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

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

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

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 2023-24 Budget: Department of Developmental Services

Feb 15, 2023 - State Lacks Insight Into Drivers of These Disparities in Spending. One potential reason the ongoing equity grants have not yet addressed spending disparities is that they are not guided by a clear understanding of why such disparities exist.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4683

California’s Child Welfare System: Addressing Disproportionalities and Disparities

Apr 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.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4897