Upcoming Events for the Week of June 19th

June 19, 2023 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, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube!

June is:

Ongoing Opportunities

File with Free Tax Prep LA and Get Your Young Child Tax Credit
People who make less than $60,000 annually may be eligible to file for free at a Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) site. IRS-certified volunteers provide free, basic income tax return preparation with electronic filing to qualified individuals. Eligible families can claim the Young Child Tax Credit, which may be worth more than $1,000, if they file before October 16. Find a nearby location.

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 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.

Metrolink’s New Low-Income Fare Discount Program
Metrolink’s new low-income fare discount program offers a 50% discount on ANY Metrolink ticket or pass for riders with a valid California Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card. Learn more here.

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.

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

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.

Pregnant? Sign up for LAist’s Pregnancy Texting Service
Get answers to your questions about pregnancy, birth and parenting. Text “heybb” to 73224 to sign up.

Food Giveaways
See our list of events across L.A. County.

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.

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

WIC Fruits and Vegetables Benefit Increase
Through September 30
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

Summer Classes at L.A. County Parks
Find free and paid programs for people of all ages! Browse/search classes and sign up here.
Presented by the L.A. County Department of Parks and Recreation

It’s Park Time at LA County Parks With Fun Summer Activities
Visit LA County Parks this Summer! Register for special seasonal events, recreation classes, aquatics, youth and adult sports, and nature center programs! Check out their free “recreation for all” special interest classes, activities, and workshops for all ages here.
Presented by the L.A. County Department of Parks and Recreation

Take Action for Mental Health: Community Events
The Take Action Initiative aims to bring LA communities together around mental health, and to empower you and those around you to find support.
Presented by Take Action LA

Youth at Work
Are you between 14 – 24 looking for a job? You can earn money while learning valuable life and work skills. This program provides an array of services that offer 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

Facility Fee Waivers for Child Care Providers for Infant & Toddler Spaces (Spanish)
The L.A. County Office for the Advancement of Early Care and Education (OAECE), in partnership with the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, is offering facility fee waivers for renovation or construction projects for child care facilities that need plan reviews and/or permits.
Presented by OAECE and others

Request FREE COVID-19 Home Antigen Tests to Distribute in the Community You Serve
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (DPH) is distributing FREE home antigen COVID-19 test kits to community agencies within high-need communities to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19. If your agency is interested in distributing these in the community, please submit your request online using this link.

Podcast: DMH UCLA Public Mental Health Partnership
Lots of episodes on interesting and useful topics for home visitors – available on Apple Podcasts or on Spotify. In partnership with the L.A. County Department of Mental Health, the Public Mental Health Partnership at UCLA “aims to realize a vision for excellence in care for vulnerable populations that incorporates typically marginalized perspectives and builds capacity to foster health equity.” Visit pmhp.ucla.edu to learn more.

Free COVID-19 Vaccines
Safe, effective and free – COVID-19 vaccines are widely available (even for babies who are at least 6 months old), regardless of health insurance and immigration status. There are hundreds of vaccination sites across L.A. County, and many are open late and on weekends with no appointment required. Visit VaccinateLACounty.com to find a location near you. See the CDC’s page on COVID-19 Vaccines for Children and Teens.
Presented by Los Angeles County Department of Public Health

Test to Treat COVID-19 Program
Get free same-day testing and free antiviral medication across LA County sites. Click here, call 211, or text 844-833-1334 to find a free county testing location.
Presented by Los Angeles County Department of Public Health

Join the Antelope Valley Birth Work Worker Pipeline!
Complete the brief interest form to be contacted with available workforce development and opportunities.
Presented by Black Infants and Families Los Angeles

Take a Lactation Professionals Survey and Win a Gift Card
This survey is intended to capture gaps in education, and barriers to becoming a lactation professional. By completing this survey, every tenth person up to a total of 10 people will receive a $5 Starbucks gift card. This survey will take about 10 minutes to complete. The deadline is June 15.
Presented by Breastfeed LA

Monday, June 19

We don’t know of any event happening today.

