460+ Pro-Kid Organizations Rally to Protect Crisis Support for Foster Youth

Click here to view a downloadable PDF version of the letter and signatories.

RE: Family Urgent Response System (FURS) $13 Million Reduction – OPPOSE

Dear Governor Newsom, Speaker Rivas, President pro Tempore McGuire, Chair Gabriel, Chair Wiener, Chair Jackson, and Chair Weber Pierson:

We, the undersigned organizations, strongly oppose the proposed reduction of the Family Urgent Response System (FURS). This critical program ensures children and youth in foster care have access to the trauma-informed support and stability they need to heal from their experiences of abuse, neglect, and removal from their communities. This proposal threatens to harm the very children and youth the State has a moral and legal obligation to protect.

FURS was created by and for youth currently or formerly in foster care and their caregivers to provide critically needed, immediate, 24/7, individualized, trauma-informed support. The program consists of a statewide helpline and mobile response systems in all 58 counties that respond to any situation in which youth or caregivers have identified the need for extra support, including those with the potential to lead to placement disruptions or unnecessary contact with law enforcement. This coordinated state and community-based solution helps preserve relationships and placements in family homes, link youth and families to longer-term supports and services, promote healing, and prevent the criminalization of youth who have experienced trauma. FURS also promotes stability and critical support for older youth (up to age 21) currently or formerly in foster care who are living on their own.

Since FURS launched in 2021, utilization has grown steadily with around 5,000 annual requests for support to the statewide helpline. Many of those requests resulted in an in-person response from a county mobile response team. Program data shows that the vast majority of these requests have resulted in stabilized placements and ongoing supports for the child, youth, and/or caregiver. FURS plays a critical role in improving outcomes for children and youth in foster care. Reducing this vital program will place these children and youth at greater risk of instability, disrupted relationships, loss, and retraumatization.

We appreciate that California is facing a budget deficit. However, we must not address this shortfall at the expense of our children and youth in foster care to whom the State has a legal and moral responsibility. We strongly urge you to uphold California’s duty to these children and youth and maintain full funding for FURS – the safety and well-being of children and youth in foster care depends on it.

