July 2024 Newsletter
The Power of Partnership
We’d like to take a moment to thank our partners, allies, supporters and friends for standing with us as we fought for programs and policies that will build child health equity for all children in California.
We’ve made some impressive progress in this effort so far this year, including the inclusion of two of The Children’s Partnership’s priorities in the state budget: multi-year continuous Medi-Cal coverage for young children, as well as a living wage rate for community health workers. The fact that these initiatives were included in such a difficult budget year speaks volumes to the strength of our partnerships, collective efforts and shared commitment to racial justice that proved so effective with California’s policymakers and fiscal leaders.
But the fight doesn’t stop with the Governor’s signature on the budget. While we can and should celebrate our wins, there will be a question on the November ballot that could jeopardize this hard work. The passage of Proposition 35 would trigger the elimination of both continuous Medi-Cal coverage for young children and a rate increase for community health workers, as well as many other currently budgeted child, senior and equity augmentations.
As TCP President Mayra E. Alvarez shared in a July 1 CalMatters article, “We are very concerned that there is any proposal that would have the effect of rolling back health care coverage for children….We want to avoid even one more child losing coverage.”
We will provide additional information in the weeks to come on how the passage of Prop 35 would affect the health and well-being of California’s children. In the meantime, we urge you to consider voting “no” on this question.
SAFETY Act Protecting LGBTQ+ Youth Signed By Governor
We’re celebrating AB 1955, the Support Academic Futures and Educators for Today’s Youth (SAFETY) Act, which was signed into law by Gov. Newsom on July 15. The bill bans school districts from passing policies requiring staff to notify parents if their child uses a different name or pronouns at school, forcibly outing LGBTQ+ students.
Under current California law and policy, schools are required to create a safe and supportive environment for LGBTQ+ students, including respecting their privacy. Studies show that LGBTQ+ students who feel safe and supported at school have better mental health outcomes and improved academic performance. Thank you to Assemblymember Chris Ward and the California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus for steadfastly supporting this important bill! The new law goes into effect Jan. 1, 2025.
Bill to Combat Digital Discrimination Advances
In the face of intense opposition from the broadband industry, TCP and our allies from the California Alliance for Digital Equity won the successful passage of AB 2239 from two Senate committees in early July. The bill, which would define digital discrimination and provide remedies when internet service providers discriminate against communities of color, faced efforts to water it down before both the Senate Committee on Energy, Utilities, and Communities, and later, in the same day, the Senate Committee on Judiciary. Despite this, we maintained the core elements of the bill and won majority support in both committees.
Digital equity is an important priority for TCP because broadband access is essential for families to connect to and fully participate in education, health care, social services, affordable housing and more. TCP is grateful to the bill’s author, Assemblymember Mia Bonta, for her steadfast commitment to this issue and to civil rights icon Dolores Huerta for joining us in the fight for digital equity! The bill will now move on to the Senate Appropriations Committee.
Share 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline Fact Sheet this Minority Mental Health Month
July is Minority/BIPOC Mental Health Month, and we are excited to share our 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline Fact Sheet for your use in raising awareness about this resource. The 988 Lifeline provides compassionate, accessible care and support for people experiencing mental health-related distress.
The fact sheet, created in partnership with California Black Women’s Health Project, Didi Hirsch, and The California Alliance of Child and Family Services, is a valuable resource for community-based organizations and schools:
- Outlining the importance of shifting from a discipline response to a care-and-compassion response for students struggling with stress, depression or suicidal behaviors;
- Providing information on how 988 can be utilized by anyone experiencing mental health challenges, as well as by third parties concerned about a friend, student or loved one;
- Offering practical guidance on how schools can implement 988 as part of their suicide prevention and mental health policies and protocols.
Immigrant Health, Public Charge & Health Coverage Flyers Available
ALL IN for Health, the CA-Protecting Immigrant Families Coalition and the Whole Child Equity Partnership have released three new and updated fact sheets designed to be shared with community members and to help advocates, parents, guardians, teachers and others better understand the latest updates in health coverage, Medi-Cal expansion and public charge.
These fact sheets are available in eight languages: English, Spanish, Punjabi, Tagalog, Traditional Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean and Haitian Creole.
2024 ALL IN to #KeepKidsCovered Toolkit for Educators
Attention teachers, caregivers and educators! ALL IN to #KeepKidsCovered is proud to present the updated 2024 community education toolkit to help you inform families of the Medi-Cal renewal process and the recent expansion of Medi-Cal.
There are three new fact sheets, including information about public charge. All content is now available in seven languages: English, Spanish, Punjabi, Tagalog, Traditional Chinese, Vietnamese and Korean. Share this information by posting on social media, including it in your newsletter, and sharing flyers at after-school meetings.
Webinar: California Medi-Cal Call Center Wait Times
Join us August 7, when we’ll reveal findings from a first-of-its-kind study on Medi-Cal call center wait times.
