Champion. Partner. Advocate.The California Alliance: The collective voice for organizations that serve children, youth and families For those dedicated to improving the lives of these at-risk populations, the California Alliance stands apart as the champion and leading voice for organizations that advocate for children, youth and families, and for advancing policy and services on their behalf. For More InformationKeeping Youth Close to Home: Building a Comprehensive Continuum of Care for California’s Foster Youth Released September 2021, the CA Alliance Report "Keeping Youth Close to Home: Building a Comprehensive Continuum of Care for California’s Youth", analyzes service gaps for children and youth in foster care and juvenile justice, and provides specific recommendations on programs and funding needed to begin to close the gaps Read the full report by clicking HERE. Senator Portantino Continues Leadership on Mental Health Issues as Education Bill Heads to Governor’s Desk Senate Bill 224, authored by State Senator Anthony J. Portantino (D – La Cañada Flintridge), was approved by the Legislature with bipartisan support and is headed to the Governor’s desk. SB 224 addresses the growing mental health crisis among California’s youth by implementing mental health education in schools. "California students are returning to in-person education, and with that return is the stress that still continues from the ongoing pandemic,” said Christine Stoner-Mertz, CEO of the California Alliance of Child and Family Services. "With the impacts of COVID-19 still reeling, we must empower students to seek help while reducing the stigma associated with mental health challenges. The CA Alliance applauds the State Legislature for supporting SB 224 and recognizing that mental health is critical to overall well-being and academic success. We now urge Governor Gavin Newsom to prioritize student mental health and sign SB 224!" Read the full statement by clicking HERE. The California Alliance of Child and Family Services Statement on 2021-22 Budget Deal Yesterday, California witnessed the passing of a 2021-22 budget deal that puts an unprecedented focus on vulnerable children, youth, and families within our State. The California Alliance of Child and Family Services commends the Legislature and the Governor for their overwhelming display of compassion for the unmitigated suffering the COVID-19 pandemic has had on youth and families' mental and physical health. With the passing of this budget, California can begin to uplift the most under-resourced families, help students transition back to in-person learning, and continue the mission of addressing racial inequities in our physical and behavioral healthcare systems. Read full statement by click HERE. The California Alliance of Child and Family Services Honors Juneteenth Saturday, June 19th, we honored Juneteenth, commemorating when Union soldiers brought the news of freedom to enslaved Black people in Galveston, Texas - two years after the Emancipation Proclamation and two months after the end of the Civil War. Christine Stoner-Mertz, the CEO of The California Alliance of Child and Family Services, issued the following statement, read it by clicking HERE.
The California Alliance of Child and Family Services Statement on Fulton v City of Philadelphia Supreme Court Ruling On Thursday, June 17th, 2021, The United States Supreme Court unanimously ruled that Philadelphia may not end its contract with a Catholic agency that refused to evaluate same-sex couples as potential foster parents due to a provision within the States clause that allows other exemptions based on marital status or disability. Christine Stoner-Mertz, the CEO of The California Alliance of Child and Family Services, issued the following statement, read it by clicking HERE. Peer Certification Principles for Implementation The California Alliance of Child & Family Services (CACFS), the National Alliance on Mental Illness, California (NAMI CA) and the California Association of Social Rehabilitation Agencies (CASRA) know that you share in our excitement over last year’s passage of SB 803, which will allow California to finally create what we hope will be a strong and viable statewide structure for the certification of peer providers, family partners and parent partners. In an effort to positively shape this structure, CACFS, NAMI CA and CASRA have partnered to create and broadly disseminate the attached set of “Peer Certification Principles for Implementation” so that policymakers at the state, county and organizational levels can better appreciate what it at stake, understand their important roles in fostering successful implementation, and have some guideposts to follow as they undertake their efforts. We ask you to take a few moments to review the Principles and encourage you to share them with others who you think might benefit! To see the full document, click HERE.
Meet Our Members
The California Alliance is also a proud member of the following organizations: |
