State officials said the program is intended to reduce costs for parents and support infant health during the first weeks after birth.
California plans to launch a statewide program this summer providing free diapers to families with newborns delivered at participating hospitals, state officials announced Friday.
The initiative, called Golden State Start, will distribute 400 diapers to families when they leave the hospital after giving birth. State officials said the program is intended to reduce costs for parents and support infant health during the first weeks after birth.
The program is being launched through a partnership between Gov. Gavin Newsom’s administration and Baby2Baby, a Los Angeles-based nonprofit that distributes diapers and other supplies to children and families in need.
According to the governor’s office, the first phase of the program will prioritize hospitals serving large numbers of Medi-Cal patients, with plans to expand statewide over time.
State officials also said California is exploring ways to reduce diaper prices more broadly through CalRx, an initiative previously used to expand access to lower-cost insulin and naloxone.
California officials described the diaper program as part of a larger affordability strategy focused on child care, health coverage and family assistance programs.
