Santa Clara County Families & Children Digest

Heiress Paris Hilton is on a mission to shine a light on the "troubled teen industry," a largely unregulated multibillion-dollar industry that is gaining public scrutiny for alleged abuse of vulnerable youths.

Evictions have exacerbated homelessness nationwide, increasing the rate of homeless infants and toddlers. Most of those children are not enrolled in early education programs.

As school meal programs expand, school kitchens are experiencing struggles hiring and retaining food workers.

The 7410 square foot building at 445 Bryant Street is city-owned, with rent to be used to fund programs specifically for Palo Alto youth and teens.

200 laptop computers were donated to Youth Alliance by AT&T, Monterey Peninsula Foundation and Human-I-T, for distribution to Hollister and Gilroy residents lacking "digital basics".

After two years of planning, Cupertino is ready to begin the contractor bidding process and then start construction of the $4.8 million project.

Santa Clara County co-sponsored legislation to assist youth access to better treatment for behavioral health disorders.

A new bill that would provide health insurance coverage for wigs is headed to the state legislature, thanks in large part to the advocacy efforts of local youths who have drawn attention to the burdens of hair loss.

Gilroy resident L.J. Hardwicke began her novel writing career in fifth grade when her mom gave her a Chromebook laptop to record her ideas.

Good news for water park enthusiasts and fans of all things San Jose—Raging Waters could reopen as early as this summer. The iconic waterpark broke hearts when it shuttered indefinitely in 2023.

The state is to implement long-awaited new guidelines in 2025 despite some calls for a year’s delay.

Learning loss during the pandemic hit California’s low-income students hardest. An agreement requires the state to focus spending there.

Google plans to close its employee child care centers later this year, impacting one facility near the border of Palo Alto and Mountain View that the tech company has operated since 2007.

Kaiser Permanente is offering a program that provides affordable health care coverage to low-income adults and children.

The Assembly has until the end of January to decide the fate of the youth tackle football bill, which would prevent kids under 12 from playing the sport to protect them from brain trauma.

California’s projected budget deficit of close to $38 billion likely means some cuts are coming. Among them, Gov. Gavin Newsom has proposed ending the California State Park Adventure Pass, which offers free access to some state parks for fourth graders.

Pasadena is the only California city named a travel destination for 2024 by The New York Times. This comes despite the Los Angeles-area city being just the 45th-largest city in the state.

The 2024 California Children’s Report Card from an organization called Children Now noted that the state has failed to improve economic disparities for students. The report also dings the state for things like STEM offerings, early intervention and special education.

Sunnyvale Community Services (SCS) partnered with 40 local agencies to create the Winter Wellness Fair. Not only did families receive holiday gift cards and food, but it was a festive atmosphere that included health services along with a visit with Santa Claus.

San Diego Unified School District has received more than $700 million in federal and state relief funds since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, with these funds ending, some schools could be facing serious deficits.

Leaders of a parental rights advocacy group announced they’re planning to sue California Attorney General Rob Bonta over the way his office has characterized a 2024 ballot initiative they authored.

Two-thirds of community college students in California admit to struggling to meet basic needs. The California Community Colleges’ Student Ambassador Program has empowered more than 50 students to act as resource guides to help them.

A law passed by the California legislature in 2023 has gone into effect banning licensed gun holders from bringing their firearms to places like playgrounds, churches and casinos. The law faces an ongoing challenge in the federal court system.

The dawn of 2024 meant that California’s minimum wage rose from $15.50 to $16 an hour. That puts the Golden State at the second-highest minimum wage for a U.S. state, trailing only Washington state at $16.28 an hour.

A 2021 law passed by the California legislature went into effect Jan. 1, requiring major retailers to maintain an aisle of toys marketed to people of either gender. The bill’s author, Evan Low, said the legislation will help kids “express themselves freely and without bias.”

California adopted several laws to increase access to contraception and abortion after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe vs. Wade. The latest one eliminates out-of-pocket charges for birth control for millions of Californians.

The Santa Clara Fire Department, in conjunction with the Firefighters Foundation, worked with the Santa Clara Unified School District to identify local families in need.

In a report released by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine, researchers instead lay out a plan for what society might do to improve adolescents’ interactions with social media.

Under a new law, employees in California are guaranteed five paid sick days a year, two days more than previously. Worker advocacy groups say the benefit is needed, but business groups warn of additional costs.

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.

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.

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.