A dream has become a reality for Jilian Reece.

Various medical professionals will be in Carter County on Friday, Aug. 3, for the inaugural Latched on to Maternal Health, a regional maternal health forum taking place from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT) – Elizabethton campus.

Sponsors for the event are the ETSU Office of Continuing Medical Education at Quillen College of Medicine, Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services and Carter County Drug Prevention Coalition.

Reece, CCDP executive director, has stayed busy over the years working with mothers in the region and added the event will be vital for everyone involved.

“Anybody that has been around me for the past eight or nine years, there’s always a baby attached to me,” Reece said with laugh. “My heart is with mommas, especially new mommas in our community. For a long time, I’ve had this vision of having an event where we can educate providers on best practices for moms but also incorporating moms in the event. Providers are able to learn, and also hear questions that mothers have. And the mothers are able to see their providers are invested enough in them to come and get this education and see what’s important. It’s a win-win for everyone.”

Professionals can register for the event to receive seven-hour CME credit.

Speakers during the event vary from the local level, along with those around the country. Reece added representatives from the University of Michigan and University of North Carolina will speak during the event.

“I believe this can be a key asset for rural physicians,” she said. “Rural physicians have the chance to know what the best practice is for a mother that comes in for either postpartum depression or where to direct a mother for the right resource.”

Professionals can visit www.etsu.edu/com/cme to register for the event. Students and mothers wanting to attend the speaker portion can come the day of and attend for $15.

Members of the public can attend for free starting at noon, according to the Tennessee Department of Health.

The event coincidences with World Breastfeeding Week, starting Aug. 1.

Carter County Health Department is also assisting with the endeavor. A resource fair, starting in the afternoon, will also occur during the conference to make sure mothers have all the right resources necessary.

“Carter County Health Department wants to make sure new mothers have the support they need to breastfeed their infants,” Caroline Hurt, CCHD director, said in a statement issued to the Elizabethton Star. “We have a breastfeeding peer counselor and certified lactation counselor on the team to assist as necessary.”

Shannon Roark, TDH regional nutrition director, added, “We are fortunate in Tennessee compared to other southern states since more than half of the babies born here are still nursing at six months. While we are proud of this, local health departments throughout the region work to support all women who want to breastfeed in making that happen.”

Visit the 2018 World Breastfeeding Week Celebration Facebook event page to learn more about the event.