Upcoming Events for the Week of April 15th

April 15, 2024 LA Best Babies Network Los Angeles County, Upcoming Events

Here is a roundup of this week’s conferences, webinars, and trainings for home visitors and others who work with pregnant people 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, X (Twitter), Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube!

April is:

Ongoing Opportunities

The L.A. County Arts Internship Program is back!
This year’s program will provide over 200 paid internships for college students at more than 160 arts organizations across L.A. County. Positions are a mix of full-time and part-time opportunities. Go to: lacountyarts.org/internships to apply.

Get Free Tax Assistance
The deadline for filing taxes is April 15^th. Free Tax Prep Los Angeles offers free assistance to help you with your tax filing. To schedule a free appointment with an IRS-certified tax expert, click here. To find locations near you, call the IRS Hotline at 1-800-906-9887.

Kollab Youth Spring Session
Application deadline: April 29
Youth ages 14 -19 are invited to apply for this free online workforce development program. It supports participants in career exploration, financial literacy, and more. Participants will receive mentorship from industry experts and earn resume-worthy work experience through paid apprenticeships and internships.
Presented by Kollab Youth

Request FREE COVID-19 Home Antigen Tests to Distribute in Your Community
The L.A. County Department of Public Health is providing home antigen COVID-19 test kits to agencies in high-need communities. If your agency is interested in distributing these in the community, submit a request here.

California Launches Free Digital Behavioral Health Platforms for Children and Families
The Behavioral Health Virtual Services Platform consists of two independent programs that work with two different populations: BrightLife Kids, created by Brightline, is intended for children aged 0 to 12 and their parents or caregivers. Kooth created Soluna, an app for teenagers and young adults aged 13–25 years old. Each app offers free coaching, educational content, assessment/tools, and care navigation services

Recruiting Participants to be Interviewed for a Dissertation Study
A UCLA doctorate student is looking to interview black parents/guardians of children 0-5 with a developmental delay, to participate in a dissertation study. The purpose is to get an understanding about the decision-making process of seeking formal developmental screenings and early intervention services for their child. Participants will receive $100 in compensation.

Apply to Join the AAIMM Motherboard
Application period: March 21 – April 19
The AAIMM Policy and Advocacy Workgroup, in partnership with the EmpowerTHEM Collective and the Los Angeles County Departments of Public Health and Health Services, is seeking 11 dedicated Black mothers who are interested in participating in a paid leadership development and advocacy opportunity. For more details, click here.

Tiny Nests; Research Participant Opportunity for Expecting Parents
A USC grad student is seeking participants to engage in a study and share their voice. Her study is looking at how expecting parents engage in nesting and place-making behaviors during pregnancy. Participants can receive up to $125 in compensation.

Foster Youth Tax Credit Services
John Burton Advocates for Youth is offering free self-filing tax services and resources. File your taxes to potential claim a $1,117 tax credit for current & former foster youth.

Housing and Utility Assistance for Ukrainians
Open Until September 30, 2024
Are you a newcomer in Los Angeles County from Ukraine under the Uniting for Ukraine Program, a Ukrainian Humanitarian Parolee, or Non-Ukrainian Humanitarian Parolee? Housing and Utility Assistance may be available for you. Ukrainian refugees may apply for the Refugee Employment Program (REP) by phone at (818) 956-0500 ext. 100 or (213) 318-5716.

Virtual Focus Group Opportunities (Spanish)
EurekaFacts is seeking Spanish-speaking Hispanic/Latina women, preferably of Mexican or Central American heritage, who are 18 or older to join a voluntary 90-minute focus group. The groups will be discussing women’s health experiences related to health and culture. A $75 incentive will be offered to each participant in exchange for their time and work.

Parent Ambassador Leaders (PALS) Department of Public Health – School COVID-19 Prevention Program(Spanish)
Parents and Guardians of students at TK – 12 Los Angeles County Schools can apply to join the Parent Ambassador Leaders Program to learn about student health and school success.
Presented by Department of Public Health

Free Vaccine Clinics at Your Local Library
Stay healthy – get a flu vaccination and the updated 2023-24 COVID-19 vaccine. Health insurance is not required but will be requested from those who are insured. See when this is offered at your local library branch.
Presented by LA County Department of Public Health and LA County Library

Help Me Grow LA Call Center Is Open: 833-903-3972
Family Partners are taking calls to assist families in L.A. County who have children with special needs or developmental concerns. Learn more about Help Me Grow LA at HelpMeGrowLA.org.

Emergency Rent Assistance Available for CalWORKs Families
CalWORKs customers, who are behind on rent, may visit their local DPSS office to request Emergency Assistance to Prevent Eviction (EAPE). Download the EAPE fact sheet to learn more. Submit an application to your CalWORKs Eligibility Worker.

