Questions
1. California ranks among the top states in per capita expenditures on a number of government programs (i.e. corrections, law enforcement, general government), but just near or below the national average on expenditures for kids’ programs, including education and Medi-Cal. What are your thoughts on this prioritization of expenditures and what, if any, changes would you make in this regard?
How we spend our money is a statement of our values. This is why I have advocated and successfully brought more opportunities and resources to my district for children and families. In 2018 and 2019, I successfully worked with my colleagues to increase the California Earned Income Tax Credit to put more money in the pockets of working families in California. This expansion of the CalEITC has been proven to reduce childhood poverty and give money to those who need it. This year, among other wins, I secured $19 million to build a sports and recreational complex in South Colton to bring more youth sports and activities to our community. I also serve as a member of the budget subcommittee focused on K-12 and Higher Education, where we oversaw a record level of investments in students in our classrooms this past year. For the first time in many years, we are in the top 15% of per-pupil spending. We have a lot more work to do to increase the expenditures for vital kids’ programs, and I am committed to doing that work.
2. California assumes responsibility for abused and neglected children when we remove them from their homes. Therefore, the State is legally obligated to ensure that children and youth in foster care receive vital services and supports to meet their unique needs and find safety, stability and success. How would you strengthen the child welfare system?
Our child welfare system in California needs work. To be effective in safety, stability, and success, we must first build a system that makes it easier for qualified adults to foster children in California. As a member of the Select Committee on Foster Care, I believe that it is essential to streamline the process which places foster children with their biological families where possible and makes sure the proper resources are provided to those adults to provide a safe and stable living environment. I supported programs such as California’s Extended Foster Care (EFC) program and was proud to support AB 2189. This bill will help EFC meet its mission and ensure that foster youth experiencing housing instability have access to all the support currently in the system while they transition to independence.
3. California ranks poorly in national reports for supporting families with infants and toddlers. The state does invest in programs like evidence-based home visiting – which provide guidance, offer coaching, and connect parents and caregivers to health and social services – but those only reach about 2% of families with young children. What strategies, if any, do you support to aid new and expectant parents and young children during this critical phase of life?
Community-based organizations are one of the most underutilized assets we have in California. During the height of the pandemic, we found that these organizations were the most reliable and effective ways to distribute resources and information to targeted communities. My office partnered with several community-based organizations to provide groceries and resources. Therefore, one strategy I would deploy or expand would be to increase the state’s financial resources to community-based organizations to reach and service these families with young children. They have trusted partners in these communities and will help the state increase its reach for these services.
4. More than 2.75 million young children live in California, with the majority being income-eligible for child care assistance. Yet just a fraction of eligible children have access to subsidized child care spaces, due to insufficient funding for child care capacity. This gap is most pronounced for infants and toddlers, where child care subsidies served only 14% of eligible families (pre-pandemic). What is your position on this issue, and what, if anything, should be done to ensure that all families have access to high-quality child care?
Community-based organizations are one of the most underutilized assets we have in California. During the height of the pandemic, we found that these organizations were the most reliable and effective ways to distribute resources and information to targeted communities. My office partnered with several community-based organizations to provide groceries and resources. Therefore, one strategy I would deploy or expand would be to increase the state’s financial resources to community-based organizations to reach and service these families with young children. They have trusted partners in these communities and will help the state increase its reach for these services.
5. The average salary of a California public employee is nearly $87,000, while the average salary of a California child care provider is $35,400, and most other professionals who work with kids are also below the public employee average. What are your ideas, if any, about responding to this disparity?
As a new legislator, I was part of the Speaker’s Blue Ribbon Commission on Early Childhood. The information gathered from hearings throughout the state provided the basis for a blueprint that has now been used to introduce legislation for our most vulnerable children. We must increase subsidized childcare spaces in California. We do this by increasing funding in the communities that need these services. We know the importance of high-quality child care for children at this age for their development. An example we could explore would be to fund these services through partnerships with our schools. In 2021, I authored AB 92; this bill makes childcare more accessible to all families by creating a sliding scale for family fees, which are imposed on low-income families accessing subsidized childcare
6. The latest available data shows California ranks 49th among the 50 states in teacher-to-student ratio, 47th in school counselors, and 46th in school administrators. We also rank near the bottom in terms of school nurses, with approximately one nurse for every 2,400 students and no nurses at all in some smaller counties. What are your thoughts on these rankings, and what, if anything, should be done in response?
