For TMFW Outreach Partners

Breastfeeding friendly spaces are typically locations in a business, organization, or public area that are welcoming to all families who are breastfeeding. These spaces are usually comfortable, accepting locations where women can breastfeed or express breastmilk in public or in private. Some businesses or organizations may provide breastfeeding friendly spaces to women and to their own employees. There is no required documentation to becoming a “breastfeeding friendly space.”

The Texas Mother-Friendly Worksites (TMFW) designation is specific to worksites that have voluntarily applied for the TMFW designation through the Texas Department of State Health Services.

These worksites are required to have a written and communicated lactation support policy that includes:

• Work pattern flexibility and break time;
• A private, non-bathroom location(s) to express breastmilk;
• Access to a nearby clean and safe water source; and
• Access to storage options to safely store breastmilk.

It is not only important, but also Texas and Federal law! To remain competitive and attract the best employees, employers must provide benefits that address the needs and concerns of employees and their families. Working mothers are the fastest growing segment of the workforce, so employers must find ways to meet their needs to recruit and retain them. While most working mothers start out breastfeeding their infants, most stop soon after returning to the job. Lack of employer support is often cited as a key factor in this decision.

No. A permanent, dedicated lactation room is not required to become designated as TMFW. The program requires participating businesses to have policies that provide breastfeeding employees access to a private area, other than a bathroom, that is shielded from view and free from intrusion from co-workers and the public. Efforts to minimize travel time for all employees covered under this policy should be made when planning the lactation space, and travel time should be considered when developing flexible scheduling arrangements.

However, a permanent, dedicated lactation room is not required to be eligible for Basic designation as a Texas Mother-Friendly Worksite.

TMFW program staff can help work with you or the employers you are working with to discuss creative space solutions to meet the program requirements during a Technical Assistance (TA) call. Find additional examples of creative space solutions HERE.

First, work from within your own organization—we often call this “Step Zero.” Find out if your employer is designated as a Texas Mother-Friendly Worksite. If not, talk to your supervisor or human resources department to get the process started. This ultimately helps to engage your community in the TMFW application because it demonstrates that your organization has “walked the walk”, making you a valuable support resource in the community.

Next, prepare your action plan by reviewing TMFW designation criteria, developing your messages for employers, and setting goals. You can then identify your audience by reaching out to organizations whose health-related missions align with your own. Your organization may already be working on worksite wellness initiatives. If so, that’s a great place to start! You can also connect with community groups that have multiple businesses as members, such as local chambers of commerce.

Review our Policies Matter page and share the business benefits of worksite lactation support. If they would like to learn more about the program, connect them with our program staff at TexasMotherFriendlyWorksite@dshs.texas.gov. Once you make the connection, a member of our program staff will reach out to assist with their application.

You don’t have to be an expert on worksite lactation support, the laws related to pumping at work, or TMFW to be an outreach partner! Our program staff are available to support your outreach efforts every step of the way.

If you need additional support in developing your outreach strategy, please reach out to us at: TexasMotherFriendlyWorksite@dshs.texas.gov.