October 2025 Newsletter
Governor Signs AB 495: Protecting Parent Rights Amid Misleading Opposition
Governor Newsom recently signed AB 495 into law, a critical step in protecting parents’ legal rights to make safe decisions for their children, including identifying alternative caretakers when needed (read more here).
Passing AB 495 was not easy. Opponents pushed a misleading narrative, trying to convince trusting parents that this bill would undermine their rights. In reality, this new law strengthens protections for families, ensuring parents can safely access the support they need from their communities — and not just leave the responsibility of the health and well-being of their children to the nuclear family model, which has become increasingly unsustainable as more is demanded of parents.
It truly takes a village to raise a child, but in today’s political climate, that village is under attack. Families are being pressured into isolation — told to go it alone rather than rely on neighbors, schools, child care providers or community supports. Policies such as AB 495 push back against that isolation by reaffirming that parents deserve both choice and connection — the ability to build trusted networks of care that reflect their values and keep their children safe.
This victory ties into a broader effort this year to make schools and child-serving programs safer for all children, including children in immigrant families. Key safe-school legislation passed in 2025 reinforces protections in schools and early care settings, helping create environments where children can learn and thrive safely. Read our explainer on 2025 safe-school legislation.
True parent choice requires strong public supports — from early care and education to safe schools — so families can make the decisions that work best for them. AB 495 is a step in that direction. We thank CHIRLA, Public Counsel and the Alliance for Children’s Rights for sponsoring this bill and championing the rights of all children and their families.
Say No to Rising Cost of Health Coverage
The federal government has been closed since October 1. Republicans in Congress, including nine California representatives, have not come to the table to negotiate a stop to skyrocketing health care costs.
Call (202) 224-3121 and tell your member of Congress to stop health care costs from rising out of reach for millions of Californians, including many parents of young children.
After cutting a trillion dollars from Medicaid in HR 1 and refusing to extend tax credits that help people afford their health care premiums under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), 20 million Americans are set to face extraordinary health care costs. Without these subsidies, Californians who purchase their care through our state’s ACA exchange, Covered California, will see their premiums DOUBLE on average. Covered California estimates that 400,000 people in our state could lose coverage due to costs alone. This also means higher health care costs for everyone else to compensate for these losses.
California has nine Republican members of Congress that can stop this today. Call (202) 224-3121 and tell your member of Congress to come to the table and protect our care.
You can also use this tool from the KFF to see how much your premiums could rise if ACA subsidies expire. It’s a quick way to put numbers behind your story — and show just how much is at stake.
Health Access is also collecting stories from people who get their health coverage through Covered California. Your story helps hold leaders accountable and show the real human cost of their political games. Tell us what these rising premiums would mean for you and your family.
Your access to care should not be seen as a choice — it’s a necessity. Add your voice today!
We’re Hiring! Health Care Policy Manager
Are you passionate about making California’s health care system work better for every child and family? Do you love turning complex policy into clear, actionable solutions and working with partners to bring those solutions to life? If so, we want you on our team!
The Children’s Partnership is a California-based advocacy organization working to advance child health equity through bold policy, innovative research, and authentic community engagement. We believe that all children deserve a fair shot at a healthy, bright future – and we’re looking for a Health Care Policy Manager who’s ready to help us make it happen.
See the full job description and apply on our website. We encourage candidates to submit their application by November 18, 2025, but the position will remain open until filled.
Together, we can build a healthier, more equitable California – starting with our children.
Please Share: Survey for CA Families with Children Ages 0-3
In support of work with Bringing Up Caifornia, The Children’s Partnership is working in partnership with FM3 Research, EVITARUS, and Castillo and Associates to conduct confidential research to better understand the economic and social needs of California families with young children (prenatal to 3 years). Considering the targeted attacks on marginalized communities, we intend to oversample low-income, BIPOC and immigrant families.
We are requesting your assistance in reaching California families. All studies will be conducted online, be confidential, and participants will be compensated up to $150 for their time.
Please share the short message below with your communities:
The Children’s Partnership (TCP) is conducting a confidential, anonymous online study of California parents with children ages 3 and under to learn how to better support families statewide. The information will be kept safe—not shared outside the research team, and used to inform TCP’s advocacy to support the needs of families of young children from diverse backgrounds. There are multiple online studies available. Participating parents of children ages 3 and under will receive $150 for their time! Click here to take a short survey to be considered for the study: TCPResearch.com.
Here is a QR code you can use to easily share the above survey link.
Thank you in advance for your help and sharing this with your networks. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Jamila Michael at jmichael@childrenspartnership.org.
