The Childrens Partnership

THE CHILDREN'S PARTNERSHIP (TCP) IS A CALIFORNIA ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION ADVANCING CHILD HEALTH EQUITY THROUGH RESEARCH, POLICY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.

IN 2021, CA FAMILIES FACED THE FIGHT AGAINST BOTH THE CONTINUED COVID-19 PANDEMIC AND THE EXACERBATED INEQUITIES SURROUNDING IT. IN RESPONSE, THE CHILDREN'S PARTNERSHIP DOUBLED DOWN ON OUR COMMITMENT THAT ALL CALIFORNIA CHILDREN OF EVERY RACE, ETHNICITY AND PLACE OF BIRTH HAVE THE RESOURCES AND OPPORTUNITIES THEY NEED TO REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL. SOME OF OUR MAJOR PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN 2021: WE SUPPORTED A NUMBER OF PROPOSALS ADOPTED IN THE FINAL STATE BUDGET THAT ADDRESS THE NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF THE PANDEMIC INCLUDING: SUPPORTING CHILD AND YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH IN SCHOOLS AND EARLY LEARNING CENTERS; HEALTH CARE COVERAGE FOR IMMIGRANTS AGE 50+; AND EXPANDING FOOD BENEFITS TO MORE CALIFORNIANS, NO MATTER THEIR IMMIGRATION STATUS. WE WORKED WITH PARTNERS TO PASS LEGISLATION (SB 224) THAT WILL HELP ENSURE CALIFORNIA'S 3.4 MILLION PUBLIC, MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS RECEIVE INFORMATION ON MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS. WE CONNECTED OVER 1,000 PARENTS AND SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS WITH STATE AND FEDERAL HEALTH AND SCHOOL OFFICIALS AND DECISION-MAKERS THROUGH THREE WEBINARS ABOUT THE COVID-19 VACCINES AND RETURNING TO SCHOOL DURING THE PANDEMIC. WE HELPED HUNDREDS OF FAMILIES ACCESS RESOURCES PROVIDED BY THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN, INCLUDING THE EXPANDED CHILD TAX CREDIT, THROUGH A FACT SHEET TRANSLATED INTO MULTIPLE LANGUAGES. WE PARTNERED WITH THE NATIONAL BLACK WOMEN'S JUSTICE INSTITUTE TO LAUNCH THE HOPE, HEALING AND HEALTH COLLECTIVE (H3C), AN EFFORT SPEARHEADED BY 15 BIPOC YOUTH LEADERS ACROSS THE U.S., CENTERING THEIR LEADERSHIP AND LIVED EXPERIENCES TO DEVELOP A ROBUST POLICY AGENDA FOR IMPROVED MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES. WE HELD LISTENING SESSIONS WITH FAMILIES, EDUCATORS, HEALTH PROVIDERS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS ABOUT WHAT TELEHEALTH MODELS WORK BEST TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO SCHOOL-BASED MENTAL AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CARE FOR CHILDREN. WE HELD LISTENING SESSIONS WITH FAMILIES OF MEDI-CAL CHILDREN FROM LATINX, BLACK, CHINESE AMERICAN AND NATIVE AMERICAN COMMUNITIES ABOUT HOW MEANINGFUL FAMILY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT IMPACTS CHILDREN ENROLLED IN MEDI-CAL. WE WORKED WITH PARTNERS UPDATE OUR POPULATION-SPECIFIC FACT SHEETS ON HEALTH INEQUITIES AMONG MARGINALIZED CHILDREN AS IMPACTED BY THE PANDEMIC.