The Leader Applicant completes her application with the guidance of a Group Leader (where available) and a member of the Leader Accreditation Department (LAD). Leaders are accredited in accordance with LLLI policies governing accreditation practices. Our goal is to accredit Leaders whose knowledge and skills reflect a balance of the practical, physical, and interpersonal aspects of helping others to experience mothering through breastfeeding. LLLI is committed to serving everyone. LLLI seeks the equitable accreditation of a diverse body of Leaders.
The Applicant and Leader Accreditation Department representative dialogue in writing or orally how LLL philosophy is reflected in breastfeeding and parenting choices, how Leaders communicate LLL philosophy, and about the ten concepts and how they reflect the Applicant’s experience and relate to future work as a Leader.
The Applicant reads The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding (most recent edition in Applicant’s language) and a book on childbirth or the Leader Accreditation Department publication, Childbirth and Breastfeeding. Alone or with a supporting Leader, the Applicant researches breastfeeding topics using the Breastfeeding Resource Guide or an approved equivalent. The Applicant will become familiar with:
- Basic lactation
- Breastfeeding management (avoiding or overcoming problems)
- How different methods of delivery and childbirth experiences affect the start of breastfeeding; what LLL recommends and why.
- Initiating breastfeeding (getting started, after cesarean birth, pumping for a premature baby, jaundice) • child development and parenting; early parenting concerns (nighttime nursing, frequent nursing, sleepy baby, weight gain)
- Nutrition for baby, mother, and family
- Effect of newborn and breastfeeding on family relationships
The Applicant and supporting Leader review together the Checklist of Topics in Preparation for Leadership. The Applicant reads the Leader’s Handbook (most recent edition in the Applicant’s language). The Applicant will become familiar with:
- Structure, policies, and procedures of LLLI
- Goals of LLLI and individual Leader goals
- Problem-solving skills
- Group dynamics, facilitating and balancing discussion
- Individual communication and helping skills such as: giving information rather than advice, listening, selecting appropriate questions for information gathering, organizing and retrieving pertinent information
- Critical reading
- Responding to challenges and criticism
The Applicant may also do the following optional exercises:
- Acceptance Exercise
- Mixing Causes Exercise
- Listening Exercise
To become familiar with breastfeeding management information and practical parenting recommendations , basic Leader responsibilities, and the many delivery methods and their effect on the start of breastfeeding, the Applicant is required to read:
- The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding (most recent edition in Applicant’s language)
- Leader’s Handbook (most recent edition in Applicant’s language)
The Applicant is also required to develop a comprehensive knowledge of how different methods of delivery and childbirth experiences affect the start of breastfeeding, what LLL recommends, and why.
Other recommended LLL reading, resources and opportunities for the applicant include:
- LLL books, pamphlets, and information sheets (if available in the Applicant’s language)
- Area/Area Network/Affiliate Leader publications
- Leader Applicant newsletter (where available)
- Leader publications, such as Leader Today
- Parent publications, such as Breastfeeding Today
- Communication Skills Enrichment sessions
- Leader/Leader Applicant workshops
- LLL online/in-person conferences
To practice one-on-one helping and Group facilitation skills, The Applicant and supporting Leader complete the Preview of Mothers’ Questions/Problems and Group Dynamics/Management (Preview). It can be started at any time throughout the application. The Preview brings together the information gathering, learning, and skills development the Applicant covers during her application. It may be completed using practice emails and phone calls, role-play, discussion, and mock meetings.
Where there is no Leader or Group, the corresponding Leader Accreditation Department representative does the Preview with the Applicant or assigns a Leader who can communicate with her in methods other than in person.