The amount of money allocated to programs serving foster and probation youth in the state budget sends a message about how legislators and the governor prioritize those youth. Find out where foster and probation youth stand in the State Budget.
May 16, 2013 - The Alameda County Budget Working Group met on Monday for the last time before formal budget hearings begin in BOS Chambers in mid-June. At earlier Working Group meetings, the County Administrator had identified a projected FY 2013-14 budget shortfall of $80.2 million dollars. $53.7 of this total represents the "structural deficit" created by the use of Fiscal Management Rewards savings in the prior year - essentially, dollars associated with budgeted but unfilled...Read more »
May 16, 2013 - On Tuesday, Governor Jerry Brown released his 2013 May Revise of his proposed FY 2013-14 state budget. As all foster care, children's mental health and community mental health services were Realigned to the counties in 2011, the state budget hasn't even mentioned them since. For local advocates like FYA, though, two major interlinked proposals included in the Revise are of considerable interest. The Revise provides additional details on plans for the Medi-Cal expansion...Read more »
April 03, 2013 - Please save the date for a hearing on the cumulative impact of State and Federal budget cuts on safety net services and the people who depend on them in Alameda County. Supervisor Wilma Chan and Alameda County will be hosting a hearing on May 1, 6:30-8:30, in the Alameda County Board of Supervisors Chambers, 1221 Oak Street. The program is still being developed, and the organizers are seeking one or more presenters to join...Read more »
February 14, 2013 - As we noted earlier, the Governor has proposed eliminating categorical funding for Foster Youth Services, a program of the state Department of Education that provides academic and social support to students in foster care. California College Pathways has developed a letter for organizations to sign in support of maintaining categorical funding for FYS. For details, and to sign on to the letter, visit their website HERE....Read more »
January 23, 2013 - A cover story in the East Bay Express (Palomino, 1/16/13) examines Alameda County's response to Governor Brown's criminal justice realignment, AB 109, which shifts responsibility for non-violent, non-serious offenders from the state to the counties. The article notes that while Alameda County "has stood apart" from other counties in the first year of realignment by "implementing one of the most progressive realignment plans in the state," the second year could be much...Read more »
January 23, 2013 - Some recent news reports about the Governor's education funding formulas in his proposed budget have heralded the fact that for the first time ever school districts would receive funding based on the number of students in foster care in their districts. On the face of it, that sounds like good news. However, the proposed budget raises two immediate concerns. First, it proposes for the second time to eliminate categorical funding for Foster...Read more »
November 14, 2012 - Last week's election made history in many, many ways. What do the election results mean for vulnerable children and families? Reed's got a post-election blog post up on the Bay Citizen examining the impact of the election on schools and Realignment. (Spoiler alert: it's a big deal.) More of FYA's take on the election, including info on local races of particular interest HERE.Read more »
October 16, 2012 - There's still time to RSVP for our Children's Policy Forum this FRIDAY, October 19th, at Preservation Park in Oakland! During 2012-13, a pivotal time for children and youth across California, The Alameda County Interagency Children's Policy Council, Foster Youth Alliance, and Center for Child and Youth Policy at UC Berkeley are pleased to lead a series of conversations on the status and needs of children in Alameda County. Our first forum will be...Read more »
July 06, 2012 - FYA's stellar team of Goldman School of Public Policy interns has produced a report on Children's Mental Health Realignment. The report looks at Alameda County's current expansive system of mental health care for MediCal enrolled children, including foster youth, and the ways in which the system is gravely challenged by California's realignment of health and human services at a time when the eligible population is growing. READ MORE. Read more »
July 05, 2012 - While on the whole there's very little good news in the budget signed by the Governor last week, it includes a number of important and positive steps towards the full implementation of AB12. READ MORE at the FYA website. Read more »
Alameda County Foster Youth Alliance (FYA) | 675 Hegenberger Rd., Oakland, CA, 94621 | 510-387-7518 | info@fosteryouthalliance.org
