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Tuesday, July 29, 2014

WHAT

Pregnant African-American women and their partners are especially invited to attend a Community Baby Shower to learn about breastfeeding and other ways they can improve their babies' health. The event includes free food, educational workshops, access to health resources and fun prizes for pregnant women and their partners.

WHO:

All pregnant women, their families and their partners are welcome at this free event, which is focused on helping African-American families in Contra Costa County to combat health disparities affecting the community.

WHEN:

9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 2, 2014.

WHERE:

Grace Bible Fellowship of Antioch, 3415 Oakley Rd., Antioch.

WHY:

In Contra Costa County, African-American babies die at twice the rate of other babies before they reach their first birthdays, and are more likely to suffer from asthma and other illnesses. While maternal mortality is rare, African-American women are three times more likely to die from labor and delivery complications than those in other groups.

The Contra Costa County Community Baby Shower is intended to help improve birth outcomes of African-American women by providing critical health and parenting information and by linking pregnant women to prenatal services, breastfeeding support and other community resources.

The event includes workshops for moms, dads, teens and siblings, and a "Grandma's Tea." There will be healthy food, games and prizes, and community organizations such as The White Pony Express will provide toys, clothing and other gifts for families. Contra Costa Public Health's Communicable Diseases Program will offer free vaccinations against whooping cough from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. for pregnant women who are pre-registered for this event and their families.

For more information or to register, call 925-646-5200. To register online for this free event, visit http://cccmewbabyshower.evenbrite.com.

This event is sponsored by Contra Costa Health Services, the Los Medanos Community Healthcare District, Kaiser Permanente, March of Dimes and A More Excellent Way Health, a nonprofit community health improvement organization.

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