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Upcoming Events for the Week of March 6th

Faith Soltero

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.

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 

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.

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

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

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

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. 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

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 6

Agents of Change Summit
March 6 – 7, TBA: Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina, 1380 Harbor Island Dr, San Diego, CA 92101
Presented by Agents of Change Summit and Rescue Agency

AP/OD Online Program Acquisition Institute
March 6 – 17, 9:30am
Presented by Abriendo Puertas Opening Doors

Virtual Training: Trauma and Its Aftermath: New Thinking About Trauma Informed Care (Trauma 1)
March 6 – 7, 9:30am – 12:00pm
Presented by DMH + UCLA Wellbeing for LA Learning Center

The ABC’s of the IEP (Individualized Education Programs) for Families
March 6, 10:00am: Southeast Family Resource Center; 15415 S. Pioneer Blvd., Norwalk, CA 90650
Presented by Southeast Resource Center and Office of Clients’ Rights Advocacy

Virtual Course: Breastfeeding Basics
March 6, 2:00pm – 5:00pm
This is offered monthly. See additional dates below and here.
Presented by Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital Long Beach

Tuesday, March 7

Virtual Training: Intergenerational Trauma: Understanding and Addressing Racial Trauma in Behavioral Health
March 7 & 9, 9:00am – 10:30am
Presented by DMH + UCLA Wellbeing for LA Learning Center

Virtual Training: JEDI Informed Facilitation
March 7, 9:00am – 11:00am
Presented by Community Clinic Association

Webinar: The Growing Brain Basics
March 7 – 28, Tuesdays, 12:00pm – 1:30pm
Presented by ZERO TO THREE

Expecting Fathers Group for Black Dads
March 7 – April 4, Tuesdays, 6:30pm
To register, email Davion Mauldin at dmauldin@ph.lacounty.gov
Presented by Black Infants & Families

Black Mamas Glowing Pregnancy Peer Support (4-Part Series)
Begins March 7 – 28, Tuesdays, 6:00pm – 7:30pm
This group is for pregnant/postpartum people that self-identify as Black or pregnant/postpartum people that will birth a Black child. To register, email EBranch@iDreamNow.org.
Presented by iDREAM for Racial Health Equity, Black Infants & Families and others

Wednesday, March 8

Webinar: Dads and Mental Health Matter!
March 8, 9:00am – 10:30am
Presented by the National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse (NRFC)

Public Charge Q&A with United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and the LA County Office of Immigrant Affairs
March 8, 10:00am
Presented by the Benefits Access for Immigrants Los Angeles (BAILA) Network

Thursday, March 9

Virtual Training: Stages of Change
March 9 – 10, 9:30am – 12:00pm
Presented by DMH + UCLA Wellbeing for LA Learning Center

Virtual Training: Maintaining Professional Wellbeing
March 9, 10:00am – 11:30am
Presented by DMH + UCLA Wellbeing for LA Learning Center

Webinar: Perinatal Maternal Mental Health 101
March 9, 10:30am – 12:00pm
Presented by 2020 Mom and Postpartum Support International

Virtual Training: Moving Beyond Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion 101: Crawford Bias Reduction Theory & Training
March 9 & 23, 12:00pm – 1:30pm
Presented by DMH + UCLA Wellbeing for LA Learning Center

Webinar: Parents’ Experiences at the Front End of the Child Welfare System
March 9, 12:00pm
Presented by Strengthening Families and others

Webinar: Increasing Vaccine Confidence in Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Pregnant and Lactating People
March 9, 1:00pm – 2:00pm
Presented by BreastfeedLA and others

Friday, March 10

We don’t know of any events happening today.

Saturday, March 11

Special Needs Resource & Awareness Fair
March 11, 10:00am – 2:00pm: Apollo Park, 12544 Rives Ave., Downey, CA 90242
This event is FREE and no registration is needed. For more information, call (562) 904-7128.
Presented by City of Downey Parks & Recreation Department

Sunday, March 12

We don’t know of any events happening today.

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