News

Imagining Birth in a Just World

Imagine ...What birth would look like in a just world. ...If the information need about pregnancy, birthing and childrearing experiences was relatable and digestible. ...If California recognized premature birth as a critical health issue in our communities.

San Francisco Considers Proposition to Address Housing Crisis

Benioff Community Innovators share findings from their report on housing insecurity in San Francisco, 2017.

2018 Annual Symposium on Preterm Birth held in Kigali, Rwanda

Preterm Birth Through the Lens of Quality, Equity and Dignity October 2-4, 2018 Kigali, Rwanda

September Collaboratory - Beyond the NICU: Comprehensive Postnatal Support for Preterm Babies

Caring for a premature infant after they have been discharged from the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) is no small task. Parents often report feeling unprepared and overwhelmed as now the sole caregiver for an especially fragile child. This can be further complicated for parents grappling with...

August Collaboratory - Breastfeeding Policies: Global Trends, Conflicts of Interests and Consequences of Marginalized Communities

The words, “protect, promote and support breastfeeding” may not seem controversial, but to the shock and dismay of international delegates, the United States adamantly opposed these words just this summer at the United Nations-affiliated World Health Assembly.

Intergenerational Risk for Preterm Birth by Race/Ethnicity

Women who were born prematurely themselves are more likely to deliver prematurely. However, much of the evidence establishing intergenerational risk has focused on white women. We didn’t know if increased risk for delivering prematurely was consistent across racial/ethnic groups. Risk factors are...

Mamas, Speak Truth to Housing!

Stable housing is critical to improving the health of pregnant women and lowering rates of prematurity throughout San Francisco. Mama's, Speak Truth to Housing was a townhall prioritizing pregnant women in the midst of our San Francisco housing crisis. Powerfu voices from across our community ...

Doula Program Announced in San Francisco

San Francisco President of the Board of Supervisors’ Malia Cohen announced the launch of the City’s Doula Program, creating access to culturally relevant doula services for families in San Francisco most at risk maternal mortality and premature birth.

Mapping risk and resilience for premature birth in Fresno County

With so many factors influencing a healthy pregnancy, how can we maximize healthy outcomes for a whole city, or county? The answer may be in a tailored approach. A recent study, published in the Journal of Epidemiological Research and authored by a team in the California Preterm Birth Initiative,...

Healthy Birth Outcomes through Cross-Sector Collaboration

Cross-sector collaborations offer a way forward in their ability to direct multiple actors and interventions toward the same goal. In this report, FSG highlights lessons learned from two of their birth outcomes projects in Fresno County, California, and Staten Island, New York, to offer others...