California has the highest child poverty rate in the

nation. More than 1 in 5 California children are poor. The burden of poverty falls disproportionately on children of color, with Black and Latino children more likely to live in poverty than White children. Growing up poor has lifetime negative consequences, decreasing the likelihood of graduating from high school and increasing the likelihood of becoming a poor adult, suffering from poor health, and becoming involved in the criminal justice system.

Working with locals and the leaders to:

• Strengthening the social safety net to ensure children’s basic and developmental needs are met, including investing in nutrition programs, affordable housing, and quality child care.
• Working with locals and leaders to create policies that break the cycle of poverty by ensuring children, women, and families have access to affordable health care, quality early learning, high-performing schools, and families and neighborhoods free from violence.