FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 10, 2023 at 12 p.m. PT
CONTACT: Carter Ashforth, (510) 763-2444 x 108, [email protected]
Children Now Statement on Gov. Newsom’s 2023-24 State Budget Proposal
Oakland, CA – Children Now President Ted Lempert issued the following statement today in response to Governor Newsom’s 2023-24 California state budget proposal:
While we recognize the tighter budget situation this year, it’s critical that the Governor and Legislature be bold in addressing the decades old underinvestment in kids in California and our state’s low ranking in terms of child well-being. We applaud the Administration’s proposal for the new investment in addressing the youth opioid crises and its commitment to TK expansion. We’re also pleased that the Governor highlighted rate reform for child care, and look forward to working with him and the Legislature to address the systemic inequities that exist in the current system. Given the disproportionate impact the pandemic has had on children, especially Black and brown kids, kids in poverty and youth in foster care, much more needs to be done across the early childhood, physical and mental health, TK-higher ed and child welfare domains.
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About Children Now
Children Now is a non-partisan, whole-child research, policy development and advocacy organization dedicated to promoting children’s health, education and well-being in California. The organization also leads The Children’s Movement of California, a network of over 5,000 direct service, parent, youth, civil rights, faith-based and community groups dedicated to improving children’s well-being.