The early years of a child’s life are critical for development. The Baby Bonus program in San Mateo County provides monthly cash gifts and care coordination to eligible parents with newborns.
As a pilot program, we are also studying the impact of the program. We want to learn what kind of support helps families thrive.
This page is your guide to what to expect and where to get support.
Right now, the program is only open to a limited number of San Mateo County parents who receive Medi-Cal through the Health Plan of San Mateo (HPSM). Eligible parents will be contacted after delivery of their baby, either in the hospital or by Health Plan San Mateo. There is no open application process to enroll.
Participants join the program in the first month after their child is born and remain enrolled until their child turns three years old.
As we learn more about the program’s impact, we hope to expand and reach even more families in the future!
Click here for general information on the Baby Bonus Program.
Participants will be placed in one of four groups. All participants will be asked to take surveys to help us understand the impact of the program.
Below are details about the four groups, what to expect, and who to reach for more specific questions. Please note, the contacts on this page cannot help with enrollment in the program.
You get monthly cash payments. These payments are managed by our partner, UpTogether.
You will be asked to complete a survey by UpTogether at the beginning, middle, and end of the program. You will be paid for the time you spend on these three surveys. You do not have to complete the surveys to receive the monthly Baby Bonus payments.
For questions about cash payments or surveys, please contact UpTogether Support at 878-444-2932 or visit:
You get:
Monthly cash payments: Payments are managed by UpTogether. For questions about cash payments, please contact UpTogether Support at 878-444-2932 or visit: UpTogether Support (English) | UpTogether Support (Espanol)
Care coordination: Support from a community health worker is provided by Health Plan of San Mateo. Your community health worker is the first point of contact for support. Reach out to them directly. If you forget who your community health worker is, or need help with their support, call HPSM Member Services 1-800-750-4776 or 650-616-2133 (TTY: dial 7-1-1).
You are enrolled in a study evaluating the Baby Bonus program. All parent study participants will be offered the chance to complete four surveys during the course of the study, each about one year apart. You will receive $50 for each survey you complete. You do not have to complete the surveys mentioned above to receive the monthly Baby Bonus payments.
If you have any questions, concerns or complaints about this research study, its procedures, risks and benefits, you should call 650-497-7541 or email babybonus@stanford.edu.
You get care coordination support from a community health worker.
Care coordination is provided by the Health Plan of San Mateo. Your community health worker will reach out to you regularly throughout the three years of the program to check in about your family’s well-being and needs.
Your community health worker is the first point of contact for support. Reach out to them directly. If you lose touch with your community health worker or need help with their support, contact HPSM Member Services 1-800-750-4776 or 650-616-2133 (TTY: dial 7-1-1).
You are enrolled in a study evaluating the Baby Bonus program. All parent study participants will be offered the chance to complete four surveys during the course of the study, each about one year apart. You will receive $50 for each survey you complete. You do not have to complete the surveys mentioned above to receive the monthly Baby Bonus payments.
If you have any questions, concerns or complaints about this research study, its procedures, risks and benefits, you should call 650-497-7541 or email babybonus@stanford.edu.
You are enrolled in a study evaluating the Baby Bonus program. All parent study participants will be offered the chance to complete four surveys during the course of the study, each about one year apart. You will receive $50 for each survey you complete. You do not have to complete the surveys mentioned above to receive the monthly Baby Bonus payments.
If you have any questions, concerns or complaints about this research study, its procedures, risks and benefits, you should call 650-497-7541 or email babybonus@stanford.edu.
Baby Bonus is a guaranteed income program. Monthly payments are exempt from federal income tax and are exempt from consideration as income for CalWORKs, CalFresh, California Food Assistance Program, MAGI Medi-Cal or General Assistance eligibility. Click here for more information from the CA Department of Social Services (CDSS).
If you have more questions about eligibility for these programs, please contact San Mateo County Human Services Agency Service Center at 1-800-223-8383 or walk into any one of their regional offices: https://www.smcgov.org/hsa/contact-us.
For questions on impacts to other benefits, please reach out directly to the agency providing these benefits.
If you are receiving monthly gift payments and need a letter to verify your enrollment in Baby Bonus, please reach out to UpTogether Support at 878-444-2932 or visit: UpTogether Support (English) | UpTogether Support (Espanol)
© 2024 First 5 San Mateo County
Kitty Lopez has served as the Executive Director of First 5 San Mateo County since 2013, focusing on strategic investing, community leadership, policy and advocacy development for young children, 0-5, and their families.
Kitty has served as Co-Chair of the Advisory Body for Build Up for San Mateo County Children’s Initiative, with Board of Supervisor, Dave Pine, since 2018. Congressman Kevin Mullin is Honorary Co-Chair. This initiative was established to preserve, grow, and increase the number of early care sites in San Mateo County.
Kitty previously served as the Executive Director of Samaritan House, one of San Mateo County’s leading Core Service Agencies and safety-net nonprofits serving low-income families and individuals with food, shelter, clothing, health care, counseling, education classes, and holiday assistance from 2002 to 2013.
Kitty taught kindergarten, second grade, and high school in southern California and San Francisco and was a consultant in schools with children who have autism and special needs. Additionally, Kitty worked in a residential substance abuse treatment center in San Francisco and psychiatric hospital for children and youth in San Diego. Kitty’s roots in supporting children began as a 16-year-old volunteer at the Braille Institute in Los Angeles where she taught swimming to children and adults with visual impairments.
She attended University of California Santa Barbara earning a California Teaching Credential and B.A in Psychology. Kitty is active in her community serving as Vice Chair of the San Mateo County Event Center, and Past President and Current Member of the San Mateo Rotary Club. She is currently serving as Past President of the First 5 Association of California. On March 2022, Assembly Speaker pro Tem Kevin Mullin selected Kitty Lopez as the 2022 Assembly District 22 Woman of the Year.
