Comment on FR Doc # 2013-05496

Our local health district is well-known within the state of Georgia for Breastfeeding Excellence. Our health district piloted Breastfeeding Peer Counselor (BFPC) Programs for the State of Georgia in 2005. We would likely apply and hopefully be recognized for the ways that our BFPC work to help us meet 2020 Targets; however, we are concerned that the BFPC are not the only intervention that is making a difference. We commit significant WIC resources in addition to the Peer Counselor funding including but not limited to: assuring Breastfeeding training for all CPAs, management support to our hospitals as they work toward Baby Friendly Status, assuring policies and procedures within the health department and the WIC office to facilitiate breastfeeding success, and providing a pump program for our WIC Breastfeeding participants. From our understanding this award does not address this coordinated effort. In addition, our funding has been threatened in the last 3 years leading to difficult prioritizations limiting our ability to facilitate the effectiveness of our BFPC within this coordinated system. BFPC do deserve ongoing recognition programs; however, local programs where the BFPC work also deserve recognition. If this recognition occurs, every effort should be made to make a "big deal" about it. i.e. communications to local, state and national media and USDA "talking it up" in their verbal communications with state and local agencies. There are somtimes barriers with communication to the front lines. We are concerned about more data collection to determine the recognition. It would make more sense to use the standardized data that is already being collected for Healthy People 2020. We are concerned about the 'bang for the buck' for this recognition program. We are willing to put in the time to submit an application; however, new data collection (if required) is much more challenging to establish.