Los Angeles Best Babies Network (LABBN)
The goal of this project is to develop and nurture Healthy Babies Learning Collaboratives (HBLCs) in each of the Special Planning Areas (SPAs) in Los Angeles County in an attempt to lower the rates of prematurity and low birth weight using a community-based approach. During the first year the LABBN held meetings in each of the SPAs to work with a variety of community agencies to identify the major causes of morbidity and mortality among infants, as well as potential strategies to address these causes, in each community.
Via a subcontract, the USC UCEDD is providing the LABBN nutrition component and has established a LABBN Nutrition Advisory Board consisting of representatives of the major WIC agencies in LA County, as well as the Nutrition Division of the LA Department of Health Services and the Comprehensive Perinatal Services Program.
The products developed and disseminated by the CHILD Center included parent/provider education materials, and CD-ROM training materials for parents and professionals. A total of 11 new products (video, CD-ROM, curricula, reports, pamphlets, manuals, web pages) were disseminated this year.