Children-and-youth

Under California’s system for supporting children’s mental health, the state needs to first tackle the system’s deficiencies.

Mental health is now the leading cause of hospitalization of children under 18 in California. This crisis facing youth and their families is staggering. In addition to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, young people face existential threats like climate change, gun violence in schools as well as communities, civil rights crises, and an uncertain […]

County child welfare leaders and social workers are stymied by a lack of tools needed to best support foster youth.

California’s child care workforce is still 10% smaller than it was before the pandemic, as low wages contribute to acute staffing shortages.

A permanent investment in supportive services could help keep children out of our foster care system.

California wants to restart in-person inspections of child care centers. Providers are worried that the inspectors, who may not be vaccinated, could jeopardize the health of their charges and their business.

It could be mid-May or later before some child care providers get state stipends promised to them as part of a coronavirus relief package. Providers worry they may not be able to hold out that long.

Proposal would create a department to centralize L.A.'s youth programs, which are currently spread across 26 departments.

The coronavirus pandemic has decimated child care centers in California, with many closing permanently. The consequences will adversely affect children, parents, center operators and the state economy.

Experts aren’t sure if the numbers are good or bad because of the number of variables involved and lack of similar data. Child care providers hope new relief from the state will help.