News and Stories

San Ysidro Health and the Scripps Family Medicine Residency Program were awarded a $10,000 mini-grant for the 2025-2026 San Diego County Childhood Obesity Initiative (COI) Mini-Grant Program to strengthen breastfeeding-friendly practices and enhance support for pregnant and postpartum patients. The investment is helping strengthen both the care families receive today and the capacity of healthcare providers to deliver breastfeeding supportive care over time. The award was made possible through funding provided by the San Diego Foundation's Born Well Initiative in partnership with the UC San Diego Human Milk Institute, helping expand the number of organizations receiving COI mini-grants this year. COI is funded by the County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency and implemented by the UC San Diego Center for Community Health.

The grant will support implementation of Step 2 Staff Education of the 9 Steps to Breastfeeding-Friendly Clinics, which focuses on ensuring healthcare staff have the knowledge and training needed to provide effective breastfeeding support. By building breastfeeding knowledge and skills among resident physicians, the project is helping embed breastfeeding-friendly practices into routine clinical care. Funding will be used to expand breastfeeding education and training for resident physicians and to purchase breastfeeding supplies for patients, including breast pumps, nipple shields, and hydrogel pads.

This work builds on a long-standing partnership between San Ysidro Health's Chula Vista Health Center and the Scripps Family Medicine Residency Program. For more than 15 years, the partners have collaborated to offer a Centering Pregnancy program that provides group prenatal and postpartum care. Through program sessions, participants receive education, build community, and share experiences throughout pregnancy and the postpartum period. This existing, trusted model provides an important opportunity to integrate breastfeeding education and support into care families are already receiving.

During a July site visit, our UC San Diego COI team had the opportunity to observe a prenatal group session for participants who were approximately 30 weeks pregnant. Two resident physicians facilitated a discussion about the phases of labor, birth experiences, and breastfeeding. While they shared evidence-based information, they also encouraged participants to share their own experiences, questions, and expectations. By listening first and creating a supportive environment for discussion, the residents helped ensure the session reflected the needs and concerns of the group. 

Dr. Mary Moya, a family medicine physician who has been with San Ysidro Health for 19 years, shared that the grant has helped strengthen resident training and expand support for families participating in the program. Grant funds were used to purchase breastfeeding education modules that provide residents with hands-on learning opportunities to better support breastfeeding mothers. The funding also made it possible to purchase supplies for families who may not otherwise have access to them due to limited or no insurance coverage. Together, these investments address both sides of breastfeeding support: strengthening the capacity of providers while reducing practical barriers families may face in accessing needed resources.

We are excited to support this work and continue partnering with organizations that strengthen breastfeeding support and improve maternal and child health outcomes in San Diego County communities.  Breastfeeding can support healthy infant growth and provides important health benefits for both infants and mothers, making equitable access to breastfeeding education, resources, and support an important component of maternal and child health. Through its Mini-Grant Program, COI invests in local partners to strengthen existing programs, test practical solutions, and build lasting capacity to improve the health of children and families across San Diego County. During Breastfeeding Awareness Month this August, we celebrate the efforts of San Ysidro Health and the Scripps Family Medicine Residency Program who are advancing breastfeeding-friendly care and helping families access the support they need to thrive,