Shared Beginnings Program

 

In June 2011, a 12-month assessment of new parent education was completed under a program funded by the David and Lucille Packard Foundation.  The appraisal included six patient focus groups, observations and evaluations made by three experts in health care communications:   Dr. Dean Schillinger, San Francisco General Hospital, Director of the UCSF Center for Vulnerable Populations, Chief of the California Diabetes Prevention and Control Program and an expert in health literacy, Dr. Dori Espeso, a child psychologist and immigration specialist from the University of Barcelona, Spain, and Miguel Tirado, Ph.D. of the California State University, Monterey Bay.   This comprehensive review included parent feedback and suggestions, medical staff and patient communications and a review of educational materials used. 
 

More recently, the David and Lucile Packard Foundation gave Natividad a $50,000 grant to continue the Shared Beginnings program by developing and offering culturally appropriate parent education related to breastfeeding, parenting “basics” and an orientation to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.