TCWH Celebrates World Breastfeeding Week: Ithaca Community Latch (8/5)
Published on July 30, 2026
Tompkins County Whole Health (TCWH) invites the community to join us in celebrating World Breastfeeding Week (August 1st – 7th) by attending the Ithaca Community Latch event, hosted in partnership with Family Reading Partnership. The event will take place at The Nook in the Shops at Ithaca Mall (40 Catherwood Drive, Ithaca), on Wednesday, August 5th from 2pm-4pm. The Ithaca Community Latch event will provide an afternoon of connection, support and celebration; the event is free and open to the public, all families are welcome and no registration is needed.
World Breastfeeding Week is an annual celebration of the positive impacts of breastfeeding, which aims to normalize breastfeeding and advocates for support of breastfeeding parents by workplaces, public businesses, healthcare providers and partners, family members and friends.
Breastfeeding is more than just a highly nutritious option for infants. Breastfeeding can help protect babies against some short- and long-term illnesses and diseases. Breastfed babies have a lower risk of asthma, obesity, type 1 diabetes, and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Breastfed babies are also less likely to have ear infections and stomach bugs. Breastmilk contains antibodies help babies develop a strong immune system and protect them from illnesses.
Breastfeeding also provides benefits for the person who is breastfeeding, such as lower risk of breast and ovarian cancer, type 2 diabetes, and high blood pressure.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends exclusive breastfeeding for about 6 months, with continued breastfeeding along with introducing appropriate complementary foods for up to 2 years of age or longer.
TCWH is proud to employ multiple certified lactation counselors (CLCs) in our Family and Child Health division, as well as an International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant, the highest distinction in lactation counseling training. Our CLCs and IBCLCs are registered nurses in our Moms PLUS+ program as well as nutritionists in our Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program. CLCs provide support and counseling for those who are breastfeeding, which can help to increase the length of time a person is able to breastfeed, allowing their infant to receive a longer health benefit.
TCWH’s Director of Family and Child Health Division Jessica Clark Manderville stated, “Our goal during World Breastfeeding Week is to promote breastfeeding by increasing awareness of its benefits while helping reduce stigma around infant feeding decisions. We recognize that breastfeeding is not possible or the best choice for every family. For parents who cannot or choose not to breastfeed, iron-fortified infant formula is recommended as a safe, nutritious, and healthy alternative. We support every family's feeding journey, whether they choose to breastfeed, combination feed, or formula feed.”
Tompkins County Whole Health is committed to providing evidence-based education, resources, and compassionate support so families can make informed feeding decisions that are right for them. Our programs are here to support parents and caregivers with respect and with a shared goal of helping every infant thrive.
Family Reading Partnership (FRP) provides a variety of programs geared towards families with infants and young children in Tompkins County, with a focus on promoting early literacy. FRP’s Nook is an engaging and colorful play space for families to interact, at no cost.
TCWH’s Moms PLUS+ is a home visiting nurse program that provides maternal child health supportive services to residents of Tompkins County regardless of insurance status.
Tompkins County WIC provides nutritious foods, nutrition education, and referrals to community services to income-eligible people who are pregnant and/or post-partum, and their children under five years of age.
The Healthy Infants Partnership (HiP Tompkins) connects families with a Community Health Worker to improve the overall health and well-being of mothers, pregnant or birthing people, and their infants. All of these maternal child health services are provided free of cost.
TCWH Commissioner Jennie Sutcliffe stated, “Our nurses, WIC nutritionists, and Community Health Workers are here to support birthing people through pregnancy and beyond. They provide client-centered, individualized care and are trained to be trauma-informed and culturally responsive. Our staff are ready to assist families with their needs related to pregnancy and infant-care. Contact our office to learn more!”
Sutcliffe continued, “We are so grateful to the Family Reading Partnership for their continued support of families in Tompkins County and for their generous use of the Nook space for the Ithaca Community Latch event. The Nook space is all about building community and providing a caring, safe space for families to gather. It is the perfect setting for the Ithaca Community Latch and we hope you will come out to the event to join us and learn more about these programs and services for families in our community.”