Child Health Resources

Nurse Advice Line

Call 1-833-846-8773 24 hours a day–7 days a week.

A Licensed Registered Nurse (RN) will give you medical advice when you think you need urgent medical attention, but you are not sure. A nurse will ask about your symptoms and tell you:

• If you need to go to Urgent Care
• If you can wait to see your doctor (within 24 hours, 3 days, or longer)
• How to take care of your symptoms at home

Dental care 

It is safe and recommended to see your dentist for a cleaning and exam before your baby is born. To get dental care:

• Medi-Cal & CareAdvantage members get dental care through HPSM Dental
• HealthWorx HMO members & San Mateo County ACE participants: check your member handbook for information.

Community resources

Temporary Medi-Cal

Temporary Medi-Cal is a program for pregnant people living in California without prenatal insurance. Immigration status does not matter. These prenatal services are covered for free:

• Pregnancy test at a clinic
• Prenatal care visits
• Prescription medicines for your pregnancy

Applying for temporary Medi-Cal is fast and easy

1. Call a clinic or provider to make an appointment for prenatal care
2. Tell the staff that you do not have health insurance
3. Apply for temporary Medi-Cal when you are at your appointment
   

Information about Medi-Cal for Kids & Teens

The California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) offers information about the Medi-Cal services available for Kids and Teens, including:

• Brochures to improve members’ understanding of how Medi-Cal for Kids & Teens works, what it covers, and its role in preventive care screening, diagnosis, and treatment:
  • The child brochure is for children up to age 12.
  • The teen brochure is for ages 12-20.
• A letter called Medi-Cal for Kids & Teens: Your Medi-Cal Rights that explains what members' options are if medically necessary care is denied, delayed, reduced or stopped.
  

Women, Infants & Children (WIC)

WIC helps low-wage households get food and teaches people about healthy eating. They also have parenting support groups and classes. WIC serves people who are pregnant, nursing or who have just given birth but are not nursing. They also help infants and children up to age five. 

Nurse Family Partnership (NFP)

NFP nurses help young moms get ready for their first child’s birth. Nurses visit moms at home and teach them parenting skills. They can start early in the pregnancy and keep helping until the child turns two. Residents of San Mateo County who are pregnant with their first child are eligible.

Family Equality

for trans and gender non-binary folks

Getting ready for pregnancy as a non-binary person will involve a few extra steps to make sure your mental and physical health is supported throughout the way. Family Equality offers information, suggestions on questions to ask your provider and resources, including a guide for preparing for pregnancy as a non-binary person.

All-Options Talkline

If you are pregnant and unsure how to feel or what to do next, or you want to talk about a past or current experience with abortion, adoption, parenting, infertility or pregnancy loss, All-Options has a free Talkline available to you. Just call (toll-free)  1-888-493-0092.

San Mateo County Health

Learn about programs for pregnant people and new parents.