Sincerely,
The Undersigned Organizations

1 Shine Youth Center
211 San Bernardino
4C’s Sonoma County
A Coming of Age Foster Family Agency
A Greater Hope
AAPI Equity Alliance
Abbey of Saint Mary Theotokos, Inc.
AbilityPath
Academy for Grassroots Organizations
Act 4 Entertainment
Advokids
Aeries Software
Afghan Coalition
African American Network of Kern County, Inc.
African American Wellness Center for Children & Families
Agape Villages Foster Family Agency
Aging UP
Alan M Vietze LCSW
Alex Rorabaugh Recreation Center
ALL ACCESS ARTS
All for Kids
All of Us or None
Alliance for Children’s Rights
Alliance for Community Empowerment
Alliance of Relative Caregivers
Allies for Every Child
Almaden Valley Counseling Service
Almaden Valley Rotary Club
Alum Rock Counseling Center
American Academy of Pediatrics, California
American Society for the Positive Care of Children (SPCC)
American Sports Institute
Amundson Consulting
Ark Homes Foster Family Agency
Arts Bridging the Gap
Arts for Healing and Justice Network
Aspiranet
Avant-Garde Foster Family Agency
Back to the Start
BANANAS, Inc.
Barbara Stroud Training and Consultation
Bay Area Academy
Bay Area Community Resources
Bay Area Salvadorian American Chamber of Commerce
Bay Area STEM Ecosystem
Bay Area Tutoring Association and Code Writing Kids
Bernard E. and Alba Witkin Charitable Foundation
Bethany Christian Services
Black Storytellers of San Diego
Blessings Foundation, Inc.
BonusBabies.org
Bounce Back Generation
Boys & Girls Club of Cathedral City
Boys & Girls Club of Moorpark & Simi Valley
Boys & Girls Clubs of Fresno County
Boys & Girls Clubs of Kern County
braverie
Bridge the Gap College Prep
Brighter Beginnings
Brooke Frost and Associates
BUILD
Butte County Department of Employment and Social Services
Cal Poly Pomona Children’s Center
California Alliance of Caregivers
California Alliance of Child and Family Services
California Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (CASCD)
California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists
California Behavioral Health Association
California Black Health Network
California Black Women’s Health Project
California CASA Association
California Children’s Hospital Association
California Coalition for PANS/PANDAS Advocacy
California Coalition for Youth
California Counseling Associates
California Early Childhood Mentor Program
California Education Partners
California Family Life Center
California Family Resource Association
California Health Collaborative
California Infant Development Association
California LGBTQ Health and Human Services Network
California School-Age Consortium
California State Association of Counties
California STEM Network
California Yacht Sales Inc.
California Youth Connection
Campbell Chamber Community Foundation
Canary Health
Canyon Children’s Legal Services
Capital Stage
Caring Across Generations
CASA of Los Angeles
CASA of Sacramento
CASA of the Eastern Sierra
Casa Pacifica Centers for Children and Families
Caulder Lamm Alliance for Children, Inc.
Center for Engineering, Science, and Mathematics Education – Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
Center for Excellence in Nonprofits
Center for Farmworker Families
Center for Judicial Excellence
Center for Leadership, Equity, and Research (CLEAR)
Center for Reaching and Teaching the Whole Child
Ceres Community Project
Chamber San Mateo County
Change Begins With ME (Indivisible)
Child & Family Center
Child Abuse Prevention Council of Contra Costa County
Child Care Coordinating Council of San Mateo County
Child Care Law Center
Child Care Resource Center
Child Development Resources of Ventura County, Inc.
Children Now
Children Rising
Children’s Advocacy Institute
Children’s Advocacy Institute: Child Welfare Scholarship And Journalism Awards
Children’s Home of Stockton
Children’s Institute
Children’s Law Center of California
Children’s Pre-School Center
Children’s Receiving Home of Sacramento
Chinatown Service Center
Coalition for Engaged Education
Coalition for Family Unity
Communities United for Restorative Youth Justice
Community Action of Napa Valley
Community Food Bank of San Benito County
Community Foundation of Merced County
Community Now
Community Resource Center
Community Resources for Science
Community Works
Congregations Organized for Prophetic Engagement (COPE)
Contra Costa County Office of Education
Council on American-Islamic Relations, California
Counseling and Support Services for Youth
County Welfare Directors Association of California
Courage California
