Upcoming Events for the Week of September 2nd

September 2, 2024 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, X (Twitter), Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube!

September is:

Ongoing Opportunities

Pregnancy Research Project
The PRO-Health research team at California State University, Long Beach, is studying the experiences of parents and their babies during pregnancy and after birth. They are recruiting participants who are pregnant and at least 18 years old. Gift cards provided. See their flyer (English/Spanish) here. To sign up or learn more contact 562-285-7074 or prohealth@csulb.edu or visit bit.ly/Interest-RFBH.

SUN Bucks: A Summer Food Program
Children who qualify for free or reduced school meals through a school meal application or an Alternative Income Form, or get CalFresh, CalWORKs, or Medi-Cal, are automatically enrolled. You don’t need to do anything to sign up. SUN Bucks provides $40 per month for food for June, July and August 2024 ($120 total)

The L.A. County Arts Internship Program Is Back!
Over 200 paid internships for college students available at more than 160 arts organizations across L.A. County. Both full-time and part-time opportunities. Learn more and apply at www.LACountyArts.org/internships.

Recruiting Participants to Be Interviewed for a Dissertation Study
A UCLA doctoral 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 learn about the decision-making process of seeking formal developmental screenings and early intervention services for their child. Participants will receive $100 in compensation.

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.

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

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.

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

Apply to Be a Bus Driver With LA Unified School District (LAUSD)
Applicants must have a HS diploma/GED, 6+ months of paid experience 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. Visit LAUSDJobs.org for additional information.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Decolonized Nonviolent Parenting: A Practice for Raising Empathetic, Grounded, & Socially Conscious Kids (6-Week Course)
Receive support in developing a parenting style that acknowledges your children’s journey and develops them to be empathic, grounded, and socially conscious via the lenses of familial decolonization, nonviolence, reparenting, and conscious child development.
Presented by Latinx Parenting

Participate in Research Study on Breast Milk
The Lundquist Institute is conducting a breast milk research study. Participants (who are currently breastfeeding) will conduct a 4-hour study visit and will receive a $100 gift card. Learn more here or contact MacKenzie Cervantes at breastmilk@lundquist.org or 310-974-9538.

Direct Cash Assistance to Pregnant People
The Pregnancy Assistance Income with Dignity (P.A.I.D) program pays $1,000/month of unconditional income for 18 months. This program is designed to reduce economic burden and improve health outcomes of pregnant people in L.A. County. Learn more and apply at ncjwla.org/paid.

Participate in the Metro and LADOT 2024 Mobility Wallet Pilot Program
Application period closes in early September
The City of Los Angeles and Metro are offering residents of LA County a chance to participate in the Mobility Wallet Pilot Program. This program will allow eligible participants to receive a prepaid debit card with up to $1,800 for a year that can be used for eligible transportation purposes. This program is limited to 2,000 participants.

Substance Use Disorder Workshops
August 6 – October 15, 11:00am – 12:00pm, Antelope Valley Wellness Community, 335-B East Avenue K6, Lancaster, CA 93535
Presented by Antelope Valley Wellness Community

City of Long Beach Youth Advisory Council – 2024 Application
Advisory Council includes one young person from each City Council district. They earn $50 for every meeting or activity, up to $1,100/year. Youth Councilmembers serve a 12-month term, and the meetings are a hybrid of in-person and virtual. Youth Advisory Council application deadline is August 31. Email questions toyouth@longbeach.gov.

Expecting Fathers Group
August 27 – September 24
Register or text DAD to 323-745-2771 to choose your session time.
Presented by African American Infant and Maternal Mortality Prevention Initiative

The California Abundant Birth Project
This guaranteed income program will provide monthly cash assistance for people who are 8-27 weeks pregnant and at a higher risk of preterm birth.

$15 Million in Funding Available for Innovative Outreach That Connects More Families to WIC
Applications due September 6, 2024
The WIC Community Innovation and Outreach (CIAO) Project Team is making the funding available through the WIC CIAO Round 2 Subgrants Request for Application (RFA). Funding will help subgrantees develop, implement, and evaluate innovative outreach strategies to increase WIC awareness, participation, and benefit redemption, and reduce disparities in program delivery.