Through focus groups and our feedback loop with Medi-Cal enrollment and renewal assisters, TCP has learned about the difficulties Medi-Cal enrollees face when renewing their coverage, including waiting up to 2 hours on the phone or having their call dropped due to high call volume.
TCP wanted to better understand families’ experiences with calling their county Medi-Cal offices, so we commissioned WestGroup Research to survey Medi-Cal call center wait times across the state and in the languages enrollees speak.
Join our webinar to hear from researchers, who will share their survey findings. We’ll also have panelists speak on the need for monitoring call center experiences; effective strategies that greatly improve customer service; and the impact of long call wait times on Medi-Cal enrollees.
Medi-Cal Call Center Wait Times: A Serious Barrier to Keeping Coverage
August 7, 2024
11 a.m. PDT
You’re Invited! What Health4All Means for California’s Kids
On August 29, The Children’s Partnership will host Ricardo Lara, current California Insurance Commissioner and Health4All champion, in conversation with TCP President Mayra E. Alvarez.
Health4All is the successful campaign to make health care accessible to all Californians, regardless of immigration status, and it went into effect in January 2024. You are invited to join us for this online event featuring a screening of a short documentary on the history of winning Health4All in California, followed by a fireside chat between Lara and Alvarez on the decades of movement building required to win this important legislation. The conversation will celebrate the years of shared advocacy that makes Health4All possible, as well as tackle the importance of intersectional advocacy and storytelling to support child well-being in California and across the country.
This event is part of our For Our Children’s Future: 30th Anniversary Speaker Series, which we kicked off in October 2023 to celebrate TCP’s 30 years of advocacy for California’s children.
What Health4All Means for California’s Kids
A conversation with Ricardo Lara, California Insurance Commissioner & Health4All Champion
August 29, 2024
1 p.m. PDT
“Making the Healthcare System Work Better for You” Webinar Series
The California Black Health Network (CBHN) is holding a five-part webinar series called “Making the Healthcare System Work Better for You” through their “How Do I…” Campaign to help Black Californians understand how to make the health care system work better for all of us. Glenda Newell-Harris, MD, physician, author, patient advocate and current Regional Director for YesCare, is the webinar series speaker and facilitator.
The series launched July 18. Visit each link to register for the upcoming webinars:
- August 8 – Part 2: How to Communicate with Your Healthcare Provider
- September 19 – Part 3: How to Navigate Through the Healthcare System
- October 24 – Part 4: How to Advocate for Yourself and Your Loved Ones
- November 21 – Part 5: How to Participate in the Decision-Making for Your Care
Each session is scheduled on the dates above from 12-1 p.m. PT.
BlackECE Symposium on Advancement of Black Early Care and Education
The BlackECE Symposium, hosted by Black Californians United for Early Care and Education, is an opportunity to join early educators, researchers, policymakers, advocates, families and community stakeholders in a collective effort to enhance Black early care and education. This event will foster collaboration and innovation, ensuring our early learning and care systems are loving, safe, engaging and culturally affirming for Black children.
BlackECE Symposium
August 9-10, 2024
The Citizen Hotel
Sacramento, CA
Survey Opportunity: Perinatal Mental Health During COVID-19
The UC San Francisco MILK Research Lab, California Black Women’s Health Project, and Breastfriends are conducting a study to describe and examine perinatal mental health and lactation experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic.
They are recruiting women and birthing people who have given birth in the last four years, self-identify as BIPOC, are over the age of 18, are based in California, and have high English-language proficiency. Eligible participants will receive up to $100 in gift cards after completing an online demographic survey and Zoom interview.
To participate in the survey or learn more, email InfantFeeding@ucsf.edu, call (415) 476-1426, or text “Mental Health” to (510) 463-1794.
Mayra E. Alvarez Quoted in CalMatters on Impact of Prop. 35
CalMatters interviewed TCP President Mayra E. Alvarez on the importance of multi-year continuous Medi-Cal coverage for young children and the negative effect the passage of Proposition 35 could have on the future of the program. “We are very concerned that there is any proposal that would have the effect of rolling back health care coverage for children. We want to avoid even one more child losing coverage,” she said. The story also ran in Sacramento outlets The Observer and ABC 10, as well as in Spanish in The San Diego Union-Tribune.
Alvarez Interviewed by EdSource on New Immigration Program
EdSource spoke to TCP President Mayra E. Alvarez about the positive impact of the Biden Administration’s new program that will allow undocumented immigrant spouses of U.S. citizens to apply for permanent residency without returning to their home countries, if they have lived in the U.S. for at least 10 years and have no criminal record. “The opportunity that families are going to be able to stay together as they apply for permanent residency is a direct commitment to child well-being,” Alvarez said. “It’s an acknowledgment that parents and caregivers are critical to children’s healthy development.”
