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Upcoming Events for the Week of February 20th

LA Best Babies Network ,

Here is a roundup of this week’s conferences, webinars, and trainings for home visitors and others who work with pregnant women and families with little ones. Also included: events around L.A. County that you can share with the families you serve. Want to look further into the future? See the comprehensive lists we update weekly for:

Do you have something for us to include? Email snish@labestbabies.org. And stay in touch with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube!

February is:

Ongoing Opportunities

Help Paying for DWP Energy and Water Bills
There’s up to $5,000 in tax-free utility bill assistance available through the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP) per eligible households. There is no impact on other benefits or public charge determinations. Learn how to apply at Help Is On the Way (ladwp.com). Non-DWP customers can use this search feature to contact a local LIHEAP agency for more information.

Free COVID-19 Telehealth Services
If you test positive for COVID-19 or have questions about symptoms, reach out to the Public Health Call Center for a free telehealth screening at 1-833-540-0473. The center is open 7 days a week from 8:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Presented by the L.A. County Department of Health

Consumer Relief for Natural Gas Bills
Various resources are available to assist income-qualified customers with high gas bills. Learn more here.
Presented by SoCalGas 

Early Learning Readiness (ELR) Programs at the YMCA help children (0-5 years) develop the physical, verbal, and social skills they need to be school-ready. Caregivers learn how children develop and how to encourage skill-building at home. See flyers in English and in Spanish. YMCA’s offering ELR program:

USC School of Early Childhood Education is Now Enrolling
The program is open to children ages 0-5 and pregnant people. There are options for Early Head Start, Head Start and State preschool. Call (213) 743-2466 to learn more.

Discounted Internet Access: Affordable Connectivity Program
Run by the Federal Communications Commission, this program reduces the cost of internet for families with a limited income. See if you qualify here.

Get Child Care Financial Assistance
The Child Care Resource Center helps families find and apply for child care assistance. Apply here (or
here in Spanish). Learn more at CCRCCA.org or call 1-866-67-4KIDS. See CCRC’s flyer for parents in English and Spanish.

UCLA Breastfeeding Study: Seeking Interview Participants
Get a $75 gift card for doing a 45- to 60-minute phone/zoom interview about breastfeeding. Must be pregnant or have recently given birth and identify as Asian American, Black or African American, or Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander. Select a time to do the interview here. Contact ajscheitler@ucla.edu if you have questions.
Study conducted by UCLA Center for Health Policy Research

MotherToBaby Study: Seeking Participants
MotherToBaby is currently enrolling pregnant women in an observational study to explore how asthma and its treatment affect pregnancy. All studies are conducted through phone interviews — no changes to your normal routine or travel required. 
Study conducted by MotherToBaby

CalKIDS Program Gives Money to Families to Save for College
Low-income families with public school students in grades 1-12 can now open college savings accounts, and California will contribute seed investments of up to $1,500 for each child. All California families with newborns (born on or after July 1, 2022) can also open these accounts and receive up to $100 from the state. Read more about eligibility, and see this FAQ page. To see these pages in another language click “Language” on the right side.

WIC Families Get Benefits at the Farmers’ Market
WIC families can get $30 to buy fruits and vegetables at WIC-certified Farmers’ Markets (limit one per family per year). Text “Farmers” to 91997 for more info or use this tool to find your nearest Farmers’ Market that accepts WIC.

Pregnant? Sign up for KPCC’s New Pregnancy Texting Service
KPCC and LAist have a new texting service that they are inviting pregnant people to help beta test. Get answers to some of your questions about pregnancy, birth and parent life. Text “heybb” to 73224 to sign up.

Food Giveaways
See our updated list throughout L.A. County. For all in-person events, remind families to wear masks, maintain social distancing, and stay home if they feel sick or have been diagnosed with COVID.

Low-Income Fare is Easy (LIFE) Program
This program is open to low-income individuals who live in Los Angeles County. LIFE offers discounts on weekly and monthly transit passes on Metro and any LIFE participating transit agencies.
Presented by Metro

Free or Low-Cost Internet for Students
Visit GetConnectedLosAngeles.lacity.org or call 3-1-1 to learn about available options.
Presented by the City of L.A.

Resources to Bridge the Digital Divide
A recent LA Health Collaborative focused on helping underserved families in LA County get connected. For a very comprehensive library of resources, see the Digital Divide Toolkit from the Community Clinic Association of LA County. Here are a couple of good links to share with clients (those without Internet access can call 3-1-1 to learn about available options):
Get Connected LosAngeles
Affordable Connectivity Program

Free Rapid & PCR COVID Testing
Dates and times vary: Locations vary
Free testing will be available by appointment only.
Presented by Total Testing Solutions

Golden Bear Pass
CalWORKs families can receive a complimentary 2023 Golden Bear Pass, which grants free entry at 200+ state parks and beaches. Learn more and apply here (or in Spanish here). Questions? Contact the California Dept. of Social Services at (916) 651-0515 or calworksoutreach@dss.ca.gov.

