April 2025 Newsletter
We Must Uplift All Our Children and Our Shared Future – Not Drag Them Down
Today, April 30, is celebrated as Day of the Child, el Dia del Niño, in Mexico. I am the proud daughter of Mexican immigrants and even though I’m now an adult, my mama still sends me a beautiful text filled with kind words and a lot of emojis to express her love and support. She, like most of us, recognizes the critical importance of love and support on the development of a child and their well-being.
Yet today, which also marks the first 100 days of President Trump’s administration, too many of our government leaders are showing the opposite. The Trump administration has represented a detrimental force against child well-being. From seeking to eliminate Head Start and vital early learning programs, to trying to deny infants birthright citizenship and now removing our youngest citizens from the United States without due process, these executive orders disregard the fundamental belief that every child is valuable and deserving of opportunities to thrive.
The call to action is clear: As a community, it’s imperative to advocate fiercely for policies prioritizing child well-being and to unite in our dedication to healthy children, strong families and welcoming communities. In believing in all our children and their boundless potential, we commit to building a stronger, more unified America.
URGENT: Tell Congress NOW to Protect Medicaid and Medi-Cal
Congress is in the process of deciding what to slash from the federal budget. Proposed reductions would cut the heart out of programs families and children rely on for their health, including Medicaid (known as Medi-Cal in California).
Cuts to Medicaid’s budget at the federal level mean a lot less money going to states, including to California – where over five million children rely on Medi-Cal.
A vote on this budget package could come as soon as the first week of May. Tell your representatives in Congress to protect Medicaid NOW.
Get more data and tools on our Protect Medicaid and Medi-Cal webpage.
Fight for Our Health Ramps Up Pressure
During the two-week Congressional spring recess this month, the Fight For Our Health coalition organized press conferences and rallies outside the offices of three key California Republican congressmembers demanding they vote against any cuts to Medicaid. Hundreds of families and advocates called on Reps. Young Kim, Ken Calvert and David Valadao to protect the health and well-being of children and people with disabilities. Speakers included youth, service providers, parents of children with disabilities, school administrators and others who would be drastically affected by cuts to Medicaid funding at the federal level.
The pressure is working! These rallies earned about 50 mentions on national cable news and local television outlets, reaching an audience of nearly 7 million people. Rep. Kim, who represents parts of Orange County, told ABC 7 that “I…will continue to make clear to House leadership and my constituents that any budget resolution that cuts vital Medicaid services for the most vulnerable citizens in our community will not receive my vote.”
Let’s keep the momentum going: Send a letter to your representatives in Congress to tell them to protect Medicaid, which funds Medi-Cal here in California.
Reunite Kilmar Abrego Garcia with His Family
Over the past several months, the current presidential administration has issued a wave of executive orders and administrative actions that are deepening fear and instability across the country—particularly for immigrant families. These actions are not just political; they have real and harmful consequences for children’s health, mental health and overall development.
This month, the administration refused to comply with a Supreme Court order that would have allowed Kilmar Abrego Garcia—a lawful permanent resident and father of three young children—to return to his family in the United States. This blatant defiance of the Court and targeting of a father, husband and caregiver exemplifies the growing erosion of rights and the trauma being inflicted on our communities.
Children cannot thrive when their families are torn apart, when they are afraid to go to school, or when their access to care is threatened. In our 2018 report “Healthy Mind, Healthy Future: Promoting the Mental Health and Wellbeing of Children in Immigrant Families,” The Children’s Partnership and the California Immigrant Policy Center detailed how anti-immigrant policies harm California’s children, and what California can do to protect children in immigrant families. We found that a hostile political environment contributes to heightened stress, fear, anxiety and depression, that combined with a pre-existing reluctance to access health care services and participate in programs and activities that promote well-being, often results in distractions in school and struggles at home.
Now more than ever, we must work together and raise our voices. The health and safety of children depends on the well-being and unity of their families—and on our collective willingness to demand justice and uphold civil rights for all.
Kilmar Abrego Garcia must be reunited with his wife and children. Families belong together. Learn more about Kilmar Abrego Garcia’s case.
TAKE ACTION:
- Call your state leaders: Phone the United States Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121. A switchboard operator will connect you directly with the Senate or House office you request. Don’t know who your representatives are? Look them up here.
- Resistbot: Send a Resistbot letter by texting SIGN PZPQZL to 50409.
- Learn more about Resistbot and its campaign.
New TCP Brief on ACEs Aware, Urgent Need for Trauma-Informed Care
The Children’s Partnership is proud to announce our latest brief, California’s ACEs Aware Program & the Urgent Need for Trauma-Informed Care. This new resource highlights new data on Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), the impact of California’s first-in-the-nation ACEs Aware program, and advocates’ call to action for funding this crucial initiative.
