Gov. Sanders proclaims August Arkansas Breastfeeding Month
Aug. 18, 2026
By Rebekah Hall
University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture
Fast Facts
- Breastfeeding offers health benefits for both mother and baby
- Arkansas mothers can face limited healthcare, lack of lactation support in rural areas
- State, federal laws provide workplace protections for breastfeeding mothers
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Download extension Arkansas Breastfeeding Month graphics
LITTLE ROCK — Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders has proclaimed August as Arkansas Breastfeeding Month, recognizing the importance of breastfeeding for long-term health outcomes for mothers and children.
Vivian Okanume, extension program associate for the Arkansas High Obesity Program for the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture, collaborated with Gov. Sanders’ office to develop the proclamation. The proclamation recognizes breastfeeding as the “biological norm for infant nutrition” and an important foundation for “lifelong health and wellness for both infants and mothers.”
“It is important to protect, promote and support breastfeeding to help improve health outcomes, strengthen infant nutrition security and foster the lifelong wellbeing of Arkansas children and families,” Okanume said.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, babies who are breastfed have a lower risk of asthma, severe lower respiratory disease, obesity, type 1 diabetes, childhood leukemia, ear infections, sudden infant death syndrome and other health conditions. Breastfeeding can help lower a mother’s risk of breast cancer, ovarian cancer, type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure.
Okanume, who is also a certified lactation counselor and an advocate for breastfeeding and maternal and child health, said her work with the Arkansas High Obesity Program, or ArHOP, involves advocating for early care and education centers in Arkansas to become breastfeeding friendly.
ArHOP, a program focused on reducing obesity in Arkansas through improved nutrition and increased physical activity, is an initiative of the Cooperative Extension Service, the outreach arm of the Division of Agriculture. The program is currently operating in 11 Arkansas counties, including Bradley, Crittenden, Cross, Desha, Drew, Hempstead, Lee, Monroe, Ouachita, Phillips and St. Francis.
Okanume said ArHOP assesses the needs of early care and education settings and supports implementation of the 10 steps to breastfeeding friendly childcare, developed by the Carolina Global Breastfeeding Institute.
“ArHOP works on a strategy in early care and education settings to implement local-level policies and activities to improve access to breastfeeding,” Okanume said. “This helps reduce high obesity rates and chronic diseases in target counties. Early care and education centers play a pivotal role in supporting babies and breastfeeding moms returning to work by ensuring babies continue to be fed breast milk when they are away from their moms.”
Supporting Arkansas mothers and children
Okanume said Arkansas mothers can face barriers to successfully breastfeeding their children, including limited postpartum healthcare coverage, limited lactation support in rural communities, inflexible workplace environments and socioeconomic barriers.
Arkansas law protects a mother’s right to breastfeed in any public place or place where others are present. The PUMP Act, a federal law, requires employers to provide reasonable break time for employees to express milk for up to a year after their baby is born.
Arkansans can help support breastfeeding mothers in their communities by learning about breastfeeding and helping to normalize it, understanding state and federal breastfeeding laws, and advocating for moms who choose to breastfeed their babies, Okanume said.
Okanume said Gov. Sanders’ recognition of August as Arkansas Breastfeeding Month is an important show of support.
“Gov. Sanders’ championing of maternal and child health initiatives, including breastfeeding awareness, will have a downstream impact on shaping the policies, systems and environments needed to help breastfeeding mothers in Arkansas flourish,” Okanume said.
Learn more about breastfeeding frequently asked questions on the CDC website and check out Arkansas Breastfeeding Month resources on the Cooperative Extension Service social media pages.
To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit uaex.uada.edu. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit uada.edu. To learn more about ag and food research in Arkansas, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station at aaes.uada.edu.
About the Division of Agriculture
The University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture’s mission is to strengthen agriculture, communities, and families by connecting trusted research to the adoption of best practices. Through the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension Service, the Division of Agriculture conducts research and extension work within the nation’s historic land grant education system.
The Division of Agriculture is one of 22 entities within the University of Arkansas System. It has offices in all 75 counties in Arkansas and faculty on three campuses.
Pursuant to 7 CFR § 15.3, the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture offers all its Extension and Research programs and services (including employment) without regard to race, color, sex, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, sexual preference, pregnancy or any other legally protected status, and is an equal opportunity institution.
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Media Contact:
Rebekah Hall
rkhall@uada.edu
501-671-2061