Background: Perinatal home visiting (HV) programs are evidence-based, community-embedded interventions designed to reduce health inequities during pregnancy and after birth. However, much of the research documenting programmatic successes centers infant and child outcomes, while providing limited to no data on important maternal outcomes. This is a significant gap. Childbearing is a vulnerable period during which early signs of mid- and later-life health risks in women emerge.

Background. Lived expertise is essential when establishing trauma-informed health and social services. We created a paid Community Leadership Board (CLB) of residents to co-lead our Trauma-Informed Network of Care (TINoC) in Yolo County, CA. The network aimed to improve adverse childhood events (ACE) screening and education in primary care clinics, while building cross-sector links with schools, social services, and community organizations to improve access to trauma-informed buffering supports.

Background: Pregnancy-related complications increase risk for long-term cardiovascular (CV) disease. Environmental exposures such as fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and extreme heat may exacerbate these risks through oxidative stress and inflammation, yet their relationships with perinatal health remain poorly understood.

Exciting news for The HEAL Lab! We are thrilled to share that we have relocated to the prestigious Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing at the University of California, Davis Health Campus. This move represents a significant milestone for our research endeavors in health behavior and translational studies.

Explore the highlights of the HEAL Lab's participation in the 2023 Annual Scientific Meeting, held from March 12-15 in San Francisco, CA. Our undergraduate student, Indira D'Souza, presented a research abstract on "COVID mitigation strategies associated with better physical activity and diet in a cohort of pregnant people with overweight and obesity: Findings from a racially/ethnically diverse sample" during the Research Lightning Talk sessions. Her conclusions shed light on the healthier behaviors exhibited by pregnant participants of color with overweight or obesity.

Dr. Leigh Ann Simmons, Jasmine Cuellar, and Paige Smith of the HEAL Lab attended Davis Pride on Sunday, June 12, 2022 in Central Park in Davis, CA. They showed support by buying from local LGBT+ vendors at the event, talking with community members, eating great food from the food vendors on site, and cheering for the amazing drag queen performances. There was even a fun dance party in the park during a few songs performed by LGBTQ “Finalists” from Season 15 of NBC's “The VOICE”.

Jasmine Cuellar, Paige Smith, and Dr. Sarah Haynes attended the ACES Aware Grantee Conference: Innovations & Lessons Learned representing the HEAL Lab on May 16, 2022 and May 17, 2022 in Long Beach, CA. The HEAL Lab attended this conference because it was a great opportunity to share what our team learned throughout this implementation grant and listen to what fellow grantees across the state of California learned throughout their grant periods.

February 8, 2021

Leigh Ann Simmons, a professor and chair in the Department of Human Ecology and co-director of the Perinatal Origins of Disparities (POD) Center, has received a $3 million award to build and strengthen community-based health and social support systems in Yolo County to address Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and toxic stress.

Dr. Simmons and Duke School of Nursing Collaborator, Devon Noonan, just published this article in the Journal of Rural Health. UC Davis featured this article as part of campus information about COVID-19, "COVID-19 Limitations Unique Opportunity for Researchers to Decrease Digital Divide."

Devon Noonan at the Duke School of Nursing just published, The Co-occurrence of Daily Smoking, Binge Drinking and IPV Among Latino Expectant Fathers in the Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health, Dec 6 2019. This work was completed in collaboration with Dr. Simmons.