50%+ of CA's youngest kids have Medi-Cal coverage. Only 8% are enrolled in Early Start. That gap is a systems failure, not a coincidence. Our latest blog discusses where these systems break down and what it'll take to fix it. Read more: ow.ly/nP9850ZHY5P
We're teaming up with Bringing Up California, @First5Alameda, First 5 Tehama, @ChildrenNow, and @Stanford_CEC for five sessions at the 2026 @First5CA Summit, Aug 31-Sept 2. Will we see you there?
ccfc.ca.gov/summit/index.htm…
A record 49% of families with kids under 6 can't meet a basic need - food, housing, utilities, or child care - per new Stanford data covered by @The74. The strain is already reaching kids emotionally. Read the full story: ow.ly/EYMU50ZrtvY
Who screens for maternal mental health risk in routine prenatal care? @DignityHealth's new CHW pilot is trying to answer that with a focus on Black birthing people. Read the full story from @SacObserver: ow.ly/oK2z50ZntHw
ALT A tender moment between a mother and her baby indoors, showcasing love and closeness.
Over 2M Medi-Cal members, including 38,000 children from birth to age 5, will lose access to built-in care coordination services that are offered to over 90 percent of Medi-Cal members starting in 2027. Here's the tradeoff buried in CA's new budget deal: ow.ly/L3SX50ZnuFn
For the first time, IDEA Part C funds can be used to connect families to early intervention following a prenatal disability diagnosis. @NewAmerica examines what this means and what's next: newamerica.org/insights/pren…
CA added doula services to Medi-Cal in 2023 — but 3 years later, implementation has faced significant challenges. Delayed payments. Denied claims. Conflicting credentialing rules. Advocates say the system wasn't ready. Read more: ow.ly/qPva50ZjO88
ALT Expectant mother standing beside a wooden crib in a beautifully decorated nursery room.
California's CYBHI Fee Schedule funds behavioral health services for children birth to 25, reaching them before they are formally connected to the school system. Our latest blog post unpacks early lessons, with highlights from Placer County. Read more:
ow.ly/8fo250ZcTPX
California's First 5s are among the first community providers to contract with managed care plans under #CalAIM - and their lessons are now available. Read our newest brief on navigating the Medi-Cal contracting journey: ow.ly/nLYG50ZcTpr
California saw a 5.6% drop in child Medi-Cal enrollment as federal immigration policies drive fear among immigrant families - reversing enrollment gains made since the state's 2024 expansion. Read more from @KFFHealthNews: ow.ly/ENOt50YNKmy
New @CLASP_DC research shows immigration enforcement is deeply impacting young children and ECE providers - with staff facing burnout and roles far beyond their training. Read more from @The74: ow.ly/cUWK50YNKhZ
California's First 5 network is leading the way for early childhood-serving organizations to engage in Medi-Cal transformation. 10 First 5s are now contracted with managed care plans to deliver CHW and ECM services. Read the blog post: ow.ly/LP7j50YKIOS
What was once out of reach for many families is now the standard of care. California and 30+ other states reimburse doulas through Medicaid, driven by research showing improved maternal and infant outcomes. Read via @AP: ow.ly/5RMP50YFjyQ
Medi-Cal benefits alone won't sustain CA's early childhood mental health programs. With CYBHI grants ending and BHSA changes underway, the state needs a dedicated funding strategy for children birth through five. Read our latest blog post: ow.ly/NLOx50YFclx
Healthy birth outcomes for Black families require intentional, community-centered action. Join @CAPublicHealth on 4/14 for "Rooted in Justice and Joy" to learn about CA's Black Birth Equity Action Plan & resources advancing birth equity. Register: ow.ly/U4mx50YCqQL
Families of children with special needs in SF are facing significant barriers to accessing early intervention services. A survey of 400+ educators found fragmented agencies & underfunding are delaying access to critical therapies. Read more via @KQEDnews:
ow.ly/4VeQ50YBZzo
37 million U.S. children depend on Medicaid and CHIP. A new @AmerAcadPeds technical report examines enrollment, funding, and the future of children's health coverage. Read the report: ow.ly/yz2Q50Yvup9
ALT A pediatrician assists a toddler during a routine check-up at a medical clinic.
Four new CA bills aim to protect young children and families from H.R. 1's harmful changes to Medi-Cal - automating verification, tracking enrollment losses, and capping costs. Via @NHeLP_org. Read the article: healthlaw.org/news/californi…
CA is among the states leading the way in strengthening early childhood governance, as a growing bipartisan movement pushes for unified leadership to better serve young children. Read more from @newamerica: ow.ly/PU7X50YoTbM
CalAIM asks CBOs to build sophisticated care systems — but who bears the cost when PATH funding sunsets? Learn more about the innovating financaing solutions that can support community providers, like First 5s, get involved here @CAHealthReport: ow.ly/wc2e50YoSJ6
ALT A loving father joyfully lifts his baby in an intimate family moment, expressing warmth and connection.