Tuesday, June 20

Cultivating Food as Medicine for Public Health Summit
June 20, 8:30am – 3:00pm: The Behrakis Auditorium in the Jaharis Building, Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University, 150 Harrison Ave., Boston, MA 02111
Presented by Food Tank

Webinar: Strengthening Our Nation’s Child Care Infrastructure Through Family, Friends, and Neighbor Care
June 20, 10:00am – 11:00am
Presented by Early Edge California and National Women’s Law Center

World Refugee Day: Building a Brighter Future
June 20, 10:00am – 2:00pm: Gloria Molina Grand Park, 200 N. Grand Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90012
Resource fair, workshops, live entertainment, and more
Presented by Los Angeles Consumer and Business Affairs and others

Webinar: Protective Factors and Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs): Meeting Families With Hope and Healing
June 20, 10:30am – 12:00pm
Presented by CalTrin

Webinar: Fruit & Veggie Hacks That Make Habits Stick: At Retail, At Home & In Foodservice
June 20, 11:00am
Presented by Produce for Better Health (PBH)

Birth & Beyond Summit: Advancing Community-based Approaches to Birth Equity
June 20 – 23: The Hotel at the University of Maryland, 7777 Baltimore Ave, College Park, MD 20740
Presented by HealthConnect One

Wednesday, June 21

Ted Watkins Park Free Walk – Up Food Giveaway
June 21, 9:00am – 12:00pm: 1335 E. 103^rd St., Los Angeles, CA 90002
No registration or prior eligibility required.
Presented by The Office of Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell

Webinar: Building the Community Pathway: Part 2
June 21, 10:00am – 12:00pm
Presented by CalTrin

Webinar: Child, Family, and Community Well-Being Learning Series
June 21 – November 1, Varies
Presented by CalTrin

Webinar: Exploring the Wonders of a Child’s Mind
June 21 – 23, Varies
Presented by Head Start & Early Learning

Webinar: Monthly Coordinated Entry System Policy Council Meeting
June 21 & 28, 9:30am
Presented by Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority

Thursday, June 22

Virtual Training: Presumptive Eligibility for Pregnant Women (PE4PW)
June 22, TBD
Registering for the webinars will be done through the Medi-Cal learning portal event calendar.
Presented by Los Angeles County Department of Public Health

Voices for Change: 30 Years of Championing Health Equity
June 22, 10:00am – 5:00pm: The California Endowment, 1000 North Alameda Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012
Presented by California Pan-Ethnic Health Network

Webinar: Maternal/Perinatal Mental Health 101
June 22, 10:30am – 12:00pm
Presented by Policy Center for Maternal Mental Health and Postpartum Support International

Webinar: Development is a Journey: A Conversation Roadmap for Talking with Families
June 22, 10:00am – 1:00pm
Spanish translation available.
Presented by Brazelton Touchpoints Center

Virtual Training: Provider Wellbeing and Self-Care: Practicing Self-Compassion in Trying Times
June 22, 12:00pm – 1:00pm
Presented by DMH + UCLA Wellbeing for LA Learning Center

Virtual Training: Promoting Placement Stability: Utilizing the Child and Family Team Process
June 22, 1:00pm – 4:00pm
To register for this training, you must create an account with eventsHUB.
Presented by the L.A. County Department of Mental Health

Car Seat Safety Workshop
June 22, 4:00pm – 6:00pm: Community Wellness Center, 335 E Ave K-6 Lancaster, CA 93535
Presented by Antelope Valley Wellness Community

Friday, June 23

Virtual Training: Promoting Placement Stability: Utilizing the Child and Family Team Process
June 23, 9:00am – 12:00pm
To register for this training, you must create an account with eventsHUB.
Presented by the L.A. County Department of Mental Health

Webinar: Mapping Our Course: Strategies to Achieve Hunger, Nutrition, & Health Goals in the US
June 23, 9:30am
Presented by California Department of Public Health

Saturday, June 24

Ending the Silence: Mental Health Program Training
June 24 & June 25, Varies
Learn to conduct this presentation for middle and high school audiences.
Presented by National Alliance on Mental Illness – San Gabriel Valley

Virtual Event: The LGBTQIA+ Families Panel: Decolonized Parenting and LGBTQIA+ Indentidad
June 24, 11:00am – 12:30pm
Presented by Latinx Parenting

Sunday, June 25

Marina Culture Jam (Brass Pacifica & Bobby Rodriguez)
June 25, 11:30am – 2:15pm: Burton Chace Park, 13650 Mindanao Way, Marina Del Rey, CA 90292
Free live performances, cultural arts and crafts, and fun for the whole family.
Presented by The Music Center LA and others