Newsletter

First 5 in the Community: Local Legislative Visits

Members of the Central Coast Early Childhood Advocacy Network (Network) recently met with state legislators at their local offices to discuss support for bills that have a critical impact for families in the tri-county area. These visits are one of the ways the Network collectively advances early childhood policy goals and makes an impact to support families and children on the Central Coast. 

We extend our thanks to the offices of Senators Bill Monning and Anna Caballero and Assemblymembers Robert Rivas and Mark Stone for listening about the positive impacts bills like SB 135 (Jackson) Paid Family Leave; SB 142 (Wiener) Lactation Accommodation; SB 298 (Caballero) Ending Child Poverty; AB 24 (Burke) Targeted Child Tax Credit: Retaining eligibility for ITIN filers; and AB 125 (McCarty) ECE Reimbursement Rates would have on local communities. We were especially excited to have parent advocates join us for Senator Caballero's visit. For more information, read the Bright Beginnings article here.

The Network is a tri-county coalition of advocates representing 94,000 children ages 0 to 8 in Monterey, Santa Cruz, and San Benito Counties. Members are from organizations that included First 5, United Way, County Offices of Education, Local Child Care Planning Councils, Building Healthy Communities and GoKids, Inc. The mission of the Network is strengthening and advocating for policies and systems that support thriving families - promoting an equitable, resilient and inclusive community where every child and caregiver reaches their full potential. To learn more, click here.