Center For Better Beginnings Logo

Childhood

Help for Children and Families

Making the Future Even Brighter

If your child is one of the 3 in 100 infants born with a birth defect, you may have questions and concerns about how to best support your loved one. If you suspect or are just learning that your child has a birth defect, you may be scared, confused and not know where to begin. We can help you understand this new diagnosis and lead you or your child to the right support system.

And if you, your child, or another loved one is affected by a Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD), then you’ve definitely come to the right place. Our Center co-director Dr. Jones was the first to identify fetal alcohol syndrome in 1973, and has made it his life’s work to care for and support the families affected by this disorder, to educate the public about the dangers of alcohol consumption in pregnancy, and to research ways to improve FASD prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.

Learn about the range of services we provide for the children and families affected by birth defects in general and FASD in particular.

  • Patient Care

    Specialized Care for Your Child

    Birth defects may be identified in pregnancy, shortly after birth or at any time throughout childhood and adolescence. Our pediatric specialists, Dr. Jones and Dr. del Campo, are experts in the diagnosis and care of children with birth defects, known as congenital anomalies. Specializing in genetics and dysmorphology, Dr. Jones holds a position at both UC San Diego Health and Dr. del Campo at Rady Children’s Hospital-San Diego. They both will give your child the tender care he or she needs when tackling and overcoming these challenges. If your child has been diagnosed with a birth defect, or you are wondering if there is a problem, contact us today.

    Learn More

  • FASD Support Groups & Resources

    When Your Family Needs Assistance

    When consumed during pregnancy, alcohol has a devastating and irreversible effect on a baby’s developing brain, and can result in baby being born with a Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD). The long-term cognitive and behavioral issues seen in children with FASD can be difficult not only for the child, but for his/her family as a whole. Add to this the stigma that is attached to a FASD diagnosis, and a family impacted by FASD can feel isolated and helpless.

    Not anymore. Through our Institute on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders and Discovery, and in partnership with SoCal NOFAS, we provide support groups for families affected by FASD. Talking with others who are affected by the same disorder, sharing your experiences (both good and bad), and absorbing the lessons learned from others who have truly walked a mile in your shoes can be incredibly powerful, helpful and healing.

    Learn More

  • Research

    Learning for You & Others Like You

    About half of birth defects are caused by genetic or environmental factors or a combination of the two; in the other half of cases, the cause is unknown. Our research teams are dedicated to better understanding the causes of birth defects, tracking how often they occur, and identifying ways we can prevent them. Whether we’re evaluating the safety of a medication taken in pregnancy, examining the molecular properties of breast milk that contribute to infant gut health, determining the prevalence of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders in school-age children, or monitoring cases of Zika-related birth defects in California, one thing is certain: we won’t stop researching until we have the answers that moms and babies deserve.

    Learn More