In 2005, Indiana Mothers’ Milk Bank, Inc., was established to improve health outcomes for premature and ill infants, foster better health for Indiana’s children and decrease health care expenditures. The milk bank receives human milk from carefully screened donors, pasteurizes, freezes and distributes it throughout Indiana and the Midwest. As a non-profit, community-supported entity, IMMB is the first and only donor human milk bank in Indiana.

For some, mothers’ milk is a gift like no other. As part of a nationwide network of lactating mothers working to help infants in need of human milk, we give these mothers a way to share the gift that only they can provide—the medicine-like mothers’ milk that ailing infants and others thrive on for life-giving nutrition.

Strategies:

1) Increase availability of pasteurized donor human milk for ill and premature infants
2) Recruit and screen potential human milk donors
3) Provide pasteurized donor human milk processed according to Human Milk Banking Association of North America (HMBANA) guidelines
4) Educate the community about enhanced health outcomes for infants receiving human milk
5) Increase the initiation and duration of breastfeeding in Indiana
6) Facilitate research with human milk and subsequent health outcomes

While the Indiana Mothers’ Milk Bank is still in its early years and holds a future rich in promise and potential, the history of the milk bank is abundant with loyalty to our mission, progress and growth. The milk bank is supported by various community partners, grants and individuals who donate everything from financial support and sponsorship to rocking chairs and human milk.
Support from mothers who contribute milk, volunteers who contribute time and community partners who contribute financial support and in-kind donations has allowed us to flourish. We have distributed thousands of ounces of milk to hundreds of babies and others who need it to survive—and we’ve only just begun.

With nine milk drop-off sites across Indiana, Kentucky and Chicago (and growing!) we are expanding our reach. As a result, we outgrew our original office and moved into our new, 3,000 square foot facility in May 2010. With thousands of ounces of milk passing through our offices each month, we continue to expand throughout the Midwest. We are committed to Sharing the Gift of Mothers’ Milk.

Staff

Janice Sneider O’Rourke, MPA, RD, Executive Director

Since 2007, I have served as the Executive Director of the Indiana Mothers’ Milk Bank. I have a long history of advocacy for infant and child nutrition and health care. I received my Bachelor of Science in Dietetics from Bowling Green State University, completed my Dietetic Internship at Harper Hospital in Detroit, Michigan and have been a Registered Dietitian for over 23 years. I received my Master of Public Affairs from IUPUI, and am currently a PhD Candidate in Philanthropic Studies through the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University. I spent over 11 years in public service with both the Arkansas Department of Health and the Indiana State Department of Health before I moved to the nonprofit sector. I see the milk bank as the perfect blending of my interest in infant nutrition, my love for public health, and my knowledge of nonprofit organizations. I see the potential to create better health outcomes for infants and children as I work to help the IMMB reach our greatest potential through growth and expansion and progress towards a time when all babies that need it will have access to the gift of mother’s milk.

Rachel Pritz, RN, BSN, Clinical Coordinator

I have been a Registered Nurse for 10 years and have enjoyed all of the experiences that nursing has to offer. I worked in Labor and Delivery, which is where I became passionate about educating women about the benefits of breastfeeding. I received my ASN at University of Saint Francis in Fort Wayne, my BSN at the IU School of Nursing, and I am currently working on my MSN in Administration at the IU School of Nursing. I spent most of my career as a recovery room nurse and educator so milk banking is a completely new avenue for me professionally. Aside from my career, I also volunteer with the Junior League of Indianapolis.

Carissa Hawkins, Donor Outreach Coordinator

Everyone said Motherhood would change me. I knew they were right, I just didn’t anticipate a career change in addition to all the other capacities I have gained after having my first child. I choose to breastfeed and quickly found that I was making more milk then my babe would use, so I donated. My role at IMMB is  all things donor: community outreach, marking communication and most importantly shepherding potential donors through the approval process. I have a Bachelors Degree in Communication Studies and have worked in care coordinator since graduating.  I am so thankful to be using my skills for such a worthy population. Aside from spending time with my baby girl, I volunteer with the Junior League of Indianapolis. Feel free to contact me: chawkins@immb.org

Terry Jo Curtis, IBCLC, Pasteurization Coordinator

The mammalian philosophy of human milk for human babies is a well-defined holistic statement I use to make a healthy point on breastfeeding. Realizing every woman was created to breastfeed, there are circumstances that occur that prohibit mothers from producing this life-saving resource for their babies. IMMB fills this need by providing pasteurized donor human milk to inpatients and outpatients in need. Working as the IMMB Pasteurization Coordinator allows me to ensure the safety, quality, and efficacy of the human milk we distributed. This is the important bridge that fulfills the link to premature or ill babies who need pasteurized donor human milk when moms cannot use their own human milk for various reasons.

In addition to my work at IMMB, I am the founder of the Indiana Black Breastfeeding Coalition. Together with organizations such as IMMB, the IBBC strives to protect, promote, and support breastfeeding in the African-American community.

Board of Directors