Funded Projects

Improving Breastfeeding Outcomes in Brownsville, NY

Project Year

2026

City & State

Brooklyn, New York

Program Name

Resident

Topic

Breastfeeding

Program Description

Improving Breastfeeding Outcomes in Brownsville, New York: Enhancing Education, Warm Handoffs, and Community-Based Pediatric Support  

The Problem:  In Brownsville, Brooklyn, one of New York City’s most underserved neighborhoods, non-Hispanic Black families face significant structural barriers to health, including fragmented postpartum support and pervasive breastfeeding myths. Despite Brookdale Hospital Medical Center (BHMC) being Baby-Friendly designated, breastfeeding outcomes decline sharply: approximately 75% of birthing persons initiate breastfeeding, yet only 5% are exclusively breastfeeding at hospital discharge. This gap contributes to preventable infant morbidity and increased risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, disproportionately impacting our infants. These disparities highlight the urgent need for culturally grounded continuity of care through intentional warm handoffs between hospital providers and trusted community-based supports to sustain breastfeeding and improve infant health equity in Brownsville.  

Primary Setting and Population:  The project will be implemented at Brookdale Hospital Medical Center’s maternity clinic and four affiliated community-based pediatric primary care clinics. The pilot cohort will include 50 pregnant women/birthing persons enrolled prenatally and followed through six months postpartum. Community outreach will be supported through partnerships with trusted midwives and doula services (Hope and Healing Family Center), local faith-based organizations (Beraca Baptist Church and New Destiny Church), home visitation programs (Healthy Families NY), and clinic-based support services (Healthy Steps NY).  

Project Goal: By June 2027, this quality improvement initiative will improve breastfeeding initiation and duration among pregnant women/birthing persons delivering at Brookdale Hospital Medical Center by achieving the following outcomes: • Increase exclusive breastfeeding from 5% to 10% at hospital discharge and maintain ≥10% at 1, 3, and 6 months postpartum. • Increase any breastfeeding from 75% to 85% at hospital discharge and maintain ≥60% at 1, 3, and 6 months postpartum.  

Proposed Intervention:  This quality improvement initiative establishes a coordinated, systems-based support pathway bridging the gap between inpatient, outpatient, and community settings.  

Core components include:  Culturally Tailored Education: Prenatal sessions and a culturally sensitive digital QR-code hub.  

The Standardized Warm Handoff: Formalized EHR-documented transitions from inpatient lactation to community coordinators (Healthy Steps, Healthy Families) and local faith-based organization and doula services.  

Proactive Follow-up: Direct outreach within 48–72 hours post-discharge to assess latch and milk supply, provide targeted breastfeeding support, and ensure a warm handoff from the inpatient lactation team to the Healthy Families program.  

Integrated Primary Care: Longitudinal breastfeeding assessments during Healthy Steps NY well-child visits.  

Community Mobilization: Monthly virtual support sessions and a co-hosted Community Baby Shower to normalize breastfeeding in trusted spaces to help educate and debunk myths. Iterative refinement will be guided by monthly run charts and rapid Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycles.  

Anticipated Outcomes:  By project completion, BHMC will have established a data-driven, cost-effective, and equity-centered breastfeeding support model that strengthens maternal self-efficacy and improves breastfeeding initiation and duration. Success will be defined not only by improved breastfeeding outcomes but also by the institutional adoption of the warm handoff workflow, digital education hub, and sustained community linkages as standard practice. This model will be positioned for replication across other safety-net hospitals serving underserved urban communities. 

Project Goal

The overarching goal of the project is to improve breastfeeding outcomes for pregnant and birthing persons in the Brownsville communities. This will be achieved through a multi-faceted approach:  Enhancing Education: Providing culturally responsive breastfeeding education through a mix of digital media and physical resources.  Strengthening Community Linkages: Establishing "warm handoffs" and sustained partnerships between Brookdale Hospital and local community organizations.  Reducing Barriers: Addressing socioeconomic obstacles to health education and breastfeeding support by utilizing trusted community spaces and providing engagement incentives.  Systemic Sustainability: Creating a durable, systems-based intervention that leverages technology (QR codes) and institutional support to ensure impact beyond the initial grant period.

Project Objective 1

Objective 1: Improve breastfeeding initiation and duration  • Increase exclusive breastfeeding from 5% to 10% at hospital discharge and sustain ≥10% at 1, 3, and 6 months postpartum by June 2027 • Increase any breastfeeding from 75% to 85% at hospital discharge and sustain ≥60% at 1, 3, and 6 months postpartum by June 2027

Project Objective 2

Objective 2:  By June 2027, more than 90% of birthing persons in the cohort will receive a formal warm handoff  within 72 hours of discharge

Project Objective 3

Objective 3:  By June 2027, overall increase breastfeeding knowledge validated self-efficacy score  by ≥20% from discharge to 6 weeks postpartum among birthing persons in the cohort.  

AAP District

District II

Institutional Name

Brookdale Hospital Medical Center

Contact 1

Keresha Bird-Williams, MBBS