Upcoming Events for the Week of May 15th

May 15, 2023May 12, 2023 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 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!

May 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.

Get A 30–Day Pass Just for $1
Happy Bike Month! Get a 30-day pass for $1 with code BIKEMONTH23 online at Metro Bike Share – LA’s Bike Share. In celebration of Bike to Work Day, May 18 and 19, you can also receive a 365-Day Pass for half price with code BIKETOWORK23 or ONE free ride on a Metro bike with code 051823.

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.

Fundamentals of Fatherhood Program
The City of Long Beach is helping fathers develop the confidence and skills needed to become better parents. Sign up for the Fundamentals of Fatherhood program and connect with a community of fathers. For more information call (562) 570-3285 or visit Fundamentals of Fatherhood Program for more information.
Presented by City of Long Beach

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

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.

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

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

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

L.A. County Parks Spring Classes
Find free classes all over the County, ranging from arts and recreation to fitness, health, and wellness. Browse/search classes and sign up here.
Presented by the L.A. County Department of Parks and Recreation

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

Monday, May 15

Request for Proposals: Diversifying the Field of Lactation Through Building Your Own Clinical Program
Deadline: May 15
This RFP seeks proposals from breastfeeding coalitions, cultural groups, and organizations passionate about diversifying the lactation workforce to develop a Clinical Lactation Training program. The program aims to support Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) and other underrepresented students in their lactation education, with grant funding, technical assistance, training, mentorship, and resources provided to two selected organizations.
A project of BreastfeedLA funded by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation

Virtual Training: High-Risk Newborn Behavioral Observations System (NBO) Training Program
May 15, 17, & 18; 6:00am – 11:00am
Presented by Brazelton Touchpoints Center

Virtual Training: Advance Clinical Supervision: Common Challenges in Community Mental Health
May 15 & 16, 9:00am – 12:30pm
Participants are required to attend both sessions.
Presented by Children’s Institute

Virtual Training: LGBTQ Survivor Allyship Training
May 15, 9:00am – 11:00am
To register for this training, you must create an account with eventsHUB.
Presented by the L.A. County Department of Mental Health

Webinar: Equitably Identifying Individuals for Care Management Supports and Services: Strategies for CalAIM and Beyond
May 15, 11:00am – 12:00pm
Presented by Center for Health Care Strategies

Webinar: Black Children Are Beautiful – Elevating “Black Boy Joy” and “Black Girl Magic”
May 15, 12:00pm – 1:30pm
Part of the Parenting While Black webinar series
Presented by Brazelton Touchpoints Center

Virtual Meeting: 2^nd Supervisorial District Town Hall on L.A. County Budget
May 15, 5:00pm
Presented by the Office of L.A. County Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell

Virtual Family Café: Conversations with Families of Dual Language Learners
May 15, 6:00pm – 7:30pm
Mandarin, Cantonese, and Spanish workshops available.
All attendees will receive free children’s books.
Presented by QualityStartLA and others

Tuesday, May 16

Virtual Training: Engaging Fathers & Other Adult Males in the Child and Family Team Process
May 16, 9:00am – 11:30am
To register for this training, you must create an account with eventsHUB.
Presented by the L.A. County Department of Mental Health

Virtual Training: Parental Depression and Coping During Challenging Times
May 16, 11:00am – 12:30pm
Part of the Supporting Everyone’s Mental Health Series
Presented by Brazelton Touchpoints Center

Webinar: Moving the Needle on Maternal Health Equity
May 16, 11:00am
Presented by Raising the Bar for Moms and Babies

Virtual Training: Responding to Persistent Challenging Behavior as a Leader
May 16, 12:00pm
Presented by National Center on Development, Teaching, and Learning

Virtual Event: Considering the Sibling Experience When Supporting Families in Early Intervention and Beyond Using a Culturally Competent Approach
May 16, 6:00pm – 7:30pm
Presented by Infant Development Association of California

Save the Date: 2023 Statewide Collaborative Prevention Convening
May 16 & 17, Varies
Presented by Comprehensive Prevention Planning Team

Wednesday, May 17

From Implicit Bias to Cultural Humility, A Day of Experience and Skill Building Workshop
May 17, 9:00am – 3:00pm: Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce (Bank of America Room), 350 South Bixel St., Los Angeles, CA 90017
Presented by LA Best Babies Network and LA County Perinatal & Early Childhood Home Visiting Consortium

