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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Carolina Reyes, MD¹, Cynthia Harding, MPH², Vicki Lombardo, MSN, RN³, Tonya Gorham, MSW¹, and Janice I. French, CNM, MS¹. (1) Los Angeles Best Babies Network, 350 S. Bixel Street, Suite 100, Los Angeles, CA 90017, 213-250-7273, tgorham@labestbabies.org, (2) Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, Los Angeles County Department of Health, 600 Commonwealth, 8th Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90005, (3) Greater Los Angeles and Inland Empire Divisions, March of Dimes, 3699 Wilshire Blvd. #520, Los Angeles, CA 90010

Background: Nationally one in every 25 babies is born in Los Angeles County. Over 51% of pregnant women rely on the safety net for access to care during and between pregnancies. In forty years the safety net has never been more threatened. Perinatal health challenges include ethnic/racial disparities, access to care between pregnancies, service capacity and quality of care. Achieving sustainable systematic improvements requires an informed coordinated community of stakeholders and uniting leadership. The LA Best Babies Network, LA County Maternal Child and Adolescent Health Programs and the March of Dimes joined together to engage the perinatal health community, connect leadership for a unified commitment to action toward measurable change.

Method: The tri-partnership engaged a community of leaders to collectively develop and implement a strategic action plan. An infrastructure for community engagement through regional Healthy Births Learning Collaboratives (HBLCs) throughout Los Angeles County is supported by The Los Angeles Best Babies Network. Regional policy priorities were identified by HBLCS at a Town Hall. Simultaneously, meetings were held with health leaders outlining their current efforts, challenges and opportunities. A two-day Perinatal Summit connected an informed community and key health leaders to develop policy recommendations aimed at improving birth outcomes. Six key areas were adopted.

Results: Over 170 participants developed a set of perinatal health recommendations. On Day 2, key leaders committed to leverage resources and implement doable measurable strategies within two years. An environment that is inclusive, inviting and accountable is a multiplying force to improve access to equitable quality healthcare.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session the participant (learner) in this session will be able to

• Apply community participatory processes to policy planning and development
• Recognize the importance of partnership in developing action plans for countywide change
• Apply tools of information sharing

Keywords: Maternal and Child Health, Pregnancy Outcomes

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered