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Organizing Providers: For the latest installment of KQED’s “Starting Blocks” series, reporter Katie Orr this week drew attention to the overtaxed and underpaid position endured by so many of California’s early childhood educators, and the potential of in-home providers to unionize if Assembly Bill 378 is passed. Following the story of in-home provider Pat Alexander, who runs Alexander Preschool and Child Care out of her home in Elk Grove, Sacramento County, Orr details the financial burdens and benefits Alexander and her husband must balance to stay in business and provide quality care. Alexander is a supporter of AB 378, supported by Assemblyman Kevin McCarty, D-Sacramento, and believes unionizing would help people, “understand I'm not a babysitter.”
Tracking Kids: The California legislature passed a bill this week to implement a “longitudinal” data system that will track children’s data from infancy to career, reports EdSource. Coined as the “Cradle to Career Data System,” the initiative is slated to receive $10 million as part of Newsom’s education budget –– a huge victory for its supporters after eight years of opposition from former CA governor, Jerry Brown. Critical parts of the system will be rolled out over the next 18 months, including decisions on how it will be governed, who can access and other security and privacy measures. As of 2016, California is one of only eight states that doesn’t have a long-term data tracking system. This has made it difficult for policymakers, education advocates and leaders to answer fundamental questions that affect policy. Fortunately, many institutions already have data operations in place, meaning the new bill could make significant impacts just by linking various comprehensive data systems to create a network.
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ACEs Screenings: With the new fiscal year’s budget almost in place, California is poised to see an influx of funding for trauma screenings, guided by the state's first-ever Surgeon General, Dr. Nadine Burke Harris, reports EdSource. Research shows that Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) lead to a greater risk of negative health conditions later in life, and Newsom is pushing California to focus on addressing them as a way of prevention. Trauma screenings will include a survey developed by Burke Harris, known as Pediatric ACEs and Related Life-events Screener (PEARLS) which focuses on questions ranging from sexual and physical abuse to parents separating or divorcing. While the screenings are not mandated, there will be a $29 reimbursement per trauma screening which is meant to incentivize MediCal doctors to conduct the screenings every 1 to 3 years on each child enrolled in the program.
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Politics and Current Events
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Cheat Sheets: Gov. Gavin Newsom is expected to sign the California State Budget any day now, and with his signature, a host of funding for early childhood focused programs will be included. EdSource’s Zaidee Stavely has produced an “easy to read” guide for 27 of the early childhood bills introduced in the Legislature this session, including six bills supported by First 5 LA that could shape the lives of children as soon as this fiscal year. Click on the image below for this helpful resource:
Federal Policies
Census 2020: California leaders breathed a temporary sigh of relief today, as the U.S. Supreme Court rejected the Trump Administration’s stated reason for including a citizenship question to the 2020 Census. California faces the greatest risk of a Census undercount of any other state due to high numbers of “hard-to-count” populations, including young children. The addition of a citizenship question is believed to exacerbate the projection of already inaccurate numbers. The fight is not over however, as the case must now go back to a federal district court for further consideration. As the government is set to begin printing Census materials soon though, there is not much time for further deliberation in the lower court. First 5 Association Executive Director Moira Kenney released a statement about the ruling saying, “We hope the New York District Court will follow the lead of the U.S. Supreme Court and keep this question out of the U.S. Census.”
Related article/blog:
Vox: This chart shows how badly the census could still undercount people of color
First 5 LA Blog: Democracy Starts at Home: Why Every Baby Counts in the 2020 Census
Moving the Line: Last month, the Trump Administration issued a proposal to recalculate the Federal Poverty Line, making it harder for low-income families to qualify for social safety-net programs like health insurance or Head Start. The comment period comes to a close tomorrow, and scholars and advocates are urgently pointing out that such a recalibration could mean disaster for thousands of families. Trade publication Education Dive shared that, according to one set of estimates, 100,000 students would no longer qualify for free school meals, and 300,000 children would lose health coverage through Medicaid or CHIP. In a joint op-ed for The Hill, California Representative Karen Bass said about 40,000 infants and young children would lose their Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Woman, Infants, and Children (WIC) benefits. The First 5 Association of California, First 5 California, and First 5 LA also issued a joint statement about the proposal, concluding, “we will oppose any action that could interfere with children getting what their brains and bodies need during this crucial time."
The Treatment of Children: News of 350+ migrant children kept in squalid conditions at border patrol facility in Clint, Texas broke over the weekend, resulting in an outcry from the public and advocates who say the harsh conditions will cause long-term detrimental effects on children, as reported by NPR. After the conditions were exposed, “most” of the children were moved to new government facilities, however just a few days after, more than 100 children were moved back to the Clint facility, showing an increasingly disorganized situation, as reported in The New York Times and TIME. According to the Pacific Standard, children detained at the border should only be held for 72 hours, then taken into custody by Health and Human Services (HHS); the HHS shelters are reportedly “overcrowded” however, so kids are being held at facilities designed for short-term stays by adults.
The chaotic situation has garnered varying degrees of criticism. Vice President Mike Pence agreed that “of course” migrant children held by the government should be given soap and toothpaste, but ultimately blamed the Democrats for not funding larger detainment centers. Texas Republican representative, Michael Burgess said the children are “free to leave at any time” but don’t because they have good care. The Washington Post’s Editorial Board spoke out against the treatment of migrant children stating in an op-ed, “America should be horrified by the conditions at the border.” The New York Times followed suit with their op-ed, “There’s No Excuse for Mistreating Children at the Border” which included steps that readers can take to help children. Even the popular children's magazine Highlights took a stance, denouncing the Administration's actions, reports USA Today.
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Safe Streets, Healthy Families: First 5 LA grantee L.A. Walks recently published the "Safe Streets, Healthy Families Advocacy Guide" created to help every-day residents advocate for better streets and neighborhood design. Co-created with representatives from Best Start Metro L.A., Best Start Panorama City, and Best Start Wilmington, the guide is available online in both English and Spanish. Built environment trade publication StreetsBlog LA highlighted the guide, describing it as "easy-to-understand" and "jargon-free." They also drew attention to the introduction letter from First 5 LA's Executive Director Kim Belshé who says, “an important part of a thriving community is a walkable neighborhood that promotes physical activity and a safe environment where children can get to school, medical services, and outdoor recreation.”
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ICYMI: In Case You Missed It, More Great Reads
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