About MILCC
Monetary Investment for Lactation Consultant Certification (MILCC) is an international nonprofit charitable organization that provides financial assistance to qualified candidates seeking International Board Certified Lactation Consultant® (IBCLC®) certification and current IBCLCs seeking recertification.
MILCC’s vision is that every family worldwide has access to culturally appropriate care from an IBCLC. Its mission is to remove financial barriers to accessing the IBCLC credential by fostering inclusiveness, promoting philanthropy, and increasing public awareness of the value of the IBCLC.
MILCC is funded by donations and fundraising. We offer pins and service bars as gifts, if you choose, and monetary donations are greatly appreciated. Your contribution can really make a difference and improve the health outcomes of the community, nation, and the world by increasing access to the unique body of knowledge and skill of an IBCLC. Please consider making a donation or ordering MILCC pins today!
History of MILCC
The IBCLC certification came into existence with the formation of the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners® (IBLCE®). In 1987, the Association for Lactation Consultant Certification (ALCC) was formed and two scholarships were awarded to worthy candidates. As the lactation consultant profession grew in stature, the number of qualified candidates seeking certification and financial support increased. In response to the need, additional scholarships were awarded. To better reflect its objectives, the organization changed its name in 1997 to MILCC.
MILCC raises money, carefully invests funds, reviews scholarship requests and awards scholarships to worthy candidates. The main criteria for selection is financial need, and priority is given to candidates who serve a population lacking access to the specialized services of an IBCLC. In the last five years, MILCC has awarded 397 scholarship recipients support totaling over $140,000.
The requests for monetary support will increase as recognition of the importance of breastfeeding increases and the need for IBCLC services is realized. Now, more than ever, MILCC needs your contribution.
JoAnne W. Scott
Founding Executive Director
As the Founding Executive Director of IBLCE, JoAnne W. Scott, MA, IBCLC guided the organization with her knowledge, wisdom, compassion and caring from its inception in 1985 to 2005. Due to JoAnne’s vision, persistence and hard work, this was a period of exceptional growth for the IBCLC credential. JoAnne passed away on September 18, 2006.To honour JoAnne’s contribution to the profession, IBLCE established the JoAnne W. Scott Scholarship Endowment to fund an exam applicant from a peer-to-peer support group who, due to financial hardship, would otherwise find it difficult to sit the exam.
The Impact of MILCC Scholarships
Increasing the number of credentialed lactation consultants ensures the highest level of breastfeeding care and education for families and communities around the world. As more babies are breastfed, food scarcity decreases, infant and maternal survival rates increase, and family health improves. On a community level, more health care resources are preserved as infant illness is decreased. Breastfeeding is ecological! Globally, trash is decreased and energy is saved rather than spent on formula manufacture and preparation. The IBCLC credential has also added another valuable profession to the health care field: over 37,000 individuals are certified and contribute to global health since 1985.
Nurturing the Next Generation – Who Benefits?
- Practitioners with financial need
- New parents and infants
- Families and communities worldwide
- Hospitals seeking to improve maternal and infant care
- The lactation consultant profession