LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to seek funding to expand services to homeless pregnant women.
Supervisor Hilda Solis recommended finding ways to provide more resources to help mothers and their babies during pregnancy and with parenting after birth.
“Intervening during pregnancy and infancy to support vulnerable mothers can promote a child’s well-being in the long run,” Solis said. “We must support mothers and their infants by investing in services that help them in those critical first three years of a child’s early development. These efforts are necessary to lift families out of hardship and set them on course to self-reliance.”
The county has the capacity to serve about 24,500 pregnant women and families annually based on available federal and state funding, Solis said, which includes offering help to about 9,500 high-risk families. Another 4,000 women countywide are served by other programs, but Solis’ motion estimates there are 32,300 high-risk women who could benefit from intensive services.
Studies show that home visits lead to lower rates of domestic violence, smoking during pregnancy and a drop in pre-term, low-weight births. In addition to prenatal care, women are given access to parenting resources.
But the county lacks the means to reach pregnant women in homeless shelters, Solis said. Last year, Department of Public Health workers assisted 112 women who were homeless at some point during their pregnancy. The Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority does not track pregnancy in its count of homeless individuals.
One advocate said women who are pregnant and living on the street or in a shelter may not reach out for help.
“A lot of these women will not come forward. They have a lot of shame, a lot of embarrassment,” said Ethel Gardner, found of the Kennedy Austin Foundation, a family crisis intervention center in Pomona.
The board directed mental health, medical and child welfare workers to coordinate with First 5 LA to assess the need and develop recommendations to enhance outreach and referrals. The group will also explore funding sources.
A report is expected back in 180 days.
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Christy says
USA needs to invest in their citizens.
We need to stop funding free medical to illegals and take care of our own.
We have too many US Citizens who are homeless with very little resources.
Unfortunately homeless women endure incredible hardship, most partner up with males to keep them safe/protected.
Rape in prevalent among homeless.
Many of these pregnancies are a result of rape. Also so many of these women need mental health care &or drug rehab.
I have witnessed a homeless woman living in homeless encapment off of J-8 & 20th who was pregnant last winter and clearly addicted to drugs, she gave birth and was walking down J-8 at 4am holding her newborn covered in blood, baby survived.
Also witnessed a homeless woman running naked with a blanket through L 40th West Vons parking lot screaming and running away from a male abuser. A few weeks ago there was a homeless woman sitting outside of El Toreo West outdoor patio with blood running down her legs. The perils homeless women face is horrific and sad.
Kikj says
No one is doing nothing for illegals as you claim as you can see the homeless you see in the streets are not illegals they are USA citizens that Don’t like to work they just reaching this hand out for handouts they only want people to give them money not offer them jobs they are lazy and that’s how they ended up sleeping in the own shit. And if your so worried of them well go give them your money since that’s all they want free money .
You sound like an ignorant Democrat says
Yeah the homeless run the street because you’re giving free housing to illegal immigrants you idiot once you wake up are you illegal immigrant yourself..
Kikj I bet you you’re from South of the Border yeah you’re getting free rid that’s why you’re complaining about the homeless the due to leaves if you’re probably the one that’s lazy people like you disgust me I bet you don’t even have a job
Liza says
Ok you need to take grammar classes but yea “illegals get free housing “no they just work and pay their rent so they don’t end up in the streets like your people