By Suzanne Potter
A coalition of groups that advocate for children and families launched the Choose Children campaign last week, an effort to center pro-child policies in the 2028 campaign for California governor.
The campaign asks candidates to support programs to help expecting parents, strengthen health care for young children, make early learning and childcare affordable, and fairly compensate early childhood providers.
Avo Makdessian is executive director of the First Five Association of California.
“California needs a governor who will meet this moment and address the chronic under investment that has held young children back for so long,” said Makdessian. “We need a governor who will ensure children get the care they need, who’s going to support parents and educators who keep our youngest Californians safe, healthy and learning.”
Makdessian noted that one in five California children lives in poverty.
Childcare costs on average more than $21,000 a year, and 60% of babies in the Golden State don’t get all of their recommended well-child visits to screen for developmental delays and behavioral health challenges. That number goes up to 75% for African American babies.
And, he said, nearly one in five of our early educators earns less than a living wage.
Mayra Alvarez, president of the Children’s Partnership, said the next governor will need to be relentless in bringing down costs for California families.
“Parents are grappling with one fundamental, urgent challenge that you’ll hear loud and clear today, and that’s affordability, affordable housing, affordable health care, affordable child care,” said Alvarez. “These issues aren’t distant policy debates. They shape every decision a parent makes at home.”
Advocates praise progress made under the Newsom administration to expand paid family leave, promote transitional kindergarten and invest in early childhood mental-health supports, but say more remains to be done.
