Priority Issues - Health Coverage for All California Children

United Way's Committment to Healthier Children and a Strong Economy

All Californians benefit when our children have health insurance and receive preventive care. It is not only good for our kids, but it helps keep costs down for all of us.

The fact is, Californians are already paying for healthcare for uninsured children, but in a less cost-effective way.

That’s why United Way believes we must have policies and funding in place at both the state and federal level to ensure all children have access to healthcare. At the same time, United Way understands that business is the engine of California’s economy and works to help ensure policies to cover all children are fair to business and helpful to our state’s fiscal environment.

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Priority Issues - 2-1-1: Getting People the Help They Need

2-1-1 is an easy-to-remember telephone number that quickly and effectively connects people to essential community resources. When a person calls 2-1-1, trained specialists answer the call and determine what services, information or resources are needed to help the caller. 

2-1-1 information and referral services are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, in 150 languages. Currently available in 26 California counties, 2-1-1 services reach approximately 90 percent of the state’s residents. In 2009, over 1.6 million Californians relied on 2-1-1 for help.

2-1-1 California
The goal of 2-1-1 California is to ensure that California develops the statewide infrastructure and support necessary to ensure quality 2-1-1 services for everyone.

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Priority Issues: Financial Stability for Californians

Too many Californians do not earn enough money to meet their basic needs. These individuals and families are walking a financial tightrope — they are barely able to get by, with no ability to save for college, a home, or for retirement. With your help, United Ways of California - along with United Way of America - is working to cut in half the number of lower-income families who are financially unstable. If we're successful, by 2018, 1.9 million working families will be on the road to economic independence.

Read more: Priority Issues: Financial Stability for Californians