Best for Babies

What is

Best for Babies?

Best for Babies (B4B) is a statewide initiative that promotes better outcomes for families with young children involved with the child protection system and the courts.

Grounded in ZERO TO THREE’s Safe Babies approach, B4B advances systems change by integrating neuroscience and trauma-informed care into court processes.

Founded in 2004, Best for Babies leads the way in training and equipping professionals in infant and early childhood mental health.

We drive the powerful intersection of brain science, child welfare, and prevention, showing how sectors can work together to transform outcomes for young children.

Through annual and quarterly convenings, we strengthen connections, deepen expertise, and expand the impact of this vital work.

Why focus on young children?

Every seven minutes in the United States, an infant is removed from their family. In Arizona, 29% of children in out of home care are ages birth to three - when the brain is rapidly developing, and stability in relationships is everything.

Change is not optional - it’s urgent.

We envision an equitable child well-being system that is proactive, collaborative, and nurtures the relationship between young children and their parents.

Best for Babies is a collaborative statewide initiative advancing the health and well-being of families by understanding and responding to the needs of families with young children navigating the child welfare system, honoring each family’s unique context and history.

Best for Babies is a collaborative statewide initiative advancing the health and well-being of families by understanding and responding to the needs of families with young children navigating the child welfare system, honoring each family’s unique context and history.

Through a 5-year grant from the Health and Human Resources Services Administration (HRSA), Best for Babies has expanded and enhanced our alignment with the ZERO TO THREE Safe Babies approach in three county juvenile courts: Coconino, Yavapai and Yuma.

Through training, technical assistance and their local county staff, these three county courts are:

  • Providing direct and individualized support to 0-3 parents in the dependency court system through the Safe Babies Community Coordinators
  • Improving collaborative relationships though their Active Community Teams and Site Implementation Teams
  • Working to ensure all children under three and their families involved with child welfare, receive the trauma-responsive and developmentally appropriate services that they need
  • Holding more frequent court hearings
  • Conducting Family Team Meetings
  • Engaging tribal entities 
  • Addressing needed support for rural communities 
  • Preventing re-removal and achieving permanency faster

The newly renovated Yavapai County Juvenile Family Court exemplifies our investment in family-centered spaces. Through our subgrants, 10 Arizona counties have enhanced their court environments to better support families navigating the dependency process.

Hear from our

Statewide Safe Babies Court Teams Coordinator, Marshalle Manriquez:

For More Information

If you are are interested in joining one of our Best for Babies Teams

Contact our Program and Training Director, Meghan Hays-Davis at meghan@pcaaz.org.