California’s children and families, especially those from historically marginalized communities, are facing multiple and escalating threats to their health and well-being. In just the first quarter of 2025, families have been forced to navigate the new federal administration’s use of anti-immigrant rhetoric, policies, and actions; the devastating fires in Los Angeles threatening to deepen the state’s homelessness crisis for hundreds of thousands of children and families, including those from redlined Black communities in Altadena; and the ongoing uncertainty of an increasingly unpredictable economy primed to disproportionately impact low-income and families of color.
These challenges are all triggers for ACEs in California’s children, and the need for education and whole-system support is more crucial than ever.
This brief:
Includes several policy recommendations, including a call to restore $25 million in state funds, to be matched with $25 million in federal funds, for a full program investment of $50 million in the ACEs Aware initiative for the 2025-2026 fiscal year.
Explains the various types of ACEs and the value of California’s ACEs Aware initiative in addressing inequities, gaps in access to care and adequate provider training.
Illustrates the strain of unaddressed ACEs on childhood development, adult health outcomes, and health care systems and productivity.
Nadine Burke Harris, former California surgeon general and ACEs Aware champion, left, with TCP’s Angela M. Vázquez, Ebony Durham and Jazmín Estevez-Rosas at a briefing held April 2 in Sacramento in support of the ACEs Aware program.
Introducing Bringing Up California
The Whole Child Equity Partnership is now Bringing Up California! This new brand demonstrates how our coalition of multiracial, multisector advocates, community organizers and service providers are united in a commitment to transform California into the best state to have, raise and be a child. Joining hand-in-hand with families, we can realize California’s promise of a healthy, hopeful and equitable future for birthing people, babies, toddlers and young children.
The Children’s Partnership is proud to co-chair the Bringing Up California coalition with Catalyst California. In partnership with our diverse steering committee, we envision a society rooted in racial and economic justice where all children are embraced, valued and cared for, and where every child has access to systems and services that promote their health, well-being, and the life opportunities that enable them to thrive.
To celebrate our new name and brand identity, we invite you to join us at our inaugural summit on June 3, 2025, in Oakland. We’re bringing together experts, practitioners, and advocates to explore the latest research, best practices, and innovative strategies in maternal health and early childhood development – so we can make California stronger for all our youngest children.
Together, we’ll ensure California’s Black children and all children of color have the resources they need to flourish.
Learn more about our work.
Sign up to receive updates from Bringing Up California.
TCP-Supported Bills Advance
AB 403 (Ortega): Community Health Workers and Promotora Medi-Cal Services Transparency Act
Alongside the Latino Coalition for a Healthy California, California Pan-Ethnic Health Network, and Visión y Compromiso, TCP is a proud co-sponsor of AB 403.
The bill would require the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) to provide an annual analysis to the Legislature and public on the utilization of the Medi-Cal Community Health Worker (CHW) benefit. This bill will hold DHCS accountable for its obligation to promote the CHW benefit and ensure that people who need CHW services can access them. AB 403 passed out of the Assembly Health Committee on March 23 and moved on to the Assembly Appropriations committee, where it is currently on suspense. The committee has until May 23 to take the bill off suspense.
SB 531 (Rubio): Mental Health Education
TCP is co-sponsoring SB 531 (Rubio), building on the work we did in 2021 for SB 221 (Portantino), which required all schools with a health graduation requirement to include mental health education as part of that instruction. SB 531 would expand that requirement to all schools and grade levels so that all students receive age-appropriate mental health education in elementary, middle and high school. The Senate Education Committee will hear the bill April 30. SB 531 is co-sponsored by the California Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, California Alliance of Child and Family Services, National Center for Youth Law, and National Alliance on Mental Illness.
AB 49 (Muratsuchi and Ortega): California Safe Haven Schools Act
AB 49 is designed to protect children in immigrant families by restricting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) access to school sites and child care centers. AB 49 was amended to focus on school sites, passed by the Committee on Education with a 7-2 vote, and is now heading to the Assembly Judiciary Committee.
AB 495 (Rodriguez): Family Preparedness Plan Act of 2025
AB 495 shields immigration status from disclosure in child care settings, and through family emergency preparedness, supports children’s mental health, fosters trust, and ensures access to care and education without fear. This bill has been amended and re-referred to the Assembly Judiciary committee, and is awaiting further consideration.
California’s Future Starts with Child Care
The Children’s Partnership is proud to be a part of A Golden State For Kids to ensure California is a place where we can all stay and thrive. That starts by putting our children and the providers we entrust them with first. We invite you to join us in ensuring every young Californian and their family can access care.
A stronger, more vibrant California is possible—one where no family struggles to find or afford care. The downstream effects help all of us, from helping more parents keep their jobs to reducing homelessness. We need our California leaders to transform the system into one where families, providers and communities can care for every child ages 0-3.
