History

In 1998, California voters approved Proposition 10: The California Children and Families First Act which resulted in the addition of a 50-cent surtax on cigarettes and tobacco products. The monies generated are intended to improve early childhood development from the prenatal period to age five.

Recognizing that much of each baby's development is completed before birth, in 2001 perinatal stakeholders in Los Angeles County came together to being to discuss the need for coordinated efforts between experts, regions and disciplines to address the needs of pregnant women, fathers and families in Los Angeles County in order to optimize the potential for each child born. Through these discussions the Los Angeles Children and Families Proposition 10 Commission (now First 5 LA) designated $15 million for a Healthy Births Initiative, to improve birth outcomes in Los Angeles County. The goals outlined for the Healthy Births Initiative were to reduce low birthweight and very low birthweight and to reduce disease and disability among newborns. Addressing these goals would optimize each child's capacity for health, growth, development, and learning after birth.

The Los Angeles Best Babies Network was formed from this network of perinatal stakeholders and ultimately was selected by First 5 LA to provide guidance and technical assistance to develop its Healthy Births Initiative (HBI). That planning phase provided time for the Collaborative to work with the community to gather information about pregnancy and birth outcomes in Los Angeles County. We were also able to develop strategies to promote optimal health and well being for our diverse families.

During its two-year planning phase, The LA Best Babies Network:

• Identified new trends in health care services for pregnant women, children and families;

• Provided forums for community based organizations and associations and health care professionals to form unique partnerships to improve birth outcomes in LA County;

• Provided support and technical assistance on various topics including participatory action research, community based needs assessment, grant writing, program evaluation, media, policy and advocacy trainings, and health topics;

• Provided summaries of evidence-based practices and emerging research findings targeting the prevention of low birth weight and preterm birth;

• Informed the First 5 LA Commission of community identified needs, gaps in services, and proven and promising approaches to improve poor birth outcomes in LA County; and

• Developed a nurturing collaborative environment where all members can learn from each other.

On July 8, 2004 the First 5 LA Commission approved the framework for the implementation of the Healthy Births Initiative as recommended by the Los Angeles Best Babies Network.