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Sacramento County Families & Children Digest



Utility Increases Loom for 16 Million California Households

11/30/2023

Utility giant PG&E is set to raise its rates an average of 13% on Jan. 1. That equals an extra $32.50 a month, or $390 for the year.

Will Kids Still Take Their Medicine? New State Law Forces Pharmacies to Take Out the Flavor

11/28/2023

Parents say flavored medication can help ensure their kids finish a prescription. Far fewer California pharmacies are offering that service as they await new rules from a state regulator.

This Citrus Heights Woman Was Recognized by the Mayor. Here’s Why.

11/24/2023

A longstanding resident was honored with a Good Neighbor award during a Citrus Heights City Council meeting for her service to children in the community.

State Debuting Mental Health App for Young People Next Year

11/15/2023

The state will offer a free mental health app beginning Jan. 1 for people ages 13-25. It is currently being tested in San Joaquin and Stanislaus counties.

Extracurricular Clubs, Sports Programs Help Young Camp Fire Survivors Heal

11/08/2023

Five years ago, the Camp Fire disrupted lives, followed quickly by the COVID-19 pandemic, leaving students in Paradise with few options to connect with others outside of the internet.

‘Largest Holiday Light Festival’ Returns to Sacramento This Winter

11/03/2023

Sacramento’s Cal Expo will soon be adorned with bright festive light displays with the return of Imaginarium. The “largest holiday light festival” in the capital city will light up Nov. 17 to Jan. 7, and will feature a circus, Santa, an ice skating rink, and games.

A Story With Teeth: Why California Kids Lag in Dental Health

10/31/2023

California kids have some of the lowest-ranked dental health in the United States, with challenges exacerbated by the pandemic. Here’s a look at the problem and what’s being done to address it.

California Joins States Suing Meta

10/24/2023

More than 40 states are suing the social media giant. The legal actions allege that Meta has deceived the public about the harms of Facebook and Instagram, which the attorneys general say “exploit and manipulate” children.

California Colleges Miss Deadline for Student Parents’ Priority Registration

10/24/2023

Signed by the governor in September 2022, AB 2881 aims to help student parents in California by offering them priority registration. Advocates are optimistic the law will formalize data collection, allowing them to better serve this student population that represents 1 in 5 students nationally.

California Student Test Scores Remain Low

10/18/2023

Despite an influx of money to counter learning loss during the pandemic, English language arts and math test scores remain low.

Kaiser To Pay $200 million Settlement for Botched Mental Health Appointment System

10/12/2023

Kaiser patients waited 19 days for follow-up mental health appointments in 2019, nine days longer than state law permits. The settlement includes the largest-ever penalty issued by California’s behavioral health regulator.

Labor Leaders Despair But Keep Pushing for Striker Unemployment After Newsom Veto

10/01/2023

Newsom rejected Senate Bill 799, which would have paid striking workers California unemployment benefits after two weeks, and SB 686, which would have extended workplace safety protections to domestic workers, such as housekeepers and nannies.

California Sues ‘Crisis’ Pregnancy Centers That Promise ‘Abortion Pill Reversal’

09/21/2023

Several anti-abortion crisis pregnancy centers are advertising abortion pill reversal. California Attorney General Rob Bonta calls the claims false advertising that mislead vulnerable patients.

California Spends $14B on People With Disabilities, But Some Go Without Help

09/06/2023

Ramilies across California—especially those who are not White or do not speak English as their primary language—report persistent and often maddening roadblocks in trying to obtain assistance for loved ones with disabilities.

California Ballot Initiative Will Seek to Restrict Gender-Affirming Care for Trans Youth

08/30/2023

A small group of activists want California voters to decide whether transgender minors should be allowed to receive puberty blockers, hormone therapy or gender-affirming surgeries.

4-H ‘Much More Than Animals,’ Galt Club Says

08/16/2023

4-H members spoke to the Galt Herald as they weeded a raised bed at Barbara Payne Community Garden. Instead of livestock, Galt 4-H offers a range of other projects: art, crafts, baking, gardening and sewing. It is also adding photography and science.

