CALIFORNIA ALLIANCE OF CHILD AND FAMILY SERVICES

ADVOCACY -THE CALIFORNIA ALLIANCE IS A PASSIONATE REPRESENTATIVE FOR CALIFORNIAS CHILDREN AND FAMILIES FACING VULNERABLE CIRCUMSTANCES. MORE THAN 160 CHIEF EXECUTIVES OF ORGANIZATIONS THAT SERVE CALIFORNIAS MOST VULNERABLE POPULATIONS TRUST THE CALIFORNIA ALLIANCE TO PROVIDE LEGISLATIVE AND REGULATORY ADVOCACY TO THE GOVERNOR AND THE LEGISLATURE, AS WELL AS A HOST OF STATE DEPARTMENTS INCLUDING: HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, FINANCE, HEALTHCARE SERVICES, SOCIAL SERVICES, AND EDUCATION. MEMBER AGENCIES RELY ON THE CALIFORNIA ALLIANCE TO: UNITE AN ENGAGED, EXPERT NETWORK OF CALIFORNIAS LEADING NONPROFIT CHILD AND FAMILY SERVICES AGENCIES. PROVIDE TRUSTED LEADERSHIP TO ORGANIZATIONS THAT ADDRESS THE MOST VULNERABLE CIRCUMSTANCES FACING THE STATES POPULATIONS. DELIVER TRUSTHWORTHY RESOURCES, POLICY-AREA EXPERTISE, REAL-WORLD EXPERIENCE AND SOUGHT-AFTER GUIDANCE. REPRESENT A COLLECTIVE VOICE IN PURSUING AN AGGRESSIVE AGENDA OF ADVOCACY TO BRING CHANGE. ACT AS A GLAVANIZING FORCE IN UNITING PUBLIC AND PRIVATE CHILD AND FAMILY SERVING AGENCIES. FULFILL A COMMITMENT TO ACCREDITATION, HIGH STANDARDS, BEST PRACTICES, SUCCESFUL CLIENT OUTCOMES AND HIGH-QUALITY CONTINUING EDUCATION. RECOGNIZE INNOVATION AND EXCELLENCE IN SERVICE OF CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES.2023-24 STATE BUDGET VICTORIES $8 MILLION FOR ONE-TIME SUPPLEMENT FOR FOSTER FAMILY AGENCY RATES THE ALLIANCE SPONSORED REQUEST WITH THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF SOCIAL WORKERS- CA CHAPTER WAS INCLUDED IN THE NEGOTIATED VERSION OF THE BUDGET WITH THE GOVERNORS OFFICE. WE ARE WORKING ON IMPLEMENTATION DETAILS WITH THE ADMINISTRATION TO GET THE FUNDING OUT THE DOOR AND THE MECHANISM (I.E. WILL IT BE ADDED TO THE PER CHILD/ PER MONTH RATE). ADDITIONALLY, THE BUDGET REQUIRES SUPPLEMENTAL REPORTING REQUIRING THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES (CDSS) TO CONSULT WITH THE LEGISLATURE AND STAKEHOLDERS ON THE PROGRESS TO DEVELOP CCR PERMANENT RATES. $4 MILLION FOR THE STATE TO HIRE SIX ADDITIONAL STAFF TO EXPEDITE GUARDIAN BACKGROUND CHECKS THE ALLIANCE CO-SPONSORED REQUEST FOR GUARDIAN STAFFING ALONGSIDE OTHER CCL LICENSEES, AND CO-LED BY THE ASSISTED LIVING ASSOCIATION, WAS INCLUDED IN THE NEGOTIATED VERSION OF THE BUDGET WITH THE GOVERNORS OFFICE. WE ARE WORKING WITH OUR COALITION PARTNERS TO ENSURE THAT THE STATE STARTS HIRING AND TRAINING STAFF QUICKLY. ADDITIONALLY, CDSS HAS LET US KNOW THAT THEY ARE GOING TO START THE STAKEHOLDER PROCESS TO REPLACE GUARDIAN.OTHER POLICY ACHIEVEMENTS IN THE PAST YEAR, OUR ORGANIZATION HAS MADE SIGNIFICANT STRIDES IN ADVOCATING FOR POLICY CHANGES AND REFORMS ACROSS VARIOUS FRONTS, CONTRIBUTING TO OUR BROADER MISSION OF IMPROVING PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE