​Starting in 2023, Jackie held listening tours across San Mateo County with women and children living in poverty to better understand their challenges and needs. Potential solutions were discussed at the 2023 Ending Child Poverty Summit. At this event, Jackie announced seed funding for a major innovative Baby Bonus Program for newborn babies in San Mateo County.

 

The San Mateo County Baby Bonus Program is a locally focused, evidence-based demonstration project centered on understanding the value of cash aid and early childhood supports for new parents. The program exceeds many existing income boost

pilots by pairing unconditional cash gifts with coordinated care services in the first three years of a child's life. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Based on the preliminary results of an NIH study, "Baby's First Years", a monthly gift is expected to improve the physical and emotional health, cognitive development, and overall well-being of an infant. The project provides a monthly cash gift of $300 along with support services for three years to 600 randomly selected children on Medi-Cal who were born at Lucille Packard and a few other local hospitals. 

 

An interdisciplinary team of faculty from Stanford University is conducting a comprehensive evaluation and is generating valuable data to inform local and national policy on reinstating the enhanced child credit, as well as county-level decisions at the pilot's conclusion. Join us in rewriting the story of child poverty in San Mateo County by making a contribution here.

​