“This gift is going to go a long way in helping me recover. I can’t wait to get back on my feet and pay it forward.”
— Caroline, Cash Aid Recipient, Altadena
Caroline’s family was one of many we supported through direct cash aid after the LA wildfires. We built our response swiftly, because families needed it fast. But sitting with parents in the aftermath, a pattern emerged that had little to do with the wildfires.
Families we connected with didn’t need cash just because of disaster; they needed it because postpartum is expensive, with little holistic or systemic support. For most families, a baby adds $12,000–$15,000 in the first year but can increase upward to $30,000 when factoring in childcare, medical expenses, and purchasing of essential equipment. [Source] That’s not a natural disaster statistic, it’s one that shakes us when we think about the families we serve, and what led us to design RISE.
What’s RISE?
RISE —Resources for Income, Shelter & Empowerment— is our new participant-centered pilot program designed to stabilize families during pregnancy and the early postpartum months. Designed to launch this fall, and serving low-income, single mothers in LA Country, this program will provide up to $250,000 in direct, unrestricted cash assistance alongside wraparound postpartum support.
How it works
RISE brings together three kinds of support:
- Unrestricted cash. Mothers receive direct cash and decide how to use it: rent, groceries, transportation, childcare. Their call, not ours.
- Relational care coordination. Dedicated staff help families navigate public systems like benefits and insurance, with warm handoffs to outside agencies. Birth worker and doula support is subsidized, so mothers have access to culturally responsive care during postpartum.
- Community and tangible support. Participants connect to peers and perinatal mental health resources, and receive essential items like postpartum supplies and diapers.
Why Cash?
We’re a member of the Mother Infant Cash Coalition (MICC), and we believe unconditional cash is not only one of the most effective ways to stabilize families during the perinatal period, but builds trust with the families we serve.
The values behind the design
- Parents are the experts in their own lives.
- Care should not be transactional.
- Support should be flexible to adapt to changing needs.
- Dignity and choice are non-negotiable.
We believe financial stability in postpartum should not depend on privilege, luck, or circumstance. It should be a standard of care available to every mother and birthing person. RISE is how we move that belief from vision into action.
Are you interested in supporting RISE? We are actively fundraising for this program. None of our work happens without your support behind it. Donate today, or reach out to Eboni Nash at eboni@4thtri.org to sponsor RISE or explore a partnership.