SERVICES. SOME OF THESE INCLUDE: LED BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PAYMENT REFORM ADVOCACY AT STATE AND LOCAL LEVELS FOR EQUITABLE PAYMENT SYSTEMS. STREAMLINED THE GUARDIAN BACKGROUND CHECK PROCESS WITH STATE COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING (CCL). ADVOCATED FOR LEGISLATIVE CHANGES TO ENHANCE INDEPENDENT ADOPTION FACILITATOR STANDARDS. PUBLISHED POLICY BRIEFS ON WORKFORCE CHALLENGES AND LICENSING PRACTICE DISPARITIES. CONTRIBUTED TO OVER 15 WORKING GROUPS WITH AGENCIES LIKE CDSS, DHCS, CALHHS, AND HCAI, INFLUENCING A WIDE RANGE OF POLICY DISCUSSIONS

2023 CA ALLIANCE CONFERENCES - UNITING VOICES, ADVOCACY, AND ACTION FOR CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIESTHE 2023 CA ALLIANCE CONFERENCES, INCLUDING THE FALL CONFERENCE IN SAN DIEGO AND THE NEWLY INTRODUCED WINTER SUMMIT AND ADVOCACY DAY, WERE PIVOTAL IN ADVANCING OUR MISSION FOR CHILDREN, YOUTH, AND FAMILIES. THESE EVENTS SHOWCASED OUR COMMITMENT TO BRINGING TOGETHER INFLUENTIAL VOICES IN OUR FIELD. THE FALL CONFERENCE IN SAN DIEGO OFFERED ENRICHING WORKSHOPS AND INSPIRING SPEAKERS, FOSTERING A PLATFORM FOR LEARNING, NETWORKING, AND REIGNITING OUR COLLECTIVE PASSION. IT WAS AN INVALUABLE OPPORTUNITY FOR RECONNECTION AND COLLABORATION AMONG OUR MEMBERS.THE WINTER SUMMIT AND ADVOCACY DAY, A SIGNIFICANT NEW ADDITION, EMPHASIZED OUR ADVOCACY FOCUS. THIS EVENT PROVIDED AN IN-DEPTH EXPLORATION OF POLICY INITIATIVES AND FEATURED THE ADVOCACY DAY, WHERE CA ALLIANCE MEMBERS AND POLICY STAFF HELD CRITICAL MEETINGS WITH CALIFORNIA LEGISLATORS TO DISCUSS KEY POLICY AREAS. THIS DIRECT ENGAGEMENT WITH LAWMAKERS WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN CONVEYING OUR PRIORITIES AND INFLUENCING POLICY. BOTH EVENTS STRENGTHENED OUR COMMUNITY, OFFERING N ETWORKING A ND P ARTNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES. THESE GATHERINGS WERE CRUCIAL IN REVITALIZING OUR COMMITMENT AND ENHANCING OUR COLLECTIVE IMPACT. WE EXTEND OUR HEARTFELT THANKS TO EVERYONE INVOLVED IN THESE SUCCESSFUL EVENTS. THE DEDICATION AND ENTHUSIASM OF ALL PARTICIPANTS WERE KEY OUR SUCCESS AND INSPIRATION OF THESE EVENTS. WE EAGERLY ANTICIPATE FUTURE CONFERENCES TO CONTINUE OUR UNITED EFFORTS IN ADVOCACY AND IMPROVEMENT OF CHILDREN, YOUTH, AND FAMILIES LIVES.MEDIA IN 2023, THE CA ALLIANCE TEAM DILIGENTLY WORKED TO AMPLIFY OUR MEMBERS EXCEPTIONAL EFFORTS ACROSS A VARIETY OF MEDIA PLATFORMS, INCLUDING TRADITIONAL MEDIA OUTLETS AND SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS. THIS CONCERTED APPROACH HAD A DUAL PURPOSE: TO BOLSTER OUR POLICY INITIATIVES AND TO BRING DESERVED RECOGNITION TO THE REMARKABLE ACHIEVEMENTS OF OUR MEMBERS. BY STRATEGICALLY PLACING ENGAGING CONTENT AND POSITIVE NEWS STORIES IN PROMINENT MEDIA SPACES AND UTILIZING THE POWER OF SOCIAL MEDIA FOR WIDER REACH