Trends in CalWORKs: Participant Characteristics

Jun 16, 2025 - Limited Insight Into Overall Family Makeup. Demographic data are generally only collected on eligible family members, limiting the conclusions that can be drawn about family makeup. For example, in 2023 ‑24, the average AU size was 2.6 individuals.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5057

Comparing CalWORKs Take-Up Rates Across Demographic Groups

Feb 14, 2023 - In  addition, our review of the relevant social science literature provided few  insights. Despite these challenges, our conversations with stakeholders did yield some insights that could be useful for beginning to understand why families do not enroll.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4678

Preliminary Assessment of Significant Changes to State's Technology Project Approval and Oversight Processes

Apr 29, 2025 - POC Outcomes Could Provide Insights to PDL Improvements and Challenges. Provisional budget bill language adopted in the 2024-25 Budget Act made clear the Legislature ’s intention to better understand how the first round of GenAI POCs would impact its role through the annual budget process in evaluating and approving technology project funding.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5034

Recent Trends in Young Adult Mortality

Dec 10, 2024 - Law enforcement agencies ’ strategies for enforcing traffic laws involve various activities that interact with each other in complex ways, so any attempt to quantify enforcement will have some serious limitations.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4945

The 2026-27 Budget: County Administration and H.R. 1 Implementation

Mar 5, 2026 - At the same time, individual county implementation will depend on strategies and resource allocation priorities of individual counties. To support successfully mitigating risks of payment error penalties, the Legislature will need to understand what changes to state and county processes will be required to address the largest contributors to error rates.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5149

The 2025-26 California Spending Plan: Human Services

Nov 21, 2025 - Additionally, it requires that, on or before July 1, 2027, the department, in consultation with stakeholders, shall develop a strategic plan for how the methodology and outreach strategies may be implemented and executed to maximize benefits to those eligible for CalFresh benefi ts.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5086/3

The 2025-26 Budget: Child Welfare

Feb 13, 2025 - Using this year ’s budget process to further the Legislature ’s oversight of these newer programs/program expansions in particular could prove useful in helping the Legislature gain insight into program effectiveness and better position the Legislature to enact any necessary future budget solutions.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4962

Implementing California’s Child Welfare Prevention Services Program

Jan 28, 2026 - Under 2011 realignment, however, the state has limited insight into how counties use their realignment dollars, making it difficult to assess the true impact of various cost pressures. Whenever considering increased program requirements and/or funding for child welfare —as a realigned program area —we recommend bearing these complex factors in mind.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5106

The 2024-25 Budget: Child Care

Apr 15, 2024 - Under the RFA process, providers must fill out an application explaining their program philosophy, intend ed service levels, staff qualifications, facility capacity, family engagement strategies, and finances.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4893

The 2022-23 California Spending Plan: Human Services

Oct 21, 2022 - Additionally, DSS shall submit a report to the Legislature on or before April 1, 2024 that (1) summarizes the workgroup conversations, (2) identifies potential strategies to prevent unintended consequences and any estimates of implementing these recommended strategies, (3) estimates the impact of federal funding levels and any changes to eligibility and benefit
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4640/6