Advocating for youth amid Sacramento's budget cuts
California Governor Gavin Newsom speaking at the State of the State address in Sacramento, CA.
Summertime in Sacramento means heated budget negotiations as the state grapples with a $27 billion deficit. On May 10th, Governor Newsom unveiled his proposal, which included $30 billion in cuts to youth mental health, public health infrastructure, and core human services programs. These cuts threaten California’s progress toward health equity and have real consequences for children and families struggling to make ends meet. While we understand the need to address the deficit, cutting programs that help children thrive should be a last resort.
One of the many harmful cuts proposed would directly impact The L.A. Trust and the students we serve. The L.A. Trust had been awarded a Public Education and Change Campaign grant from the Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative (CYBHI). Newsom’s revised budget would eliminate this entire grant program, leaving six Student Advisory Boards without funding. With only a few weeks before the June 15th budget deadline, we needed to act quickly to make our voices heard.
With the support of our grant administrator, the Public Health Institute, we joined a coalition of 28 community-based organizations to advocate for the restoration of youth mental health funding. The Youth Mental Health Equity Coalition launched a petition and held meetings with key budget leaders in the legislature. The L.A. Trust conducted five legislative visits with representatives from the districts we serve, urging them to reject the proposed cuts. Staff members called and emailed their representatives, emphasizing the message: investment in prevention saves lives. Our youth’s mental health is non-negotiable.
After two weeks of advocacy, the legislature released its counterproposal to the governor’s plan. We were relieved and grateful to see that the legislature aimed to restore funding for the Public Education and Change Campaign grant. This inclusion is a testament to the power of advocacy. We succeeded in humanizing a budget line and earning the legislature's support. Now, we eagerly await the final budget. Negotiations will continue through the end of June, and we will continue to advocate for youth mental health equity.
Resources