Inglewood Oil Field Communities Health Impact Survey
If you live 1.5 miles of the Inglewood Oil Field, participate in a survey to understand the health impacts on residents that live near it. The survey is confidential and voluntary. For more information contact Ms. Ha Luong at (310) 957-9209 or email haluong97@g.ucla.edu
Presented by LA Public Health and UCLA

LAUSD is Offering Devices for Virtual Tutoring Services
LAUSD students receiving tutoring services through LAUSD may access learning devices, like laptops, to virtually connect with their tutor and/or complete assignments online. Request a device at LAUSD Device and Connectivity.
Presented by the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD)

L.A. County Mortgage Relief Program for Landlords in High-Need Areas
Qualified applicants can receive up to $30,000 to eliminate outstanding mortgage or utility debt that was caused from the pandemic.

Let the City of L.A. Know About Your Child Care Needs
Take this quick survey to help the City of L.A. learn about your family’s needs and how they can better support you.
Presented by Child Care Policy Unit – Los Angeles Community Investment for Families Department

Parents and Families of Children Ages 0-8 living in LA County, Make Your Voice Count! (Spanish)
Register to join Families Together for Kids in LA County to share your experiences and opinions through online surveys that can improve the future for all children in LA County. Each survey will give you the opportunity to receive a $5 gift card for your participation.
Presented by First 5 LA

Apply to Be a Bus Driver with LA Unified School District (LAUSD)
LAUSD is hiring light bus drivers. Qualified applicants must have a HS diploma / GED, 6+ months of paid experience in driving a bus/truck or completed an LAUSD bus driver course, a valid CA Driver’s license Class A or B with passenger and air brake endorsement, and a valid CA school bus driver certificate. Visit the LAUSD jobs website here for additional information.

CalFresh Benefits Market Match
Use the CalFresh Market Match program at your neighborhood farmers’ market to maximize your CalFresh rewards. When you use your EBT card at a farmers’ market to receive CalFresh benefits worth $15, you will also receive $15.

Get Help with Southern California Edison – Energy Saving Assistance Program
Southern California Edison’s Energy Savings Assistance program helps cover the cost of new energy-efficient appliances. The program is available to homeowners and renters if income qualifications are met.
Presented by Southern California Edison

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.

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

CSU Dominguez Hills Study: Seeking Participants Who are Expecting Their First Child
Are you currently pregnant for the first time? You are invited to participate in a new research study at CSU Dominguez Hills focused on daily emotions and experience during pregnancy. You can earn up to $150 for participation in this study. For more information, contact perch@csudh.edu or call (323) 379-9118.
Study conducted by the CSU Dominguez Hills Department of Psychology

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.

Golden Bear Pass
CalWORKs families can receive a complimentary 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

WIC Fruits and Vegetables Benefit Increase
Through September 30, 2024
WIC families can get extra money to buy fruits and vegetables at WIC-approved stores and farmers’ markets. Use this tool to find your nearest farmers’ market that accepts WIC, and learn more about the benefit here.

Teen Parent Prosper Program
Pregnant or parenting teens living in the City of Los Angeles are eligible for this 800-hour paid internship program. The opportunity is limited to the first 40 eligible applicants. Apply here or contact Claudia Castillo at (213) 808-8652 or Claudia.Castillo@lacity.org for more information.
Presented by the City of Los Angeles’ Community Investment for Families Department and others

Registration Open for Spring Classes and Activities at LA County Parks Whether you’re taking up a new hobby, learning a new skill or being more active, LA County Parks invites you to join a class! They are offering a variety of in-person and virtual classes to help you get active, stay healthy, and enjoy a new hobby. From yoga and sports to music and arts, there is a class for everyone! Check out their fall classes and register for an activity at reservations.lacounty.gov.
Presented by the L.A. County Department of Parks and Recreation

Free Snacks for Kids at L.A. County Parks
September 5 – May 24, 3:00pm – 4:00pm
Children and youth ages 18 and under receive a “grab and go” nutritious snack that include vegetables, fruits, seeds and healthy dairy products like milk, string cheese and yogurt, at 47 locations. This free nutrition program will run for a total 34 weeks. Go here to see dates and locations.

Youth at Work
Are you age 14-24 and looking for a job? You can earn money while learning valuable life and work skills. This program provides access to paid work-based learning, work readiness, personal enrichment training, academic and career development, and advanced career services. Apply here.
Presented by Youth@Work

LA County Library & LA County Library Foundation Partner with Seattle Seahawks Linebacker Uchenna Nwosu
Uchenna Nwosu is partnering with the Library and LA County Library Foundation to fund a My Brother’s Keeper Peer Advocate position at Carson Library for the next three years. If you are interested and want to make an impact in the Carson community you can learn more about the MBK Peer Advocate position and complete an interest form here.

