FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 13, 2022
Contact: Carter Ashforth, (510) 763-2444 x108, [email protected]
Children Now Statement on Gov. Newsom’s May Revision
OAKLAND, CA— Ted Lempert, President, Children Now, issued the following statement in response to Governor Newsom’s May Revision:
We are proud that California leads the country in so many critical issue areas. Unfortunately, kids are not one of them. While we applaud the increased investments in a number of areas, including TK-12 and older youth mental health, much more is needed across the kids health, infant and toddler mental health, education (cradle to career), child welfare and economic security domains. The May Revise proposal fails to sufficiently leverage the unprecedented state surplus to significantly improve upon our current 34th state ranking in kids well-being. A prime example where substantially more investment is needed is child care, a sector decimated by the pandemic. That workforce – mostly women of color – were essential workers over the last two years, and deserve the same additional funding as others who bravely served.
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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 and education in California. The organization also leads The Children’s Movement of California, a network of over 4,100 direct service, parent, youth, civil rights, faith-based and community groups dedicated to improving children’s well-being.