Our child and youth-serving systems in California are fragmented. The current systems are hard for families and providers to navigate. Complex financing, administrative, and oversight structures make service delivery challenging for both communities and counties. This results in inequities in service access and unspent and under-leveraged funds that need to be put to better use. In our current system, children, youth, and families simply aren’t receiving the services they need to ensure their healthy development.
Consider the Numbers
Only 5%
of children with Medi-Cal receive a behavioral health service
Only 35%
of youth in California who report needing mental health support actually receive it
43rd
is California’s ranking in providing behavioral, social and developmental screenings, which are key to identifying early signs of challenges
70%
of youth involved in California’s juvenile justice system have unmet behavioral health needs and youth of color are over-represented
75% of chronic mental illness begins by age 24. We know that a child’s healthy development forms the foundation for adult health and the intergenerational health of families. Yet most children in California do not receive the support they need for healthy development despite the fact that 97% have health insurance and 50% of all California children are covered by Medi-Cal.
