California early education advocates rally for funding boost

Hundreds of California early education advocates are planning to rally in Sacramento today, calling for one-time funding of $100 million to help stabilize the child care sector. Amid dwindling revenues from the tobacco tax, members of the First 5 Association, a statewide commission focused on children from birth to 5 years old, argue that more money is needed to support family resource centers, early childhood mental health services, and child care and early learning programs.

“Failure to secure a short-term, stop-gap investment this year from the state will result in the elimination of even more services and programs currently supporting the healthy development of California’s youngest residents, ” said Fabiola González, board president of the First 5 Association, in a release. “While we are also focused on long-term policy solutions, First 5s in each county cannot afford to see their contributions undervalued or their potential delayed by budget constraints.”

Without this funding, advocates say, programs supporting tens of thousands of young children, many of whom are low-income, face cutbacks.

“Investment for California’s youngest children should be prioritized, even in tough budget years,” said Avo Makdessian, executive director of the First 5 Association, in a release. “Focusing on our local communities is how we provide long-term solutions to the most pressing issues California’s youngest children and families face.”