Media Center and Reports

Mending Harmful Family Fees: Expanding Possibilities for California Families

In an exciting first for Parent Voices we collaborated with the California Budget and Policy Center on a report detailing family fees, their impact, and proposed changes to fees as part of our 2023 campaign. Many of our recommendations for a new family fee schedule were adopted in the budget agreement. We are so proud of our parent leaders who first had the idea to revolutionize family fees 4 years ago at our leadership retreat. You can find the new family fee schedule by clicking here.

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Waiting for Change

In 2016 Parent Voices, Child Care Law Center, and the CA Child Care Resource & Referral Network conducted a study of families on the waiting list, a population that is often ignored and whose stories are hidden. We conducted 6 focus groups and a parent survey with 125 respondents. Thanks to the Economic Development and Justice Fund Donor Circle for supporting this work.

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Waiting to be seen. Demanding to be heard.

Parent Voices was proud to participate in the CA Assembly Blue Ribbon Commission on Early Childhood Education. Mary Ignatius, Parent Voices Statewide Organizer served as a Community Commissioner on the BRC. We secured funding through First 5 LA to partner with Social Policy Research Associates to conduct parent focus groups with 40 parents. The recommendations are embedded in the full [BRC draft report](https://speaker.asmdc.org/sites/speaker.asmdc.org/files/pdf/BRC-All Draft Sections 3.11.19.pdf).

The recommendations that came from parents can be found in this report: Waiting to be seen. Demanding to be heard. (Fall 2018)

Los Angeles – Inglewood Appendix
Los Angeles – San Fernando Valley Appendix
Fresno Appendix
Bay Area Appendix

Preschool Development Grant Parent Advisory Committee recommendations

Build Back Better

Parent Voices ensured parents, kids, caregivers, and childcare providers had their voices heard on the importance of Build Back Better. Please read their responses in 400 Reasons Why We Need $400B for Childcare Now!

Building Healing Systems & Thriving Families

In early 2021, the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) partnered with Parent Voices and Social Policy Research Associates (SPR) to bring California parent perspectives to inform the transfer of programs from the California Department of Education (CDE) to CDSS. Thanks to the Transition Parent Advisory Committee, the staff from the Restoring Justice for Indigenous Peoples, Time for Change Foundation, and Wu Yee Children’s Services.

Finally, thanks to the Department of Social Services for recognizing the unique impact and opportunity the transition of child care programs to their administration would have on families.

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A Two-Generation Approach to Home Visiting

During summer 2021, Parent Voices administered its first ever member survey. A component of this survey asked about parents’ experiences with home visiting. Following up from this survey, Parent Voices organized three focus groups including 28 parents from different regions in California to delve deeper into their home visiting experiences to better understand what has worked and what could be improved.

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Redesigning Behavioral Health Systems and Supports for Families

The California Health and Human Services Agency (CalHHS) launched the Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative (CYBHI) in July 2021 to “enhance, expand and redesign the systems that support behavioral health for children and youth.” In seeking to design and implement this initiative in partnership with community partners and stakeholders, CalHHS sought the support of Parent Voices to elevate the voices and experiences of California families.

Parent Voices led an effort to gain a deeper understanding of families’ perspectives related to their children’s ability to access quality behavioral health services. Parent Voices, in partnership with Social Policy Research Associates (SPR), held three listening sessions with families that covered topics related to CYBHI’s goals and key outcomes.

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Appendices