California Summer Camp Offers Haven to Jewish Children of Color

08/14/2023

Camp Be’chol Lashon, in the rolling hills of Marin County, creates a safe space for candid conversations on race and identity.

Demand for California Caregivers is Rising. Their Pay Isn’t. 2 New Bills Aim to Help

07/11/2023

Many California caregivers are aging immigrants making near-minimum wage. Two bills to improve pay and safety could benefit elderly Californians facing a caregiver shortage.

Heated Library Book Debate Continues at EG Unified

07/07/2023

The debate continues over whether local Elk Grove Unified School District libraries should remove books that some parents consider to be obscene. This conflict began in April and returned at the school board’s June 27 meeting.

Girls Underwater Robotics Team From Sacramento Gets Historic Win

07/05/2023

For the first time in the 25-year history of the Marine Technology Society MATE underwater robotics competition, an all-girls team from Sacramento won first place at the world championships.

Old Sac Exhibit Showcases Life of Young Girl

06/23/2023

The Sacramento History Museum debuted “Meet May Woolsey,” an exhibit on the third floor in the Community Gallery that recounts a treasured story about a young Sacramento girl who passed away in September 1879.

Can You Leave a Child Home Alone in California?

06/20/2023

With summer beginning, parents may be asking how old a child must be to stay home alone. Laws in the Golden State are relaxed compared to some states, but the Sacramento Bee reports that parental experts suggest assessing a child’s comfort level and maturity.

Local Group Pushes Civic Engagement for Pacific Islander Youth

06/20/2023

Not a single voting member of the Sacramento City Council, California Legislature or U.S. Congress identifies as ethnically Pacific Islander. A local community group hopes to change that with classes and activities, including visits to the state Capitol.

Nonprofit to Reboot Men’s Mentorship Program for Kids of Single Moms

06/17/2023

Single Mom Strong, headquartered in Citrus Heights, this year is pairing volunteer men with children of single mothers in a program that is re-starting after being on hold during the pandemic.

Sacramento County Fined for Moving More Foster Kids Into Cells

06/16/2023

California Department of Social Services has fined Sacramento County for placing new foster children in a former juvenile justice facility even after the state barred it from doing so.

Dangerous Levels of Metal Found in Water at Child Care Centers

05/17/2023

About 1,700 licensed child care centers in California—a quarter of the nearly 7,000 tested so far—have been serving drinking water with lead levels exceeding allowable limits, according to data that the nonprofit Environmental Working Group secured from the state.

Sacramento City Unified Expands ‘Transitional Kindergarten’

05/16/2023

Transitional kindergarten is an optional program for children between preschool and kindergarten that provides additional preparation for school. This support allows for students to build social and academic skills they will need for future educational success.

Citrus Heights Announces July 1 Fireworks, Celebration

05/13/2023

Live entertainment, food trucks, and a fireworks show are coming to Citrus Heights on July 1, as the city announces plans for its first-ever “Stars & Stripes Celebration” at Van Maren Park.

Sacramento Youth Get the Green Light for Green Jobs

05/10/2023

Hope. That’s what Josh Fryday, California’s chief service officer who oversees the California Volunteers state office, envisions its $6.9 million grant made to the city of Sacramento will provide to 600 local youth from underserved communities.

New Patriotic Event Coming to Citrus Heights

05/10/2023

Citrus Heights will hold its first Stars and Stripes Celebration on July 1. It will include a fireworks show, food, and entertainment for the whole family. There will also be a Kids Zone.

Fair Oaks Library Branch Closed for Renovation

05/10/2023

The Fair Oaks Library is closed for renovations until mid-June. It’s the first major upgrade of the building since 1976, and improvements will include fresh paint, new carpet, and upgraded computer stations.

Folsom Public Library to Close for Carpet Replacement

05/03/2023

Sixteen years and an estimated 3.5 million visitors later, the Folsom Public Library is getting new carpet. The library will be closed from May 9-25 and will reopen just in time to kick off its Summer Reading Challenge.

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