June 2026 Newsletter
Taking pride in California’s immigrant and LGBTQ+ families
This month we honor immigrants and LGBTQ+ children – and all children from marginalized communities – and how they enrich our lives and our state. We’re thankful to live in a California where every child, no matter where they come from or who they are, is embraced as part of the fabric of our communities.
Half of all children in California are part of an immigrant family. LGBTQ+ youth are in every school, every neighborhood, every family. These children are not statistics – they are our future, and they deserve to be seen, celebrated, and protected.
Yet the inequities they face are real and growing. The devastating immigration policies enacted by the Trump Administration have created a child health equity crisis. Children are being separated from their families. Infants and children are being detained in modern-day internment camps. LGBTQ+ children, particularly transgender youth, are facing a wave of policies that deny their identities, strip away their health care, and push them out of schools and public life. The trauma inflicted will be felt in our communities for generations.
We stand with our immigrant neighbors and our LGBTQ+ children. We will continue to fight for protective policies, build resources to mitigate the threats our communities are living under – and ensure that every child, regardless of where they were born, who they love, or who they are, has a path to a healthy future.
[Share] New fact sheet supports young children in immigrant families, child care providers
Families and young children continue to suffer from attacks directed at our immigrant communities. Recent reports show that ICE has detained over 500 babies and toddlers in the last 18 months. With lawmakers allocating nearly $70 billion in new funding for mass deportation and detention, this public health crisis is only just beginning.
California has taken the necessary steps to protect the health and well-being of all children. Law AB 495 requires certain early care and education (ECE) providers to adopt and enforce policies that protect the rights and safety of children in immigrant families.
To support providers, ALL IN for Safe Schools has published a guide that takes providers through what AB 495 means for their programs, what the law requires, and how they can build safe, welcoming spaces for all children and families — regardless of immigration status. The fact sheet should be used in conjunction with a comprehensive training that walks professionals through this new law. Watch the recording of our AB 495 webinar for providers in English and Spanish.
[New Resource] CalKIDS 101: Helping families claim their baby’s account
Bringing Up California is excited to share CalKIDS 101: Helping Families Claim Their Baby’s Account, a new resource designed to help families understand and access California’s largest children’s savings account program. Eligible children may have scholarship and savings funds already waiting for them – families just need to claim their accounts to access these free benefits.
This new resource explains who qualifies, how to claim a CalKIDS account, and how families can unlock additional contributions through ScholarShare 529. Share this resource with families and community partners so more California children can take advantage of this opportunity!
[Update] AB 2201: Medi-Cal Renewal Relief Act
The Medi-Cal Renewal Relief Act passed the Assembly Floor with bi-partisan support and will be heard next in the Senate Health Committee on July 1.
The act would reinstate proven Medi-Cal eligibility strategies to streamline renewals, reduce coverage terminations, and ease county administrative burdens so staff can focus on complex cases and critical H.R. 1 implementation tasks.
TCP is proud to co-sponsor AB 2201 alongside Western Center on Law & Poverty, Latino Coalition for a Healthy California, Health Access California, National Health Law Program, and Justice in Aging.
[Update] Measure ER passes in Los Angeles County
Measure ER passed in Los Angeles County, marking an important step toward strengthening the county’s health and safety net infrastructure.
The voter-approved measure will temporarily increase sales tax by 0.5% in Los Angeles County for five years to help offset major federal funding cuts to Medi-Cal, protect health care services for county residents, prevent closures of public hospitals and clinics, and reduce health care worker layoffs.
TCP, which supported the measure, looks forward to working with partners throughout the implementation process to ensure a successful rollout and to support efforts that advance equitable access to care for children and families.
TCP supports Health4All at Imagine Rally Day in Sacramento
TCP’s Sohna Bruce-Oliver, associate director of community engagement, and Jazmín Estevez-Rosas, policy associate, attended the annual Imagine Rally Day in Sacramento on May 27, hosted by End Child Poverty California and SEIU California. Throughout the day, they met with several legislators to raise awareness about Health4All, and advocate for the restoration and protection of full-scope Medi-Cal to ensure California families remain insured.
Watch our recap on Instagram to get a glimpse of the day.
What’s next for Choose Children
Earlier this month, millions of Californians cast their ballots in the state’s primary election, and the results are in: Democrat Xavier Becerra and Republican Steve Hilton will face off in the final push to earn voters’ support in November’s gubernatorial election.
With the general election campaign now underway, the opportunity to elevate children’s issues has never been greater. Choose Children 2026 will continue engaging candidates on the campaign trail to ensure California’s children and families remain front and center in the race for governor. Stay tuned as we work with candidates, partners, and communities across California to ensure children’s needs remain a priority through Election Day and beyond.
TCP president talks immigrant health on Univision
Mayra E. Alvarez discussed on Univision’s Al Punto the possible negative impacts to families’ health of proposed changes to Medi-Cal for immigrants with certain immigration statuses. Watch the interview in Spanish.
