The Multnomah County Health Department is using PHIG funding to support four WIC employees pursuing lactation certification, doubling the number of women of color lactation consultants in Oregon. This increase is essential, as lactation consultants play a vital role in improving breastfeeding initiation and duration, especially for BIPOC communities where access to culturally aligned care has been limited. Two employees have already started prerequisite classes, with two more joining in Spring 2025. The initiative also pilots a prepayment process to reduce financial barriers to professional development while establishing a formal process for staff funding requests, set for completion by early 2025.