Arkansas

Breastfeeding in Arkansas
Breastfeeding in Arkansas is supported by a range of laws, programs, and resources designed to ensure that parents can breastfeed their infants safely and comfortably, whether at home or in public.

Legal Protections for Breastfeeding

Exemptions from public indecency laws and jury duty

In Arkansas, mothers have the legal right to breastfeed their children in any public or private location where they are otherwise authorized to be. This right ensures that breastfeeding is not considered public indecency, and mothers are protected from any related legal repercussions.

Regarding jury duty, Arkansas law allows individuals to be excused if the judge determines that their health or family responsibilities necessitate their absence. Specifically, a judge may excuse a juror if "the juror's health or family responsibilities reasonably require his or her absence." This provision can apply to breastfeeding mothers, as their family responsibilities may reasonably require their absence from jury duty. However, such exemptions are not automatic and must be granted by a judge upon request. Therefore, breastfeeding mothers seeking exemption from jury duty should promptly communicate their situation to the court and request to be excused.

Right to Breastfeed in Public

Arkansas’s breastfeeding laws provide specific protections, including the right to breastfeed in places like restaurants, stores, and public transportation. Learn more: Alaska Statutes on Breastfeeding.

Workplace Protections for Breastfeeding

Mothers in Arkansas have the right to breastfeed in any public location, as long as they are legally allowed to be there. Arkansas has workplace lactation accommodation legislation that are equal to, but do not exceed, the protections offered by the federal FLSA’s PUMP Act—which provides workplace lactation accommodation protections for all breastfeeding employees.

More so, Arkansas law explicitly protects a woman's right to breastfeed her child in any public or private location where she is otherwise authorized to be, including places like restaurants, stores, and public transportation. This protection is established under Arkansas Code 20-27-2001, which states: "A woman may breastfeed a child in a public place or any place where other individuals are present."

Additionally, Arkansas law ensures that breastfeeding is not considered indecent exposure. Arkansas Code 5-14-112 clarifies that a woman is not in violation of indecent exposure laws when breastfeeding her child in any location where she is authorized to be.

Furthermore, employers in Arkansas are required to provide reasonable unpaid break time and a private, secure, and sanitary location (other than a toilet stall) for employees to express breast milk. This requirement is outlined in Arkansas Code 11-5-116.

Support for Breastfeeding Families

Arkansas offers several support programs and resources for breastfeeding families

WIC Breastfeeding Support: The Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program provides breastfeeding information and support through local health units. Qualified WIC staff are available to assist with breastfeeding questions and challenges.

Breast Pump Provision: Breast pumps are available at no cost for women enrolled in the Arkansas WIC program who are partially or exclusively breastfeeding. To obtain a breast pump, contact your local health unit to schedule a WIC appointment and inform the staff of your breastfeeding needs.

24/7 Breastfeeding Helpline: For immediate assistance, the Arkansas WIC Breastfeeding Helpline is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Arkansas Breastfeeding Coalition: This statewide multidisciplinary organization collaborates to promote, protect, and support breastfeeding. They work with hospitals to implement the “Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding” and recognize businesses that commit to becoming “breastfeeding friendly.”

Arkansas Children's Hospital: The Breastfeeding and Lactation Clinic provides outpatient visits for expectant and new mothers and babies, offering specialized support to achieve feeding goals.

Arkansas Breastfeeding Clinic: Located in Little Rock, this clinic offers lactation consultations and breastfeeding support, providing personalized assistance to meet individual goals and needs.

Breastfeeding in Rural and Remote Communities
Arkansas offers a variety of telehealth services, local resources, and peer support to assist breastfeeding families.

Telehealth and Mobile Support: In Arkansas, breastfeeding support is also available remotely. Health services, including lactation support, are accessible through telehealth programs, which help reach mothers in remote areas. Learn more

Local Resources and Peer Support: Many rural and Indigenous communities in Arkansas have local breastfeeding support groups or peer counseling programs, helping to create a supportive environment for new mothers. Community-based organizations also provide culturally relevant breastfeeding information.

Education and Awareness
Arkansas provides extensive breastfeeding education and support for new parents through hospital-based lactation classes, peer counselor programs, and online and clinic-based educational resources. Hospitals like Baptist Health and UAMS offer lactation classes, while the Arkansas WIC program connects mothers with peer counselors. The Arkansas Breastfeeding Coalition and Arkansas Department of Health provide educational materials and statewide support. These programs help parents prepare for and navigate the challenges of breastfeeding, ensuring they have the necessary guidance and resources for a successful breastfeeding journey.
Breastfeeding in Arkansas
Breastfeeding in Arkansas is supported by a range of laws, programs, and resources designed to ensure that parents can breastfeed their infants safely and comfortably, whether at home or in public.

