Increasing Mothers' Own Milk Feeding to Black Infants in the Neonatal ICU: Training a Lactation Team in a Culturally Informed Behavioral Intervention
NIMHD - National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities
About This Grant
Modified Project Summary/Abstract Section Mothers’ own (breast)milk (MOM) is superior to formula and donor human milk, particularly for infants hospitalized in a neonatal ICU (NICU), yet NICU infants receive less MOM compared to healthy, full-term infants—and, Black/African American (Black hereafter) infants receive the least amount of MOM compared to other infants. Black infants have the highest NICU-admission prevalence (12%) and their lower MOM-feeding disparity is associated with health risks, including sepsis, asthma, and necrotizing enterocolitis, and costly re-hospitalizations. Women who lactate (mothers hereafter) who do not initiate or prematurely stop MOM feeding do not benefit from lactation’s cardio-metabolic restorative effects, which may reduce risks for breast and ovarian cancers and cardiovascular disease—diseases for which Black women experience elevated mortality and disproportionate burden. Black mothers tend to have culturally specific unique attitudes and beliefs that may affect lactation decisions. An innovative, culturally informed behavioral intervention addressing these unique factors may mobilize Black mothers to initiate pumping and manage ongoing stress and MOM-related ambivalence. Specifically, motivational and acceptance-based strategies provided by NICU-based lactation specialists may increase MOM feeding, and improve NICU-admitted Black infants’ health, if strategies are culturally informed and adapted to Black mothers. Our overarching aims are to evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of training NICU nurses (i.e., lactation specialists) on a novel, culturally informed combination of Motivational Interviewing (MI) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) interventions (i.e., MIACT) to increase Black infant MOM-feeding by delivering MIACT during lactation visits. MIACT will enhance motivation and psychological flexibility to reduce avoidance behaviors (i.e., not pumping). We will develop and refine a hospital-based intervention, train lactation specialists, and test initial efficacy using a 1-arm, interrupted time-series design. Black mothers of NICU infants will be eligible for inclusion, with very few exclusions. Planned enrollment is 525 mothers (N=613 infants [due to multiple births]) over 15 months. Outcome assessments will occur during infant hospitalization and discharge and at 6 months postpartum. We will access infant-feeding data in the electronic health record (EHR) to evaluate primary and secondary outcomes, resulting in rigorous implementation and outcome assessment. NICU-based lactation specialists (N=8) will receive MIACT training from expert trainers, with ongoing consultation and support. Training feasibility, maternal and lactation specialist acceptability, as well as adherence to and competence with MIACT, will be assessed. The proportion of infants receiving MOM within 24 hours of NICU discharge is the primary outcome of this foundational work combining two evidence-based behavioral strategies to target NICU-based MOM feeding to improve vulnerable, Black infants’ (and their mothers’) health.
Grant Summary
Increasing Mothers' Own Milk Feeding to Black Infants in the Neonatal ICU: Training a Lactation Team in a Culturally Informed Behavioral Intervention is a NIMHD - National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities grant providing up to $234K for university, nonprofit, healthcare org. Applications are due 2027-12-31 (open). Check eligibility and apply with FindGrants.
Not quite the right fit?
Search 9,000+ open grants, or get matches ranked for your organization — free.
Focus Areas
Eligibility
How to Apply
Up to $234K
2027-12-31
- 1Confirm your organization is eligible for Increasing Mothers' Own Milk Feeding to Black Infants in the Neonatal ICU: Training a Lactation Team in a Culturally Informed Behavioral Intervention from NIMHD - National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, checking organization type, location, and any population or project requirements.
- 2Gather the required documents and information, including your organization details, project plan, and budget figures.
- 3Draft your application narrative and budget addressing the funder's priorities and review criteria. FindGrants can draft each section for you to review and edit.
- 4Review every section against the requirements checklist, then export a submission-ready application pack and submit it to NIMHD - National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities before the deadline.
Don't want to draft it yourself?
We'll draft the complete application against NIMHD - National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities's requirements, run a quality review, and email you a submission-ready PDF plus an editable Word doc within 5 business days. Most orders deliver in 24-48 hours. Flat $399, any grant size.
AI Requirement Analysis
Detailed requirements not yet analyzed
Have the NOFO? Paste it below for AI-powered requirement analysis.
Increasing Mothers' Own Milk Feeding to Black Infants in the Neonatal ICU: Training a Lactation Team in a Culturally Informed Behavioral Intervention: Frequently Asked Questions
Who is eligible for the Increasing Mothers' Own Milk Feeding to Black Infants in the Neonatal ICU: Training a Lactation Team in a Culturally Informed Behavioral Intervention?
Increasing Mothers' Own Milk Feeding to Black Infants in the Neonatal ICU: Training a Lactation Team in a Culturally Informed Behavioral Intervention is offered by NIMHD - National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities and is generally open to university, nonprofit, healthcare org. It is open to organizations nationwide unless the funder specifies otherwise. Review the specific eligibility terms before applying, since funders set their own requirements around organization type, location, and the population or project being served.
How much funding does the Increasing Mothers' Own Milk Feeding to Black Infants in the Neonatal ICU: Training a Lactation Team in a Culturally Informed Behavioral Intervention provide?
Increasing Mothers' Own Milk Feeding to Black Infants in the Neonatal ICU: Training a Lactation Team in a Culturally Informed Behavioral Intervention provides up to $234K per award from NIMHD - National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities. Actual award sizes depend on the scope of your project, available program funds, and the number of applicants, so build a budget that reflects realistic, allowable costs rather than the maximum figure.
When is the Increasing Mothers' Own Milk Feeding to Black Infants in the Neonatal ICU: Training a Lactation Team in a Culturally Informed Behavioral Intervention deadline?
Applications for Increasing Mothers' Own Milk Feeding to Black Infants in the Neonatal ICU: Training a Lactation Team in a Culturally Informed Behavioral Intervention are due 2027-12-31 (open). Because deadlines can change, verify the date with the funder, NIMHD - National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, and give yourself enough time to prepare a complete, competitive application before the close date.
How do you apply for the Increasing Mothers' Own Milk Feeding to Black Infants in the Neonatal ICU: Training a Lactation Team in a Culturally Informed Behavioral Intervention?
To apply for Increasing Mothers' Own Milk Feeding to Black Infants in the Neonatal ICU: Training a Lactation Team in a Culturally Informed Behavioral Intervention, confirm your eligibility, gather the required documents, and prepare a narrative and budget that address the funder's priorities. FindGrants guides you step by step and can draft each section, then exports a submission-ready application pack for this grant from NIMHD - National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities.