Children Now Releases State Legislative Candidates’ Responses to 2018 Questionnaire

Candidates were asked to address critical issues – such as poverty, early childhood, health, foster care and education – facing California’s children

Oakland, Calif. – Today, Children Now released responses to its first-ever state legislative candidate questionnaire. The responses have all been published, in their entirety on the Children Now website and are also being shared through The Children’s Movement, a state-wide network, coordinated by Children Now, of more than 2,900 direct service, parent, civil rights, faith-based and community groups dedicated to improving children’s well-being.

“Too often, interest group candidate questionnaires are kept secret, and used to secure endorsements and contributions,” said Children Now President Ted Lempert. “We knew that the public nature of this process might prevent some candidates from responding, but wanted to create the transparency to help educate the public about candidates’ positions on the critical issues facing our state’s kids.”

The questionnaire, which consisted of 15 open-ended questions, was sent to all candidates, and 23 responses were received.

“Candidates are sometimes asked about their positions on a few specific issues relating to education or children’s health care, but this questionnaire gives candidates a chance to really focus on how to improve children’s lives and overall well-being, and, as a result, California’s future,” Lempert continued. “Our questionnaire covered a broad range of issues affecting children, from birth to age 26, especially children of color, those in low-income families, and youth in foster care. We are encouraged by the responses that we received, and anticipate increased engagement from candidates in future election cycles as we continue to promote the critical need to make kids the state’s number one priority.”

To read the questionnaire responses, and learn more about where legislative candidates stand on children’s issues, visit https://www.childrennow.org/local-resources/2018questionnaire/.

About Children Now

Children Now is a non-partisan, whole-child research, policy development and advocacy organization dedicated to promoting children’s health and education in California. The organization also leads The Children’s Movement of California, a network of more than 2,900 direct service, parent, civil rights, faith-based and community groups dedicated to improving children’s well-being. Learn more about us at www.childrennow.org.