State Budget Priorities

Overview

State Budget Priorities

Each year, CWDA works with its Board of Directors and its committee members to set budget priorities that will improve the well-being of children, families and individuals served by the human services system and to align public policy with the needs of populations and communities across the state.

Click on the sections below to find an overview of our budget priorities, periodic budget updates and more specific information on budget priorities contained in budget memos and fact sheets.

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Budget Update #4 – Final Budget Agreement

The Governor, Senate Pro Tem McGuire, and Assembly Speaker Rivas announced on Saturday, June 22, 2024 that they have reached a final agreement on the 2024-25 budget. The Legislature will be voting on the budget bills and budget trailer bills this week, which will go to the Governor for signature prior to the start of the new fiscal year on July 1.

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Budget Update #3 – Legislature’s Budget Plan

The Assembly and Senate have reached a two-party budget agreement and took actions in their respective budget committees today to adopt the plan. We do not yet know the timing of the next steps of the process – when there will be a full Senate and Assembly vote on the budget plan and when legislative leadership negotiations with the Governor will begin in earnest (and whether there will be a three-party final budget deal prior to June 15t h) . We will continue to keep you posted as we learn more about the process and timing.

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Opposition to Child Welfare Cuts in the May Revision

The County Welfare Directors Association (CWDA), the California State Association of Counties (CSAC), the Urban Counties of California (UCC), and the Rural County Representatives of California (RCRC) are strongly opposed to the May Revision proposals
that would eliminate funding for caregiver approvals and the Family Urgent Response System (FURS) program.

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Opposition to CalWORKs Cuts in the May Revision

The County Welfare Directors Association (CWDA), the California State Association of Counties (CSAC), the Urban Counties of California (UCC), and the Rural County Representatives of California (RCRC) stand in opposition to the draconian cuts proposed to

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APS Coalition Letter Oppose MR Cuts

The undersigned organizations strongly oppose the budget cuts made to Adult Protective Services (APS) in the Governor’s 2024-25 May Revision proposal. The May Revision proposes a permanent $40 million General Fund (GF) reduction to APS response to victims of abuse, neglect and exploitation, and a $4.8 million GF permanent reduction for training of APS social workers, largely eliminating all training to APS social workers. These cuts would also result in the permanent loss of $54.3 million in federal matching funds.

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May Revision Budget Update #2

Governor Newsom released a high-level overview of the Governor’s May Revision proposal on Friday, May 10th; details of the May Revision were published today, Wednesday May 14th. This budget update summarizes what we know so far about the proposals and issues of interest in the health and human services area where there are changes proposed in the May Revision. CWDA staff will continue to keep you updated as we learn more details and as budget actions are taken in the Legislature.

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CWDA Preliminary Reactions To May Revision – Oppose Proposed May Revision Cuts to Human Services Programs

Although the backup detail will not be available until Tuesday, May 14th, we want to provide you with our initial reactions to the Governor’s May Revision proposal based on the information available to us so far. The County Welfare Directors Association (CWDA) has
significant objections to the revised budget released on Friday, which effectively reverses ten years of programmatic investments and gains made across the entire range of human services programs. No human services program area is spared – the California Work

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Child Welfare Services (CWS): Foster Care Rate Reform Proposal

The County Welfare Directors Association (CWDA) appreciates the efforts of the Administration and California Department of Social Services (COSS) to put forth a comprehensive foster care rate reform proposal. CWDA supports the overarching goals of the proposal to support family-based care, particularly kinship care, and to establish a new structure driven by the child’s needs rather than by their placement setting. CWDA is also supportive of proposed new state investments associated with the rate proposal.

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California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) Program – Opposition to the Elimination of the Family Stabilization Program

The County Welfare Directors Association (CWDA) opposes the Governor’s Budget proposal to eliminate the CalWORKs Family Stabilization Program (FSP). The CalWORKs FSP serves CalWORKs families facing immediate, destabilizing crises. The proposed elimination would strip CalWORKs families of essential support, leading to even greater challenges in accessing the resources and services necessary to stabilize their lives and achieve self-sufficiency.

