Recognizing Leadership in Lactation Support Across California
This year’s Hospital of the Year finalists represent the gold standard in equitable, innovative, and community-driven lactation care. From rural counties to major urban centers, each of these hospitals has demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to improving breastfeeding outcomes and ensuring all families—regardless of background—receive the support they deserve.
Sutter Amador Hospital
In the rural communities of Amador and Calaveras counties, Sutter Amador Hospital continues to be a cornerstone of care. After the retirement of a long-standing IBCLC, the hospital responded with strategic action—hiring a Certified Lactation Counselor and reinstating its in-person support group. This free, open-to-the-community service offers 1:1 latch assistance, weight monitoring, and peer support. The hospital’s collaboration with local WIC, First 5, and the Breastfeeding Coalition ensures a continuum of care from pregnancy to postpartum. Their Baby-Friendly redesignation in 2024, alongside the mentoring pipeline for CLCs to become IBCLCs, demonstrates how deeply Sutter Amador invests in sustainable, equitable care—despite the challenges of rural geography.
Huntington Health
As Pasadena’s leading hospital, Huntington Health combines Magnet-level nursing excellence with full-spectrum perinatal and NICU care. Their Baby-Friendly status since 2016 reflects a longstanding commitment to the WHO 10 Steps, with over 80% of RN staff trained or in training as lactation educators. Huntington’s NICU lactation support, daily consults, donor milk access, and the “Return Home with Confidence” program offer a robust safety net for families navigating postpartum care. Their dedication to human milk feeding continues after discharge, with IBCLCs tracking and supporting breastfed infants every step of the way.
Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital
As the first Baby-Friendly hospital in San Francisco, ZSFG is a trailblazer in equity-focused, evidence-based lactation care. With an exclusive breastfeeding rate above 82%, they offer not only clinical excellence but deeply embedded community engagement. Their culturally responsive programs serve families navigating housing insecurity, trauma, and systemic barriers. From prenatal IBCLC-led education for Black birthing parents to their donor milk drive and NICU quality initiatives, ZSFG demonstrates how public hospitals can lead with both heart and impact. This year, ZSFG was also honored with the 2025 NICU of the Year award.
Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital
In San Benito County, Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital transformed one of the state’s lowest exclusive breastfeeding rates into a growing success story. Through the San Benito County Baby Friendly Task Force, the hospital developed partnerships, hosted bilingual support groups with mental health check-ins, and launched community-wide education efforts. Their Baby-Friendly designation in 2024 confirmed what the data already showed: a climb from 58.8% to 83.1% in exclusivity rates, with marked gains for Hispanic families. This rural hospital proves that with collaboration and consistency, massive change is possible.
O’Connor Hospital
O’Connor Hospital’s lactation team embodies perseverance and passion. Their lead lactation consultant spent over four years building a Baby-Friendly program from the ground up—earning designation in January 2024 with zero corrective actions needed. In addition to bedside support and staff education, they’ve worked across departments and clinics to ensure equitable access to lactation care. Their advocacy for NICU families facing insurance barriers around hospital-grade pump access reflects a core belief: every baby deserves equitable care, and no parent should have to fight alone to provide it.
Salinas Valley Health Medical Center
Salinas Valley Health stands out for its patient-first, education-rich approach to lactation care. From a bilingual breastfeeding app to a nationally awarded postpartum booklet, SVHMC’s materials empower families across every feeding journey. With a 2024 mPINC score of 92 and consistently high performance in Baby-Friendly benchmarks, their commitment to individualized care—especially for NICU families—sets them apart. Inclusive, accessible, and community-oriented, SVHMC continues to lead through excellence and empathy.
Enloe Health
Enloe Health, the first Baby-Friendly hospital in Butte County, is redefining equity in lactation care. Their NICU-centered practices, postpartum Going Home guide, and expanded outpatient services ensure breastfeeding support continues beyond discharge. With a breastfeeding initiation rate of 85% and an exclusivity rate of 73%, Enloe integrates chart audits, staff education, and family-centered tools into their quality improvement work. Their bilingual, inclusive approach—especially in the NICU—reinforces their belief that quality care must reach every family.
Alta Bates Summit Medical Center
With a diverse lactation team and strong community partnerships, Alta Bates Summit is leading the way in culturally responsive care. Their Birth Equity Collaborative prioritizes African American patients, resulting in rising exclusivity rates and deeper community trust. From a volunteer doula program to in-person and virtual support groups, Alta Bates meets families where they are. Their recent Baby-Friendly designation in 2025 is a reflection of years of intentional outreach, education, and collaboration.
Adventist Health + Rideout
In Yuba, Sutter, and Colusa counties, Adventist Health + Rideout has made impressive strides—more than doubling their exclusive human milk feeding rate since 2017. Their Baby-Friendly designation in 2024 marks the impact of years of work: staff trainings, prenatal partnerships, and community engagement through the Tri-Counties Breastfeeding Alliance. Looking ahead, the hospital is expanding skin-to-skin practices in the OR and bringing donor milk into the NICU. Their team is deeply engaged—and it shows.
Alameda Health System – Highland Hospital
Highland Hospital’s commitment to equity runs through every part of its lactation program. Their BEloved Birth Black Centering program offers culturally affirming, wraparound care for Black birthing parents, while IBCLCs and trained staff provide hands-on, individualized support for every family. Their Baby-Friendly designation and 70% breastfeeding rate reflect consistency, compassion, and community investment. With warm lines, pump access, and postpartum support, Highland ensures lactation care is more than a service—it’s a standard.