About Me
Melissa Clark Vickers, MEd
I am a writer and editor, specializing in a broad child and family well-being umbrella that includes the critical role of family/professional partnerships in health care.
I work extensively with Family Voices, an organization dedicated to family-centered care and advocacy for children with special health care needs. I am the IMPACT (Improving Maternal and child health Programs so All Children Can Thrive) Project Coordinator, and as such, create many of our health and wellness family-friendly publications, including editing the Bright Futures Family Matters newsletter. I am the lead author of the Family Voices Bright Futures Family Pocket Guide: Raising Healthy Infants, Children, and Adolescents, 2nd Ed. This pocket guide is the family companion to the American Academy of Pediatrics professional Bright Futures Guidelines for the Health Supervision of Infants, Children, and Adolescents. I served on the Infancy Expert Panel for that AAP book’s 3rd edition and currently serve on this panel for the upcoming 4th edition.
I am the co-author of two books:
- Passionate Journey–My Unexpected Life: La Leche League co-Founder Marian Tompson’s memoir. What a joy and honor it was to work with Marian on this book!
- The 10th Step and Beyond: Mother Support for Breastfeeding: Working with co-editor/author Australian International Board Certified Lactation Consultant Virginia Thorley, we brought together experts on mother support for breastfeeding from five continents–such a wealth of knowledge and experience!
As a volunteer La Leche League International (LLLI) Leader, I have provided both direct mother support for breastfeeding, and indirect support as the LLL Alliance for Breastfeeding Education Professional Liaison Department Administrator (PLDA), acting as a resource for other LLL Leaders working with mothers on challenging breastfeeding issues. My 5-year term as PLDA just ended and I’m back to being “just” a La Leche League Leader.
I am also a long time writer for LLLI, including authoring the 2006 “Breastfeeding and Obesity” pamphlet and yearly statements celebrating the World Health Organization’s World Health Day. I was the lead author of a World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action booklet entitled, Mother Support for Breastfeeding: Selected Statements and Excerpts about Mother Support in Key International Documents.
I am married and have two grown children and one adorable grandson.