Because every family matters and every child deserves a happy healthy future.

History

In 1979, in Oakland’s poor neighborhoods, black babies were dying and getting ill at much higher rates than babies of other races.

A group of Oakland community organizations decided to turn these bleak statistics around by connecting mothers with healthcare and other support services. This group of organizations came together to form the East Bay Perinatal Council in 1984.  The organization’s early work was validated and expanded in 1985, when selected by California’s Department of Health Services to provide comprehensive case management and support services to pregnant and parenting teenagers in the East Bay.

In 1990, the Council developed and implemented a culturally competent and highly effective Black Infant Health (BIH) outreach and case management model.

Our model was adopted by the State of California in 1996 for all 17 BIH projects throughout the State.  BIH has played a key role in reducing the East Bay's black infant mortality rate.  The program continues to save the lives of infants and improve the health of hundreds of babies each year. 

East Bay rates for black infant mortality and teen pregnancy have declined significantly since we began our work.

However, African-American babies and others born in low-income families remain at higher risk.

And Brighter Beginnings is even more committed to making a difference and providing all family members the comprehensive support and services that will allow client families to break the cycle of poverty and poor health.

Over the years, Brighter Beginnings has increased its capacity to respond to emerging community needs.

We have added programs like peer-to-peer support groups, parenting classes, mental health services and welfare-to-work.  We have added an Adopt-A-Family program, helped our clients get access to health coverage, established child development and school readiness programs for young children, and offered peer training to prevent substance abuse and HIV infection among East Bay African Americans. The HIV prevention project produced a film, “Reflections Unseen,” that received the Best Short Documentary Award at the Women of Color Film Festival in 2004.

In September 2007 the organization’s name was changed to Brighter Beginnings.

With expanded programs and services, the new identity was developed to better reflect the breadth and depth of the services we have developed over the years to serve our client families more comprehensively and effectively.  With a new motto – Every Family Matters – Brighter Beginning is committed to serving the entire family and strengthening local communities.

We support healthy births and children’s successful development by strengthening families and helping to build strong communities.