Baby Bonds in California

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From left, Alexandra Cawthorne Gains of the JPMorgan Chase PolicyCenter, Jesse Johnson of the Office of Washington State Treasurer, Shimica Gaskins of GRACE/End Child Poverty CA, and Andrea Comer of the Office of Connecticut State Treasurer, at Baby Bonds in Action: From California to the Nation's Capital, an event hosted by GRACE/End Child Poverty CA and End Poverty in California (EPIC), in Oakland, California, February 2024. Photo: David Radcliffe

In California, a pilot program exists for children who lost a primary caregiver to COVID-19 or have long term stays in the state’s foster care system, but the distribution amount is yet to be determined, and there are no current use restrictions. Over time, California leaders aim to build out a full Baby Bonds program.

Legislation

California Senate Bill 242: California Hope, Opportunity, Perseverance, and Empowerment (HOPE) for Children Trust Account Program (2023)

California Senate Bill 242: California Hope, Opportunity, Perseverance, and Empowerment (HOPE) for Children Trust Account Program (2023-24)

Baby Blogs

The California Way: Breaking Down Silos Between Cash and Wealth
By Shimica Gaskins of GRACE/End Child Poverty CA and Devon Gray of End Poverty in California

Baby Bonds: Living the Lives We Envision
By Fawn Robinson of the California HOPE Accounts Youth Panel of Experts

News and Resources

Axios
Baby Bonds Could Reduce Racial Wealth Gap in Oakland, Study Says
December 12, 2024

The Bond Buyer
California Treasurer Talks Bonds, Housing and Lieutenant Governor Bid
December 10, 2024

End Child Poverty in California/GRACE, End Poverty in California
Reducing the Racial Wealth Gap: Utilize Wealth to Fund California Baby Bonds

End Poverty in California 
HOPE Accounts and Caring for Others Unconditionally 
April 16, 2024

LAist
California Set Aside Money For Children Orphaned by COVID. Now The State Just Has To Find Them
March 21, 2024

CalMatters
California Foster Youth and COVID Orphans Gaining a Sense of Hope from Trust Fund Program
January 30, 2024

The New School
Renowned New School Economist Darrick Hamilton Selected to Join New Advisory Workgroup on Ending Child Poverty in State of California
February 21, 2023

California State Treasurer's Office
State Treasurer Fiona Ma Appoints Kasey O’Conner as the First Executive Director of the California HOPE for Children Trust Account Program
December 19, 2022

CalMatters
Some COVID Orphans in California Will Get Financial Help
July 22, 2022

PBS NewsHour
California to Give “Baby Bonds’ to Children Who Lost Parent or Guardian to COVID
July 22, 2022

The Associated Press
California OKs 'Baby Bonds to Help Combat Child Poverty
July 22, 2022

End Child Poverty in California
Interested in Baby Bonds? ECPCA Has You Covered
July 20, 2022