Dedicated to Improving Outcomes in Maternal Health and Family Centered Care
Advocating for Growing Families
We are a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit that provides education, health services, local resources, and support for individuals and couples on their journey to parenthood in California. We are building a measurable community-driven maternal health improvement model that strengthens clinical engagement, reduces intervention risk, and increases trust in healthcare systems.
Our Mission
The ultimate goal of Families First is to raise up families that have a profound knowledge about what is healthy for their individual life and carry that on in each pregnancy and throughout postpartum. We help families create a tailored plan that can create lasting support and help families thrive throughout their lifetime.
Improving access to community based reproductive healthcare
Families First CA was created because we saw a deep need for access to community-based midwifery when delivering in a hospital. The maternal mortality rates in CA have risen almost 50% since 2019. The advantages of community-based midwifery care offer families a chance to really understand health in pregnancy and postpartum; to catch any red flags and edit diet and lifestyle before medical intervention is needed. By spending time with families and listening to them we may better be able to individualize their care based on their values and needs. We believe that with access to this type of care, in tandem with physicians in a hospital setting, we will be able to reduce the need for pharmacological intervention that may cause poor outcomes for expecting families. The ultimate goal is to raise up families that have a profound knowledge about what is healthy for their individual life and carry that on in each pregnancy and throughout postpartum, creating healthier families that can thrive throughout their lifetime. We recognize that with the restrictions and limitations on midwives in community-based settings and the lack of insurance coverage it can be difficult for families to access midwifery care. We aim to change that at Families First by offering services for families whether they are expecting or not. Services can include midwifery care, childbirth education, lactation education and support, access to birth and postpartum doula and more.
Education Programs
A structured childbirth education program is a cornerstone of our work. This program is offered once weekly in 12-week increments and serves pregnant individuals and their support persons. The curriculum emphasizes physiologic birth, patient safety, recognition of prenatal and postpartum warning signs, and preparation for hospital-based delivery and recovery. Education is delivered in an accessible, culturally responsive format and reinforces communication with OB/GYN providers, discharge planning, and postpartum follow-up.
Families First CA also provides prenatal and postpartum nutrition education informed by holistic health principles and clinical best practices. Programming addresses nutritional factors that support healing, lactation, mental health, and physical recovery, with a focus on reducing preventable postpartum complications related to nutritional deficiencies.
Postpartum education and support further address maternal mental health, including identification of mood and anxiety disorders, trauma responses, and physical complication symptoms that require prompt medical attention. Families are educated on when and how to seek care, improving early intervention and safety during the highest-risk postpartum period.
Centering Pregnancy and Mobile Midwifery
Families First CA delivers community-based maternal health programs focused on patient safety, prevention of avoidable complications, and improved continuity of care across pregnancy, postpartum recovery, and long-term reproductive health. Our current services are designed to strengthen patient understanding, promote early risk recognition, and support timely engagement with hospital-based OB/GYN care.
Families First CA provides midwifery consultation services that offer evidence-based guidance, care navigation, and clinical education for pregnant and postpartum individuals. These consultations support informed consent, clarify medical recommendations, and reinforce escalation pathways when symptoms or concerns arise, helping patients engage more safely and effectively within existing healthcare systems.
Additional services include family planning education and women’s wellness care, such as Pap smears, reproductive health education, and clinical referrals. Through these integrated programs, Families First CA has established strong community trust, consistent participation, and collaborative relationships with medical providers—demonstrating the organization’s capacity to deliver safety-focused, education-driven maternal health services.
Community Building and Resources
Through our community programming and Centering pregnancy we grow support directly from within. This creates built in reinforcement for families that will extend beyond the birth of the child. Evidence shows that when families are encouraged to connect with their village it creates a safety net for children and parents to thrive.
At Families First we create these safety nets with culturally congruent community support so that families feels safe to share and connect with their parenting peers. We do this with community engagements, group prenatals, and postpartum support groups.
Our resources include culturally appropriate care for lactation, body work, doula support, mental health services and more.
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