You did it! Thanks to your emails, calls, and tweets we have a final budget that highlights California’s commitment to the health, safety, and well-being of the 60,000 children and youth in the foster care system. 

Highlighted below are two key victories in the budget.

Dependency Counsel Funding
With limited access to the courts and a growing backlog of cases as a result of COVID-19, the advocacy needs of our young clients are more critical now than ever. The budget maintains current funding levels for dependency counsel, which is essential to continuing to provide high quality legal representation to the families in the child welfare system.

Extended Foster Care Victory
This crisis has brought to light the urgent need to enact policies that will ensure that transition age foster youth are able to stay safe, stable and in supportive placements during an emergency. The budget includes a $32 million investment for extended foster care. This means most 21-year- olds as well as youth who have lost their jobs or had their schooling disrupted will have their benefits extended through June 2021. We’re grateful to Senator Beall for his ongoing leadership on Extended Foster Care.

Please join us in thanking the Governor and California leaders for this victory for youth in foster care. We’ve made it easy, simply click the links below to tweet your thank you!

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