California Alliance of Child and Family Services

June is Pride Month. LGBTQ+ youth are overrepresented in the foster care system, and they deserve affirming, supportive care. Our members are committed to creating environments where every young person feels safe and valued.

Today, CA Alliance Director of Public Policy Elizabeth Oseguera is on Capitol Hill for NatCon Hill Day 2026, bringing California's child and family advocacy voice directly to Washington. She is joined by CA Alliance members Sycamores a child and family services agency , Pacific Clinics , and Hillsides , alongside valued partner Telecare Corporation , and we are grateful to Senator Adam Schiff and Senator Alex Padilla for taking the time to meet with our delegation.

NatCon's Hill Day brings hundreds of advocates from across the country together to push for stronger mental health and substance use policies, and today California has a seat at that table. Thank you to our members and partners for making the trip and to National Council for Mental Wellbeing for making these conversations possible.

Axel Pecero is a former foster youth turned advocate, traveling the state to fight for kids like him. He was working with our Open Doors project when he was detained by ICE after a $10 warrant stop in Burbank. Now he's in Mexico, separated from his 4-year-old son.

LAist has followed Axel's story, and this latest piece is heartbreaking. A young man who dedicated himself to child welfare advocacy, who was building a life and a future for himself and his son, is now trying to explain to a toddler why his dad can't come home.

"It's frightening because these are the years that he needs me the most. Not being able to be there stresses me out because I can't raise him how I would want to raise him."

Thank you to LAist reporter Elley Yu for continuing to tell Axel's story with compassion.

Read the full story:

Detained and facing deportation: A father leaves his 4-year-old son back in LA Axel Pecero was arrested by federal immigration officials last summer. He chose to voluntarily leave the U.S. in hopes he can be reunited with his son in a few years.

Thank you Governor Gavin Newsom for proclaiming May 2026 as Foster Care Month. The CA Alliance and our members work every day to support youth and families, and we appreciate the state for reaffirming California's commitment to foster youth.

We want to recognize the nonprofit organizations in our membership that work to meet the needs of current and former children and youth in the foster care system every day, including helping to provide vital connections to siblings and launching young people into successful adulthood and providing behavioral health and other supports including housing to our foster youth.

We also want to recognize the strength, resilience, and leadership of foster youth and former foster youth, who contribute meaningfully to their communities, lead advocacy efforts, inform policy, and drive systems change through their lived expertise and help guide us at the CA Alliance too.

Together, we can continue building a system rooted in compassion, dignity, and opportunity for all of California's youth.

Governor Newsom proclaims Foster Care Month | Governor of California State of California

We are thrilled to announce that ACR 209 authored by Assemblymember Sade Elhawary passed unanimously on the Assembly floor! The CA Alliance worked alongside California Behavioral Health Association to sponsor this important resolution which declares May 2026 as Behavioral Health Awareness Month in California. This resolution advances awareness, and calls attention to the importance of behavioral health for everyone in California. Our hope is that we continue to expand conversations about behavioral health care and access.

Thank you to Assemblymember Sade Elhawary for championing this resolution and grateful to our partners who continue to push this work forward in behavioral health.

Thank you Governor Gavin Newsom for recognizing Mental Health Awareness Month and for reaffirming mental healthcare needs.

Committing to expanding access to care, reducing stigma, investing in community-based services, strengthening crisis response systems, and supporting youth and families is making a real difference for millions of through out the state.

Mental health impacts every community, every family, and every generation. Thank you for the focus on building a future where everyone can access the care and support they deserve.

Governor Newsom proclaims Mental Health Awareness Month | Governor of California State of California

AB 1540 passed through the full Assembly yesterday and will be moving forward to the Senate! We are one step closer to restoring the 988 Press 3 LGBTQ+ Youth Crisis Hotline and providing affirming crisis support for young people who need it most.

Thank you to Assemblymember Mark Gonzalez for authoring this bill, and to our co-sponsors Equality California and The Sacramento LGBT Community Center

LGBTQ+ youth in California deserve access to care that sees and supports them. We are proud to co-sponsor this measure!

Axel Pecero is a former foster youth turned advocate, traveling the state to fight for kids like him. He was working with our Open Doors project when he was detained by ICE after a $10 warrant stop in Burbank. Now he's in Mexico, separated from his 4-year-old son.

LAist has followed Axel's story, and this latest piece is heartbreaking. A young man who dedicated himself to child welfare advocacy, who was building a life and a future for himself and his son, is now trying to explain to a toddler why his dad can't come home.

"It's frightening because these are the years that he needs me the most. Not being able to be there stresses me out because I can't raise him how I would want to raise him."

Thank you to LAist reporter Elly Yu for continuing to tell Axel's story with compassion.

Read the full story:

Detained and facing deportation: A father leaves his 4-year-old son back in LA Axel Pecero was arrested by federal immigration officials last summer. He chose to voluntarily leave the U.S. in hopes he can be reunited with his son in a few years.

When the Nonprofit Insurance Alliance pulled out of the market in August 2024, it left behind a sector that had relied on it for coverage of 90% of California's foster family agencies. The effects are still being felt. Since October 2024, 28 FFA site closures have been reported to the California Department of Social Services.

The CA Alliance and 11 partner organizations recently wrote to legislative budget leaders urging action. FFAs responding to a recent survey reported serving an average of 125 children and youth in the child welfare system, with the largest serving more than 500. Those same agencies reported paying an average of $425,041 annually for liability insurance, with some facing bills exceeding $2 million.

More than a third of FFAs surveyed said they might have to close at least one site without additional funding. Another 28% reported they may have to shut down entirely.

Foster family agencies support roughly one in five California foster children. Every closure means fewer placement options, disrupted relationships, and less stability for kids who have already experienced too much of both. Senator María Elena Durazo and Assemblymember James C. Ramos are championing the request for $30 million in this budget cycle to provide bridge funding while the sector works toward a longer-term solution.

Read the full Capitol Weekly coverage:

Capitol Briefs: Cardrooms, menopause and mental health - Capitol Weekly Some tidbits from this week around the Capitol.

AB 1579 passed the Assembly unanimously. Authored by Assemblymember James C. Ramos and co-sponsored by the CA Alliance and Just Advocates, this bill expands the Children's Crisis Continuum Pilot Program so more foster youth can access timely, appropriate crisis care. Grateful for the strong bipartisan support and proud to have this bill moving forward.