Rebecca’s daughter, Adaeze, is 3 months old and already knows how to make her mom’s day.
All it takes is a laugh or a smile.
“I didn’t know how powerful it could be,” Rebecca said.
These days, Rebecca is soaking up those small moments while thinking about the bigger ones still to come: the opportunities Adaeze will have and the future their family will build together.
“Seeing my daughter have opportunities that I didn’t have is definitely motivating me to continue striving for more and work harder every day,” Rebecca said.
A Healthy Start for Every Family
Like Rebecca, parents across the San Diego region want to give their children a healthy start and the opportunity to thrive from the day they are born.
That’s the idea behind Born Well, which brings together multiple strategies to improve birth outcomes for mothers and babies.
The conditions surrounding pregnancy and birth can look very different from one family to the next. Chronic stress, economic hardship, limited access to care and systemic barriers can all shape the health of mothers and babies.
For Black mothers and their babies, for example, the risk of death is nearly three times higher.
Since its launch, Born Well has supported more than 880 mothers with healthy birth and lactation services through 15 nonprofit partners.
Early results are encouraging, with healthier birthweights among babies whose mothers have participated in the initiative.
A Little More Breathing Room
One way Born Well is working toward that goal is through its Guaranteed Income Program, which provides monthly payments to pregnant moms for one year. In partnership with the County of San Diego and community partners, San Diego Foundation supports the program through its Family Well-Being grantmaking.
“It’s important that every child in San Diego County gets a strong start,” said Dale Fleming, a community impact partner for Family Well-Being at San Diego Foundation. “We can bring different partners together. We can really change systems and improve outcomes.”
The initiative’s Guaranteed Income Program has supported 25 mothers, including Rebecca, with monthly payments designed to provide greater financial stability during pregnancy and early parenthood.
Khea Pollard, director of the guaranteed income program at Sovereign Sister, works directly with each participating mom. She sees how guaranteed income can give families more flexibility when expenses compete for limited resources.
“Now they don’t have to choose between paying for their housing or paying for their medical bills,” Khea said. “I see their perspectives opening up about what’s possible for their family.”
For Rebecca, the program is already making a difference.
“Being a part of Born Well has definitely given me a sense of confidence, independence and closeness with my family,” she said. “
She especially values the time they’ve had to bond, and how that experience has shaped her as a new mom, spouse and person. Those early bonds and nurturing relationships help lay the foundation for a child’s lifelong growth and development.
Looking Ahead
Born Well has supported Rebecca and her family during an important chapter. Now, she’s thinking about what they can build from here.
Rebecca knows what it means to imagine a different future. Born during the Liberian Civil War, she remembers dreaming about what her own life could become.
“I used to sit and think, ‘One day I’m going to get there. One day I’m going to have it,’” she said.
Today, Rebecca has earned her bachelor’s degree in business management with a concentration in project management information systems and is beginning a master’s degree in health care administration.
“This wouldn’t have been possible without Born Well,” she said.
Rebecca is building the life she once imagined—and opening new possibilities for herself, her family and Adaeze’s future.
