The WBTi report assesses the status of and creates benchmarks on the progress of implementation of the Global Strategy for Infant and Young Child Feeding. It is based on the World Health Organization’s tool for the national assessment of policy and programs on infant and young child feeding. The WBTi measures strengths and weaknesses on the ten parameters of policy and programs that protect, promote and support optimal infant and young child feeding practices.

The Healthy Children Project initiated the US effort to participate in the initiative by completing the prescribed training and planning as set forth by the WBTi. Healthy Children Project also provided funding and leadership for the assessment and, in the spring of 2016, a call was put forth inviting experts from all sectors involved in maternal-child health to participate as members of the expert panel. The participants represented public health policy, advanced practice nursing, academic lactation, maternal-child health education, health communication, anthropology, research, public policy, dietetics, nutrition, nutrition education, medical education, nursing education, Baby-Friendly Hospital consultants, HIV education, medicine, public health education, mother-to-mother support, military families, public health employees, and counseling.

A follow-up report was conducted in the spring of 2019.

Healthy Children Project also releases a national report based on the WBTi criteria that monitors the progress of IYCF in each of the 50 U.S. states.

The report helps guide lactation policy by gauging the success of current practices and determining where improvement is needed.