Covenant Community Services
Cradle to Career Santa Cruz County
Create Now, Inc.
Creative Alternatives
Crime Survivors, Inc.
Crystal Clear Learning Foundation, Inc.
Determined to Succeed
Dimondale Adolescent Care Facility
Disability Rights California
Dorris Dann Kids Campus
Dovetail Learning
Dunsmuir Community Resource Center
Early Education Action League
East Bay Asian Youth Center (EBAYC)
East Oakland Youth Development Center (EOYDC)
ECEPTS (Early Care & Education Pathways to Success)
EcoBirth – Women for Earth and Birth
EDMO (Edventure More)
Educate California
Educate. Advocate.
EdVoice
El Sol Science and Arts Academy
Elemental Synchronicity
End Child Poverty in California (ECPCA)
EntreNous Youth Empowerment Services, Inc.
ENVISIONEERS
EQuip Our Kids!
Ersoylu Consulting
Escuela de la Raza Unida
Ethical Family Building
EveryChild California
Everychild Foundation
Evolve California
Expressions of Hope
FACTS (Families Advocating for Chemical and Toxics Safety)
Families Forward Learning Center
Family Connections
Family Connections Centers, Inc.
Family Paths, Inc.
FASD Network of Southern California
First 5 Alameda County
First 5 Association of California
First 5 Mendocino
First 5 Nevada County
First 5 San Francisco
First 5 San Mateo County
FIRST 5 Santa Clara County
First 5 Santa Cruz County
First Congregational Church of Palo Alto, UCC
First Place for Youth
FirstGen America
Food for Thought Food Bank
Footsteps Child Care, Inc.
Forget Me Not Children’s Services
FosterHope Sacramento
Fostering Wishes
Fred Finch Youth & Family Services
Fresh Approach
Fresh Lifelines for Youth
Fresno Community Health Improvement Partnership (FCHIP)
Fresno Council on Child Abuse Prevention
Fresno Fire Chief’s Foundation
Friends Committee on Legislation of California
Friends of the Children L.A.
From the Heart Preschool and Enrichment Center
Full Court Press Communications
Fusion Performing Dance Academy
Galperin Associates Inc.
Gang Alternatives Program (GAP)
Gardner Rodriguez
Girls Inc. of Orange County
Glenn County Child Welfare and Adult Protective Services
Gold Arrow Camp
Good2Know Partners
Goodwill of Silicon Valley
Grail Family Services
Guatemalan American Chamber of Commerce
Guiding Light Foster Family Agency
Habitat for Humanity Greater SF
Happy Children Resource Center FFA
Harbor Community Health Centers
Haven of Hope, Inc.
Healing Together
Health Action Together
Healthier Kids Foundation
Healthy and Active Before 5
Heisters Generative
Help Me Grow San Mateo County
Helpline Youth Counseling
Hillsides
HIP Housing
Hispanic Chambers of Commerce, San Francisco
Hively
Hmong Cultural Center of Butte County
HopSkipDrive
Humble Homes RFA
Humboldt County Transition Age Youth Collaboration
Hunger Action, LA
Hunger at Home
iFoster, Inc.
I’m a Movement Not a Monument
Impact Teen Drivers
Inn at Mavericks
InPlay
InsideOUT Writers
Integrated Behavioral Health Research Institute
Integrated Learning Institute
ISAFE Enterprises LLC
James Morehouse Project
Janet Jacobs, Arts
Japanese Community Youth Council
JDM Advanced Advocacy
John Burton Advocates for Youth
JourneyGPS
Juma Ventures
Justice4Josiah.org
Kamali’i Foster Family Agency
Kid Power Academy
Kids in Common
Kidsave
Koinonia Family Services
Krause Center for Innovation
LA Best Babies Network
La Clinica de la Raza
LA Voice
Laguna Food Pantry
Lake County Office of Education
Lassen County Office of Education
Latin American and Caribbean Business Chamber of Commerce
Law Offices of Barbara A. Goode
LEMONADE Creative Consulting
Lisa Cleri Reale and Associates
Litehouse Children and Family Services
LMT & Associates, Inc.
Local Planning Council for Child Care Development for the County of Nevada
Lomi School Foundation
Long Beach Youth Chorus
Los Amigos de la Comunidad, Inc.
Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services
Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health
Los Angeles LGBT Center
Lucha
Luna Dance & Creativity
Lutheran Church of Our Redeemer
MACLA/Movimiento de Arte y Cultura Latino Americana
Magnolia Public Schools
Make It Happen for Yolo County
Margolis Consulting
Mary’s Path
Maternal and Child Health Access
Mathnasium of Berryessa
Media Alliance
Menlo College
Mental Health and Recovery Counseling Education and Training (MHRCET)
MENTOR California
Merced County Office of Education
Merced County Office of Education, Local Child Care Planning Council
Mia’s Homes FFA
Milpitas Unified School District
Mindful Methods For Life
Mission Bit
Mission Graduates
MISSSEY
Morgan Charitable Foundation
Mostovoy Strategies