Virtual Training: Co-Designing a Mobile App to Meet the Needs of Minoritized and Under-Resourced Youth Within Schools
May 17, 9:00am – 10:00am
Presented by DMH + UCLA Wellbeing for LA Learning Center

Virtual Training: Cultural Humility: Crucial Reflections
May 17, 9:00am – 12:30pm
To register for this training, you must create an account with eventsHUB.
Presented by the L.A. County Department of Mental Health

Virtual Training: Grief and Loss: Supporting Children, Youth, and Families
May 17, 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

Virtual Training: The ABCs of Addressing Persistent Challenging Behavior
May 17, 12:00pm
Presented by National Center on Development, Teaching, and Learning

Webinar: Hope in the Face of Adversity: Touchpoints in the Context of Substance Use Disorders
May 17, 12:00pm – 1:30pm
Presented by Brazelton Touchpoints Center

Virtual Training: Working With Justice-Involved Clients
May 17, 12:15pm – 1:15pm
Presented by DMH + UCLA Wellbeing for LA Learning Center

Thursday, May 18

Virtual Training: Fostering Crucial Conversations about Race with Children, Youth, and Families
May 18, 9:00am – 1:00pmTo register for this training, you must create an account with eventsHUB.
Presented by the L.A. County Department of Mental Health

Report Launch: The Economic Impact of COVID-19 on the Promotora Workforce
May 18, 9:00am – 12:00pm, Ramona Hall Community Center, 4580 N. Figueroa St., Los Angeles, CA 90065
Presented by Visión y Compromiso

African American Infant and Maternal Mortality Community Action Team Meeting
May 18, 4:30pm – 6:00pm, AVPH, 44226 10th St. West, Lancaster, CA 93534 West
Presented by Antelope Valley AAIMM Community Action Team and others

Alternatives to Conservatorship: A Variety of Choices to Support Decision – Making
May 18, 6:00pm – 7:30pm
Presented by Children’s Hospital Los Angeles

Friday, May 19

Speak Up When You’re Down Gala
May 19, 6:00pm – 10:00pm: Westdrift Hotel, 1400 Parkview Ave., Manhattan Beach, CA 90266
Presented by Maternal Mental Health NOW

East LA Community Baby Shower
May 19, 11:00am – 1:00pm, 4801 Whitter Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90022
Free diapers, wipes, blankets, clothes, and other baby necessities will be provided. Thanks to White Memorial for representing Welcome Baby and taking referrals there!
Presented by Community Resource Center and others

Meet the Doula Night
May 19, 5:00pm – 6:00pm
Presented by Happy Mama Healthy Baby Alliance

Resource Fair, Dinner, and Film Screening
May 19, 5:00pm – 8:00pm, Plaza De La Raza, 3540 N Mission Road, Los Angeles, CA 90031
Learn why Latinos are disproportionately impacted by the damaging effects of sugar, including type 2 diabetes, fatty liver disease, and other chronic illnesses.
Presented by USC Center for Latino Health

Conoce la Noche de Acompanantes del Parto: Las Doulas
19 de mayo, 6:15pm – 7:15pm
Presented by Happy Mama Healthy Baby Alliance

Saturday, May 20

Racial Justice Learning Exchange: Redressing Racial Injustice and Systematic Harms Through Reparations
May 20, 8:30am – 11:00am
Presented by the Office of Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell

Break the Stigma: Community Mental Health Event
May 20, 9:00am – 12:00pm, Stocker Street Creatives, 3701 Stocker St., Los Angeles, CA 90008
Presented by LA Country Department of Mental Health and others

Exploring Implicit and Explicit Biases in the Individual Education Program Workshop
May 20, 10:00am – 12:00pm, San Gabriel Pomona Regional Center, 75 Rancho Camino Dr.
Pomona, CA 91766
Presented by Parents’ Place and others

Take Action: Healing Through Community Resource Fair
May 20, 11:00am – 2:00pm, Harbor City Skate Park, 24901 Frampton Ave., Harbor City, CA 90710
Presented by LA Country Department of Mental Health and others

Sunday, May 21

Learn Entrepreneur Financial Literacy, Education & Etiquette
May 21, 12:00pm, First A.M.E Church; 2270 S. Harvard Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90018
RSVP by emailing japmsfund@gmail.com by May 17.
Presented by the Office of Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell and others