Orange County to Develop Lactation Policy to Support Mothers

Orange County is making life easier for all mothers who work in or visit County facilities.
 
On Tuesday, the Orange County Board of Supervisors unanimously instructed county staff to identify a list of comfortable and private spaces for mothers to breastfeed. The directive, proposed by County Supervisor Andrew Do, also seeks to develop a countywide lactation policy that supports working mothers.
 
“Orange County is committed to providing working moms with a safe and comfortable space to breastfeed,” said Supervisor Do, who represents the First District. “Every mom should decide what’s best for their children, and that decision shouldn’t be limited by a lack of access to safe places to breastfeed.”
 
In his proposal, Supervisor Do directed the County CEO to identify appropriate spaces at County facilities to accommodate breastfeeding mothers who are visiting a County facility or employed by the County, and to publish those locations online.
 
In 2001, the State of California passed the Lactation Accommodation Law, requiring every employer to provide break time to accommodate employees wishing to express their breast milk in private. This past summer, the San Diego County Board of Supervisors supported Kristin Gaspar’s proposal to develop a lactation policy for their municipal government.
 
“Orange County aspires to be a workplace of choice for all people and serve all residents with respect,” said Supervisor Do. “We’ve already seen increased visibility of lactation rooms throughout the County in places like the new County Administration South building in Downtown Santa Ana and the recently added Nursing Mother’s Lounge at John Wayne Airport. With this new approach, we want to enhance these services for all mothers who work in or visit County facilities.”