I believe that California’s childcare providers are critical to the development of our youth and should be compensated as such. The wage disparity is an issue, and we need to do a better job at reducing that disparity. I carried legislation and championed budget requests for increased funding. I will continue to advocate for those who care for our children. “Historically, California has not adequately funded our K-12 system. The data shows when we reduce the teacher-to-student ratio, we get better student educational outcomes. Since I was elected, our state’s budget has included more funding yearly to ensure better educational results.
Regarding nurses and counselors, our students are dealing with a lot of trauma. Increased access and attention to social media have led to increased bullying. Our students need qualified staff they can rely on to help them with these issues. As a budget committee member, I was proud to support grants of up to $20,000 to launch a campaign to recruit student mental health clinicians.
7. California has the highest percentage of kids who are dual language learners, ages 0-5, (60%) and school-age English Learners (21%) in the country. How should the State support these students’ bilingual/multilingual potential? What are your thoughts on how educators in early education and TK-12 can be prepared to assist these students to meet their language development needs?
Historically, California has not adequately funded our K-12 system. The data shows when we reduce the teacher-to-student ratio, we get better student educational outcomes. Since I was elected, our state’s budget has included more funding yearly to ensure better educational results.
Regarding nurses and counselors, our students are dealing with a lot of trauma. Increased access and attention to social media have led to increased bullying. Our students need qualified staff they can rely on to help them with these issues. As a budget committee member, I was proud to support grants of up to $20,000 to launch a campaign to recruit student mental health clinicians.
As we know, English Language Learners receive support through our supplemental and concentration grants. Although funding for these areas has increased over the last few budget years, there is still plenty of work. In 2017, I authored AB 952, establishing the Bilingual Teacher Professional Development Program to develop bilingual educators for California’s increasingly diverse classrooms. This bill addresses the shortage of trained bilingual educators in California. I also successfully championed additional funding for the program in our budget. In addition, we are seeing more school districts providing dual language immersion programs, and working with our educational institutions to increase these programs would also benefit students.
8. Over the past 40 years, state spending on higher education has dropped from 18% to 12% of the state budget. What is your position on funding for public higher education?
As we know, English Language Learners receive support through our supplemental and concentration grants. Although funding for these areas has increased over the last few budget years, there is still plenty of work. In 2017, I authored AB 952, establishing the Bilingual Teacher Professional Development Program to develop bilingual educators for California’s increasingly diverse classrooms. This bill addresses the shortage of trained bilingual educators in California. I also successfully championed additional funding for the program in our budget. In addition, we are seeing more school districts providing dual language immersion programs, and working with our educational institutions to increase these programs would also benefit students. “We need to increase funding to community-based organizations to educate communities on the importance of health screenings. We must also ensure that once communities are educated on the benefits, they have direct access to these services. I think it is essential that we continue to explore the assets that are already in place in these communities as potential service providers of these services. This is a proven way to provide access to resources and services.
9. Over 55% of California’s kids are enrolled in Medi-Cal, but California performs near the bottom amongst all state Medicaid programs when it comes to children’s access to primary care physicians and important childhood screenings, especially for children of color. In addition, many California children lack access to oral health care, vision services, hearing aids, and mental health and substance abuse supports and services. What would you do, if anything, to increase access to these services?
We need to increase funding to community-based organizations to educate communities on the importance of health screenings. We must also ensure that once communities are educated on the benefits, they have direct access to these services. I think it is essential that we continue to explore the assets that are already in place in these communities as potential service providers of these services. This is a proven way to provide access to resources and services.
10. The suicide rate among Black youth has dramatically increased in recent years. In addition, Major Depressive Episodes (MDE) among youth have grown, but only about one third of youth with an MDE received treatment. What should be done to ensure that more children receive needed mental health supports and services?
We need more service providers. This year, I authored AB 2222, which establishes the Golden State Social Opportunities Program, a scholarship that will encourage students with lived experiences as former foster and homeless youth to pursue careers as mental health workers who commit to working at a California-based nonprofit for at least two years. In addition to increasing the number of service providers, we need to increase funding to CBOs so that they can provide these services to their communities.