Mountain Valley Child and Family Services
Mountain View/Los Altos/Los Altos Hills Challenge Team
Napa County Office of Education
National Council of Jewish Women Sacramento
National Women’s Political Caucus of California
National Women’s Political Caucus, Silicon Valley
New Hope Chinese Cancer Care Foundation
New Horizon Community Services
Newman Hall Non Violent Peacemaking Group
Nicaraguan American Chamber of Commerce
NorCal Resist
North County LGBTQ Resource Center
North Star Family Center
Northcoast Children’s Services
OC Habitats
Olive Crest
On The Move
ONEgeneration
Open Immigration Legal Services, Inc.
Open Source Wellness
Operation New Hope
Optimal Solutions Consulting
Our Community LA (OCLA)
Paradise Oaks Youth Services
Parent Engagement Academy
Parents by Choice
Parents Helping Parents
Partnership for Children and Youth
Pathways LA
Peace Over Violence
Peace4Kids
PEACH
Pembroke Taparelli Arts and Film Festival
Peter and Candis Doerken Foundation
Placer Independent Resource Services
Precious Life Shelter, Inc.
Prevention Partnership International
Promise Venture Studio
Public Counsel
Puente de la Costa Sur
Reading Is Fundamental of Southern California
Realized Potential Inc.
Regarding Baby
Reinvent South Stockton Coalition
Richmond Police Activities League (PAL)
Ringwood Grant Writers
River City Democratic Club
Roberts Family Development Center
Roots Community Health Center
RYSE Center
S. Fitch Consulting LLC
Sacramento Children’s Home
Sacramento Regional Coalition to End Homelessness
Safe & Sound
Sage Transformations
San Diego Council on Literacy
San Diego for Every Child
San Joaquin Valley Medical Advocates for Healthy Air (MAHA)
San Mateo County Economic Development Association (SAMCEDA)
Santa Clara County Wage Theft Coalition
Second Nurture
seeMYchild
SEIU California
Seneca Family of Agencies
Sententia Vera, LLC
Shasta Cascade Health Centers
SHIELDS for Families
Sibling Care Foster Family Agency
Sierra Child and Family Services
Sierra Mental Wellness Group
Silver Giving Foundation
Simply Friends
Sims Living
SIREN (Services, Immigrant Rights and Education Network)
Siskiyou Community Resource Collaborative
Sisters of the Holy Family
SLOLionsEye.org
Social Emotional Learning Alliance of California (SEL4CA)
Sonya Heisters Consulting
Southland Symphony Orchestra and Chorus
Southside Coalition of Community Health Centers
Special Needs Network, Inc.
St. Anne’s Family Services
Stanford Sierra Youth & Families
Stanislaus County Office of Education
Starting Over, Inc.
Success Together, Inc.
Sunset Youth Services
Surf Bus Foundation
Suzy Campbell Occupational Therapy
Teen Cancer America
Teens4Teens Help
Ten Strands
The Alliance: Defending the Cause of Kids & Families
The Black Reparations Project
The Carol and James Collins Foundation
The Center for Early Childhood Connections
The Changemaker Project
The Child Abuse Prevention Center
The Children’s Place Preschool
The Dragonfly Art for Life
The Fresno Center
The Miller Institute for Learning with Technology
The Oakland Public Education Fund
The Parent Notebook
The Rhythmic Arts Project
The SETI Institute
The Source LGBT+ Center
The Stephan Center
The Tech Interactive
The Women’s Building
Therapeutic Play Foundation, Inc.
Ticket to Dream Foundation
Together California
TransFamilies of Silicon Valley
Transition House
Transitions Children’s Services
Trinidad Civic Club
U.S. Children’s Center on Historical Education and Advocacy
U.S. Children’s Museum on the Nineteenth Century
UC Davis Upward Bound
UCP Parent and Me
United Parents
Unsilenced Project, Inc.
Untitled No. 1 School
Urban League of San Diego County
Urban Restoration Counseling Center
Urban Strategies Council
Valley Achievement Center
Valley Improvement Projects
Valley Teen Ranch
Venture Leadership Collective
Via Care Community Health Center
Vibrant Minds Academy
Vision y Compromiso
Vista Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired
VOICES Napa
VOICES Solano
VOICES Sonoma
Walnut Avenue Family & Women’s Center
Watsonville Taiko Group
Wayfinder Family Services
Wellness and Prevention Center
WestCoast Children’s Clinic
Western Center on Law & Poverty
Westside Family Preservation Services Network
Willows and Dunes Childcare
WOW Explorations
YES Nature to Neighborhoods
YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles
YMCA of San Diego County
YMCA of San Joaquin County
YMCA of Silicon Valley
Young Storytellers
Youth Business Alliance
Youth Leadership Institute
Youth Leadership Institute Merced
Youth Recovery Connections
Youth Transforming Justice