Santa Clara County Local Families & Children News Articles and Digest

Families & Children Elections & Politics

Saratoga High School Seniors Develop Fact-Checking App

12/23/2023
Saratoga High School seniors Grant Hough and Yanis Herne took first place in the 2023 Congressional App Challenge, competing against middle school and high school entries from throughout Anna Eshoo’s 18th Congressional District.

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Families & Children Health Homelessness Government

Kids' Mental Health Programs May Close as State 'Modernizes' Payments

12/21/2023

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California is trying to make its Medi-Cal payment system more efficient, but there may be some collateral damage.

From San Jose Inside...

Business, Economy & Jobs Families & Children Health State of California

Some Mental Health Programs for Kids to Close Because of New Medi-Cal Payment Plans

12/21/2023
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California is modernizing how it pays health care providers through Medi-Cal. Some mental health providers say the changes endanger their services.

From Palo Alto Online...

Business, Economy & Jobs Families & Children Community Service & Support City of Palo Alto

Local Family Repeats $100K Gift to Holiday Fund

12/21/2023
A Palo Alto family has made another $100,000 donation to the Palo Alto Weekly Holiday Fund, its 13th year of supporting the campaign, which provides grants to local non-profits serving kids and families in need.

From Morgan Hill Times...

Families & Children Community Service & Support City of Morgan Hill

Holiday Magic Comes to Morgan Hill

12/19/2023
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Kids and families from Morgan Hill and beyond partook in an afternoon of playing, singing, dancing, learning and gifting at the Magical Holiday festivities at the Magical Bridge Playground.

From CalMatters...

Families & Children Homelessness Housing Community Service & Support Crisis & Personal Support Government

Domestic Violence Shelters Play a Key Role in Fighting Homelessness. Now They Face Deep Funding Cuts

12/19/2023
Federal funding for domestic violence shelters and housing programs is declining. Advocates want the state to step in, but with a record projected deficit new spending is unlikely.

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Families & Children Homelessness Housing Community Service & Support Government

How a Homeless Housing Project Is Stalled by Developer Defaults

12/15/2023
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The homeless problem in King City, Monterey County, is being affected by a developer's financial issues.

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COVID-19 Families & Children Health Community Service & Support Government

How This Government Policy Is Making Food Insecurity Worse

12/13/2023
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The federal government cut off a pandemic-era food support program that 20 percent of Californians still need.

From CalMatters...

Business, Economy & Jobs Families & Children Health Crime & Justice Government

California Company Used Child Labor for Dangerous Poultry Processing Work

12/13/2023
The Exclusive Poultry Inc. agreed to pay $3.8 million in wages, damages and penalties in part for hiring children for dangerous work. The case is one of hundreds federal labor officials investigated last year.

From EdSource...

Education Families & Children Government

CA AG Backs Motion to Oppose Actions of SoCal School Board

12/13/2023
California Attorney General Rob Bonta has formally backed an August motion by two law groups to keep the Temecula Valley Unified School District from being able to notify parents about transgender children or censor instruction about race. A hearing for the motion is scheduled for Jan. 24.

From Sacramento Bee...

Families & Children Government

Supreme Court Upholds California Ban on Conversion Therapy

12/11/2023
By declining to hear a conservative group’s challenge, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld a California ban on conversion therapy for LGBTQ youth. California is one of 22 states to ban this practice.

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Business, Economy & Jobs Families & Children Crisis & Personal Support

An EPIC Mission: End Poverty in California

12/10/2023
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Nonprofit founded by former Stockton Mayor Michael Tubbs has been on listening tour since early 2022

From KQED...

Families & Children Health Government

At-Home COVID Tests Can Be Reimbursable in California

12/07/2023
Although the federal government is providing four free COVID tests per month, that’s not the only way to get them. Aetna and Blue Shield of California members can be reimbursed for up to eight at-home tests per month, while Kaiser Permanente is offering discounts on tests.

From Silicon Valley Voice...

Education Families & Children Agriculture, Food & Gardening City of Milpitas

Pomeroy’s Garden to Table Program Grows Healthy Eaters

12/07/2023
“At Pomeroy Elementary, we have an amazing Garden to Table program,” said Kevin Keegan, principal at Pomeroy, in an informational video. “We have this amazing partnership with our families and outside resources as well to make this community garden a wonderful place. We call it the heart of our school because it’s a place where all kids, all staff, everyone can go to and they have hands-on experiences.”

From CalMatters...

Families & Children Crime & Justice Government

Moms Who Suffer Domestic Abuse Can Lose Their Kids. But Does This Policy Make Any Sense?

12/06/2023
California’s “failure to protect” law allows child welfare agencies to take kids from households scarred by domestic violence. Advocates say the separation can worsen a family’s trauma.

From CalMatters...

Families & Children Homelessness Community Service & Support Government

Border Patrol Dumped 42,000 migrants on San Diego Streets. The County Needs Help to Help Them

12/03/2023
San Diego-area nonprofits and faith organizations struggle to provide for tens of thousands of migrants border agents have released on San Diego streets.

From CalMatters...

Education Families & Children Community Service & Support Government

State Invested $53 Million in Teaching Low-Performing Kids to Read. Here's How it's Paying Off

12/03/2023
In 2020, the state agreed to a settlement in a lawsuit that claimed too many students were not learning to read. As part of that agreement, the state spent over $50 million on 75 schools with the lowest reading scores.

From Capital & Main...

Public Safety Education Families & Children Government

Right-Wing Takeover of SoCal School Board Stirs Angst

12/01/2023
Students and teachers alike are decrying the actions of the Temecula Valley Unified School District board, which became conservative in majority following the recent elections of three members. The board’s actions include banning critical race theory and mandating parental notification if their child is transgender.

From Capital & Main...

Families & Children Parks & Recreation

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.

From CalMatters...

COVID-19 Families & Children Health Government

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.

Santa Clara County Local News: Families & Children