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May 29, 2024 - Provides initial high-level takeaways and comments regarding May Revision proposals for the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) program. Includes comments on the overall CalWORKs budget with a focus on new proposals at the time of the administration’s May Revision.
May 24, 2024 - This post provides initial high-level takeaways and comments regarding May Revision proposals for child welfare programs. Includes comments on the overall child welfare budget—focusing on new proposals at the time of the administration’s May Revision—as well as comments and questions related to the updated proposal for statutorily required permanent foster care rates.
May 23, 2024 - This post assesses and makes recommendations regarding the Governor’s 2024-25 May Revision proposals related to broadband infrastructure.
April 24, 2024 - This report examines disproportionalities and disparities across California’s child welfare system in terms of income and race/ethnicity. The report provides background on the child welfare system, describes child welfare system disproportionalities and disparities, and lays out potential drivers of these inequities. Additionally, the report identifies a number of decision-making and policy areas that can help address disproportionalities and disparities, and provides options for the Legislature to consider.
April 3, 2024 - Presented to: Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 2 on Human Services
March 15, 2024 - In this post, we provide an overview of the Governor's 2024-25 budget proposals for certain immigration and equity programs at the Department of Social Services.
March 5, 2024 - In this post, we provide background on the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) program, information on the upcoming federal changes and how they are likely to impact the CalWORKs program, and comments and questions for the Legislature to consider as it determines if and how to respond to the federal changes.
March 4, 2024 - In this brief, we provide background on the CalWORKs program followed by an overview and assessment of the Governor’s California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) budget proposals, which include a number of budget solutions. In addition, the brief provides issues for consideration to help the Legislature evaluate the administration’s proposals in the current year, budget year, and beyond.
February 29, 2024 - In this post, we provide some background on the In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) program, an overview of the Governor's 2024-25 budget proposals and assumptions for IHSS, and offer relevant issues for legislative consideration.
February 28, 2024 - Presented to: Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 7 on Accountability and Oversight
February 27, 2024 - This post provides a general overview of the Governor’s budget for the Department of Child Support Services (DCSS), then turns to focus on a few key DCSS budget areas, providing background, implementation updates, and some comments for the Legislature to consider. Specifically, the budget areas we focus on in this post are: (1) the passthrough of child support collections to former California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids families, (2) foster care referrals and enforcement, (3) local child support agency funding methodology, and (4) proposed budget language related to overpayments disbursed from the Child Support Trust Fund.
February 26, 2024 - In this post, we analyze the Governor’s budget proposals relating to child welfare and foster care programs, which include a number of budget solutions. In addition, the post provides comments and questions to help the Legislature weigh in regarding the administration’s proposal for the statutorily required new foster care rates structure.
February 16, 2024 - This post provides background and caseload trend updates for the state’s major food assistance programs--CalFresh and the California Food Assistance Program (CFAP)--and analyzes the Governor’s proposed food assistance budget, which includes no major new proposals.
February 8, 2024 - In this post, we provide some background on the Supplemental Security Income/State Supplementary Payment (SSI/SSP) Program, followed by an overview of the Governor's 2024-25 budget proposals and assumptions for SSI/SSP.