What are the greatest needs for children and families in L.A. County?
The L.A. County Department of Public Health’s Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health Division wants your feedback! Help them identify priorities as they work with the California Department of Public Health to develop a five-year plan. Read more and complete their Needs Assessment Prioritization Survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/SelectMCAHPriorities

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.

Get your client featured on BlackInfantsAndFamilies.org
Our friends at L.A. County’s African American Infant and Maternal Mortality Prevention Initiative (AAIMM) want to highlight families who have benefited from home visiting programs. If your client is up for it, please encourage them to fill out this brief form.

This Week’s Events

Monday, September 2

Happy Labor Day! We don’t know of any events happening today.

Tuesday, September 3

Virtual Event: Dads Around the Table
September 3 – September 24, Tuesdays, 11:00am – 12:30pm
Receive a $75 Amazon Gift card for attending all 4 sessions
Presented by Leah’s Pantry

Webinar: Perspective on the Breastfeeding Journey: A Listening Session Series
September 3, 12:00pm – 1:00pm
Presented National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine

Virtual Meeting: Listening Session on How to Address Homelessness in Metro L.A.
September 3, 2:00pm – 3:30pm
Register here.
Presented by County of Los Angeles Homeless Initiative

Wednesday, September 4

West County GAIN Region I Job Fair
September 4, 9:00am -12:00pm: Los Angeles GAIN Office, 5200 W. Century Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90045
Presented by Department of Social Services, GAIN and more

Webinar Series: The Growing Brain Basics
September 4 – 25, Wednesdays, 9:00am – 10:30 am
Presented by ZERO TO THREE

Webinar: California Needs Caregivers: The Importance of Family, Friend, and Neighbor Child Care
September 4, 10:00am – 11:00am
Presented by Early Edge California

Webinar: Back to School Stress & Blues (Teacher-Focused)
September 4, 11:00am – 11:45am
Presented by BrightLife Kids

Virtual Training: Self and Community Care Open Session 14
September 4, 11:00am – 12:00pm
Presented by DMH + UCLA Wellbeing for Learning Center

Webinar: Responding Positively to Persistent Challenging Behaviors (Spanish)
September 4, 12:00pm
Presented by Office of Head Start

Recess Wednesday: Self-Care Break
September 4, 12:00pm – 12:30pm
Presented by DMH + UCLA Wellbeing for Learning Center

Launch of 2024 California Women’s Well-Being Index
September 4, 1:00pm – 3:00pm, Secretary of State Auditorium, 1500 11^th St., Sacramento, CA 95814
Presented by California Budget & Policy Center

Virtual Event: The Future is Now
September 4 – October 16, Wednesdays, 5:00pm – 6:30pm
Presented by the ARC of California

Thursday, September 5

Virtual Training: High-Risk Newborn Behavioral Observations (NBO) System Training Program
September 5, 12 & 26, Thursdays, 10:00am – 11:30am
Presented by Brazelton Touchpoints Center

Virtual Training: Inside a Child’s Mind
September 5 – 26, Thursday, 10:00am – 11:30am
Presented by Brazelton Touchpoints Center

Webinar: Promoting Civic Engagement at Health Centers
September 5, 10:00am – 11:00am
Presented by Mi Familia en Acción and Northeast Valley Health Corporation

Webinar: Strategies for Supporting the Success and Well-being of the Native Early Childhood Education Workforce
September 5, 12:00pm – 1:15pm
Part of the Native Early Childhood Development Webinar Series
Presented by the Administration for Native Americans, an office of the Office of the Administration for Children & Families

Webinar: The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program in Schools
September 5, 12:00pm – 1:00pm
Presented by Food Research & Action Center (FRAC)

Virtual Meeting: Listening Session on How to Address Homelessness in East L.A.
September 5, 1:00pm – 2:30pm
Register here.
Presented by County of Los Angeles Homeless Initiative

Friday, September 6

Webinar: Perspective on the Breastfeeding Journey: A Listening Session Series
September 6, 10:00pm – 11:00pm
Presented National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine

Saturday, September 7

We don’t know of any events happening today.

Sunday, September 8