HomeMy WebLinkAboutRESOLUTIONS - 07082008 - 08-460 o
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IN THE MATTER OF HONORING BRIGHTER RESOLUTION NO.2008/460
BEGINNINGS'BLAC.K.INFAN'T HEALTH
PROGRAM.FOR 18 YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE
WOMEN AND CHILDREN OF CONTRA COSTA
WHEREAS, Brighter Beginnings (formerly The Perinatal Council and East Bay Perinatal Council)
was formed in 1984 to'address unacceptable rates of infant mortality and illness in low-income
East Bay neighborhoods;and
WHEREAS, for the past 24 years, Brighter Beginnings has supported families in Alameda and Contra
Costa Counties to.find the resources-the "meed to muiat
re=happy,healthy children;and
y=.
WHEREAS, the mission of Brighter Beginnings is tosupport healthy births and children's successful
development by partnexiii -with parents streiigthening families,h and,.helping to build strong
communities;and
WHEREAS, in the 1980s, "California's,Department of 1-1cahh Services discovered that African
American"babies ui'"the state were three times more likely to,die'thau White babies, and in
1989, the state of'California began funding the Bl'ack..Infanhllealth.,programs rn'districts where
children were at the highest risk;and
WHEREAS' since':1990, Brighter Beginnings has administered the Black Infant Health Program in
Contra Costa County, with offices in Richmond and 'Antioch and,,hag served `over 2,500
women;and
WHEREAS,,•the
Black Infant Ilealth Pf ograti :.;helps African Amenc,an=women find pregnancy care,
healthcare,for'thea children,'-and"other nece'ssary social 'services •that will provide crucial
support to help reduce the rates of infant death and illness;.and
WHEREAS;;Brighter Beginnings'Family Advocates arc skilled°at burigtng]ugh`-risk woinien into the
program, coordinating client services, and linking elients to other community-agencies for
additional°assistance;and
w
WHEREAS, the progtann- is funded ly the St rte ut Calrforma Public Health=-Department, in
partnership with tlip,(ontra Costa County Health S ervi.cesiI.Public Idealth IQepartment;and
WHEREAS, on June�27, 2008, Brighter Beginnings' Black InfainI'Health Program will celebrate its
18u'anniversary;
NOW BE IT RESOLVED, that the Contra-Costa County Board of'Supervisors commends Brighter
Beginnings' Black Infant health Program for,its 18 years of success,and thanks the program for
serving as a model for similar services funded b M€ ate of California.
'EDERAL D.GLOVER,
Chair
_
-N— rict V Supervisor -
Aj( I G10.IA GAYL KF,MA
t Supervisor District It Supervisor
Mi�JkN. PIEPHO . - SUSAN A.I30NILLA
istrict Ill Supervisor �. �. District IV Supervisor
1 hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of an
'action taken and entered on (lie minutes of the Board of
..gym ti� Supervisors on the date shown:
coUArrr:S ED: June 24.zoos
osrq �'�
JOHN CULL.EN. Clerk of the Board of Supervisors and
County Administrator
BY
c�A. .Deputy
Introduced by Supert,isor Gioia,District I