AND ENGAGEMENT, WE WERE ABLE TO EFFECTIVELY SHOWCASE THE IMPACTFUL LEGISLATION AND POLICIES WE CHAMPIONED, AS WELL AS HIGHLIGHT THE SUBSTANTIAL CONTRIBUTIONS MADE BY OUR MEMBERS. WE TAKE IMMENSE PRIDE IN THE COMPILATION OF ARTICLES AND SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGNS THAT HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFULLY EXECUTED AND FEATURED ACROSS THESE PLATFORMS. THESE COMMUNICATIONS ARE A TESTAMENT TO THE HARD WORK, COMMITMENT, AND INNOVATIVE STRATEGIES EMPLOYED BY OUR STAFF. THEY ALSO REPRESENT THE COLLECTIVE EFFORTS OF OUR ORGANIZATION IN USING EVERY AVAILABLE TOOL TO ADVOCATE FOR OUR CAUSE AND CONNECT WITH A BROADER AUDIENCE. THE INTEGRATION OF SOCIAL MEDIA HAS ALLOWED US TO INTERACT WITH OUR COMMUNITY MORE DIRECTLY, SHARE REAL-TIME UPDATES, AND ENGAGE IN MEANINGFUL DIALOGUES, FURTHER STRENGTHENING OUR IMPACT AND PRESENCE IN THE FIELD.ENHANCING SERVICES THROUGH CAPACITY BUILDING: IN OUR CAPACITY BUILDING EFFORTS THIS YEAR, WE'VE ACHIEVED SIGNIFICANT MILESTONES THAT HAVE STRENGTHENED OUR MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS AND THEIR SERVICES. WE PROVIDED TARGETED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO SHORT-TERM RESIDENTIAL THERAPEUTIC PROGRAMS (STRTPS), FOCUSING ON ENHANCING THEIR MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMS TO BETTER MEET THE NEEDS OF THOSE THEY SERVE. ADDITIONALLY, WE'VE EMPHASIZED THE IMPORTANCE OF TRAUMA-INFORMED CARE, CONDUCTING COMPREHENSIVE TRAINING SESSIONS TO ENSURE THAT STAFF ACROSS VARIOUS ORGANIZATIONS ARE EQUIPPED WITH THE KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS TO SUPPORT INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED TRAUMA. FURTHERMORE, UNDERSTANDING THE COMPLEXITIES OF PAYMENT REFORM, WE'VE OFFERED BOTH TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO OUR MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS, HELPING THEM NAVIGATE AND ADAPT TO THESE CHANGES EFFECTIVELY. THESE INITIATIVES ARE PART OF OUR BROADER COMMITMENT TO BUILDING CAPACITY AND ENSURING HIGH-QUALITY CARE WITHIN OUR NETWORK.STRENGTHENING SUPPORT NETWORKS:THIS YEAR, WE HAVE MADE NOTABLE PROGRESS IN ENHANCING SUPPORT FOR SYSTEM PARTNERS AND FAMILIES.. WE LAUNCHED THE YOUTH RESOURCE GROUP, DESIGNED TO EMPOWER YOUNG INDIVIDUALS BY OFFERING RESOURCES AND SUPPORT THAT CATER TO THEIR SPECIFIC NEEDS. ADDITIONALLY, WE INITIATED THE FULL CIRCLE HEALTH NETWORK, TO SERVE AS A NETWORK INTERMEDIARY BETWEEN COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS AND MEDI-CAL MANAGED CARE PLANS. WE ALSO EXPANDED OUR STATEWIDE PLACEMENT DATABASE, IMPROVING OUR CAPACITY TO SWIFTLY AND ACCURATELY MATCH INDIVIDUALS WITH SUITABLE PLACEMENTS. THESE INITIATIVES REFLECT OUR ONGOING COMMITMENT TO FOSTERING A MORE RESPONSIVE AND INCLUSIVE SUPPORT FRAMEWORK FOR OUR PARTNERS AND THE FAMILIES WE ASSIST.