TITLE
Recommendation to authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute all necessary agreements, and any subsequent amendments, between the City of Long Beach and the Los Angeles County Proposition 10 Commission - First 5 LA in an amount not to exceed $172,964 to augment the Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services Black Infant Health Program for the period of July 1, 2013 through
June 30, 2014. (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
On July 29, 2009, the California budget redirected State General Fund support to the Black Infant Health (BIH) Program. In response, Los Angeles County requested that the Los Angeles County Proposition 10 Commission - First 5 LA provide funding support to all BIH programs located in the County, including Long Beach. On April 14, 2011, First 5 LA approved funding for three years beginning July 1, 2011 through June 30, 2014, subject to annual appropriation approval from First 5 LA. Current funding for the City of Long Beach BIH Program is scheduled to end on June 30, 2013.
Upon approval, the Health Department will continue to conduct a community-based BIH Program to improve early access to care and supportive services, maintenance of health before, during and after pregnancy, and increase social support and empowerment to improve the health status of African American women and their infants. Although the overall infant mortality rate in Long Beach has declined, it varies greatly by race/ethnicity, with the greatest disparity in African American infants. In the African American community there is a higher incidence of preterm birth, and low birth weight rates are as much as twice that of other groups. The goal of the Black Infant Health Program is to maximize positive pregnancy outcomes in order to improve survival rates for African American infants in the City of Long Beach. Program staff provide culturally competent information to African American women, health care providers and the community to educate them on the importance of ...
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