Kitsap Health District Expands Breastfeeding Support

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  Kitsap Public Health District launched the Black Infant Thrive (BIT) program“Black Infant Thrive (BIT) program. "It's so important to support Black breastfeeding women," said Gabby Outlaw-Spencer, BIT community health educator. "When we lift up Black voices, we help Black motherhood become more visible and celebrated." Black Infant Thrive is dedicated to a future where every Black birthing family in Kitsap has access to quality healthcare, a strong support system, and a positive birthing outcome — including being able to breastfeed with confidence. We're helping build this future by:Increasing social networks for Black families to build communities of s”
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  The Black Infant Thrive (BIT) program was launched to address systemic barriers preventing Black birthing families from breastfeeding“Black Infant Thrive is dedicated to a future where every Black birthing family in Kitsap has access to quality healthcare, a strong support system, and a positive birthing outcome — including being able to breastfeed with confidence.”
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  The public health announcement was dated August 26, 2026No usable supporting receipt — unverified.
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  The BIT program aims to provide Black birthing families with access to quality healthcare“Black Infant Thrive is dedicated to a future where every Black birthing family in Kitsap has access to quality healthcare, a strong support system, and a positive birthing outcome — including being able to breastfeed with confidence.”
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  The BIT program aims to provide Black birthing families with strong support systems“Black Infant Thrive is dedicated to a future where every Black birthing family in Kitsap has access to quality healthcare, a strong support system, and a positive birthing outcome — including being able to breastfeed with confidence.”
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  The BIT program aims to provide Black birthing families with positive birthing outcomes“Black Infant Thrive is dedicated to a future where every Black birthing family in Kitsap has access to quality healthcare, a strong support system, and a positive birthing outcome — including being able to breastfeed with confidence.”
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  The BIT program aims to provide Black birthing families with breastfeeding confidence“Black Infant Thrive is dedicated to a future where every Black birthing family in Kitsap has access to quality healthcare, a strong support system, and a positive birthing outcome — including being able to breastfeed with confidence.”
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  BIT community health educator Gabby Outlaw-Spencer emphasized the importance of supporting Black breastfeeding women“"It's so important to support Black breastfeeding women," said Gabby Outlaw-Spencer, BIT community health educator.”
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  Gabby Outlaw-Spencer emphasized the importance of supporting Black breastfeeding women to 'lift up Black voices'“"It's so important to support Black breastfeeding women," said Gabby Outlaw-Spencer, BIT community health educator. "When we lift up Black voices, we help Black motherhood become more visible and celebrated."”
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  Gabby Outlaw-Spencer emphasized the importance of supporting Black breastfeeding women to make Black motherhood 'more visible and celebrated'“"It's so important to support Black breastfeeding women," said Gabby Outlaw-Spencer, BIT community health educator. "When we lift up Black voices, we help Black motherhood become more visible and celebrated."”
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  The initiative responds to documented disparities where Black women are less likely to breastfeed“Research shows that, due to a long history of prejudice and racism, Black women are less likely to breastfeed, and when they do, they often stop breastfeeding sooner than white women. This isn't a cultural issue – it's a systemic one.”
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  Black women are less likely to breastfeed than white women“Research shows that, due to a long history of prejudice and racism, Black women are less likely to breastfeed, and when they do, they often stop breastfeeding sooner than white women.”
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  Black women are less likely to breastfeed and stop sooner than white women“Research shows that, due to a long history of prejudice and racism, Black women are less likely to breastfeed, and when they do, they often stop breastfeeding sooner than white women.”
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  Black women face workplace discriminationNo usable supporting receipt — unverified.
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  Black women face workplace discrimination such as lack of safe pumping spaces“Some of those barriers I did experience in the military was, one, not having safe spaces to pump when I was at work and them ridiculing me or making it seem like it was ... a burden to ask for a place to pump.”
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  Black women face workplace discrimination such as ridicule from employers“"Some of those barriers I did experience in the military was, one, not having safe spaces to pump when I was at work and them ridiculing me or making it seem like it was ... a burden to ask for a place to pump." Atkin Monique Thomas, a doula and 2025 Nurture in Color panelist, remembered,”
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  Panelist Atkin Monique Thomas noted the documented disparitiesNo usable supporting receipt — unverified.