Children Now

CHILDREN NOW IS A NONPARTISAN WHOLE-CHILD RESEARCH, POLICY DEVELOPMENT, COMMUNICATIONS, AND ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION WORKING ON ALL KEY KIDS ISSUES, AND DEDICATED TO PROMOTING CHILDRENS HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND OVERALL WELL-BEING IN CALIFORNIA. CHILDREN NOW ALSO LEADS THE CHILDRENS MOVEMENT OF CALIFORNIA THE MEMBER-BASED PRO-KID CONSTITUENCY, THAT REPRESENTS A DIVERSE NETWORK OF MORE THAN 4,600 BUSINESS, YOUTH, PARENT, CIVIL RIGHTS, AND FAITH- AND COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS, AND OTHERS, AS WELL AS THOUSANDS OF INDIVIDUALS THROUGHOUT THE STATE, THAT SEEK TO LEARN MORE ABOUT HOW CHILDREN ARE FARING IN CALIFORNIA. MEMBERS RECEIVE INFORMATION AND RESEARCH ABOUT CHILDRENS POLICY ISSUES SO THAT THEY CAN BETTER SUPPORT KIDS WELL-BEING.

EDUCATIONCHILDREN NOWS EDUCATION PROGRAM AIMS TO ENSURE EVERY CHILD HAS ACCESS TO HIGH-QUALITY EARLY LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES, A RIGOROUS TK-12 EDUCATION, INCLUDING HIGH-QUALITY STEM AND QUALITY AFTERSCHOOL AND SUMMER PROGRAMS, AND ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE HIGHER EDUCATION. THROUGH RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS, POLICY DEVELOPMENT, EDUCATION AND OUTREACH, COMMUNICATIONS, CONVENINGS, AND ADVOCACY, WE HAVE WORKED TO DISMANTLE INEQUITABLE AND RACIALLY DISCRIMINATORY SYSTEMS AND ACHIEVED THE FOLLOWING: HELPED IMPROVE ACCESS TO QUALITY CHILD CARE AND PRESCHOOL PROGRAMS; SUPPORTED INCREASING AND REFORMING REIMBURSEMENT RATES FOR PRESCHOOL AND CHILD CARE PROVIDERS; PLAYED A PIVOTAL ROLE IN THE EXPANSION OF TK FOR ALL 4-YEAR-OLDS IN CALIFORNIA; SUPPORTED SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS, INCLUDING THE DEVELOPMENT AND DEPLOYMENT OF A GROWTH MEASURE TO BETTER TRACK STUDENT PROGRESS, TOWARDS BUILDING A TRANSPARENT AND STUDENT-FOCUSED EDUCATION ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEM THAT HELPS ENSURE ALL CHILDREN GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL READY FOR COLLEGE, CAREER AND CIVIC LIFE; ENSURED A STRONG EQUITY FOCUS IN THE ALLOCATION OF ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR K-12 EDUCATION; ADVOCATED FOR SCHOOL REOPENING; ENSURED ALL STUDENTS HAD THE RIGHT TO INDEPENDENT STUDY, REGARDLESS OF WHERE THEY LIVED; PROMOTED TIMELY PROCESSES TO INFORM STUDENTS AND FAMILIES OF THEIR RIGHTS, REENGAGE STUDENTS, AND SUPPORT ACCESS TO CORE COURSEWORK AND SUPPORTS; ENSURED MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR DISTANCE LEARNING INCLUDING ENSURING THAT DISTRICTS PROVIDE ALL STUDENTS WITH DEVICES AND CONNECTIVITY, TRACK STUDENT PARTICIPATION AND ASSESS PROGRESS AND COMMUNICATE WITH PARENTS; EXPANDED THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE CALIFORNIA STEM NETWORK AND ENGAGED THE NETWORK IN KEY STEM ISSUES, INCLUDING INCREASING ACCESS TO STEM EDUCATION AND PREPARING NEW STEM TEACHERS, EARLY MATH INSTRUCTION AND EDUCATOR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS IN COMPUTER SCIENCE, AND HIGH SCHOOL TO COMMUNITY COLLEGE PATHWAYS IN STEM; CONTINUED TO LEAD EFFORTS TO HELP ENSURE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF NEXT GENERATION SCIENCE STANDARDS, WHICH UPDATED STANDARDS AND