Legal Protections for Breastfeeding

Exemptions from public indecency laws and jury duty

In Arkansas, mothers have the legal right to breastfeed their children in any public or private location where they are otherwise authorized to be. This right ensures that breastfeeding is not considered public indecency, and mothers are protected from any related legal repercussions.

Regarding jury duty, Arkansas law allows individuals to be excused if the judge determines that their health or family responsibilities necessitate their absence. Specifically, a judge may excuse a juror if "the juror's health or family responsibilities reasonably require his or her absence." This provision can apply to breastfeeding mothers, as their family responsibilities may reasonably require their absence from jury duty. However, such exemptions are not automatic and must be granted by a judge upon request. Therefore, breastfeeding mothers seeking exemption from jury duty should promptly communicate their situation to the court and request to be excused.

Right to Breastfeed in Public

Arkansas’s breastfeeding laws provide specific protections, including the right to breastfeed in places like restaurants, stores, and public transportation. Learn more: Alaska Statutes on Breastfeeding.

Workplace Protections for Breastfeeding

Mothers in Arkansas have the right to breastfeed in any public location, as long as they are legally allowed to be there. Arkansas has workplace lactation accommodation legislation that are equal to, but do not exceed, the protections offered by the federal FLSA’s PUMP Act—which provides workplace lactation accommodation protections for all breastfeeding employees.

More so, Arkansas law explicitly protects a woman's right to breastfeed her child in any public or private location where she is otherwise authorized to be, including places like restaurants, stores, and public transportation. This protection is established under Arkansas Code 20-27-2001, which states: "A woman may breastfeed a child in a public place or any place where other individuals are present."

Additionally, Arkansas law ensures that breastfeeding is not considered indecent exposure. Arkansas Code 5-14-112 clarifies that a woman is not in violation of indecent exposure laws when breastfeeding her child in any location where she is authorized to be.

Furthermore, employers in Arkansas are required to provide reasonable unpaid break time and a private, secure, and sanitary location (other than a toilet stall) for employees to express breast milk. This requirement is outlined in Arkansas Code 11-5-116.

Support for Breastfeeding Families

Arkansas offers several support programs and resources for breastfeeding families

WIC Breastfeeding Support: The Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program provides breastfeeding information and support through local health units. Qualified WIC staff are available to assist with breastfeeding questions and challenges.

Breast Pump Provision: Breast pumps are available at no cost for women enrolled in the Arkansas WIC program who are partially or exclusively breastfeeding. To obtain a breast pump, contact your local health unit to schedule a WIC appointment and inform the staff of your breastfeeding needs.

24/7 Breastfeeding Helpline: For immediate assistance, the Arkansas WIC Breastfeeding Helpline is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Arkansas Breastfeeding Coalition: This statewide multidisciplinary organization collaborates to promote, protect, and support breastfeeding. They work with hospitals to implement the “Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding” and recognize businesses that commit to becoming “breastfeeding friendly.”

Arkansas Children's Hospital: The Breastfeeding and Lactation Clinic provides outpatient visits for expectant and new mothers and babies, offering specialized support to achieve feeding goals.

Baptist Health: Registered Nurse International Board-Certified Lactation Consultants offer one-on-one consultations to assist with breastfeeding techniques, recognizing signs of effective feeding, and breast pump setup.

Arkansas Breastfeeding Clinic: Located in Little Rock, this clinic offers lactation consultations and breastfeeding support, providing personalized assistance to meet individual goals and needs.

Breastfeeding in Rural and Remote Communities
Arkansas offers a variety of telehealth services, local resources, and peer support to assist breastfeeding families.

Telehealth and Mobile Support: In Arkansas, breastfeeding support is also available remotely. Health services, including lactation support, are accessible through telehealth programs, which help reach mothers in remote areas. Learn more

Local Resources and Peer Support: Many rural and Indigenous communities in Arkansas have local breastfeeding support groups or peer counseling programs, helping to create a supportive environment for new mothers. Community-based organizations also provide culturally relevant breastfeeding information.

Education and Awareness
Arkansas provides extensive breastfeeding education and support for new parents through hospital-based lactation classes, peer counselor programs, and online and clinic-based educational resources. Hospitals like Baptist Health and UAMS offer lactation classes, while the Arkansas WIC program connects mothers with peer counselors. The Arkansas Breastfeeding Coalition and Arkansas Department of Health provide educational materials and statewide support. These programs help parents prepare for and navigate the challenges of breastfeeding, ensuring they have the necessary guidance and resources for a successful breastfeeding journey.