Policy Picks

Last week the Alameda Alliance for Health announced the closing of its Healthy Kids insurance program, leaving 1,000 low-income children uninsured. Learn more about a similar threat facing Los Angeles.

As the state looks for solutions to the budget crisis, Proposition 10 dollars have been suggested as a source. To help protect First 5 LA funding, the LA City Council approved a formal resolution of support.

Two promising preschool bills are being considered by the California Legislature to improve quality and streamline current preschool programs. Learn how these bills would affect Californians if they become law.

Being a parent is hard. But being a parent with a sick child is even harder. Learn how the California Paid Sick Days bill may help lessen the burden for employees choosing between a paycheck and caring for their sick child.

On January 10th, Governor Schwarzenegger released his Proposed Budget for the July 2008-June 2009 fiscal year. The budget seeks to close an estimated $14.5 billion gap by making 10% cuts to spending in most state programs and departments.

Good mental health in young children is critical to their overall well-being and future success. Unfortunately, achieving good mental health is a struggle for many children in L.A. County.

Californians won't have a health care reform package this year despite the Governor's endorsement. Learn why it was rejected and what this means for millions of children and families.

First 5 LA's Policy Roundtable was held last Thursday, focusing on how to best advocate for children prenatal to three. Representatives from government and community based organizations participated.

Be a children's mental health advocate! Share your perspective with the Department of Mental Health as they decide on how much money from the Mental Health Services Act should go to children.

One of the key items on First 5 LA's Public Policy Agenda made significant progress last week in Congress. By overwhelming margins, a bipartisan measure passed in both the House and Senate to reauthorize Head Start ...

Thanks to a new law smokers in California soon will no longer be able to lawfully light up in their vehicles if a child is present. But child advocates ...

Recently, First 5 LA furthered its commitment and investment in the community by adopting the agency's first public policy agenda.

As federal lawmakers continue to debate extending health insurance to children with families whose earnings may exceed the Federal Poverty Level (FPL), California families …

State Legislature passed AB 194, a bill that would restore to the state budget Governor Schwarzenegger's blue penciled items. Of special interest to child advocacy groups is the reinstatement of $5 million that would fund full-day care.

On the heels of signing the state budget, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, Assembly Speaker Fabian Nuñez, and Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata joined First 5 California at a press conference in Sacramento ...

As Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and state legislators consider plans to provide health insurance coverage for all Californians, the U.S. Congress is moving toward a final consensus on the reauthorization of the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP).

As champions of children, First 5 LA recognizes the importance of informing elected officials about the impact of policy and legislation on the children and families that we serve.

In 2005, the L.A. County Board of Supervisors approved a three-year, $280 million spending plan to assist the mentally ill, drawing down funds from the voter-approved Mental Health Services Act