California launches Golden State START to provide 400 free diapers to every newborn
May 08, 2026 | Office of the Governor, Other State Agencies, Executive, California
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California officials on Friday unveiled Golden State START, a statewide program that will provide 400 free diapers to each newborn at hospital discharge in an effort to ease cost pressures on new parents and test a model for delivering essential goods at scale.
“Golden State START is exactly that kind of effort,” Elizabeth Landsberg, director of the Department of Health Care Access and Information, said in opening remarks, describing an automatic, no‑application distribution that gives families diapers when they leave the hospital.
The program will partner with the nonprofit Baby2Baby, which state officials said will handle procurement, warehousing and hospital distribution. Nora Weinstein and Kelly Sawyer Patricof, co‑CEOs of Baby2Baby, told the event that the organization has distributed hundreds of millions of diapers and other essentials and that it operates a low‑cost manufacturing and distribution model.
“Golden State START is a first in the nation program where we will have the honor of providing hundreds of free diapers to every newborn delivered at a hospital in the state of California,” Nora Weinstein said.
Governor Gavin Newsom framed the initiative as part of a broader affordability agenda, citing rising diaper costs and other family supports the state has pursued. He said the state expects to distribute about 40 million diapers in the first year, 80 million in the second year and to scale toward a longer‑term goal of roughly 160 million diapers; he also said he included $12.5 million in his January budget proposal to support the next phase of the effort and asked the legislature to approve further funding.
“It’s a box of diapers,” Newsom said, using a plain image to describe the program’s practical aim. He and other officials stressed the program will prioritize hospitals that serve large numbers of Medi‑Cal births so the initial rollout reaches families judged most in need.
Health and Human Services Secretary Kim Johnson described the initiative as a public‑health intervention, linking diaper access to early childhood health, family stability and other state efforts including CalRx and expanded Medi‑Cal benefits for doulas and community health workers. "Health doesn't start in a doctor's office. It starts at home," Johnson said.
Hospital clinicians at the event said the program addresses a problem they see in practice. “Diaper insecurity is one that you don't hear about as often on the front lines,” said Dr. Allison Woo, head of Women’s Services for Sutter West Bay Medical Group and OB/GYN director at CPMC. Dr. Chris Fortis, chief of neonatology at Sutter Health, said rural hospitals that Sutter serves will be included in the partnership.
Officials described the initial delivery point as hospitals at discharge, saying families will not need to complete an application to receive the diapers. Baby2Baby will target hospitals with higher shares of Medi‑Cal deliveries and expand distribution over time to additional sites such as birthing centers or direct consumer channels as funding and logistics allow.
At the event, Assemblymember Liz Ortega (D‑District 20) framed diaper provision as a public‑health and affordability priority, drawing on her experience as a young mother to argue the program addresses basic needs that affect family stability.
Organizers said further rollout details, including a list of participating hospitals and timing for distribution, will be announced as the state finalizes arrangements and secures legislative approval for additional funding. Officials repeatedly thanked Baby2Baby and hospital partners and said the program will begin with hospitals serving the greatest need.
No formal vote or legislative action was completed at the event; officials said the governor’s budget includes funding requests that require legislative approval.
Looking ahead, officials said Golden State START is a pilot of a broader approach to using state purchasing and partnerships to reduce costs for essential goods, and that leaders will evaluate scaling and potential future channels for distribution.
“Golden State START is exactly that kind of effort,” Elizabeth Landsberg, director of the Department of Health Care Access and Information, said in opening remarks, describing an automatic, no‑application distribution that gives families diapers when they leave the hospital.
The program will partner with the nonprofit Baby2Baby, which state officials said will handle procurement, warehousing and hospital distribution. Nora Weinstein and Kelly Sawyer Patricof, co‑CEOs of Baby2Baby, told the event that the organization has distributed hundreds of millions of diapers and other essentials and that it operates a low‑cost manufacturing and distribution model.
“Golden State START is a first in the nation program where we will have the honor of providing hundreds of free diapers to every newborn delivered at a hospital in the state of California,” Nora Weinstein said.
Governor Gavin Newsom framed the initiative as part of a broader affordability agenda, citing rising diaper costs and other family supports the state has pursued. He said the state expects to distribute about 40 million diapers in the first year, 80 million in the second year and to scale toward a longer‑term goal of roughly 160 million diapers; he also said he included $12.5 million in his January budget proposal to support the next phase of the effort and asked the legislature to approve further funding.
“It’s a box of diapers,” Newsom said, using a plain image to describe the program’s practical aim. He and other officials stressed the program will prioritize hospitals that serve large numbers of Medi‑Cal births so the initial rollout reaches families judged most in need.
Health and Human Services Secretary Kim Johnson described the initiative as a public‑health intervention, linking diaper access to early childhood health, family stability and other state efforts including CalRx and expanded Medi‑Cal benefits for doulas and community health workers. "Health doesn't start in a doctor's office. It starts at home," Johnson said.
Hospital clinicians at the event said the program addresses a problem they see in practice. “Diaper insecurity is one that you don't hear about as often on the front lines,” said Dr. Allison Woo, head of Women’s Services for Sutter West Bay Medical Group and OB/GYN director at CPMC. Dr. Chris Fortis, chief of neonatology at Sutter Health, said rural hospitals that Sutter serves will be included in the partnership.
Officials described the initial delivery point as hospitals at discharge, saying families will not need to complete an application to receive the diapers. Baby2Baby will target hospitals with higher shares of Medi‑Cal deliveries and expand distribution over time to additional sites such as birthing centers or direct consumer channels as funding and logistics allow.
At the event, Assemblymember Liz Ortega (D‑District 20) framed diaper provision as a public‑health and affordability priority, drawing on her experience as a young mother to argue the program addresses basic needs that affect family stability.
Organizers said further rollout details, including a list of participating hospitals and timing for distribution, will be announced as the state finalizes arrangements and secures legislative approval for additional funding. Officials repeatedly thanked Baby2Baby and hospital partners and said the program will begin with hospitals serving the greatest need.
No formal vote or legislative action was completed at the event; officials said the governor’s budget includes funding requests that require legislative approval.
Looking ahead, officials said Golden State START is a pilot of a broader approach to using state purchasing and partnerships to reduce costs for essential goods, and that leaders will evaluate scaling and potential future channels for distribution.
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