Press Releases
Restoring Healthy Start Will Connect Students and Families with Services
Richmond, Calif. — Flanked by leaders of the United Ways of California, the Children’s Defense Fund of California, and Richmond’s RYSE Youth Center, Assemblymember Buffy Wicks (D-Oakland) announced her bill, AB 875, to reestablish California’s Healthy Start program to connect children and families with critical services to improve health and academic outcomes and remedy trauma and violence.
"For over 15 years Healthy Start was a proven program,"said Peter Manzo, President & CEO, United Ways of California. "We’ve gone without it since 2007 And that’s 12 years too long. We’re thrilled Assemblymember Wicks is authoring AB 875. And we look forward to working with her and our fellow champions for children, youth, and families to launch a renewed Healthy Start. One whose impact delivers on the promise of California for all."
Assemblymember Wicks and Statewide Advocates Call for Reestablishment of Healthy Start Program
Richmond, Calif. — Assemblymember Buffy Wicks (D-Oakland) will join with advocates from United Ways of California, RYSE Youth Center, Children’s Defense Fund, and others to announce the introduction of AB 875 to reestablish “Healthy Start.” Health Start, established in 1991 with bipartisan support, was a historic program that gave seed money grants to Local Education Agencies and community partners to address the social determinants of health and comprehensively meet the needs of students and their families. The program, which was cut in 2007 as a result of the Great Recession, helped connect children and families to services related to: dental health, mental health, vision, academic support, job training, violence intervention and prevention, parenting education, and more. Healthy Start 2.0 will build on the positive community-level impacts of the original program by integrating child- and family-facing service systems and emphasizing evidence-based approaches to program access and effectiveness, especially for high-need communities.
Coalition Encouraged by Governor’s Support and Expansion of CalEITC | More Than 400,000 New Households Expected to be Eligible
Sacramento, CA – Statement from the CalEITC Advocacy Coalition, of which the United Ways of California is a proud member, regarding the Governor’s budget proposal:
The CalEITC Advocacy Coalition is pleased to see the Governor proposing support and continued expansion of the California’s Earned Income Tax Credit to help working families. The California Earned Income Tax Credit (CalEITC) provides much-needed assistance to working families and individuals who are struggling to make ends meet. The Governor’s Budget is a step in the right direction in meeting many of the coalition’s goals, including increasing the credit for families with young children and expanding the income eligibility guidelines to reach more Californians. We look forward to working with the legislature to further strengthen the credit by ensuring that all working tax filers who meet the income eligibility are eligible for the credit, including working immigrant tax filers.
Governor’s Budget Invests in CalEITC, Kids’ Early Education & Healthcare
Los Angeles, CA – Statement from Peter Manzo, President and CEO of the United Ways of California, (UWCA) regarding Governor Gavin Newsom’s 2019-2020 budget proposal:
United Ways of California Assists CalSavers to Boost Saving for Retirement by California Private Sector Employees
Los Angeles, CA - Below is a statement from Peter Manzo, President and CEO, on behalf of United Ways of California (UWCA) regarding the new retirement savings program, CalSavers:
United Ways of California is proud to announce a grant from the Laura and John Arnold Foundation to support a statewide initiative to engage and educate business leaders and employees about CalSavers, a new retirement savings program created by the state to enable more Californians to save for retirement.
California’s 2018-2019 State Budget Provides Important Investments for Low-Income Families
Los Angeles, CA – Below is a statement from Peter Manzo, President and CEO, on behalf of United Ways of California (UWCA), regarding the final State Budget signed today:
The final budget signed by Governor Brown today provides significant investments in California families. As a state, we are making good progress towards our ultimate goal of supporting all Californians to be healthy, educated and financially stable.
California’s State Budget Agreement Increases Eligibility for the CalEITC, Funds Free Tax Preparation and Increases Funding to House the Homeless
Los Angeles, CA – Below is a statement from Peter Manzo, President and CEO, on behalf of United Ways of California (UWCA), regarding the proposed State Budget agreement:
California is the fifth largest economy in the world and is experiencing an almost $9 billion surplus, so while United Ways of California is pleased that the budget agreement between Governor Brown and the Legislature includes more workers in the state earned income tax credit and funding to address the growing housing and homelessness crisis, we also see missed opportunities for smart and much needed investments in healthcare and expanded early child care.
Governor’s May Revise Includes Hope for Low Income Households by Increasing Investment in CalEITC and Addressing California’s Housing Crisis
Los Angeles, CA – Below is a statement from Peter Manzo, President and CEO, on behalf of United Ways of California (UWCA), regarding the Governor’s May Revise budget proposal:
United Ways of California is delighted to see the Governor’s May Revise include more workers in the state earned income tax credit and also the proposed commitments to lifting up low-income households and ensuring that more investments are made to address the growing housing and homelessness crisis.
