The PBILC began in February 1990. Five Pacific Basin technical assistance (TA) providers co-sponsored a meeting to develop a comprehensive, coordinated, community-based family-centered system of care for young children with disabilities and health care needs. The first PBIL Conference demonstrated a collaborative framework of interagency planning to improve health and education systems for individuals with disabilities.

The PBILC was hosted across the Pacific throughout the years, such as American Samoa, Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, Federated States of Micronesia (Pohnpei, Yap, Chuuk, and Kosrae), Marshall Islands, and Palau. The “C” in PBILC represented two separate meanings depending on the purpose of gathering. “Consortium” meetings discussed TA plans, follow-up, personnel shortages and capacity building needs, and redefining monitoring visits. “Conference” delivered formal information and best practices through presentations. The PBIL Conference allowed Pacific jurisdictions to showcase the ‘Pacific-Way’ of best practices.

The last PBIL Conference was held in 2009, and since then only smaller meetings were held during the Pacific Rim Conference in Hawaii. In 2019, to revive the connection, American Samoa and Guam CEDDERS hosted a PBILC meeting. At the meeting, there was a consensus to reconnect and elevate more discussion on grooming leaders, increasing personnel, and funding sources.