In 1979, the California Legislature recognized that many high-risk women and infants in California did not have access to specialized care and therefore were more likely to die or suffer permanent disabilities. As a result, the Legislature mandated the development of a network of perinatal regions to reduce perinatal mortality. This goal is accomplished through the promotion of improved access to risk-appropriate perinatal care to pregnant women and their infants and regional quality improvement activities that promote an integrated regional perinatal system between public health and health care institutions as well as local communities and state organizations. Regional RPPC Directors have the flexibility, neutrality, and credibility to bridge public and private sectors. They offer the opportunity to work with multiple counties, local communities, public health agencies, hospitals, clinics, individual providers, and health plans to work collaboratively to identify and address common perinatal concerns. The RPPC regions in California are: North Coast-East Bay, Northeastern, Mid-Coastal, Central San Joaquin Valley-Sierra Nevada, South Coastal-East Los Angeles, Central-North Los Angeles-Coastal Valley, Orange County, Southern Inland Counties, San Diego-Imperial Counties