Dear ACES Connection partners,
I hope you are well. I’m writing to ask for your consideration to sign on to a budget request led by Assemblywoman Rubio, Alliance for Children’s Rights, Children’s Law Center, John Burton Advocates for Youth, National Center for Youth Law and Black Women for Wellness. We are prioritizing this budget ask and the companion bill AB 366 since it would expand a direct cash payment to our expectant youth and nonminor dependents in foster care. Let me know if you have questions and if you may be able to help us show support for this proven strategy!
Please SIGN ON TO THE COALITION BUDGET LETTER TODAY.
Our Ask:
There is so much happening right now with the pandemic that has impacted foster youth health and well-being. For our expectant and parenting foster youth they have experienced so much this past year and we are seeking to support their health with a modest budget request of $729,000. We are working as a coalition to provide the infant supplement to expectant youth starting three months prior to the expected delivery date.
This funding and change in state law will help reduce maternal mortality and morbidity, stillbirth, miscarriage, and complicated pregnancies disproportionately experienced by youth in foster care. Providing the infant supplement earlier is a practice that has been working for years in Los Angeles County and we want to expand this practice statewide.
Will you fight for Healthy Futures for Foster Youth? Please SIGN ON TO THE COALITION BUDGET LETTER TODAY.
The Senate Budget Hearing will be on February 16, 2021 and the Assembly Budget Hearing will be on March 3, 2021. Please sign on before Monday February 8, 2021 at noon which is our final deadline to submit our materials to the budget committees.
I don’t have to tell you how much this supplement can help improve health outcomes—you know how much support it takes to prepare a young parent for birth and for an infant. Youth in care will need this support now more than ever with the pandemic impacting employment, education, and childcare this supplement is critical now more than ever.
If you have any questions, please reach out to me at anna@jbay.org or visit our webpage for more information about the proposal.
Thank you,
Anna Johnson
Senior Project Manager, Housing & Health
Cell: 920-471-8177
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