UC San Francisco’s Lactation Accommodation Program was honored in the first-ever Lactation Impact Awards Gala hosted by the California Breastfeeding Coalition. The gala, which took place in Los Angeles, recognized 15 organizations and individuals from across the state.
UCSF's Lactation Accommodation Program, which is part of Campus Life Services' Family Services, won the award for Workplace Excellence in Lactation and was recognized for setting a powerful standard for institutions of higher education across CA and beyond.
“Led by a collaborative team, the [Lactation Accommodation] Program also equips managers and supervisors with toolkits to foster supportive leadership and increase awareness of lactation rights. It builds community through the monthly workshop, hosting the Lactation Accommodation Advisory Group, a program newsletter, partnerships with departments and faculty across UCSF, and online resources—promoting a workplace culture that values lactation support,” read the official digital program for the gala.
For Lactation Program Manager Caroline Carter, who attended on behalf of Family Services, this event was special because this was the first time the California Breastfeeding Coalition had recognized such a broad range of subject matter experts with awards.
“I am incredibly honored to accept this award on behalf of UCSF and to be in a room with so many inspiring advocates. This recognition reflects the collaborative efforts across our entire UCSF institution—and most importantly, the voices of our pumping employees and learners. Their honesty, advocacy, and bravery are what helped move our team move the needle with our partners,” Carter said in her acceptance speech.
Family Services Director Nathalie Larsen shared how meaningful it was to receive the award.
“It’s a real honor. Looking at how far the programs have come from their conception ten years ago to now, UCSF is definitely leading the way, especially within the other UCs,” Larsen said.
The award letter also specifically recognized UCSF's outstanding leadership in creating a workplace culture that supports lactating employees of a college or university through comprehensive accommodations and inclusive policies.
“It’s inspiring to be part of a movement that's setting a new standard for higher education and making lactation support a normal part of professional environments,” Carter said.
Family Services was recognized alongside the Zuckerberg General Hospital, whose Neonatal Intensive Care Unit was named ‘NICU of the Year’, and the UC Milk Bank Executive Director, Alison Wolf, who received the California Impact in Lactation Award.
“I used to think lactation was just a niche subject, but it’s not; it’s foundational to equity. Receiving this recognition made that even clearer. It amplified our responsibility at UCSF and reminded me that our efforts resonate far beyond our campus,” Carter said.
Representatives from ZSFG and Family Services received awards at the Lactation Impact Awards.
Carter credits the strength of their programming to the numerous partnerships across campus, including the UCSF National Center of Excellence in Women's Health, Campus Life Services, Facilities Services, Hospitality Services, Real Estate, Human Resources, Marketing and Communications, Material Services, the Committee on Family Services, the Committee on the Status of Women, the Lactation Task Force, and faculty from the School of Nursing and School of Medicine.
“The more partners that we have and the more that lactation touches in the university in different departments that support this effort, the more the culture starts to shift, and lactation becomes more normalized in workplaces,” Carter said.
Carter is proud that Family Services has fostered an environment where people are invited to share their honest experiences—the challenges, the good days, and everything in between—around pumping at work and balancing work, study, and family, and encourages the UCSF community to stay engaged.
“You are the reason for this success, and you can be part of change – the new UCSF Lactation Accommodation Advisory Group meets quarterly. Our mission is to elevate the voices of employees and students who are pumping, identify gaps in our current accommodations, and generate actionable ideas for improvement.”
To learn more about lactation accommodation policies, join the virtual webinar Lactation Rights at Work and Schoolled by Jessica Lee, JD, on Wednesday, Sept 3 from noon to 1 p.m. To sign up, visit the webinar registration page.