End Child Poverty CA

End Child Poverty CA California has the worst child poverty in the nation: 1 in 5 children are affected. Together, we can change that with smart, research-backed solutions.

Join the movement at http://www.endchildpovertyca.org/ One in five California kids live in poverty. When we invest in childhood, our communities reap huge rewards and the future of California shines much brighter. California has the chance to set a model for the nation in reducing child poverty by 50% over the next 20 years. Join the movement! http://www.endchildpovertyca.org/

Impacting poverty o

f this magnitude requires an unprecedented and comprehensive investment in proven strategies to give all children equal opportunities to succeed. The Four Pillars (Community Approach, 0–5 Focus, After School and Summer Programs, and Job Training) summarize our approach to reducing poverty in California by 50%.

1. COMMUNITY APPROACH
Census data shows that poverty is concentrated in particular geographic areas. We can better support these communities of high need if services are coordinated to serve children from cradle to college and career.

-Create California Promise Zones where services are coordinated and agencies collaborate, blend funding streams and better align resources to help families in geographic areas of concentrated poverty.

-Communities served by Promise Zones will be those with high poverty rates, low educational achievement levels, low-achieving schools, poor health indicators for children, and high rates of foster, homeless and disconnected youth, as well as other factors.

-Provide competitive preference for state funding for programs participating with a California Promise Zone.

2. 0-5 FOCUS
Research shows that many children born in poverty are already behind in cognitive development and language skills by 18 months of age. That is why services must be available to help low-income families as early as possible.

-Expand existing voluntary home visiting programs that provide pre-natal and early childhood support services through in-home visits.

-Expand childcare services to include all children under the federal poverty line who are too young to be in preschool.

-Expand preschool programs to ensure that all children in families with incomes under the federal poverty line have access to preschool.

-Offer financial incentives to help ensure that programs are of the highest quality.

3. AFTER SCHOOL AND SUMMER PROGRAMS
Poverty is highest for high school dropouts (54%), therefore we must do everything we can to support our children in school through services that create individualized plans involving families, teachers and service providers who work collaboratively to best serve the needs of a child.

-Expand after school and summer school programs for children ages 5-12 living in a family with income below the federal poverty line.

-Offer children a range of services including after school programs, tutoring programs and childcare.

4. JOB TRAINING
Nothing fights poverty better than securing a good job with a good future. That’s why we must offer high quality job training programs that prepare our youth for the California job market. We must also offer immediate assistance for working families so that they can help their children succeed.

-Link workforce preparation for low-income youth to the needs of local employers in high growth markets.

-Increase CALWORKS grants to better meet the needs of children living in deep poverty by supporting their parents.

-Increase the state Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) program so that low-income workers can keep more of their paycheck, thus increasing their ability to care for their children.

☀️ Good news for these End Child Poverty California Coalition bills! Big next steps coming for the 2026 IMAGINE agenda!T...
05/29/2026

☀️ Good news for these End Child Poverty California Coalition bills! Big next steps coming for the 2026 IMAGINE agenda!

Together, we’re powerful!

Yesterday, during lunchtime we walked halls to ask our legislators: What’s for lunch?? These members told us: Food Jus...
05/29/2026

Yesterday, during lunchtime we walked halls to ask our legislators: What’s for lunch??

These members told us: Food Justice! 💕🍎

There is still time for our legislators and Governor to pass a budget that brings justice for more than half a million families losing federally funded food benefits. Let’s beat back federal H.R. 1 cuts to children, immigrants, and hungry families with courage! 👩🏽‍🌾💪🏽

Thank you for leading this fight Asm. Calderon, Asm. Jackson, Asm. Ahrens, Asm. Sharp-Collins!

Fund CFAP plus now!
Fund one-time food assistance for kids!

Exciting news for California families! :tada: AB 2195 by Assemblymember Celeste Rodriguez is headed to the Senate!This i...
05/29/2026

Exciting news for California families! :tada: AB 2195 by Assemblymember Celeste Rodriguez is headed to the Senate!
This important bill reforms one-size-fits-all occupational license suspensions that can prevent parents from working and supporting their children. AB 2195 removes professional license suspensions for low-income non-custodial parents struggling with child support debt, helping parents stay employed and financially stable.
This is a big step toward a fairer, more effective child support system.

Exciting news for California families! 🎉 AB 2195 by is headed to the Senate!This important bill reforms one-size-fits-a...
05/29/2026

Exciting news for California families! 🎉 AB 2195 by is headed to the Senate!

