Join us for a unique, entertaining, and educational conference on October 21-22, in Flintstone, MD.This year's theme is "Celebrating our Roots: Centering Families Culturally in Lactation Care", where we will focus on our history, our current climate, and our future in the region of Appalachia. Stretching from New York to Mississippi, Appalachia is a 13-state region home to its own unique culture. This year's conference will be broken up into three days with each day following our history, our current climate, or our future. We hope you'll bring both your listening and thinking caps as we investigate how to make Appalachian breastfeeding rates better as well as opening up access to care to our families.
Why choose this conference? This conference is the only Appalachian specific conference for lactation. All of our topics not only relate to breastfeeding, but also to our Appalachian community. Whether you are from Ohio, West Virginia, Tennessee, North Carolina - or one of the others of the 13 states that make up Appalachia - we are speaking to you!
In addition, we are offering many unique experiences along with the conference!
Join us for #MilkyMountainStories the night of day one of conference for an open mic where we can embrace our Appalachian heritage or vent to a group of empathetic individuals that understand. Entertainment may include storytelling, poetry, song, or more. Be creative!
Several topics/speakers, giving you a breaks throughout the day.
Hair Lights will be available during the conference, right in the room, so you don't have to miss any speaking and also enjoy a unique experience at the same time!
Held at the relaxing Rocky Gap Casino and Resort.
Lunch will be provided.
CEUs and CERPs have been applied for.
Tentative Agenda:
Day One: October 21, 2022 Our History 8:00 am – 9:00 am – Registration 9:00 am – 9:15 am – Welcome – ABN President, Stephanie Hutchinson 9:15 am – 10:15 am – Joni Gray – “Ancestry/History of Lactation in Appalachia” 10:15 am – 10:30 am – Short break 10:30 am – 11:30 am – Joni Gray – “Getting Back to our Roots - Generational Changes to Lactation 11:30 am – 12:00 pm – ABN News – ABN President, Stephanie Hutchinson 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm – Lunch (provided) Our Current Climate 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm - Rebecca Costello – “The Big Change: Helping Families through the New Baby Stage” 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm– Cissy Watkins – “Centering Families in Care with Cultural Humility” 3:00 pm – 3:15 pm – Short Break 3:15 pm – 4:00 pm – Miranda Fischer – “What are the Laws? Maneuvering Through Custody & Divorce while Keeping Milk Intact” 4:00 pm – 4:30 pm – Andrea Schlueter and Stephanie Hutchinson – “Experiencing Trauma: The Effects on Lactation and Family Strength” 4:30 pm – 4:45 pm – Short Break 4:45 pm – 5:30 pm – Stephanie Hutchinson – “Why Weren’t We Always Doing This? Virtual Lactation Support is About More than COVID-19” 5:30 pm – 5:45 pm – Closing Remarks – Mishelle Trescott Dinner On Your Own 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm – #MilkyMountainStories
Day Two: October 22, 2022 Our Future 8:00 am – 9:00 am – Registration 9:00 am – 9:15 am – Welcome and Speaker Introduction 9:15 am – 9:45 am – Awards/Scholarships 9:45 am -10:15 am – Stephanie Hutchinson – “Where Do We Go From Here? Building a Sustainable Movement in Appalachia” 10:15 am – 10:30 am – Short Break 10:30 am – 11:30 am – Audrey Thompson – “Bias & Self Awareness: Keys to Building Trust with Clients” 11:30 am – 12:45 pm – Lunch (provided) 12:45 pm – 1:45 pm –Mishelle Trescott & Stephanie Hutchinson – “Dare to Dream – Our Journey Creating a 24-Hour Lactation Hotline” 1:45 pm – 2:00 pm – Break 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm – Hope Lima & Mishelle Trescott – “Creativity & Perseverance: Creating Programs in Appalachia” 3:00 pm – 3:15 pm - Break 3:15 pm – 4:15 pm – Lillian Scott – “Getting Providers on Board” 4:15 pm – 4:30 pm – Closing Remarks – Mishelle Trescott & Stephanie Hutchinson
**Continuing education credits will be applied for (CERPS (IBCLC), CEUS (RN & LSW))
**Faculty, Titles, and Agenda subject to change ***IBLCE CERPs will be applied for ****Nursing CEUs will be applied for
Registration Cost and Deadlines
Member prices: One Day: $125 – Until September 30 $150 – After September 30
Non-member prices: $150 – Until September 30 $175 – After September 30
Full Conference: $250 – Until September 30 $300 – After September 30
Non-member prices: $300 – Until September 30 $350 – After September 30
Virtual pricing: $100 - Until October 1 $150 - After October 1
Our membership is a yearly membership from October 1 thru September 30 and will cost $20. To purchase membership, please click here.
Full refunds will be issued upon notification to our registrar until October 5, 2022. No refunds will be issued after October 5, 2022. If proof of positive COVID-19 test, full refund will be issued regardless of date. To discuss refund e-mail our ABN registrar, Dyan Van Sickle, at dyandtr@yahoo.com
ABN will be giving two scholarships to cover conference registration. To access the application and for more information, please click here.
All conference attendees in person will receive virtual access for free. Only one set of CERPs may be awarded per person.
The conference room rate is $139/night and have both queen and king rooms available. To reserve your room call (301) 784-8400 and ask for the Appalachian Breastfeeding Network room rate.
NOTE: Rooms here book up FAST! If you are on the fence about the conference, you might want to reserve your room NOW just in case. There are other hotels nearby, but will require 15-20+ minute drive to and from.