UWCA Sponsors Measure to Extend Tax Credit to More Poor Working Households
March 26, 2018
SACRAMENTO -- United Ways of California is sponsoring Assembly Bill 2066 to reduce poverty among working Californians and to boost local economies. Assemblymembers Mark Stone (D-Monterey Bay) and Eloise Gómez Reyes (D-San Bernardino) have jointly introduced the measure to extend the California Earned Income Tax Credit (CalEITC) to working families and individuals currently ineligible for the credit, including low-income youth, seniors, and immigrants without Social Security Numbers. United Ways of California is joined by Children’s Defense Fund-CA, California Immigrant Policy Center and Golden State Opportunity Fund as co-sponsors for the bill.
Governor’s Budget Proposal Increases Investment in Kids’ Education and Protects Their Health
Los Angeles, CA –Below is a statement from Peter Manzo, President and CEO, on behalf of United Ways of California (UWCA), regarding the Governor’s proposed budget release:
In a time of great uncertainty about federal budget commitments to California, United Ways of California is pleased to see the Governor’s commitment to continuing crucial support to children’s education and health programs, even as he tops off California’s Rainy Day Fund. We thank the Governor and legislature for guiding us to a significant budget surplus.
Open Letter to CA Congressional Delegation: Pass Legislation to Protect California Dreamers and DACA
Sept. 8, 2017
To: Members of California’s congressional delegation
RE: Pass Legislation to Protect California Dreamers and DACA
Dear Majority Leader McCarthy, Minority Leader Pelosi, Senator Feinstein, Senator Harris, and all members of California’s congressional delegation:
This week the White House announced its decision to rescind the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which protects approximately 242,339 young people from deportation in California. Nationwide, the DACA program is a lifeline for nearly 800,000 young immigrants who came to this country as children. We urge you to take action to protect them by passing legislation to protect their status.
State Budget Helps Low-Income Californians and Children by Expanding CalEITC and Denti-Cal
06/28/2017
California’s United Ways applaud Governor Jerry Brown on signing a state budget that takes two major steps to helping the working poor in California.
First, the budget significantly expands the California Earned Income Tax Credit (CalEITC), a refundable state tax credit that increases the economic security of low-income working families. It increases the income eligibility for, working families with children up to $22,300. The budget also extends the CalEITC for the first time to the self-employed.
Joint Press Release: Advocates Celebrate the Expansion of the California Earned Income Tax Credit to Reach More than One Million Additional Low-Income Working Families
June 28, 2017
Contact: Cadonna Dory, (213) 355–8790
Advocates Celebrate the Expansion of the California Earned Income Tax Credit to Reach More than One Million Additional Low-Income Working Families
Governor Signs Budget to Expand the Credit to Include Workers with Self Employment Income and Families with Incomes up to $22,300
Governor’s Revised Budget Avoids Drastic Cuts but Misses Opportunities
May 11, 2017
Los Angeles, CA – Pete Manzo, President and CEO of United Ways of California made the following statement regarding Governor Jerry Brown’s Revised State Budget:
Today, Gov. Jerry Brown released his revised $183 billion budget, keeping close to his original January budget. This May Revise unfortunately, misses key opportunities to help move California’s children and families toward a more stable life while keeping on a track of fiscal responsibility.
American Health Care Act Puts Millions of Californians at Risk
May 4, 2017
The American Health Care Act passed today by the U.S. House of Representatives will have a devastating impact on California’s children and families. This new version of the bill is significantly worse than the previous version, which the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimated would result in over 24 million Americans losing health insurance. Congress rushed this through before getting an independent analysis from CBO, which means that our nation’s leaders and their constituents have no idea how much worse it’s gotten and how many more people will lose coverage. At a minimum, we know that the bill guts Medicaid, cutting more than $800 billion over 10 years, and will cause at least 24 million more uninsured people within a decade. It will also expose everyone with private insurance, from their employer or purchased on their own, to discrimination for pre-existing conditions and lifetime caps on care.
More Articles ...
- Governor’s Budget Proposal Shows Commitment to Children and Families in Education, Health and Income in a Time of Uncertainty
- CA Sees Largest Decline of Uninsured Children In The Nation
- California Reduces Number of Uninsured Latino Children
- Governor’s Budget Proposal Shows Strong Promise for Children and Families in Education, Health and Income
- United Ways of California Joins Governor Brown to put $2.3 Billion in the Hands of California Working Families and Individuals