This important bill reforms one-size-fits-all occupational license suspensions that can prevent parents from working and supporting their children. AB 2195 removes professional license suspensions for low-income non-custodial parents struggling with child support debt, helping parents stay employed and financially stable.

This is a big step toward a fairer, more effective child support system.

👏Big win for California kids and families! by Assemblymember Patrick Ahrens has officially passed the Assembly Floor.T...
05/29/2026

👏Big win for California kids and families! by Assemblymember Patrick Ahrens has officially passed the Assembly Floor.
This critical bill directs CDSS to seek waivers and expand SNAP exemptions, especially for foster youth, while strengthening state-level food assistance to help offset harmful federal H.R. 1 cuts.
No child should go hungry because of federal budget cuts. California is stepping up to protect vulnerable kids and families.
Thank you to the sponsors, SEIU California and CWDA, for your leadership and advocacy in the fight against child hunger.

Another big step forward for California families! AB 2395 by Assemblymember -Increasing Uniformity and Removing Barriers...
05/29/2026

Another big step forward for California families! AB 2395 by Assemblymember -Increasing Uniformity and Removing Barriers to the Child Support Debt Reduction Program- has passed the Assembly Floor.

This important bill improves the debt reduction program and helps remove barriers for families working toward financial stability.

Thank you to the TruthandJustice in Child Support Coalition for sponsoring and championing this effort!

👏Big win for California kids and families! by Assemblymember has officially passed the Assembly Floor.This critical bi...
05/29/2026

👏Big win for California kids and families!
by Assemblymember has officially passed the Assembly Floor.
This critical bill directs CDSS to seek waivers and expand SNAP exemptions, especially for foster youth, while strengthening state-level food assistance to help offset harmful federal H.R. 1 cuts.
No child should go hungry because of federal budget cuts. California is stepping up to protect vulnerable kids and families.
Thank you to the sponsors, and for your leadership and advocacy in the fight against child hunger.

SB 1077 by Senator Lena A. Gonzalez has passed the Senate floor! This critical bill strengthens California’s preparedne...
05/28/2026

SB 1077 by Senator Lena A. Gonzalez has passed the Senate floor!

This critical bill strengthens California’s preparedness by requiring the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) to develop a shutdown response and communication plan, and to build the infrastructure capacity needed to continue disbursing benefits during a federal shutdown.

At a time when families can’t afford uncertainty, SB 1077 helps ensure stability, continuity, and dignity, even in moments of crisis.

Huge thanks to Senator Lena Gonzalez for leading this effort to protect Californians, and to CDSS for being called into a stronger readiness framework that centers families first.

When government stalls, families should not go without.

🎉SB 1030 by Senator Lola Smallwood-Cuevas has passed the Senate floor! This important bill helps remove harmful and outd...
05/28/2026

🎉SB 1030 by Senator Lola Smallwood-Cuevas has passed the Senate floor!

This important bill helps remove harmful and outdated CalWORKs rules that can put families at risk of losing assistance simply because an unrelated adult male lives in the home. Families deserve dignity, not unnecessary barriers to support.

Thank you to the sponsors: CWDA, CCWRO, End Child Poverty CA, SEIU & Western Center on Law & Poverty for fighting for California families 💪🏽✨

🎉AB 1655, the Protect Kids from ICE Act by Assemblymember Isaac Bryan, is headed to the Senate!💪🏽✨This critical bill hel...
05/28/2026

🎉AB 1655, the Protect Kids from ICE Act by Assemblymember Isaac Bryan, is headed to the Senate!

💪🏽✨This critical bill helps ensure children and families can continue receiving cash assistance when a family member is unlawfully detained in federal immigration detention.

Families deserve stability, dignity, and protection not punishment.

Thank you to the sponsors fighting for California’s children and families: SEIU CA, End Child Poverty California, and the Coalition of California Welfare Rights Organizations.

Families. Youth. Workers. Advocates. Community leaders. Yesterday’s Rally was a powerful reminder that Californians ar...
05/28/2026

Families. Youth. Workers. Advocates. Community leaders.

Yesterday’s Rally was a powerful reminder that Californians are united in the fight for a future where every child and family can thrive.

From calls to protect CalFresh and immigrant communities to demands for a fairer tax system that invests in families, our movement showed up loud, proud, and ready to act.

Read our full recap of the day’s energy, advocacy, legislative visits, and calls to action.

Yesterday, hundreds of families, youth, workers, advocates, and community leaders gathered at the End Child Poverty CA & SEIU CA’s annual IMAGINE Rally at the State Capitol to send a clear message to California leaders: our state must choose children, choose families, and choose a future where eve...

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