Upcoming Events for the Week of March 20th

March 20, 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!

March is:

Ongoing Opportunities

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

USC Study on Early Childhood Education Enrollment in California: Seeking Participants
Parents and guardians living in California who have at least one child aged 10 or younger are invited to take this survey. If you have any questions about this study, please contact Liz Stanfield, USC lead researcher, at estanfie@usc.edu.

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

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

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 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

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

Spring 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 Open in L.A. County
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
Through May 19, Monday – Friday, 3:00pm – 4:00pm: Various parks throughout L.A. County
Presented by L.A. County Parks & Recreation

Every Body Plays
Through 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)
Through June, Mondays and Wednesdays, 10:00am – 12:00pm: Southeast Rio Vista YMCA, 4801 E. 58^th St., Maywood, CA 90270
To register or for more information, call Youth Director Andrea at (323) 588-2256.
Presented by Southeast Rio Vista YMCA

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.

Monday, March 20

Virtual Training: The Maternal and Child Health Community Engaged Learning Lab (MCH CELL) for Instructional Development
March 20, 8:00am – 10:00am
Presented by the National Center for Education in Maternal and Child Health

Virtual Meeting: Advisory Committee on Infant and Maternal Mortality (ACIMM)
March 20 & 21, 8:30am
Presented by Advisory Committee on Infant and Maternal Mortality

Virtual Training: Decompensation and Relapse in Mental Health Recovery: A Practice Lens
March 20 – 21, 9:30am – 12:00pm
Presented by DMH + UCLA Wellbeing for Learning Center

Virtual Training: Child Parent Psychotherapy (CPP) LA 7
March 20 – 24, 9:00am – 1:00pm
Presented by Maricella Mendez Sherwin, Ph.D.

Webinar Series: Parenting While Black 2023
March 20, 12:00pm – 1:30pm
Presented by Brazelton Touchpoints Center

Tuesday, March 21

Virtual Training: Something Is Wrong with the Baby
March 21, 7:30am – 2:45pm
Presented by Touchstone Institute

Virtual Training: Trauma Sensitive Communication in Schools
March 21, 9:30am – 11:00am
Presented by DMH + UCLA Wellbeing for Learning Center

Webinar: The Importance of Preventive Services and Lessons Learned from the Pandemic
March 21, 11:00am – 12:00pm
Presented by the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion

Webinar: Overcoming Barriers to Family-Staff Partnerships
March 21, 11:00am – 12:30pm
Part of the Family Connections: Mental Health and Relationship Building for Families & Staff Series
Presented by Brazelton Touchpoints Center

Wednesday, March 22

Virtual Training: Brain development, Trauma, and Attachment
March 22, 9:00am – 4:00pm
Presented by DMH ICARE

Webinar: Monthly Coordinated Entry System Policy Council Meeting
March 22, 9:30am
Presented by Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority

Virtual Training: Can Tech Solve Patient Access to Behavioral Health?
March 22, 10:00am – 11:00am
Presented by Optum Behavioral Health

Webinar: Dismantling Systematic Racism in Early Care and Early Education
March 22, 10:00am – 11:00am
Presented by Duke Sanford Center for Child and Family Policy

Virtual Meeting: Food Hardship and Opportunities for Change / Dificultades Alimentarias y Oportunidades para el Cambio
March 22, 10:00am
Presented by Nourish California

Launch Event: Raising the Bar for Maternal Health Equity and Excellence
March 22, 12:00pm: The Eaton Hotel, Crystal Room at 1201 K St NW, Washington, DC 20005
RSVP for in-person, or virtual attendance.
Presented by National Partnership for Women & Families

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

2023 Maternal Mental Health Forum
March 22 – 24, TBA
Presented by 2020 Mom

Thursday, March 23

Webinar: Research with Pregnant and Lactating Persons: Mitigating Risk and Liability
March 23, 7:00am
Presented by National Academies

Webinar: Community Linages and Partnerships to Prevent, Identify, and Respond to Later Life Intimate Partner Violence
March 23, 1:00pm – 2:30pm
Presented by County of Public Health and others

Webinar: Perinatal Potpourri Conference: Advances in Care
March 23 – 24, 8:00am – 4:30pm
Presented by the Mid-Coastal California Perinatal Outreach Program and the California Perinatal Quality Care Collaborative at Stanford University

Virtual Workshop for Parents: The Growing Brain: Understanding Behavior
March 23, 6:00pm – 7:30pm
See Child Care Resource Center’s other upcoming events.
Presented by Child Care Resource Center

Spring Parks After Dark
March 23 – April 15, Thursdays and Saturdays, 6:00pm – 9:00pm
Parks After Dark returns for the spring season with a variety of FREE activities at 34 LA County Parks. To view a list of parks participating in Parks After Dark, click here.
Presented by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Social Services and others

Friday, March 24

Virtual Event: 22^nd Annual Southern California Health Care Symposium
March 24, 9:00am – 5:00pm
Presented by the Community Clinic Association of Los Angeles

Free Community Support Drive
March 24, 12:00pm: 12929 Hawthorne Blvd., Hawthorne, CA 90250
They will be providing food, diapers, wipes, and more! Items available for the first 150 households in attendance.
Presented by WIN, in partnership with New Star Family Justice Center

Saturday, March 25

Free Food Drive
March 25, 10:00am – 1:00pm (by appointment): The Children’s Collective, Inc./Rita Walters Learning Complex, 915 W Manchester Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90044
To register, call (213) 476-3076.
Presented by Hurting & Hungry Charities and SCLC Poor People’s Campaign

Receive Free Glasses with Prescription
March 25, 11:00am – 2:00pm: The Wellness Center, 1200 N State St., Los Angeles, CA 90033
To register, call (213) 784-9191.
Presented by The Wellness Center

Sunday, March 26

We don’t know of any events happening today.