The lactation stations will be available for employees, jurors or members of the public visiting the courthouse, according to a news release. The stations are wheelchair accessible and include charging outlets, ventilation fans, a mirror and a shelf.
The lactation pods were in partnership with the Houston Bar Association, Harris County State District Courts, the county engineering office and Harris County Precinct 4 Commissioner Lesley Briones.
“As a working mother, I know what it is like to need a private, clean, safe space to pump or nurse and not find one. I remember the pain and stress when there were none," Briones said in a news release.
The three stations were installed at the following county courts in downtown Houston:
- May 3: Harris County Civil Courthouse
- May 10: Harris County Criminal Justice Center
- May 17: Harris County Jury Assembly building
How we got here
At a Feb. 27 Harris County Commissioners Court meeting, commissioners approved the donation of the three lactation stations that was valued at approximately $99,000. At the same meeting, commissioners also approved a policy and procedure that required county buildings to provide access to designated private places for employees to pump.
With the county building policy changes, Harris County is now designated as a Texas Mother-Friendly worksite by the Texas Department of State Health Services, , according to the news release.
“These lactation pods underscore the importance of women in the legal profession, and send the message that women are welcome and belong in the courthouse," Gomez said.
