.

4. Start learning about your community’s preparedness

Preparing and making connections during blue sky times makes a significant difference when an emergency occurs. 

First – If you have not done so already, find out how to contact your local (city, county, or regional) emergency preparedness group. Some rural areas may only have an emergency preparedness manager who works with the local healthcare coalition. Some areas may have a website with much of this information, or you may need to email or call and ask someone directly.

In a kind and respectful way, find out:

  • How does your community respond when an emergency occurs and people are displaced?
    • Are there standard group shelters that typically activate? 
    • Do they use hotels instead, or rely on an outside organization to set up shelters?
    • When do they activate?
  • How do they handle infant and young child feeding in these situations?
    • Are there supports in place for breastfeeding or mixed feeding families?
    • Are there separate wash stations for infant feeding items?

5. Field / Community Experience – RNA with 3 caregivers

If you have already done this, great! We encourage you to go out and support more families or help with (more) organizing.

The best way to get comfortable working with families and sites is to do it, then practice periodically to develop and maintain that skill. You don’t need to wait for an emergency situation to occur – there are families everywhere who do not have reliable access to safe water and other resources needed to safely feed children under 3 years old, and organizations that try to meet their needs.

In the next month, aim to use the Rapid Needs Assessment with at least 3 caregivers. If you are unable to connect with people who may be in need, ask someone to help you practice by role playing a scenario.

6. Complete the Evaluation

To track your attendance and help us improve, please complete the short evaluation as soon as possible. This will allow us to verify your attendance for the certificate of completion at the end of the series. https://forms.gle/VeeMBUYYdXYzVJsXA

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.

Handouts, Links & Resources

Handout List

  • Signs for Shelters & Congregate Areas – CDC
  • Signs for Shelters & Congregate Areas – SafelyFed Canada 
  • Signs for Shelters & Congregate Areas – CGBI
  • Breastfeeding Welcome Sign – USDA
  • Breastfeeding Welcome Signs – Breastfeed Durham
  • Site Assessment Handout – Safely Fed Canada 
  • L.I.F.E. (Lactation and Infant Feeding in Emergencies) Support Kit from CGBI 
  • CDC Guidance on creating safer spaces
  • UNICEF “Baby Tents” video link
  • Baby Friendly Spaces Resource PDF from Save the Children
  • UNICEF Blue Dot Support Centers information
  • Research Paper – The Effect of Mass Evacuation on Infant Feeding: The Case of the 2016 Fort McMurray Wildfire. Maternal and Child Health Journal, 2018.
  • Contacting Sites about IYCF-E Templates (previous)
  • Family Resources – SAFE Infant Feeding (previous)
  • Site Resources – SAFE Infant Feeding (previous)
  • “Safe Infant Feeding Tips for Families” poster (previous)

Signs for Shelters & Congregate Areas – CDC

Signs to download and print for family-friendly areas, breastfeeding spaces, etc.

IYCF-E Shelter Signs – CDC

Signs for Shelters & Congregate Areas – Safely Fed Canada 

Signs for use in congregate areas

Breastfeeding Welcome English       Multi-Lingual
Do Not Wash in RestroomEnglish

Signs for Shelters & Congregate Areas – CGBI

Signs for use in congregate areas.

CGBI- Baby Care Area | CGBI- Family Care Area |
CGBI- Breastfeeding AreaCGBI- Washroom Warning

Breastfeeding Welcome Signs – USDA

Graphic and poster versions

View & download posters

Breastfeeding Welcome Signs – Breastfeed Durham

Artistic signs to indicate breastfeeding / chestfeeding is welcome.

Breastfeeding Welcome Signs: A Bold Step Towards Inclusivity in Durham | Breastfeed Durham

Site Assessment Handout & Other Resources – Safely Fed Canada

Resources to help volunteers supporting sites assess their readiness to support families with infants and young children, quickly determine infant feeding needs, set up caregiver-baby spaces, and safely feed babies in shelters.

Safely Fed Canada IYCF-E Quick Reference

L.I.F.E. (Lactation and Infant Feeding in Emergencies) Support Kit from Carolina Global Breastfeeding Institute (CGBI)

A suite of materials and information about IYCF-E. 

CGBI L.I.F.E. Support Basic Kit Resources

CDC Guidance on Creating Safer Spaces

Guidelines, suggestions, signs, and other information about creating baby- and family-friendly spaces in shelters.

View CDC Safer Spaces Recommendations

UNICEF “Baby Tents”

An older version of safer congregate spaces for caregivers of young children. Helpful, but may split up families.

Watch video

Baby Friendly Spaces

Save the Children resource on creating baby-friendly spaces in emergency settings.

View PDF

UNICEF Blue Dot Support Centers

A newer model with full family support in a single location.

View page

Research Paper – Fort McMurray Wildfire

Research Paper – The Effect of Mass Evacuation on Infant Feeding: The Case of the 2016 Fort McMurray Wildfire. Maternal and Child Health Journal, 2018.

View research study

Contacting Sites for IYCF-E Template

Use to connect with sites and organizations that are distributing infant feeding supplies to help them manage those supplies and directly support families. You will also want to ensure that they know your team is a resource.

View or download template

Family Resources – SAFE Infant Feeding

Videos and information for caregivers about safely feeding your baby or young child in an emergency situation.

https://safeinfantfeeding.org/families/

Site Resources – SAFE Infant Feeding

Videos and information for recovery sites to train staff and share with families about safely feeding infants & young children in an emergency situation.

https://safeinfantfeeding.org/sites/

Safe Infant Feeding Tips for Families

Essential tips for families, with a QR code link to other resources.
English Safe Infant Feeding Tips for Families


Spanish – Alimentacion Segura Para los Bebés

Thanks to our Sponsors

We express our gratitude to our sponsors that made this training possible:

Marcia Brady Tucker Foundation

The Marcia Brady Tucker Foundation is 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

Breastfeeding Family Friendly Communities provides technical assistance to breastfeeding coalitions and health departments across the US, including Breastfeed Durham, Breastfeeding Family Friendly Communities of Asheville, and the North Carolina Breastfeeding Coalition. Our newest project, the SAFE Team, revealed national gaps in infant and young child feeding during emergencies. Our core mission of systems change uses the Ten Steps to a Breastfeeding Family Friendly Community to train and educate non-lactating community members to better welcome families, normalize breastfeeding, and prepare for safe infant feeding in emergencies. Together, we build environments where every family can thrive.

Confident Pregnancy (DBA Melinda Delisle Innovations)

We help people be healthier, feel more confident, and find their inner strength so we can show up as our best selves. Learn foundations for staying calmer and more resilient under stress in our upcoming program, Surfing Emotional Currents. Register free on our website.

Birthstone Center for Appalachian Perinatal Resilience

The 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—building resilience in mountain communities before, during, and after birth. Starting as a small private practice, Birthstone has grown into a regional nonprofit that creates innovative solutions to providing a village for Mountain Families.

Sponsor This IYCF-E Training

Creating a detailed and thorough training to the high standards we know you all expect takes funding. If you would like to learn more about sponsoring or other partnership opportunities, please contact us.