children-and-youth

Chickens in poultry factory. Photo via iStock Photo

California Divide

L.A. company hired children to cut poultry with sharp knives, regulator says

The Exclusive Poultry Inc. agreed to pay $3.8 million in wages, damages and penalties in part for hiring children for dangerous work. The case is one of hundreds federal labor officials investigated last year.

By

Alejandra Reyes-Velarde

• December 14, 2023

Jackie’s oldest son, Raphael, in Monterey Park on Sept. 29, 2023. Raphael saw and experienced the domestic violence in his mother’s relationship when he was a young teenager. Raphael is now in college and plans to work towards being a Dermatologist. His mother, Jackie, is a family advocate for Los Angeles Defense Lawyers, helping families navigate the system. Photo by Alisha Jucevic for CalMatters

Justice

California can take kids from abused moms. Why the separation can harm both

California's 'failure to protect' law allows child welfare agencies to take kids from households scarred by domestic violence. Advocates say the separation can worsen a family's trauma.

By

ChrisAnna Mink

• December 7, 2023

Construction workers on site of a tiny homes village in Goshen on June 2, 2023. Poverty rose to 14% among construction workers this spring. Photo by Larry Valenzuela, CalMatters/CatchLight Local

California Divide

More working Californians slipped into poverty as pandemic aid expired

California’s poverty rate climbed and its working poor grew this spring, says the Public Policy Institute of California. Safety net programs played a major role in poverty rate changes.

By

Alejandra Reyes-Velarde

• October 26, 2023

Johanna Wonderly helps her children Caitlyn, 5, Cassie, 9, and Cara, 7, with their homework on Oct. 11, 2023. Photo by Jyotsana Bhamidipati for CalMatters

Health

Families fume over Newsom’s veto of children’s hearing aid bill, call his plan ‘a nightmare’

More than 30 states require insurers to provide some level of coverage for kids’ hearing aids. California isn’t one of them, and Gov. Newsom for the second time has vetoed a bill to close that gap.

By

Kristen Hwang

• October 13, 2023

A folder with legislative bills on at desk in the press room at the Capitol Annex Swing Space in Sacramento, prior to being signed into law by Gov. Gavin Newsom on Sept. 26, 2023

WhatMatters

Gavin Newsom makes his decisions on California bills

Gov. Gavin Newsom took a day off from bills signings and vetoes on Monday. But he unleashed such a big flood of bill decisions over the weekend — about 470 — that legislators and advocacy groups, not to mention reporters, are still catching up. Some key ones signed: Some consequential vetoes: Teacher turnover: From our […]

By

Lynn La

• October 10, 2023

California Divide

Newsom’s veto lets California counties continue taking foster kids’ money

States across the United States are banning the practice of billing kids for the cost of their foster care. Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed a similar effort in California, citing costs to the state.

By

Jeanne Kuang

• October 9, 2023

A collection of medicine at the McArdle and Swaney home on Dec. 15, 2022 in Carmel. Photo by Grace Hollars, Reuters.

WhatMatters

The debate over flavored medicine for California kids

If you’re a parent, you know how difficult it can be to get your kids to take medicine that tastes bad. Parents can remedy this by requesting their children’s prescription medicine to be flavored at the 3,000 pharmacies in California that are able to do so. But an unintended consequence of a 2019 law may […]

By

Lynn La

• August 2, 2023

People wear hats and pins in support of former President Donald Trump during the California Republican Party convention in Anaheim on April 23, 2022. Photo by Alisha Jucevic for CalMatters

WhatMatters

With Trump in mind, California Republicans change delegate rules ahead of 2024 primary

In a presidential year, California’s 2024 primary is in March instead of June, and the state is the biggest prize for the Republican nomination. Over the weekend, the state GOP changed the rules in a way that appears likely to boost former President Donald Trump and to make California the delegate “mother lode of the […]

By

Lynn La

• July 31, 2023

Health

Californians are smoking less: Why that’s a problem for these early childhood services

A new ban on flavored tobacco products is accelerating a decline in nicotine tax revenue that funds California’s early childhood services. Some programs are already making cuts.

By

Ana B. Ibarra

• July 18, 2023

Forced and child marriage survivors arrive at a protest, organized to support a ban on child marriage, at the state Capitol in Sacramento on June 22, 2023. Photo by Rahul Lal, CalMatters

Politics

Child brides: A campaign starts to ban underage marriages in California

You have to be 18 to get divorced in California, but there’s no minimum age to get married. Child marriage survivors protested at the state Capitol, but the Legislature likely won’t act until next year.

By

Rya Jetha

• June 23, 2023

Children-and-youth