California Abundant Birth Project (CA ABP) Community Investment

California Abundant Birth Project (CA ABP) Community Investment is sponsored by Alameda County Public Health Department. The California Abundant Birth Project (CA ABP) is a guaranteed income program that provides cash during pregnancy to make birthing healthier and safer, especially for those facing the greatest risk.

About the Program – California Abundant Birth Project Applications are now closed! The California Abundant Birth Project (CA ABP) provides monthly unconditional income supplements to pregnant individuals at the highest risk of preterm birth.

If selected, participants will receive the following monthly cash gift for 12-18 months, based on county residence: As of May 2025, we successfully completed our enrollment of 850 participants into the program! Below describes our application and enrollment process. Live in Alameda, Contra Costa, Los Angeles, or Riverside counties.

Be 8-27 weeks pregnant at the time of Abundance Drawing.

Have household income under the following for county: Identify with one or more of the following risk factors for preterm birth: Are Black or African American Have had a previous preterm birth (live before 37 weeks) Have preexisting hypertension (before this pregnancy) Have preexisting diabetes (before this pregnancy) Have sickle cell anemia (SCA) Not be currently participating in another guaranteed income program.

The Abundance Drawing is the automated system that randomly selected participants from confirmed eligible applicants, who were then invited to enroll in the Abundant Birth Project. Eligible applicants were randomly selected twice a month to become ABP participants. Frequently Asked Questions why cash during pregnancy?

We believe all pregnant people deserve to have healthy, abundant births. Providing direct, unconditional cash aid gives mothers and pregnant people the power and the dignity to make decisions for themselves and their babies. A study in Manitoba, Canada , found that an unconditional income supplement provided during pregnancy produced a 17.

5% decrease in preterm birth and 21% decrease in low birth weight. How do program participants receive the funds? We provide participants with a debit card that is reloaded every month.

This can be a virtual or physical card. When do participants receive their funds? After you receive your virtual or physical debit card, the funds are automatically loaded on the 30th of each month throughout the program.

Participants can use the money to help themselves and their family in whatever ways they need to. We trust participants to know what is best for their family. What is expected of participants in order for me to receive the money?

We trust mamas and birthing parents to know how best to take care of themselves and their growing families. Participants don’t have to do anything to receive the income supplement. They can choose how best to spend this money to meet their needs.

There are no lengthy forms, or classes to attend. Participants do not need to explain how or why they are using the money. The cash we provide is a gift from ABP which means you don’t need to do anything to earn this money and there are no strings attached.

We do not require you to do anything after being selected to participate in the program to receive the gift. How much money do participants receive? The monthly amount depends on the county you live in: How will receiving money affect participants' public benefits, like wic or calworks?

It depends on the benefits you are receiving. We have worked hard to protect participants’ benefits from being impacted. If you are selected for the program, we will provide you with benefits counseling to discuss what benefits might be affected.

Do I need a bank account to participate? Why are we researching the Abundant Birth Project (ABP)? The ABP Evaluation research will help us understand how receiving the income stipends impacts mental health, finances, and the health of the moms, birthing people, and babies.

If our research shows that ABP improves health, we can use this evidence to secure long-lasting funding for ABP. Our goal is to make the program available across California and nationally, supporting all communities in having healthy pregnancies and births. Do I have to participate in the evaluation to get the monthly stipend?

No. The Abundant Birth Project is a no strings attached program, meaning that you do NOT have to do anything to receive the money. Participation in the evaluation is optional. There is absolutely no pressure to participate in the evaluation and the decision to do so is solely yours.

Who is conducting the ABP Evaluation research? The ABP program is separate from the evaluation. The program is run by Expecting Justice.

The evaluation is run by two different teams: (1) CA ABP Evaluation: The ABP Evaluation research is being conducted by researchers from UC Berkeley, UC Davis, and Oregon Health & Science University in partnership with community members from Alameda, Contra Costa, Los Angeles, Riverside, and San Francisco Counties. The surveys will be conducted by a community researcher or research assistant.

(2) State of CA/ Urban Institute: Some ABP participants will also be asked to participate in a second evaluation being conducted by the State of California and the Urban Institute. If you are eligible to participate in either, we will reach out to explain the requirements of the different evaluations. I don't trust research/I've had a bad experience with research.

why should I consider this? The CA ABP Evaluation research team works closely with the program team and community members to hold ourselves accountable to implementing our values within our research practices. We believe in transparency, informed consent and justice and bring these principles to our evaluation.

The evaluation is completely voluntary and will not affect your eligibility for the income supplement. Through the evaluation findings, we hope to uplift the lived experiences of mamas and birthing people. What do I have to do for the ABP evaluation research?

Evaluation participants are asked to complete 4 surveys during their pregnancy and in the postpartum period. Some participants will be invited to complete 2 interviews in addition to the surveys. Do I have to do all the surveys or interviews that are part of the evaluation?

No. If you join the evaluation you can stop at any time if you aren’t interested in participating anymore. Do I have to decide now if I want to participate in the evaluation? No. The research team will reach out to tell you more about what the research involves, how you’ll be compensated for your time, and answer any questions you have.

You can decide whether you want to participate. Please take as much time as you need to think it over and discuss with your family. Please contact research@abundantbirthproject.

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