Our Vision
Why Our Children Need a Better Approach
We Need A Better Approach
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.
Reimagining Behavioral Health for California's Children and Their Families
Changing our systems to improve child well-being is our collective responsibility
Our solution focuses on bringing people and child-oriented systems together, throughout California, to redesign service delivery, promote health policies that consider the whole child and family, and create effective funding mechanisms that will transform our failing systems. We have an obligation and an unprecedented opportunity to create an integrated system that promotes healthy development, healing, and resilience for our children, youth and families.
Our Theory of Change is a Bold Step-By-Step Process
Step 1
Build Consensus
Step 2
Design the Solution
Step 3
Institutionalize Change
Step 4
Improve Child Well-Being
Our Key Principles
Our Key Principles
The California Children’s Trust asks all of its Coalition Partners to affirm five Key Principles
Early intervention is critical to healthy development.
California needs to widen access to behavioral health supports.
Racism and poverty contribute to health inequities across California.
Collaborative and accountable systems change is the way forward.
The time for change is now.