About The TMFW Initiative
About the Texas Mother-Friendly Worksite Program
In 1995, the Texas legislature recognized "a mother's responsibility to both her job and her child when she returns to work and acknowledges that a woman's choice to breastfeed benefits the family, the employer, and society." The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) created the Texas Mother-Friendly Worksite Program (TMFW), as directed by Health and Safety Code 165, Breastfeeding. TMFW provides minimum criteria for the designation and maintains a listing of designated worksites.
TMFW seeks to reduce barriers to breastfeeding by increasing the proportion of employers who have worksite lactation support policies and programs.
Nationally Recognized
Evaluated through an expert review process, the Texas Mother-Friendly Worksite Program (TMFW) was recognized in 2013 as a practice-tested obesity prevention intervention by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)-funded Center for Training and Research Translation (Center TRT).
Evaluation results showed:
- A large increase in the number of designated sites over a two-year period.
- Worksite respondents’ satisfaction with materials designed to support worksite-level implementation.
- A high level of adherence to program elements.
TMFW is included as a practice-tested Policy, Systems, and Environmental Change intervention in the SNAP-Ed Toolkit for the US Department of Agriculture’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education (SNAP-Ed) implementing agencies.
Program Best Practices
Since the establishment of the Texas Mother-Friendly Worksite Program (TMFW) in 1995, significant best-practice guidance has been produced to promote and inform worksite breastfeeding programs and policies, including defining levels of adequate, expanded, and comprehensive workplace breastfeeding support.
Evidence indicates that worksite breastfeeding support policies are most effective when they facilitate:
- privacy for milk expression;
- flexible scheduling and work options to accommodate breaks in a typical workday for milk expression;
- dissemination of breastfeeding information and education to female and male employees during pregnancy and after the baby's birth; and
- a positive, supportive environment from management and co-workers for employees who are combining work and breastfeeding.
TMFW is supported by Title V Maternal Child Health Block Grant and administered by Texas DSHS staff. Title V MCH staff:
- Provide technical assistance to employers, employees, and communities;
- Support outreach and engagement across Texas;
- Ensure the program meets Texas legislative requirements; and
- Maintains the directory of designated worksites.