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California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) Program – Opposition to the Elimination of the Expanded Subsidized Employment program

The County Welfare Directors Association (CWDA) opposes the elimination of the CalWORKs Expanded Subsidized Employment (ESE) Program as proposed in the Governor’s Budget. The CalWORKs ESE program offers CalWORKs participants subsidized employment placements that provide crucial training, skills, and experiences essential to securing and maintaining unsubsidized employment. The proposed elimination of this program would deprive CalWORKs participants of this valuable benefit and transformative experience.

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Governor’s Budget Proposal: Funding Deferral of CDSS Administered Housing Programs

The County Welfare Directors Association (CWDA) urges caution on the Governor’s Budget proposal of delaying the availability of a portion of the one-time funding provided for the California Department of Social Services’ (CDSS) administered Bringing Families Home (BFH) Program, the Home Safe Program, and the Housing and Disability Advocacy Program (HDAP) provided in Fiscal Year (FY) 2022-23.

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In Home Supportive Services: County Administrative “Bridge” Funding and Language

The County Welfare Directors Association of California (CWDA) and the California Association of Counties (CSAC) respectfully request $51 million General Fund (GF) on a one-time basis to county human services agencies for administration of the IHSS Program and trailer bill language requiring the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) to work with CWDA, county human services agencies, and county worker representatives during the 2024-25 fiscal year to update the existing IHSS administration state budget methodology to take effect in the 2025-26 fiscal year.

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Emergency Services And Disaster Response Support

The County Welfare Directors Association (CWDA) requests your support for $14 million General Fund (GF) annually to provide dedicated funding and resources to bolster county human services departments’ emergency services and disaster preparedness and response.

 

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Child Welfare Services (CWS): Oppose Governor’s Proposed Cuts – Initial Comments on Other CWS Proposals

The County Welfare Directors Association (CWDA) and the California Association of Counties (CSAC) are strongly opposed to the Governor’s Budget proposal that would cut $62.5 million General Fund (GF) in program funding impacting vulnerable foster children, youth and families served by the child welfare system. These cuts would eliminate vital services proven to stabilize youth and families and will result in increased costs in other systems including housing, criminal justice, health, and behavioral health.

Budget Priority

Budget Update: Budget Update: California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) Program– Oppose Governor’s Budget Proposed Cuts
Updates Issued In February 2024

The County Welfare Directors Association of California (CWDA) and the California Association of Counties (CSAC) strongly oppose the cuts to the CalWORKs program proposed in the Governor’s Budget, which total over $400 million. In addition to the prospective cuts that would begin in Fiscal Year (FY) 2024-25, the Governor’s Budget proposes to retroactively cut current-year funding and permanently eliminate all funding for specific CalWORKs services.

Budget Priority

State Budget Update #1 – Governor’s Proposed 2024-2025 Budget
Updates Issued In January 2024

Governor Newsom released his proposed 2024-25 budget this morning. The following budget update summarizes what we know so far about the proposals and issues of interest in the health and human services area. 

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FY 2023-24 State Budget Issues

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State Budget Update #3 Final 2023-24 Budget Agreement

The Legislature passed a revised budget bill yesterday afternoon, reflecting the final agreement reached by the Governor and the Legislature on the 2023-24 budget late Tuesday. Also passed were 18 of the approximately 25 budget trailer bills. The Legislature is expected to pass the remaining trailer bills in the coming days. The Governor signed the main budget bill last night and will sign the remaining budget-related bills over the next few days in time for the start of the new fiscal year on July 1.

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Budget Update #2 on 2023-24 May Revision

Governor Newsom released the May Revision to his proposed 2023-24 budget on Friday, May 12th. This budget update summarizes what we know so far about the proposals and issues of interest in the health and human services area where there are changes proposed in the May Revision. CWDA staff will continue to keep you updated as we learn more details and as budget actions are taken in the Legislature. 

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County Human Service Workforce: Fund Innovative Recruitment Efforts – May Revision

The County Welfare Directors Association of California (CWDA) continues to respectfully request $35 million General Fund (GF) to increase recruitment of human service workers to meet the growing demands to provide safety-net services and economic supports to California’s children, youth, families, older adults and persons with disabilities. As California faces a potential economic slowdown and increased demand for safety net services, having an adequate human services workforce is even more critical.