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University ‘Mother-Friendly Worksite’

UT Tyler recently joined a growing number of state agencies and Texas businesses by becoming designated as a Mother-Friendly Worksite.

Created by the Texas Legislature in 1995 and administered by the Texas Department of Health, the Mother-Friendly Worksite Program recognizes and supports agencies and companies that provide for new mothers returning to work and desiring to continue breastfeeding.

To be designated as a Mother-Friendly Worksite, a business must provide work schedule flexibility to allow time for pumping breast milk or nursing babies, offer a private space where moms can either pump or nurse and ensure easy access to running water and refrigeration.

To become Mother-Friendly, a company must first develop a policy reflecting its support for breastfeeding mothers and then submit an application to the Texas Department of Health. The agency keeps a list of all Mother-Friendly Worksites in Texas on the website www.tdh.state.tx.us/lactate.

“We are pleased to be designated as a Mother-Friendly Worksite,” said Joe Vorsas, director of human resources, who worked with TDH to develop the new policy at UT Tyler. “We have ordered literature, posters, and signs from TDH and should have them available in a few weeks for departments with expectant mothers who are interested in breastfeeding their babies and want some literature on breastfeeding or a 'Pumping in Progress, Do Not Disturb' sign they can hang on the door at work while they are expressing breast milk for their babies."

For further information on the designation of UT Tyler as a Mother-Friendly Worksite, contact Vorsas at Ext. 7294, explore the TDH website or contact Linda Vochatzer at the Texas Department of Health in Austin: (512) 458-7796.

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Contact person: Emily Battle, (903) 565-5604