ACCREDITATION AND TESTING FOR TEACHER PREPARATION AND CREDENTIALING; CONTINUED TO PLAY A LEADERSHIP ROLE AROUND THE EFFECTIVE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE LOCAL CONTROL FUNDING FORMULA (LCFF), WORKING TO ENSURE DOLLARS INTENDED FOR ENGLISH LEARNERS, STUDENTS IN DEEP POVERTY. AND YOUTH IN FOSTER CARE ACTUALLY REACH THOSE STUDENTS; ACHIEVED IMPORTANT REVISIONS TO THE LOCAL CONTROL AND ACCOUNTABILITY PLAN (LCAP) TEMPLATE TO PROMOTE EFFECTIVE FISCAL TRANSPARENCY, INCLUDING THE INCLUSION OF CLEAR TABLES TO TRACK FUNDING AT THE LOCAL LEVEL; CONTINUED TO LEAD EFFORTS TO ENSURE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ENGLISH LEARNER ROADMAP, TO PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR EDUCATORS TO LEARN HOW TO ADDRESS THE UNIQUE NEEDS OF STUDENTS WHO ARE ENGLISH LEARNERS; CONTINUED TO PROMOTE TRANSPARENT AND ACCESSIBLE DATA IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE STATES LONGITUDINAL INTEGRATED DATA SYSTEM, INCLUDING WORKING TO ENSURE CLEARER REFERENCES TO EARLY LEARNING DATA AND THE CREATION OF A STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT PROCESS; LED A RESEARCH PROJECT TO IDENTIFY EVIDENCE-BASED TEACHER RECRUITMENT, PREPARATION AND RETENTION PROGRAMS THAT ARE PROVEN EFFECTIVE AT TRAINING HIGHLY QUALIFIED DIVERSE TEACHERS; AND PROMOTED SUBSTANTIAL IMPROVEMENTS TO K-12 COURSE ACCESS AND INSTRUCTIONAL QUALITY AROUND MATH AND SCIENCE TO INCREASE ACCESS TO HIGHER EDUCATION FOR ALL STUDENTS.

HEALTHCHILDREN NOWS HEALTH PROGRAM FOCUSES ON ENSURING THAT CHILDREN BIRTH TO AGE 26 HAVE MEANINGFUL AND EQUITABLE ACCESS TO HIGH-QUALITY, CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE, AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE, INCLUDING PHYSICAL, BEHAVIORAL, AND ORAL HEALTH CARE SERVICES, AND OTHER KEY SERVICES LIKE HOME VISITING AND DEVELOPMENTAL SCREENINGS THAT ARE VITAL FOR CALIFORNIAS YOUNGEST CHILDREN. THROUGH OUR RESEARCH, ANALYSIS, POLICY DEVELOPMENT, EDUCATION, OUTREACH, AND ADVOCACY EFFORTS, WE HAVE ACHIEVED THE FOLLOWING: LED EFFORTS TO IMPROVE MEDI-CAL ACCESS TO AND QUALITY OF CARE FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, INCLUDING SUCCESSFULLY DEFENDING AGAINST PROPOSED CUTS TO MEDI-CAL THAT SUPPORT CHILDRENS ACCESS TO HEALTH SERVICES; CONTINUED OUR LEADERSHIP EFFORTS TO PROMOTE DEVELOPMENTAL SCREENINGS AND EARLY INTERVENTIONS FOR CALIFORNIAS INFANTS AND TODDLERS BY STRENGTHENING MEDI-CAL COMPLIANCE; SECURED A $30 MILLION INCREASE FOR THE CALWORKS HOME VISITING PROGRAM (HVP); HELPED EXPAND ASTHMA PREVENTION SERVICES BY IMPROVING ACCESS TO TRAINED COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS; HELPED REFINE THE STATES TELEHEALTH POLICIES, ESPECIALLY AS THEY RELATE TO ORAL HEALTH; CONTINUED TO MAKE PROGRESS ON INTEGRATING MEDICAL-DENTAL SYSTEMS IN MEDI-CAL; HIGHLIGHTED THE NEED FOR CULTURALLY APPROPRIATE SCREENING RESOURCES AND FOR PROVIDERS TO ADOPT TRAUMA-INFORMED PRACTICES WITHIN A CLINICAL SETTING; EXPANDED ACCESS TO TRAUMA SCREENINGS AND CONTINUED TO WORK TO MAINTAIN AND INCREASE STATEWIDE INVESTMENT IN TRAUMA SCREENINGS; AND WORKED TO INCREASE STATE INVESTMENT IN SCHOOL-BASED MENTAL HEALTH (SCHOOL-COUNTY PARTNERSHIPS) AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR STUDENTS.

