January's child-focused budget announcement from Gov. Newsom gives us great hope for 2019. Join us on Tuesday, January 22, in Sacramento, to advocate for all of the critical pieces of the comprehensive End Child Poverty Plan including those that were not specifically mentioned in the governor's budget. Our goals are clear: End deep child poverty in California in the short-term, and dramatically reduce overall child poverty.

The Lifting Children and Families Out of Poverty Task Force recommended a comprehensive package of programs and policies and the Newsom Administration made a wonderful start in including major expansions of CalWORKS, EITC, home visiting, paid family leave, child care and early childhood education in their initial budget.

But there is more to do. We cannot let up on our efforts to fund these and other programs, and make sure the funding is sustained. We are continuing to work together to support funding for both our own and each other’s areas of focus. In that way we will achieve the comprehensive approach necessary to fully address poverty in California.

On Tuesday, 1/22, we will be advocating for the comprehensive plan including:

• A targeted child tax credit for families in deep poverty not served by CalWORKS or EITC

• Child care and early childhood education for families in deep poverty

• Increased housing and services for foster youth and system-involved youth

• Coordinated care including healthcare and promise neighborhoods

We will meet in the Capital at 10:00 am, with a press conference in the Capitol from 10:30-11:00 am, then break into groups (for maximum legislative coverage) for meetings with legislators and legislative staff. We will reconvene as a group for lunch with a panel of legislators, followed by further legislative meetings in the afternoon. We are also working to schedule a meeting with a senior member of the Newsom administration. A detailed schedule will be sent on Wednesday, 1/16.