Best Start LA

What is Best Start LA?

Best Start LA is a $125 million, multi-year investment created by First 5 LA that aims to shape, strengthen and support five Los Angeles communities by building resources and providing access to activities that improve the well-being, development and care experienced by pregnant women, parents of newborns and children age 3 and under.

At the heart of this investment is an effort to create communities that ultimately have the ability and know how to be truly family-friendly. Best Start LA's overlying vision is to help create environments that support the growth and development of young children while strengthening existing community resources. A long-term vision of the First 5 LA Commission, Best Start LA seeks to generate permanent, positive change at both the community and county-wide level.

What Does a Best Start LA Community Look Like?

A Best Start LA Community is one where:

• Women have access to and utilize prenatal care during their pregnancy. 

• New mothers are provided with infomation about the benefits of breastfeeding, and receive support and encouragement throughout the process.
• Parents of newborns receive one-on-one home visits from nurses and other specialists where they learn how to identify their baby's developmental cues, and how to build nurturing parent/child relationshops. 
• Families learn the importance of establishing and maintaining a "medical home" where they identify a health care professional who provides consistent care fo their child.
• Children and families are an active, integral part of their community who utilize, support and promote community-based services and resources. 
• Businesses within the community welcome families through child-friendly environments, providing parents with celan diaper-changing and breastfeeding areas. 
• Children and families have access to parks and other green spaces in which to play and create a sense of togetherness.
• Parents develop relationships with other parents, leading to a network of trust, social connectedness and sustainability for Best Start LA programs. 

How a Best Start LA Community Develops

Best Start LA builds upon and leverages existing community strengths and assets, fills gaps and encourages policy change whlile improving the ways families and children are supported. Best Start LA uses the following approaches to engage and educate parents, families, community members and stakeholders so they become a part of the Best Start LA community: 

Improving Education & Awareness for New Mothers and Families

The Welcome, Baby! family engagement program focuses on educaion and awareness-building for expectant mothers and parents of newborns, with the goal to improve the overall physical and mental well-being of infants, their mothers and families. Through visits at their prenatal healthcare provider, at the hospital and in the home, this free, voluntary program focuses on educating new mothers about the benefits of breastfeeding, teaches parents how to recognize their baby's devleopmental cues, and introduces families to the wide range of resources offered within the Best Start LA community. 

Engaging Families within Communities

Best Start LA seeks to engage, encourage and educate families about the benefits of creating a positive atmosphere for their children, as well as the factors that contribute to healthy child development. The goal is for parents to become integrated and active partners within exisiting community frameworks, and to act as advocates for supportive, child-friendly environments. 

Supporting Healthy Communities

Best Start LA creates and strengthens community activities that promote healthy child and family-firendly environments, including play spaces, libraries, hospitals and education and support service centers. In addition, Best Start LA encourages parents, families, residents and community-based organizations to become leaders for change in their own neighborhoods.