Bringing Up California

A whole child approach envisions a society rooted in racial and economic justice where all children are embraced, valued and cared for; where every Black, Native American, Asian American, Pacific Islander and Latine child and their family has access to systems and services that promote their health, well-being, and the life opportunities that enable them to thrive. Our mission is to advance a collective whole child equity agenda that seeks to improve the conditions under which children develop, learn, live and play, celebrate and value the strengths and attributes of their racial/cultural/linguistic identity, and support their sense of belonging.

Together, we work to make California the best state to have, raise and be a child. 

To accomplish this, Bringing Up California (formerly the Whole Child Equity Partnership), a multi-racial, multi-sector coalition of community and statewide organizations, advocates, community organizers, direct service providers and issue area experts, works across multiple disciplines to advocate for holistic policies and programs that center the assets and needs of California’s Black, Native American, Asian American, Pacific Islander and Latine young children and their families that face the greatest systemic challenges. 

Bringing Up California’s evergreen guiding principles are to:

• Advance strategies that promote healing and long-term asset building for children, families, and communities most impacted by institutionalized anti-Black racism
• Move forward community-centered, culturally and linguistically affirming solutions in health, education and social systems
• Uplift community strengths and leadership to understand how to best meet the needs of children and families and allocate resources.

Building on these principles, Bringing Up California has the following goals to advance racial equity and economic justice for PN-3 children and their families:

• Goal 1: California families have access to navigation and peer support to guide them to needed economic, social-emotional and developmental services in their communities that are culturally resonant
• Goal 2: California families have the social support and adequate financial resources to support the healthy development of their infants and toddlers.
• Goal 3: California birthing people are able to receive adequate prenatal care, birthing/parenting supports, and postpartum care to support the healthy birth and development of their infant and toddler.
• Goal 4: California families have the social support to enable the early learning development of their infant and toddler.
• Goal 5: California families with young children are able to have affordable, reliable and high-quality health coverage and care.

The coalition is co-chaired by The Children’s Partnership and Catalyst California. Steering Committee Members include the following organizations: Around-Birth Collective, Black Californians United for ECE, California Black Women’s Health Project, California Child Care Resource and Referral Network, California Coalition for Black Birth Justice, Californians for Justice, Center for Birth Justice, Center for District Innovation and Leadership in Early Education, End Child Poverty CA/GRACE, Families in Schools, First 5 Association, First 5 LA, Ile Omode, InnerCity Struggle, UCSF, SEIU Local 99, and Ventures.

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To learn more, please email bringingupca@childrenspartnership.org.

CalKIDS is the nation’s largest state-funded children’s savings account program. Eligible children are automatically enrolled to receive scholarship and savings funds that can be used for higher education and career training. Families must first claim their accounts to access these funds.

Our new fact sheet covers:

• Who is eligible for a CalKIDS account
• How families can claim their account
• Additional opportunities to grow savings through ScholarShare 529
• What the funds can be used for

Share this resource with families and community networks so more California children and families can benefit.

2025 Inaugural Summit

In June 2025, we hosted our inaugural summit in Oakland, CA and gathered with over 100 advocates, community leaders, families and sponsors. Together we connected and discussed policy changes to help improve the future for California’s youngest children.

Our inaugural summit was a daylong gathering and marked the official launch of Bringing Up California!