We’re starting in Los Angeles, working with families, providers, businesses, child advocacy organizations and community allies to ensure our voices are heard. But our eyes are set on something bigger: making child care accessible across the Golden State.
When our youngest Californians are cared for, children thrive, businesses keep their doors open, and our economy grows. To us, it’s clear: Every child deserves a golden start.
Mayra E. Alvarez Talks Impact of Anti-Immigrant Policies on Children and Families
On a recent webinar episode of Learning to Listen from Brazelton Touchpoints Center, TCP President Mayra E. Alvarez provided facts about immigration in the United States, including where many immigrants come from and why they come here; an overview of the immigration policies the Trump administration put forth in his first term and today; the impacts of such anti-immigrant policies on children and families; and resources for community members and advocates to protect themselves and fight back.
“I hope we’re able to galvanize many of us to really see immigration policy as a child health issue to better understand these policies through the lens of children, and in doing so, perhaps take a more humane approach to immigration policy,” she said.
Watch a recording of the conversation below.
Meet the TCP Mental Health Team
TCP’s mental health team advocates for policies and programs that support child and youth mental health and well-being. Knowing that lived experience makes for informed ideas, our advocacy team often works in partnership with youth themselves, helping turn youth ideas into real legislation that offers age-appropriate and effective mental health care and access. Here are our dedicated mental health team members:
Angela M. Vázquez
Angela M. Vázquez (she/he/they) is the Advocacy Director of Mental Health at The Children’s Partnership, where they lead policy and advocacy efforts focused on mental health, youth leadership and child well-being. Appointed to the California Citizens Redistricting Commission in 2020, Angela prioritized community voices in redrawing legislative and federal election boundaries.
After becoming disabled with Long COVID, Angela has championed the needs of chronically ill and disabled people of color, promoting public health measures as acts of community care. They hold a BA in Psychology and Religious Studies from Claremont McKenna College and an MSW from USC.
Ebony Durham
Ebony Durham (she/her) is Senior Associate of Community Engagement, leading mental health policy engagement efforts through partnerships with service providers, community organizations and advocacy groups. A Sacramento native now based in Los Angeles, she holds a BS in Criminal Justice from Alabama State University and an MA in Sociology from CSU Dominguez Hills.
Ebony is passionate about empowering Black communities and the African diaspora by sharing resources, knowledge and opportunities. Her diverse background spans family services, K-12 education and community outreach. She is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., and enjoys volunteering, traveling, brunching with friends and exploring art museums.
Jazmín Estevez-Rosas
Jazmín Estevez-Rosas is the mental health portfolio’s Policy Associate, supporting the team by developing and implementing strategies that engage policymakers, stakeholders and coalitions. She began her journey with TCP as a policy and communications intern while studying at the University of Pennsylvania, where she earned a BA in Health and Societies with a concentration in health policy and law.
A proud Boyle Heights native, Jazmín is deeply passionate about social justice, equity, and the intersection of science, policy and medicine—particularly holistic health care and the role of community in public health.
New Webinar Training Series: Connecting ACE Screening with CalAIM
Join the ACEs Aware Learning Center on May 1, 2025 for the first webinar in their new Connecting ACE Screening with CalAIM series, which explores the critical intersection of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) screening and response efforts and the California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal (CalAIM) initiative.
Designed for health care providers, behavioral health clinicians and community-based organizations, this series highlights how CalAIM’s components can serve as vital resources for individuals impacted by ACEs and toxic stress. Participants will gain insights into evidence-based strategies for integrating ACE screening with whole-person care models, leveraging CalAIM to improve patient outcomes, and fostering resilience for patients and families impacted by ACEs and toxic stress.
Thursday, May 1, 2025
12-1 p.m. PDT
TCP President Provides Context for Medicaid Funding in Schools
Mayra E. Alvarez, president of The Children’s Partnership, was interviewed by Public News Service about the impact of potential cuts to Medicaid funding on public schools. “Medicaid is the third-largest source of funding for K-through-12 public schools to help children have access to routine health screenings, preventive services and physical speech and occupational therapies,” she said. Listen to the story, and read it in Spanish.
Alvarez on Xavier Becerra’s Run for Governor
TCP President Mayra E. Alvarez spoke to KQED about former U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary and California Attorney General Xavier Becerra, who announced his candidacy for governor of California. Alvarez has worked with Becerra for nearly 20 years in Washington, D.C., and Sacramento. She has not endorsed anyone in the governor’s race. “Becerra really took ownership of ensuring that laws like the Affordable Care Act and Medicaid were as strong as possible, particularly in the aftermath of the pandemic and coming out of the public health emergency,” Alvarez said.
