Nursing Mothers Counsel Member Site

Volunteer Training

SPRING 2024 TRAINING for our Santa Cruz Chapter begins

March 20, 2024.

LOCATION

Mid County Senior Center
829 Bay Ave.
Capitola, CA   95010

DATES & TIME

8 sessions, Wednesday evenings
7:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.

IN PERSON

March 20, 27

April 3, 10,17,24

May 8, 15

May 1st there will be no class due to the Milk Drive at Watsonville hospital on May 2nd.  Trainees will have the opportunity to volunteer at this event with our NMC members.

For futher information on the training in Capitola starting March 20th, call Raina Snyder at 408-329-3261 or email rainasnotary@gmail.com

COST

$300 covers all classroom instruction and materials for volunteer counselors (non-professional trainees). 

For professionals not training to become volunteer counselors but seeking training for professional development (continuing education credits), the cost is $500 which includes the CE Certificate.

Future Training in Redwood City may take place sometime in the Fall of 2024 or Spring 2025. 

If you have filled out the membership interest form on our website, and communicated with our Membership Chair or Training Coordinator and are ready to join NMC, please visit the registration page.

If you have NOT filled out the membership interest form on our website, or communicated with our Membership Chair or Training Coordinator, go to go to our website membership page to submit an interest form so we can discuss requirements and training dates, and whether the next class is full.

Questions? Email our membership coordinator at membership@nursingmothers.org.

Please note that we can accommodate babes-in-arms (i.e., nurslings who are not mobile) during our training sessions, but if you have toddlers or older children we ask that you please make arrangements for them to be cared for elsewhere while you attend the training.

Training Information

NMC members are volunteers who go through extensive training to become skilled counselors.  See requirements in section below.  Trainees (called Provisional Members) have a period of up to 6 months to fulfill their membership requirements under the guidance of an experienced NMC counselor who serves as their advisor (mentor). Trainees have often received assistance from NMC counselors and want to provide support to other new parents so they, too, can have a successful and positive breastfeeding experience. 

If you have any questions, please contact our membership chair via email at membership@nursingmothers.org.

Types of Membership

1) Full Member: If you have nursed your baby for at least six months and complete the NMC training requirements within 6 months, you will become a Full Member and volunteer counselor. Full Members receive the NMC newsletter (with news about our organization as well as timely lactation-related articles), continuing education opportunities, invitations to community events (i.e. milk drives, NMC exhibits), NMC social events, and access to our Facebook Counselors group.  Annual dues are $25 in August each year, after initial training. 

Professionals can become a NMC volunteer counselor  (Full Member) if you meet the requirements but volunteer activities must be kept separate from professional paid activities.

2) Affiliate Member: If you are a professional (nurse, dietician, doula, etc.) who would like to receive NMC’s training to further your career goals, you can complete our training and become an Affiliate Member. You will receive our newsletter, continuing education opportunities, and invitations to events.  Annual dues are $40 in August each year, after initial training.

3) Associate Member:  If you are someone who wants to support NMC but not go through any training, you may become an Associate Member.  You will receive NMC's newsletter and invitation to events. Annual dues are $40 in August each year.



Membership Requirements - Full (Counseling) Members

The following requirements must be met for Full (volunteer counseling) membership:

  • Have at least six months nursing experience with one child
  • Attend all sessions of training (20 hours) or make arrangements to make up. We understand that illness or emergencies may occur.
  • Complete written exam (during training)
  • Attend one NMC Board meeting (scheduled during training period as a separate Zoom meeting)
  • Successfully counsel at least two (2) nursing parents under the guidance of an assigned NMC advisor and maintain close communication with their advisor.
  • Attend and evaluate a NMC Zoom Breast/Chestfeeding Class (current schedule on our website)
  • Shadow with a lactation consultant; accompany a NMC counselor on a home visit or virtual visit; or attend a breastfeeding support group session.
  • Complete reading requirements.
  • Pay annual chapter dues ($25 per year; 2023/2024 dues included in training fee for first year; 2024/2025 dues payable in August 2024)
  • Complete above requirements within 6 months.
  • As a counselor for NMC, the requirements for completion of training will put you in direct contact with parents and newborns who are particularly vulnerable to infection.  Due to the possibility of close contact, NMC requires a TB test, along with MMR and Varicella Immunity (titer) test (or evidence of vaccine), one time only, during the first 3 weeks of training.  See our TB, MMR and Varicella Screening Policy which also includes a few vaccine recommendations.

The following requirements must be met in order to maintain your membership status:

  • Work with 2-4 nursing parents annually
  • Complete at least 2 hours of service to the organization (e.g., distribute brochures, assist at events, serve on the board)
  • Attend one continuing education event every 2 years (NMC holds 1–2 per year)
  • Keep up to date on annual dues (currently $25 for full members)
  • Keep NMC volunteering separate from any professional paid work (for example, a doula or IBCLC cannot be paid by an NMC contact).
  • Fill out the annual TB questionaire and membership update form.

For details on the Training Curriculum, click here:  Training Curriculum Details

For Frequently Asked Questions, click here: Frequently Asked Questions


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