Hospitals, birthing facilities, and birthing services that staff currently certified International Board Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLCs) can apply online to become a recognized IBCLC Care Award facility and be included in the IBCLC Care Directory. To submit your application, you must complete the online form and attach the required documentation.

To download a PDF checklist of information you will need BEFORE applying online, click here. Please ensure that you have all the information and documentation stated on the checklist before starting the online form. You will not be able to save a partially completed application. To view a SAMPLE of the online application form, click here.

Facilities can apply from September 1 to November 30 each year for the IBCLC Care Award. The listing is valid for two (2) years and facilities must reapply before their expiration year to continue being listed in the directory. Newly recognized facilities will be added to the directory in January of each year.
Currently, there are NO fees associated with the IBCLC Care Award!

If your facility is not designated as a Baby-Friendly® Hospital, we strongly encourage you to implement the evidence-based “Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding” and begin the process toward Baby-Friendly recognition. The International Baby-Friendly® Hospital Initiative (BFHI) remains the most prestigious recognition that a hospital can attain, leading to dramatic improvements in successful breastfeeding outcomes. For more information about BFHI, visit the UNICEF website at www.unicef.org. To read a nutrition article about BFHI on the UNICEF website, click here.

Do you have questions? Does your facility qualify for this award program? How and when can your facility apply? Our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) document may answer them!

How Your Facility Benefits:

The IBCLC Care Award provides numerous benefits to your facility. This program is promoted to new families and the general public which means your facility can enjoy the benefits of positive public relations in your community, including:

• Enhanced attractiveness to potential patients
• Competitive edge in recruiting nurses, lactation consultants, and other medical staff
• General good will in the community by providing excellent care in helping new families reach their breastfeeding goals

Visit the IBCLC Care Directory to see which facilities are already benefiting from the IBCLC Care Award program!

1. Apply online each year from September 1 through November 30
2. Formal review by IBLCE/ILCA to be completed by end of December
3. If pieces are missing from your application, further information will be requested. IBLCE and ILCA request that you respond within ten (10) days or your application review will be incomplete.
4. Announcement of approved facilities in January

• One or more dedicated lactation consultant support positions with IBCLC as the required credential, and a dedicated lactation program available 5-7 days a week.
• Any project started within the last two years (between January 2009 and November 2011) that protects, promotes, and supports breastfeeding or the lactation consultant profession with a project description and documentation.
• Project examples: Establishment of a lactation consultant service, setting up a lactation consultant warm line, establishment of a breastfeeding support group, establishment of in-patient skin-to-skin care, etc.
• Project documentation* should include: (a) description of the project; (b) goal of the project; and (c) any outcomes of the project, as one (1) file.
• Documentation of breastfeeding training/updates within the last two years (between January 2009 and November 2011) for nursing, medical, and other health professional staff who care for new families, and which is separate from the breastfeeding project.
• Training/updates documentation* should include: (a) objectives and (b) content outline, as one (1) file. PowerPoint slides or handout/poster or brochure, etc., as one (1) file.

* It is highly preferred that all three (3) files for documentation provided by your facility during the application process are in PDF form. Any PowerPoint PDFs should be provided as "handouts" with 4 slides to a page. If your facility does not have Adobe PDF capability, other acceptable files include Word or PowerPoint. Your application and supporting documentation should be provided in English only.

• Inclusion in the IBCLC Care Award website available to new families and the general public
• Letter of congratulations and certificate suitable for framing from IBLCE/ILCA
• Press release provided to your facility for the local media of your choice
• Language that can be included in your facility’s newsletter
• One free enhanced "ILCA Career Mart" job listing for recruiting additional IBCLC positions