The California Children’s Report Card grades the state on its ability to support better outcomes for kids, from prenatal to age 26. Each grade is based on the state’s progress (or lack thereof) on passing and implementing state-level policies and making investments in the supports and services needed for all kids to reach their full potential. The Pro-Kid Agenda provides recommendations to the state’s leaders on how to improve outcomes for kids in each section.

An interactive, online report, the 2018-19 California County Scorecard of Children’s Well-Being delivers a current and comprehensive picture of children’s health, education, and welfare in every one of California’s 58 counties. This report provides county-level data mapping, tracking key indicators of child well-being across counties, over time, and by race and ethnicity.

The 2020 Pro-Kid Policy Agenda for California is the comprehensive roadmap at the state level to ensure that all children have the necessary supports to reach their full potential.

In the first three years of a child’s life, foundational brain architecture is established, making children’s earliest experiences the most important. The creation of healthy brain architecture is dependent on good health, positive and nurturing relationships with adults, exposure to enriching learning opportunities, and safe neighborhoods.

October 2020

Now more than ever, it is critical that youth and families contribute to policy decision-making in child-serving programs. Evidence shows that meaningful family engagement in policymaking helps government more effectively support children and families, improving children’s outcomes.

October 2020

The COVID-19 pandemic and resulting school closures have further exacerbated the unique challenges that youth in foster care faced long before the pandemic and now put them at even greater risk of falling behind in school.

September 2020

Positive behavioral health outcomes are affected by a variety of factors including social, biological, economic and physical environments.

July 2020

This analysis confirms previous studies showing that kids in California are not getting the medically necessary care they need in Medi-Cal, and further found underwhelming rates of preventive services, developmental screenings, asthma control, and children’s access to care across counties in the state.

May 2020

This brief focuses on the multitude of education stakeholders and their key responsibilities which data could support. It provides an overview of the state’s approach to the design of the CCDS, as well as principles that should guide that work in the months to come.

February 2020

For school-aged children, locating services at school is effective and efficient: school-based health systems meet students where they are, eliminate transportation barriers, and improve both health and education outcomes.

October 2019

This infographic is a snapshot of preventive care and performance quality data gaps for young, and adolescent children in Medi-Cal.

October 2019

Children Now analyzed new Child Core Set data found that there was significant room for quality improvement in child health.

October 2019

This brief compares three similar high schools in California, Illinois, and New Jersey to shine a light on how funds are spent and what California’s schools could look like if the funding level was increased.

September 2019

Using the latest data available from the U.S. Census Bureau, the snapshot examines where concentrated poverty has worsened across the country, despite a long period of national economic expansion.

August 2019

California’s schools are facing increasing complexity when it comes to educating their student populations: the next generation of children is more diverse, more likely to live in low-income families, and are majority dual language learners.

August 2019

Programs for pregnant and parenting teens provide critical access and connections to health education, case management, and child development supports.

August 2019

There is a tremendous opportunity for California to be one of the best educated, most diverse, multilingual populations in the world.

August 2019

While many kids in Contra Costa County are thriving, others lack basic health, education, and financial supports they need for well-being and long-term success.

July 2019

Nearly all children and youth in California are vulnerable to, or already experiencing, social, emotional, mental, and developmental stressors and impairments. Yet paradoxically most children are not receiving any supports, including services covered by their health insurance.

April 2019

Medical and dental professionals‭, ‬health plans‭, ‬clinics‭, ‬and the various systems in‭ ‬a young child and family’s life should communicate and coordinate to advance a child’s oral health‭.

February 2019

Especially for younger children‭, ‬quality health care through Medi-Cal has the potential to improve their lifetime trajectories‭, ‬overall population health‭, ‬and long-run efficiencies‭.

January 2019

This brief focuses on children from birth to age 5, outlining key principles and recommendations that California and its child-serving organizations can adopt and implement when exploring how to effectively screen children for trauma in this age group.

January 2019

Children Now applauds the Governor’s proposed budget which makes needed pro-kid investments in supports and services that will improve the lives of California’s young children.

November 2018

This brief describes the history of California’s mental health policies and financing that have impacted children over the last several decades, and presents a new evolution and possibilities for child well-being.

July 2018

The Mental Health Services Act provides funding to counties to improve children’s mental health. Learn from three counties that are leveraging MHSA funds to better coordinate care for children and youth.

June 2018

California must improve developmental screenings for young kids. All kids should receive routine developmental screenings ot identify any potential developmental delays, yet, California’s screening rates are worsening, dropping from 30th in 2012 to 43rd in 2016.

February 2018

Research shows relationships fuel early brain development and provide the foundation for lifelong health and success. Home visiting can support parents in building these relationships during a physical demanding and emotional time.

2016

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2016