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Join Heluna Health on Friday, August 23rd at 12:00pm for an engaging livestream conversation as we delve into the transformative potential of guaranteed income pilot programs in the public health arena. Our discussion will feature two pioneering organizations: the CA Abundant Birth Project (ABP), the nation’s first pregnancy guaranteed income program, and Miracle Messages, a Bay Area nonprofit dedicated to helping people experiencing homelessness rebuild their social support systems.
We will hear from Adjoa Jones and Lindsey Richard of LA County’s Department of Public Health who are overseeing the CA Abundant Birth Project’s expansion into LA County. After Expecting Justice launched the San Francisco ABP pilot in June 2021, a coalition of leaders in five CA counties (Alameda, Contra Costa, Los Angeles, Riverside, and San Francisco) are expanding this reproductive justice project over the next three years to reach 950 participants. The aim is to make birthing healthier and safer for those at greatest risk during pregnancy by providing no-strings-attached cash to prevent stress. This approach has been shown to reduce the likelihood of babies being born prematurely or with low birth weight and to protect the health of mothers (or birthing parents). To date, ABP has served 404 mothers and disbursed $2 million.
Nelly Stastny, Director of Strategic Partnerships at Miracle Messages, will discuss their innovative approach to addressing homelessness. Initially focused on family reunification and social support for the unhoused, Miracle Messages has connected over 900 individuals with loved ones and paired 350+ with volunteers for regular calls and texts. In 2021, they launched a guaranteed income experiment, distributing nearly $1 million and publishing findings from their initial study with USC School of Social Work in November 2023.
Join us to learn more about these groundbreaking programs and to discuss the broader implications of guaranteed income experiments in public health.