UCLA Study Focus Groups
Participate in focus groups and receive incentives by giving your feedback on the new UCLA wellness app. They are recruiting high school students and parents of high school students. To learn more about the study, contact Christine Lee at 714-822-0649 or at kungeunlee@mednet.ucla.edu.

Monday, April 15

International Donor Milk Conference: Harnessing the Power of Donor Milk and Making a Collective Impact
April 15 – 16, TBA: Sheraton Austin at the Capital, 701 E 11th St., Austin, TX 78701
Presented by Human Milk Banking Association of North America

Tuesday, April 16

Virtual Event: The Equity Exchange: Reproductive Justice + Black Feminism
April 16, 10:00am – 11:00am
Presented by National Institute for Children’s Health Quality

Webinar: Caring Conversations: Ways to Find Belonging and Avoid Burnout and Isolation
April 16, 10:00am – 11:00am
Presented by Caring Futures

Webinar: Introduction to Otoacoustic Emissions Hearing Screenings
April 16, 12:00pm
Presented by Office of Head Start

Wednesday, April 17

30^th Annual Perinatal Symposium
April 17, 7:30am – 4:30pm: Sheraton Fairplex Conference Center, 601 W McKinley Ave., Pomona, CA 91768
Presented by Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center

Virtual Training: Relational Savoring: A Brief Intervention Approach to Enhance Relationship Outcomes Among Parents and Children
April 17, 9:00am – 10:00am
Presented by the DMH + UCLA Wellbeing for LA Learning Center

Work Your Network Community Resource Fair
April 17, 9:00am – 12:00pm: MemorialCare Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital Long Beach, 2801 Atlantic Ave., Long Beach, CA 90806
Presented by Long Beach Home Visitation Collaborative, First 5 LA, and Best Start Central Long Beach

Virtual Event: HIV Research Program Seminar: Novel Neurogenomic Techniques to Explore HIV in the Brain
April 17, 10:00am
Presented by NIDA HIV Research Program

Webinar: Serving Families with Intersecting Identities
April 17, 11:00am – 12:00pm
Presented by the California Department of Social Services’ Office of Child Abuse Prevention

Virtual Meeting: Healing Justice: An Integral Approach to Advancing Racial Equity
April 17 & 19, 10:00am – 12:30pm
Part of the Foundations of Racial Equity Series
You can register for the full series or individual a la carte sessions. Learn more about registration, multi-session, and group rate pricing here.
Presented by Northern California Grantmakers

Virtual Event: Self and Community Care Open Session
April 17, 11:00am – 12:00pm
For all adults who support young people in L.A. County
Presented by Creative Wellbeing, a project of the L.A. County Arts Ed Collective

Recess Wednesday: Self-Care Break
April 17, 12:00pm – 12:30pm
Presented by DMH + UCLA Wellbeing for Learning Center

Virtual Event: City of Hope 10th Annual Minority Cancer Awareness Forum
April 17, 4:00pm – 5:30pm
Presented by City of Hope

Virtual 2nd District Town Hall: The LA County Budget and Office Budget Priorities
April 17, 5:00pm – 6:30pm
Presented by Office of Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell

National Association of Perinatal Social Workers 48^th Annual Conference
April 17 – 20, Varies: The Westin Seattle, 1900 5^th Avenue, Seattle, Washington 98101
Presented by The National Association of Perinatal Social Workers

Thursday, April 18

Virtual Training: Introduction to the Infancy, Childhood, and Relationship Enrichment (ICARE) Initial Assessment
April 18, 9:00am – 4:00pm
Presented by the L.A. County Department of Mental Health

Webinar: Restorative Practices: Building Trust When Harm Has Been Caused
April 18, 9:00am – 10:00am
Presented by National Center for Family & Parent Leadership

Webinar: Supporting Early Learning with American Sign Language
April 18, 12:00pm
Presented by Office of Head Start

Webinar: Celebrating and Honoring the Lived Experiences of LGBTQIA2S+ Parents, Families, and Staff
April 18, 12:00pm
Presented by Office of Head Start

Webinar: Supporting Multiracial Children
April 18, 1:00pm
Presented by Office of Head Start

Chronically Absent: How to Manage School Refusal
April 18, 2:30pm
Presented by Child Mind Institute

Friday, April 19

Happy Home Visiting Day!

Family Centered Success Through Coaching Mastery: Observation
April 19, 12:00pm – 1:00pm
Presented by Infant Development Association of California

Saturday, April 20

LA Eye Camp (Free Eye Exams)
April 20, 9:00am – 12:00pm: LA Korean Consulate (general parking lot), 3243 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90010
Presented by Vision Care Service West

Sunday, April 21

Marina Culture Jam
April 21, 11:30am: Burton Chace Park, 13650 Mindanao Way, Marina Del Rey, CA 90292
Live performances, arts and crafts, cultural learning activities, and much more
Presented by L.A. County Department of Beaches and Harbors and The Music Center