The 2022-23 Budget: Analysis of the Governor’s CalWORKs Proposals

Feb 11, 2022 - When CalWORKs first was established, adults in the program could collect cash assistance for a total of 60 months (the maximum allowed for recipients of federal TANF funding). Starting in 2011, California reduced this to a 48 ‑month time limit.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4530

The 2023-24 Budget: CalWORKs

Feb 22, 2023 - Grant amounts are adjusted based on AU size —larger AUs are eligible to receive a larger grant amount —to account for the increased financial needs of larger families. As of October 2021 (when the most recent analysis was conducted), about 40  percent of CalWORKs cases included everyone in the family (and thus the AU size and the family size were the same).
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4699

The 2022-23 Budget: Analysis of Child Welfare Proposals and Program Implementation Updates

Feb 22, 2022 - Historically, one of the main federal funding streams available for foster care —Title  IV ‑ E —has not been available for states to use on services that may prevent foster care placement in the first place.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4558

The 2021-22 Budget: Analysis of Child Welfare Proposals

Feb 11, 2021 - Federal Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA). Historically, one of the main federal funding streams available for foster care —Title IV ‑ E —has not been available for states to use on services that may prevent foster care placement in the first place.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4364

Older Youth Access to Foster Care

Mar 22, 2019 - Under the supervision of DSS, county CWS agencies provide the frontline administration of the CWS system, including: ( 1)  R eceiving reports of child maltreatment, ( 2)  i nvestigating maltreatment reports, ( 3)  r emoving children from unsafe homes, ( 4)  f inding and funding placements for children in foster care, ( 5)  p roviding services to families for reunification, and (
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/3980

The 2025-26 Budget: Overview of the Federal CalWORKs Pilot

Feb 21, 2025 - Grant amounts are adjusted based on AU size —larger AUs are eligible to receive a larger grant amount —to account for the increased financial needs of larger families. As of December 2023 (when the most recent analysis was conducted), about 40  percent of CalWORKs cases included everyone in the family (and thus the AU size and the family size were the same).
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4978

The 2023-24 Budget: Analysis of Child Welfare Proposals and Implementation Updates

Feb 22, 2023 - Under the 2023 ‑24 proposal, implementation would continue for these recently ‑funded programs, as well as for major ongoing child welfare programs, such as Continuum of Care Reform and Family First Prevention Services Act.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4698

Trends in CalWORKs: Participant Characteristics

Jun 16, 2025 - Grant amounts are adjusted based on AU   size —larger  AUs are eligible to receive a larger grant   amount —to  account for the increased financial needs of larger families. As of December 2023, about 40  percent of CalWORKs cases included everyone in the family, making the AU size and the family size the same.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5057

The 2022-23 Budget: In-Home Supportive Services

Feb 2, 2022 - Under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, the federal government increased the federal match rate for Medicaid services by 6.2  percentage points for the duration of the national public health emergency caused by COVID ‑19.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4512

Implementing California’s Child Welfare Prevention Services Program

Jan 28, 2026 - First, these programs are proven to achieve results. Additionally, the federal Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA) requires states to rigorously evaluate the evidence ‑based practices (EBPs) they select; however, states can request to waive this requirement for well ‑supported EBPs —thereby allowing states to avoid the costly process of intensive evaluation.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5106