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Media Release

Children’s Health Coalition Commends Dr. Ross On His Covered California Board Leadership

The California Children's Health Coverage Coalition (consisting of Children's Defense Fund-California, The Children's Partnership, PICO California, United Ways of California, Children Now, and California Coverage & Health Initiatives) released the following statement on Dr. Bob Ross's decision to step down from the Board of Directors of Covered California: "We thank Dr. Bob Ross for his service on the Covered California Board of Directors. Under Dr. Ross's leadership as a founding member and key architect of the nation's most successful state health exchange, millions of Californians have gained health coverage, paving the way for a healthier California. Dr. Ross has been a tremendous advocate to ensure that the Affordable Care Act continues to be implemented in a way that works for California's children and families. "There is still a significant amount of work remaining in order to reach the goal of providing [...]

Media Release

Statement from Alex Johnson, Executive Director of the Children’s Defense Fund-California, on Resignation of LA County’s Chief Probation Officer Jerry Powers

CDF-CA urges the county to seize opportunity to bring in a transformative leader committed to rehabilitating youthIn response to the resignation of Los Angeles County's Chief Probation Officer Jerry Powers, Alex Johnson, Executive Director of Children's Defense Fund-California, issued this statement:"We must quickly turn the page on the circumstances of Chief Powers' departure and remain steadfast in ensuring fair, positive and developmentally appropriate treatment for youth inside juvenile justice facilities while preventing youth from ever entering the system. As Los Angeles County is set to identify its sixth probation chief in ten years, it has never been more important to ensure this new leader is committed to investing in youth and uplifting promising, community-based solutions. While recent progress has been made – the Probation Department has reduced the number of young people incarcerated in the county's 14 juvenile camps from nearly [...]

Media Release

Children’s Defense Fund–California Hires Patricia Soung to Lead Juvenile Justice Work

LOS ANGELES, CA – Children's Defense Fund-California (CDF-CA) announced Thursday that Patricia Soung has joined the organization as its new Senior Staff Attorney and Senior Policy Associate. Patricia, who has more than 10 years of juvenile justice and youth organizing experience, will lead CDF-CA's youth justice policy team and advance its research, legislative, organizing and community-based work. She will start on January 4. "We are extremely excited to have Patricia join the Children's Defense Fund-California," said Executive Director Alex Johnson. "Her experience, knowledge and passion for social and juvenile justice issues will elevate our work to the next level as we advocate for innovative local and statewide solutions to keep youth out of the system, and ensure fair and positive treatment for incarcerated youth." Patricia is also excited to join CDF-CA team of 16 staff dedicated to protecting and investing [...]

Featured Update

24th Annual Beat the Odds Awards

Five Los Angeles high school students were recognized at Children’s Defense Fund – California’s 25th annual Beat the Odds® Awards gala on Dec.

Featured Update

Marian Wright Edelman Headlines Bay Area Events

On December 1, Children’s Defense Fund Founder and President Marian Wright Edelman connected with child advocates throughout the Bay Area.

Featured Update

Tomorrow’s Leaders Today

Long Beach youth were celebrated for their commitment to social justice, leadership and valuable contributions in advancing CDF-CA’s mission and improving conditions in their community and schools at the Action Scholars Leadership Awards ceremony on October 28th in Long Beach.

Featured Update

Putting Criminal Justice on Trial

Redemption, reintegration and restoration were only a few of the themes explored during the 3rd Annual Justice on Trial Festival - an event that showcases groundbreaking films, panels, and speakers in the criminal justice reform space.

Featured Update

ConnectWithRespect Youth Action

Long Beach student leaders and YO!LB members took selfies with their favorite teachers and school staff last week to highlight the role that positive and respectful relationships play in building supportive schools.

Featured Update

2015 State Legislative Wins

This past Sunday marked the deadline for Governor Jerry Brown to sign or veto a range of bills; capping an action-packed year of legislative advocacy by our staff and partners.

Media Release

New Report Highlights Need to Address Child Trauma

Policy forum uplifts innovative community programs and policies that are helping children and youth heal Richmond, CA – Children's Defense Fund-California (CDF-CA) released a report emphasizing the need for community-based services to address and heal trauma experienced by children and youth. The report, Helping Children Heal: Promising Community Programs and Policy Recommendations, highlights exemplary programs in Oakland and Richmond that are healing children and youth and building resilience through trauma-informed mental health treatment paired with exposure to the arts. "We cannot afford to ignore the devastating impact that trauma and chronic exposure to violence have on our children and youth. New neuroscience research shows what those in our communities have long known: exposure to traumatic events in childhood harms children's developing brains so profoundly that the effects show up decades later in the form of poor health and mental health and [...]

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