Rose Marie Straeter, MA, RLC, IBCLC
by Robin Allen, MSPH, RDN, LDN
Rose began working with breastfeeding mothers and babies in 1988 as a La Leche League (LLL) Leader. She has held area positions in Indiana and Illinois La Leche League as Assistant Area Professional Liaison, Area Professional Liaison, Communication Skills Instructor and Communication Skills Coordinator. She enjoyed breastfeeding their two children. She became an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) in 1994. While living in Indiana, she wrote monthly articles for the magazine “Hoosier Parent”. Her articles were also published in newsletters in both Indiana and Illinois including one titled “Texting 101 for La Leche League Leaders”. She participated on the Illinois Breastfeeding Blueprint Committee.
She owned and operated a private practice serving a wide area in Southern Indiana. She worked as the head of the Lactation Department at a Women’s Hospital after they purchased her private practice business. She has conducted numerous in-services at hospitals in Indiana and Illinois. She has presented sessions at conferences and workshops. She has been a speaker at the Indiana and Illinois State and regional conferences for LLL.
She worked with a local Indiana WIC office as a contractual employee providing breastfeeding education for employees and providing client follow-up. She worked at a local Health Department in Illinois as a Senior Peer Counselor, Breastfeeding Coordinator, and the Peer Counselor Supervisor.
Rose was contracted to do four webinars by the Illinois Department of Human Services and the Springfield Urban League Community Health Training Center. The targeted audience included Breastfeeding & WIC Coordinators, Hospital Staff, Health Care Professionals, Peer Counselors, Doulas, Front-line staff, Regional Task Forces and Coalitions and other Coalition Members and Breastfeeding Advocates. She is an instructor for the “Loving Support” training for new Breastfeeding Peer Counselors in Illinois through the IDHS.
Rose’s educational background in secondary education has provided beneficial knowledge in the area of providing breastfeeding education to clients and other health care professionals. Her training as a Communication Skills Instructor has provided additional skills that facilitate positive communication. She has a Master’s Degree in Psychology with a concentration in Organizational Leadership. Her Applied Research Project examined the negative and uncomfortable feelings women have toward breastfeeding and their underlying factors. In addition, she recently completed all course work for a Ph.D. and is in the process of completing her dissertation.
This post was written by Robin Allen, a member of OneOp (MFLN) Nutrition and Wellness team that aims to support the development of professionals working with military families. Find out more about the OneOp Nutrition and Wellness concentration on our website, on Facebook, on Twitter, and LinkedIn.