Raven Jones-McKinney, Mayra E. Alvarez Attend Wellness Together Conference
From September 29 to October 1, Raven Jones-McKinney, director of peer-to-peer youth mental health, and TCP President Mayra E. Alvarez attended the 9th Annual Wellness Together Conference in San Diego. The event focused on inspiring mental health educators and advocates to collaborate and create meaningful impact for students.
Alvarez moderated a plenary session, “Beyond the Brink: Leading Together in Times of Disaster and Disruption,” featuring panelists Dr. Fabiola Bagula, superintendent of San Diego Unified School District; Alberto Carvalho, superintendent of Los Angeles Unified School District; and Al Muratsuchi, California assemblymember. The panel highlighted the need for school district leadership in doubling down on the commitment to creating a welcoming school environment for all students regardless of background, and shared recent examples from Los Angeles and San Di
ego for what supporting students in this time looks like.
Connected to TCP’s Peer-to-Peer Youth Mental Health High School Pilot Demonstration, students from Mission Hills High School who serve as peer counselors attended the conference and participated in breakout sessions. It was an amazing opportunity to connect with youth who are leading peer support in the San Marcos community and for the broader progress of California.
Liza Davis Advocates for Children in Immigrant Families, Testifies at State Hearing
On October 15, Liza Davis, advocacy director of children in immigrant families, testified in front of the newly formed state Assembly Select Committee on Child Care Costs for its second hearing, “Strengthening Child Care Resilience in California: Lessons from Wildfires, Federal Policy Impacts, and the Real Cost of Care.”
Co-chaired by Assembly Majority Leader and Legislative Women’s Caucus Chair Cecilia Aguiar-Curry and Assemblymember Stephanie Nguyen, the committee heard from advocates, providers and state administrators on the many factors currently affecting child care access in California. Along with CHIRLA and EveryChild CA, Liza provided testimony on the impact of immigration enforcement on child care enrollment and staffing; fear and trauma among immigrant communities; disruptions to continuity of care; and policy recommendations for protective state actions. Liza’s testimony was written in partnership with the child care workgroup of Bringing Up California and informed by listening sessions and community reports from child care providers. Liza appreciated the strong presence of child care providers from Child Care Providers United, who provided powerful and emotional testimony of their first-hand experience as providers who serve children in immigrant families.
Read Liza’s remarks in this blog post.
Liza also recently presented at two statewide conferences on ensuring access to early care and education for children in immigrant families.
Along with Stephanie Orozco from Bringing Up California partner First 5 LA, Liza presented to early care and education providers and other professionals at the Child and Adult Care Food Program Roundtable. She also worked with Mirel Herrera from our ALL IN for Safe Schools partner Early Edge California to present to ECE providers at the 2025 Hybrid Joint Conference of the California Child Care Resource & Referral Network and Thriving Families California Foundation.
Ebony Durham Represents TCP at CHW/P/R Coalition Retreat
Ebony Durham, senior associate of community engagement, joined partners and advocates at the CHW/P/R Coalition fall retreat September 30-October 1, where community health workers, promotores and representatives (CHW/P/Rs), policy advocates, and community-based organizations came together to chart our policy priorities for 2026. It was a day grounded in reflection, collaboration and action, and The Children’s Partnership was proud to bring the child and family perspective into the room.
At the retreat, Ebony centered children and families by emphasizing outreach through trusted spaces like schools, WIC offices and afterschool programs, and the need for family friendly, multilingual materials. TCP highlighted how CHW/P/Rs improve children’s health and educational outcomes by addressing issues such as asthma, behavioral health and school attendance. The group discussed key policy ideas, including investing in CBO-led outreach, simplifying reimbursement, standardizing MCP contracts, and ensuring transparent data reporting to strengthen equitable access to the CHW Medi-Cal benefit.
For TCP, these conversations underscored the importance of maintaining a child health lens to ensure policies meet the needs of children and caregivers, making CHW investments truly equitable and impactful.
TCP Brings Youth Focus to State of Reform Conference
On October 7, Jazmín Estevez-Rosas, policy associate for TCP’s mental health team, and Angela M. Vázquez, advocacy director of mental health, attended the State of Reform conference in Irvine, joining policy experts and leaders in health care innovation to discuss the current landscape of health policy and the implications of recent federal developments.
Angela participated in a panel titled “Reimagining Wellness: Advancing Health for Youth & Families in California,” alongside representatives from First 5 Orange County, Child Care Resource Center and Health Management Associates. The discussion explored the intersection of child care, health equity and behavioral health in California, emphasizing actionable strategies to strengthen the well-being of young children and families. Angela highlighted the impacts of California’s Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative (CYBHI) and other key efforts focused on preventing adverse mental health outcomes among children and youth.
Mayra E. Alvarez Speaks at Southern CA Association of Governments
On October 1, TCP President Mayra E. Alvarez spoke at the 2025 Southern California Demographic Workshop presented by the Southern California Association of Governments. This year’s workshop discussed how the demographic changes we are experiencing affect the social – or intergenerational – contract. While “intergenerational” evokes raising a family, caring for your loved ones and sharing experiences, for SCAG’s line of work, which is regional planning, it is about building strong future communities where we can embrace the “intergenerational” within our families, and those outside our families, too. During her panel, “Lifecycle Sharing: A Timeless Social Contract,” Alvarez spoke about the critical importance of seeing all children as our children and the collective responsibility we have to support child well-being. She emphasized how public investments, evidence-based policy and systems change are essential levers for improving the lives of children.
Bringing Up California Connects at Fall Retreat
The Bringing Up California steering committee met September 23-24 in San Jose for its annual fall gathering to pause, reconnect and set direction for the year ahead. The retreat provided a chance to step back from the day-to-day, clarify roles, strengthen shared leadership, and align around the collective goals that drive our policy work. Over two days, workgroups set priorities and created a coordinated action plan for the months ahead.
Equally important, the retreat was a space for building relationships, fostering trust, and making room for reflection and renewal. By the end of our time together, we had both a clear roadmap for the next 12 months and a renewed commitment to our shared purpose: uplifting young children, birthing people and their families across California through collective action.
Webinar: Immigrant Rights in Child Care Settings
Join the Child Care Law Center, Public Counsel and East Bay Community Law Center for this training for families with children in child care and child care providers working in various California child care programs. This training will include:
- A general overview of immigration laws and policies impacting child care programs
- Immigrant rights of child care providers, child care staff, families and children in child care
- Best practices for child care programs, including:
- Preparing for law enforcement trying to enter or search the program
- Responding to law enforcement requests involving the program
- Addressing immigration-related questions and concerns with families, children, and staff
- Immigrant rights resources, guides and toolkits in multiple languages
- A space to test your knowledge and ask questions
Register:
- Tuesday, November 4 from 6-7 p.m. PT
- Thursday, November 6 from 6-7 p.m. PT
- Friday November 14 from 6-7 p.m. PT
NHeLP Webinar on CalAIM Justice-Involved Reentry Initiative
National Health Law Program (NHeLP) will be hosting a webinar on the CalAIM Justice-Involved Reentry Initiative on November 5 from 1-2 p.m. PT. NHeLP will explain Medi-Cal eligibility for incarcerated youth and adults, provide updates on how they can access Medi-Cal services prior to their release, and how recent federal action could potentially impact health care access for individuals leaving incarceration in California.
Health Matters Forum for California Gubernatorial Candidates
On November 7, leading candidates for California’s next governor will join the Health Matters Forum – a first-of-its-kind, nonpartisan conversation where Californians’ voices take center stage.
Organized by 11 philanthropic foundations, the forum is about putting community priorities at the heart of policymaking and ensuring every Californian has a fair chance at well-being. Leading candidates for governor will respond to questions from communities often left out of policymaking because of geography, income, race and ethnicity, and systemic barriers.
NBC4 and Telemundo 52 will livestream the event on NBCLA.com, Telemundo52.com, on the free NBCLA and Telemundo 52 mobile apps, on the stations’ YouTube channels @NBCLA and @Telemundo52, and on the stations’ 24/7 local news streaming channels NBC Los Angeles News and Noticias Telemundo California.
Watch November 7 from 1:30-3:00 p.m. PT.
Final Episode of Somos Latine Families Coming Up November 10
Join us for the final 2025 episode of Somos Latine Families, “Raising Children Who Are Accountable and Empowered,” on Monday, November 10. Register now!
In previous episodes, we discussed what it takes to raise strong, thriving children in uncertain times. Panelists and community members talked about the positive impact of creating safe spaces in early childhood programs; the importance of honoring our languages, traditions and cultural values; and the benefits of reliable resources like community wellness hubs.
These conversations remind us that when families feel seen, supported and empowered, children flourish.
Don’t miss our next episode on November 10, where we’ll keep building power and connection through parent leadership and empowerment.
All episodes have live translation and captioning available. The November 10 episode will be delivered in English with live Spanish translation.
The Children’s Partnership has partnered with Brazelton Touchpoints Center to present the 2025 Somos Latine Families webinar series for a fourth year. Somos Latine Families is a free, four-episode virtual conversation series created by and for Latine families. The series is moderated by Eva Rivera, Brazelton Touchpoints Center national facilitator.
November 10, 2025
12-1 p.m. PT
Webinar: Life Outside the United States and Legal Options for Returning
The Legalization Project is hosting a webinar for individuals who are considering leaving or have already left the United States—whether voluntarily or as a result of immigration enforcement—and who seek to learn about pathways for returning with lawful status. Participants will hear personal stories from individuals living abroad to gain perspective on life outside the United States. The session will cover the legal consequences of departure, bars to reentry, and employment-based options for reentering lawfully. While individualized legal advice will not be provided, the session will offer practical guidance and insights to help participants evaluate potential strategies and plan their next steps.
November 12, 2025
12:30-2 p.m. PT
Health4All Webinar Series on Medi-Cal Changes to Immigrant Health Care
With changes to Medi-Cal coming soon, Health4All co-sponsors California Immigrant Policy Center and Health Access California invite partners across California to join this Health4All webinar series. Health4All wants to make sure our partners, community members, local governments and legislative allies have accurate information about what those changes to immigrant health care look like, when they’re happening, and what they can do to help immigrant communities understand these changes and make informed decisions about their health.
Medi-Cal Enrollment & Community Outreach
November 14, 2025
10-11:30 a.m. PT
Learn about the upcoming Medi-Cal enrollment freeze in clear, everyday language that’s accessible to everyone, just not policy experts. We’ll share trusted messaging and outreach approaches, highlight on-the-ground efforts, and hear from a clinic partner on what the enrollment process looks like in practice. Participants will leave with actionable tools to help maximize enrollment before the December 31, 2025 deadline.
Register – Spanish interpretation available
Policy Changes & Data Privacy
November 20, 2025
11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. PT
This informational session will break down the latest federal and state policy shifts, including HR 1 and Medi-Cal changes for adult immigrants in 2026-2027 and their impact on community health and safety. We’ll also share what we know about the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) data-sharing issue with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and broader data-privacy concerns, offering practical messaging guidance and resources to help partners maintain trust and share accurate information with their communities.
Register
The Role of Legislators, Local Governments, and Agencies in Protecting Immigrant Health Access
December 11, 2025
1-2:30 p.m. PT
A panel discussion and interactive forum exploring how legislators, local governments, and agencies can work together to fill gaps in care in the wake of the Medi-Cal enrollment freeze and other upcoming changes. We’ll reflect on California’s past approaches to serving uninsured immigrants and highlight emerging ideas for strengthening safety-net systems moving forward.
Register
Raven Jones-McKinney Pens Op-ed on Peer Support in The 74
Our Director of Peer-to-Peer Youth Mental Health Raven Jones-McKinney wrote an opinion piece for The 74 on the importance of peer support among youth, and how integrating this type of support in high schools is effective in creating positive impacts on youth mental health, as evidenced by TCP’s Peer-to-Peer Youth Mental Health High School Pilot Demonstration. “This school year, many students – especially students of color, LGBTQ youth, and children in immigrant and mixed-status families – are carrying more than just the weight of academic expectations. They are navigating a world that feels increasingly unsafe, where political threats, discrimination and immigration enforcement have become part of their daily lives…This moment demands that we listen to students, not just because they are the most affected, but because they are already leading the way by helping to design and taking part in peer-support programs at their schools.” This op-ed also ran in LA School Report.
Liza Davis Speaks on Importance of Safe Spaces
Liza Davis, TCP advocacy director of children in immigrant families, spoke to Radio Bilingüe’s Línea Abierta and Public News Service (also available in Spanish) about the importance of safe spaces for children, especially in our current political climate, and ALL IN for Safe Schools, a California-based campaign co-led by The Children’s Partnership and Californians Together that brings together early childhood and K-12 education nonprofit leaders to support educators and providers in creating welcoming, inclusive and affirming learning environments—especially for children in immigrant families and LGBTQ+ students.
Mayra E. Alvarez Talks Latine Health in California
TCP President Mayra E. Alvarez appeared on Univisión and Radio Bilingüe’s Línea Abierta to discuss the release of the California Health Care Foundation’s Latino Health Almanac, which serves as a vital resource for highlighting key opportunities to improve health outcomes and promote a healthier California. The state’s future depends on the health of its largest demographic, who, despite their essential role in the state’s economy and culture, continue to face systemic barriers to health and well-being.
