Delta Health recognized for work to improve breastfeeding
Delta, Co (July 18, 2023) – The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
recognized 45 hospitals for their efforts to promote breastfeeding and offer healthier
food and beverage options through the Colorado Healthy Hospital Compact and Colorado
Baby-Friendly Hospital Collaborative. These initiatives are part of the state’s work to
promote healthy eating and active living to reduce the rates of death and disease from
chronic illness among Coloradans.
At the June 14th event, CDPHE honored Delta Health for being Baby-Friendly designated
(per Baby-Friendly USA) and awarded the Colorado Celebrate 6 Award of Breastfeeding
Excellence. Delta Health was honored with the Celebrate 6 Award in 2020 and again this
year. The Celebrate 6 Award of Breastfeeding Excellence honors hospitals for having
implemented at least six of the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative’s Ten Stepsto Successful
Breastfeeding. These are evidence-based policies and practices known to increase
breastfeeding success and improve maternal and infant health outcomes.
“We are honored that Stork’s Landing received this prestigious designation once again,”
said Jan Humphrey, RN, Director of Obstetrics at Delta Health. “This recognizes our
hospital’s optimal level of care that is provided by staff for all mothers and their babies.
Our team strives to provide compassionate, quality healthcare that our community can
trust when it comes to choosing where to deliver their babies. We appreciate this award
and what it means for our community.”
CDPHE honored all 14 Baby-Friendly designated facilities in the state for receiving and
maintaining the prestigious certification from Baby-Friendly USA. The department
supports maternity facilities in pursuing Baby-Friendly designation through the Colorado
Baby-Friendly Hospital Collaborative which provides free training and resources to help
hospitals implement evidence-based policies and practices that support breastfeeding and
optimal infant care.
“These hospitals have worked hard to create change that supports Colorado families to
breastfeed. With over 90 percent of Colorado families choosing to breastfeed their
children each year, such policies and practices are essential,” said Stacy Miller,
breastfeeding specialist at CDPHE and facilitator of the Colorado Baby-Friendly Hospital
Collaborative.
The number of Baby-Friendly designated hospitals in Colorado has grown from three in
2013 to 14 in 2023. Over a third of births in the state now occur in Baby-Friendly
hospitals each year. These include:
● Aspen Valley Hospital
● Boulder Community Health
● Centura St Elizabeth
● Centura St. Francis
● Delta Health
● Estes Park Health
● Good Samaritan Medical Center
● Lutheran Medical Center
● St. Joseph Hospital
● St. Mary’s Medical Center
● UCHealth Memorial Hospital Central
● UCHealth Memorial Hospital North
● University of Colorado Hospital
● Valley View Hospital
Learn more about the Colorado Baby-Friendly Hospital Collaborative (CBFHC) at
BreastfeedColorado.com or view a complete list of awarded hospitals here. For more
information about what the Celebrate 6 Award means for Delta Health, contact
Jacqueline Davis, Marketing and Communications Director . For more information about
the CBFHC, contact Stacy Miller at stacy.miller@state.co.us or 303-319-1929.
To learn more about Stork’s Landing, Delta Health’s birthing center, visit
deltahealthco.org/storks-landing/ or call 970.874.2255.
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About Delta Health – Delta Health (DH) is a nonprofit, county-wide healthcare system
with a 49-bed hospital and at locations throughout Delta County, Colorado. DH’s mission
is to inspire hope in a healing environment by providing remarkable care. Established in
1913, Delta County Memorial Hospital, now doing business as Delta Health, has been
serving the region for over 100 years. DH continues to provide compassionate, quality
healthcare that the community can trust. For more information go to deltahealthco.org,
like our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter @DeltaHealthCo.