Baby-Friendly USA
Public HealthNew York, United States11-50 Employees
Baby-Friendly USA is the national accrediting body for the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative in the United States, responsible for coordinating activities to confer the Baby-Friendly designation and promote adoption of BFHI practices across hospitals and birth centers. Based in Albany, New York, the organization operates within the public health sector and supports healthcare providers in implementing evidenced-based maternal and infant care standards that align with BFHI criteria. Its role centers on credentialing facilities, guiding evaluation processes, and maintaining a national framework for designation." Recent developments include the ongoing updates to guidelines and evaluation criteria, with the organization announcing the release of the 6th edition applicable to designation assessments from June 2023 onward, alongside expanding resources to help NICU providers apply Baby-Friendly principles. The entity serves hospitals and birthing centers seeking formal recognition for Baby-Friendly practices and aims to advance standardized, evidence-informed care within U.S. maternity services.