The struggles of poverty today don’t have to be tomorrow’s reality—we have the tools and resources to end poverty now
Who We Are
The End Child Poverty California (ECPCA) Coalition is a network of policy and advocacy organizations, direct service providers, researchers, thought leaders, and base-building and community organizations from across the state. Together, and in coordination with government officials and staff, our goal is to end child and family poverty in California. The ECPCA Coalition advocates for progressive legislation, public investments, and equitable implementation of programs and services that have transformative impacts on families and communities.
The Coalition’s membership list is found on the Our Partners page.
Interested in joining? Submit an inquiry form.
What We Do
California’s landscape is always evolving. The successes and challenges of the last decade have shifted our vision of the future and its possibilities. Building beyond the framework of the End Child Poverty Plan is essential to meet the needs of current and future Californians.
We must think boldly and creatively to ensure long-term prosperity for our communities.
The current iteration of the ECPCA Coalition’s work is IMAGINE.
We imagine a future where everyone is secure, respected, nurtured, valued, and free. This vision of our future guides our priorities and actions, informing the strategies we use to turn vision into reality.
IMAGINE is more than just an agenda; it’s a movement for change, focusing on the whole needs of children and families.
Find out more on our Community in Action page and our Policy & Advocacy Hub, made possible with support from the GRACE End Child Poverty Institute.
What We’ve Done
The Coalition’s roots reach back to GRACE’s founding and history. Charged early on with the importance of working in partnership and community, the organization’s growth and success are the result of years of collaboration with local, state, and national partners.
The ECPCA Coalition itself was a response to the passage of the Lifting Children and Families Out of Poverty Act (AB 1520, 2017). The culmination of a multi-year advocacy campaign, this legislation was a milestone accomplishment of grassroots activism and community leadership. Our foundation includes the allies that pushed this campaign across the finish line.
AB 1520’s main deliverable was a comprehensive framework to reduce child and family poverty in California. This framework, the End Child Poverty Plan, handed the Coalition our first policy agenda. Formally established to push for full adoption and ongoing implementation of the Plan, we worked tirelessly for several years on achieving all 43 recommendations.
Lessons learned throughout The Plan’s development informed, and continue to inform, how the Coalition operates.
- Negotiating strategic alignment across diverse groups
- Greater impact ↔️ effective cross-sector strategy
- The importance of interdisciplinary expertise
- Leveraging political interest into action for communities
- Channeling community power 🟰 change
As a catalyst for increased investment in child and family-first policies, the End Child Poverty Plan was incredibly successful. It gave us a baseline to rally around and will inspire our future efforts. We are excited to see what comes next, as we push forward in solidarity with our accomplices in the movement for justice and liberation.
Be a voice forchange.
Poverty is not inevitable—it’s a policy choice. Join our coalition and help us advocate for progressive legislation, public investments, and equitable programs that create real, lasting change for families and communities. Your voice can drive the transformative policies needed to end poverty now.
Take action today. Stand with us in the fight for justice and opportunity.