CHILD WELFARECHILDREN NOWS CHILD WELFARE PROGRAM WORKS TO ADDRESS THE COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND SOCIAL SERVICE NEEDS OF CHILDREN IN THE CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM. THROUGH OUR RESEARCH, POLICY DEVELOPMENT, EDUCATION, AND COMMUNICATION EFFORTS, WE HAVE ACHIEVED THE FOLLOWING: HELPED SECURE FUNDS IN THE HOMEKEY PROGRAM FOR PROJECTS SERVING YOUTH EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS OR AT RISK OF HOMELESSNESS, INCLUDING CURRENT AND FORMER FOSTER YOUTH THROUGH THE AGE OF 25; SUCCESSFULLY ADVOCATED FOR CONTINUED FUNDING FOR THE HOUSING NAVIGATORS PROGRAM, TO HELP YOUNG PEOPLE AGES 18 TO 21 ACCESS STABLE HOUSING, WITH PRIORITY FOR YOUNG PEOPLE CURRENTLY OR FORMERLY IN FOSTER CARE; SECURED PANDEMIC ASSISTANCE FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH IN FOSTER CARE; WORKED WITH THE STATE AND COUNTIES ON THE EFFECTIVE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE FAMILY URGENT RESPONSE SYSTEM (FURS), A STATEWIDE, 24/7 HOTLINE TO SUPPORT FOSTER YOUTH AND THEIR CAREGIVERS IN TIMES OF CRISIS; SECURED CHANGES TO THE LEVEL OF CARE PROTOCOL, SUCH AS THE INCLUSION OF ADDITIONAL RESOURCES FOR ALL K-12 STUDENTS IN FOSTER CARE TO ACCOUNT FOR THE ADDITIONAL GUIDANCE, SUPPORT, TECHNOLOGY, AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS THAT WERE NEEDED DURING DISTANCE LEARNING; HELPED ENSURE FOSTER FAMILIES DID NOT EXPERIENCE A DISRUPTION TO THEIR CHILD CARE BY SUCCESSFULLY GETTING THE STATE TO AUGMENT THE EMERGENCY CHILD CARE BRIDGE PROGRAM, WHICH WAS SUBJECT TO SUSPENSION IN 2021; WORKED TO PROTECT THE NEEDS OF FOSTER CHILDREN AND YOUTH AND THEIR CAREGIVERS ARE MET WHEN DISASTER STRIKES THROUGH THE CHILD WELFARE DISASTER RESPONSE FUND; CONTINUED TO WORK WITH THE STATE ON THE CONTINUUM OF CARE REFORM, AN EFFORT TO RECRUIT AND RETAIN FOSTER PARENTS AND ENSURE ALL CHILDREN IN FOSTER CARE ARE RAISED IN STABLE, SUPPORTIVE FAMILY HOMES; WORKED TO STABILIZE FOSTER YOUTH HOUSING AND HIGHLIGHTED THE NEED FOR TRANSITIONAL HOUSING PROGRAMS TO SUPPORT PROGRAMMING FOR PARENTING FOSTER YOUTH IN EXTENDED FOSTER CARE AND REFLECT THE VARIABILITY OF HOUSING COSTS ACROSS THE STATE; CO-SPONSORED A PROPOSAL TO SUPPORT COUNTIES IN IMPLEMENTING THE FAMILY FIRST PREVENTION SERVICES ACT IN CALIFORNIA AND ENGAGING IN BROADER CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT PREVENTION ACTIVITIES; AND CONTINUED TO WORK TO HIGHLIGHT BARRIERS AND DEVELOP SOLUTIONS TO ADDRESS THE DISPARITIES IN K-12 EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT OF STUDENTS IN FOSTER CARE.