FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 10, 2022
CONTACT: Carter Ashforth, (510) 763-2444 x 108, [email protected]
Children Now Statement on Gov. Newsom’s Proposed 2022-23 State Budget
OAKLAND, CA— Children Now President Ted Lempert issued the following statement today in response to Governor Newsom’s proposed 2022-23 state budget:
The Administration’s proposal does not focus enough on two facts: 1) the COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately impacted children, especially Black and brown kids, kids in poverty and youth in foster care; and 2) California ranks behind most other states in child well-being. In response, the state budget must make kids the first, second, and third priority. The Governor and Legislature must also ensure that all of the systems serving kids are racially equitable and free of systemic racism. While we applaud a number of the Governor’s proposals, including those to reduce Medi-Cal premiums for pregnant women and children and provide additional supports for dual language learners in preschool, what’s needed are more dramatic investments and reforms around direct supports for kids across the early childhood – especially given our fragile child care system – economic, health, K-12, higher education, housing and child welfare domains.