Opportunity LA Offers Free Savings Accounts for Children
The City and County of Los Angeles, along with LAUSD, are working together to provide all LAUSD first-graders with a FREE Child Saving Account (CSA) to help save for college — regardless of the student or parent’s income, background or immigration status. All eligible students will receive an initial $50 deposit. Additional deposits can be made by students and families. To learn more about the program, visit OpportunityLA.com or watch videos in English and Spanish here.
Presented by the City and County of L.A., in partnership with LAUSD and Citibank

Fall at LA County Parks
Free and paid programs for youth and families, including sports clinics, nature exploration, swimming, and more. Some require pre-registration using this reservation system.
Presented by L.A. County Parks & Recreation

The 2022 – 2023 Winter Shelter Program Now Open in L.A. County
Available through March 31
New flexible Augmented Winter Shelter Program provides motel vouchers to protect the unhoused from inclement weather.
Presented by the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority

Free Snack Program at LA County Parks
Now – May 19, Monday – Friday, 3:00pm – 4:00pm: Various parks throughout L.A. County
Presented by L.A. County Parks & Recreation

Every Body Plays
Now – May 26 (Monday – Friday), 2:30pm – 5:30pm: Various parks throughout L.A. County
Free activities overseen by L.A. County Parks staff.
Presented by L.A. County Parks & Recreation

Early Learning Readiness: Free Child & Caregiver Class (Spanish)
Now – June, Mondays and Wednesdays, 10:00am – 12:00pm: Southeast Rio Vista YMCA, 4801 E. 58th St., Maywood, CA 90270
To register or for more information, call Youth Director Andrea at (323) 588-2256.
Presented by Southeast Rio Vista YMCA

Monday, February 20

We don’t know of any events happening today.

Tuesday, February 21

Virtual Event: National Policy Conference
February 21 – 24, Varies
Presented by National WIC Association

Virtual Training: Diagnostic Classification of Mental Health and Developmental Disorders of Infancy and Early Childhood
February 21 – 23, 9:00am – 1:00pm
To register for this training, you must create an account with eventsHUB.
Presented by the L.A. County Department of Mental Health

Webinar: The Assessment Process for Parents
February 21, 10:30am – 12:00pm
Presented by TASK Los Angeles and Parents’ Place

Wednesday, February 22

Virtual Workshop: Strengths-Based Leadership, Mentorship, and Coaching
February 22 & March 1, 9:00am – 12:00pm
Presented by Brazelton Touchpoints Center

Webinar: Use FindHelp to Find Supporting Housing Services
February 22, 10:00am – 11:30am
Presented by Anthem Blue Cross and FindHelp

Webinar: Holding the Baby in Mind: Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Guiding Principles in Practice
February 22, 11:00am – 12:00pm
Presented by ZERO TO THREE

Webinar: How to End Gun Violence and Homophobic Hate: Two Mothers’ Journey Through Loss to Love
February 22, 12:00pm
Part of the Learning to Listen: Conversations for Change Series
Presented by Brazelton Touchpoints Center

Virtual Conference: White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health Monthly Update
February 22, 12:30pm
Presented by Nutrition Access LA

Coffee and Conversation for Parents/Caregivers
February 22, 12:30pm – 2:00pm: North L.A. County Regional Center and Family Focus Resource Center Office – Antelope Valley, 43850 10th St. West, Lancaster, CA 93534
RSVP by calling 661-945-9598.
Presented by NLACRC/FFRC

Virtual Training: Cultural Humility: Crucial Reflections
February 22, 1:00pm – 4:30pm
To register for this training, you must create an account with eventsHUB.
Presented by the L.A. County Department of Mental Health

Thursday, February 23

Hybrid Event: Nurturing Developing Minds Conference & Research and Implementation Symposium
February 23 & 24, 6:00am – 1:00pm: Greenville ONE Center, 2 West Washington St., Suite 200, Greenville, SC 29601
Presented by Institute for Child Success

Virtual Training: Customer Service in Community Health Center
February 23, 9:00am – 11:30am
Presented by the Community Clinic Association of Los Angeles County

Virtual Training: Effective Strategies for Family and Youth Engagement
February 23, 9:00am – 4:00pm
To register for this training, you must create an account with eventsHUB.
Presented by the L.A. County Department of Mental Health

Clothing Giveaway in Littlerock
February 23, 9:00am – 4:00pm: Littlerock High School, 10833 E Avenue R, Littlerock, CAMore information: 661-944-5209, ext 184
Presented by Lobo Closet and Littlerock High School

Webinar: How to Take Charge of Your Heart Disease Risk
February 23, 10:00am – 11:00am
Presented by WebMD

Webinar: The Impact of Youth Voices in Transforming Pediatric Care
February 23, 11:00am – 12:15pm
Presented by Center for Health Care Strategies

Virtual Training: Engaging Fathers & Other Adult Males in the Child and Family Team Process
February 23, 1:00pm – 3:30pm
To register for this training, you must create an account with eventsHUB.
Presented by the L.A. County Department of Mental Health

Friday, February 24

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Parade
February 24, 10:00am
The parade will begin at Junipero Serra High School and end at Rowley Park
Presented by City of Gardena

Black History Month Resource Fair
February 24, 10:00am – 2:00pm: Breath of Life Seventh Day Adventist Church, 425 S. La Brea Blvd., Inglewood, CA 90301
Presented by the South Los Angeles/South Bay African American Infant and Maternal Mortality Community

Online Workshop: Your Child’s Early Development: Tips and Resources for Understanding the Early Years
(El Desarrollo Temprano de su Hijo: Consejos y Recursos para Comprender los Primeros Años)
24 de Febrero, 11:00am – 12:30pm
Spanish language translation available.
Presented by Help Me Grow LA

Virtual Event: Culturally Responsive Coaching in Early Intervention
February 24, 12:00pm – 1:00pm
Please contact Julie Taren at jt7275@gmail.com or Maurean Stephenson at mail@idaofcal.org if you have any questions. 
Presented by the Infant Development Association of California.

Saturday, February 25

We don’t know of any events happening today.

Sunday, February 26

CicLAvia – The Valley 5-Mile Stretch
February 26, 9:00am – 3:00pm
Jog, ride, bike, skate, run, walk, or skateboard on car-free streets.
Presented by CicLAvia

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