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We are the County Welfare Directors Association of California. We are a nonprofit association representing the human service directors from each of California’s 58 counties.

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Immigration Resources for Counties
This page includes tools and resources for county human services agencies relating to immigration, health care and public benefits under current law. 

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Hot topic State Budget

2025 State Budget Priorities
Each year, CWDA works to set budget priorities that will improve the well-being of children, families and individuals served by the human services system.

Hot topic State Legislation

2025 State Legislative Priorities
Each year, CWDA solicits input on legislative priorities from the county human services agencies and the association’s committees. The CWDA Board of Directors sets priorities for each legislative session.

Hot topic State Budget

Federal Safety Net Threats
Congress is considering unprecedented cuts to county administered safety net programs, including nearly $900 billion in cuts to Medicaid and $230 billion to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

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News & Updates

Recent News

Press release Carlos Marquez III

CWDA Applauds Lawsuit Demanding the Federal Government Tap Emergency Reserves to Keep Americans from Going Hungry
California has joined more than two dozen states in suing the U.S. Department of Agriculture over its refusal to use emergency reserves to fund the nation’s food stamp program

Sacramento, CA – The County Welfare Directors Association (CWDA) of California issued the following statement from Executive Director Carlos Marquez III today on more than two dozen states, including California, filing a lawsuit against the Trump Administration for its refusal to use emergency reserves to fund the SNAP program, known in California as CalFresh, beginning November 1: 

Press release Carlos Marquez III

Trump’s Signature Domestic Legislative Achievement An Unprecedented Assault On Millions of Californians

Sacramento, CA – The County Welfare Directors Association (CWDA) of California issued the following statement from Executive Director Carlos Marquez III today on President Trump’s disastrous signature domestic legislation to extend tax breaks for billionaires, which cuts $1 trillion in Medicaid and other health programs and decimates the nation’s food assistance program:  

Budget Priority

State Budget Update #4
Final 2025-2026 Budget Agreement- Amended

On June 24, 2025, the Budget Bill Junior (AB/SB 102) and various trailer bill (TBL) omnibuses reflecting the vast majority of the Administration and Legislature’s agreement for the three­ party budget deal went into print. We note, as of distributing this update, an official announcement on a final budget deal has yet to be released by Legislative leadership or the Governor’s Office. 

Budget Priority

State Budget Update #3
Legislature's Budget Plan

The California Assembly and Senate have released their two-party budget agreement. It is expected that the Budget plan will be reflected in the 2025-26 Budget Bill (likely SB 101) and heard in Budget subcommittee hearings this week, with Assembly and Senate votes taken by Sunday, June 15. In the coming days, the Legislature and Governor will ramp up discussions to finalize athree-party agreement.

Press release Carlos Marquez III

California Legislature Keeps Core Safety Net Intact

Sacramento, CA – The County Welfare Directors Association (CWDA) of California issued the following statement from Executive Director Carlos Marquez III today on the release of the California Legislature’s 2025-26 joint budget agreement: 

Presentation

Medi-Cal: Comments On May Revise Proposals

The attached memo provides the County Welfare Directors Association (CWDA) response to proposals included in the May Revision regarding the proposed changes to the Medi-Cal program and our assessment of the feasibility of the timelines for those changes. 

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