Become A CBC Member
Make A Donation
cbc-site-logo-FINAL

Home   Blog     Who We Are     Subscribe

Become A CBC Member
cbc-site-logo-FINAL
Make A Donation

It’s Here: CBC Officially Launches LATCH

July 31, 2026

Uncategorized

 

It’s Here: CBC Officially Launches LATCH

After 12 months of research, focus groups, late nights, and more revisions than we can count, we’re thrilled to share that the LATCH Directory is officially live right in time for National Breastfeeding Month!

If you haven’t heard about LATCH at all here’s what it means, where it came from, and what’s still ahead.

What’s launching

The LATCH Directory is a free, multilingual, statewide resource that connects families with local lactation providers, coalitions, cultural task forces, WIC, IBCLCs, culture friendly providers, and community health programs. Every listing includes the details you’re searching for when you are looking for support: cost, insurance, language, and accessibility.

Whether you’re a new parent trying to find a lactation consultant, or a provider who wants families in your community to find you, the Directory is built to make that connection simple.

Where it came from

None of this happens without funding. LATCH is made possible by a $1.2 million CLASP-BC grant (Californians Linking Action with Science for Prevention of Breast Cancer) awarded to CBC by the University of California Office of the President.

Breastfeeding and chestfeeding support is a proven tool for primary breast cancer prevention, and CLASP-BC specifically prioritizes California’s culturally, ethnically, and racially diverse and medically underserved communities. According to the American Institute for Cancer Research, breastfeeding lowers a woman’s risk of developing breast cancer by about 4.3% for every 12 months breastfed, and that protective effect grows the longer someone breastfeeds. Every family we help start or sustain breastfeeding is also a step toward better long-term health outcomes across California.

CBC Project Manager Raksha Singh helped lead the research behind LATCH, using focus groups, surveys and more to make sure the project reflected real needs. As she put it, the goal was to make sure “the solutions come directly from parents, advocates, and providers across California.”

Why a directory, and not something new from scratch

LATCH isn’t here to replace or duplicate the incredible work already happening in communities, clinics, and hospitals across California. CBC Executive Director Jasmine Pettis Marquez has been clear that this project is meant to serve as a centralized resource one that helps families find the evidence-based, culturally responsive support that’s already out there, while strengthening the providers doing that work every day.

This is only phase one

Here’s the part we’re most excited to share: the Directory is just the beginning. LATCH is a two-phase initiative, and the Directory we’ve launched is only phase one.

Phase two is the LATCH Line — a free, multilingual statewide lactation warmline staffed by culturally competent professionals, offering guidance, referrals, and support by phone. The LATCH Line is set to launch in August 2027, giving families a live, human connection to lactation support whenever they need it, in the language they’re most comfortable using.

Together, the Directory and the Line are designed to close the same gap from two directions: helping families find the right support today, and building a safety net so no one has to navigate breastfeeding challenges alone.

What you can do right now