An Urgent State Budget Ask for Communities

This year, California’s Cradle to Career Coalition is making a one-time budget ask of 17.5 million dollars. This investment will protect family services by stopping a funding cliff that will devastate many Promise Neighborhood communities. 

The “It Takes A Village” budget ask will allow regional partnerships (Promise Neighborhoods and other Cradle-to-Career networks) to coordinate proven, place-based strategies to support families impacted by federal threats, and set children on the path to college- and career-readiness.

A Proven, Place-Based Approach to Support Families

Cradle-to-Career networks strengthen California’s communities and economies. They rely on a proven,  place-based approach that meets families right where they live. This approach centers the needs of children and families. Iin communities across California, Cradle-to-Career networks help families get access to housing, healthy food, career supports, education, free tax prep services, health care and community clinics, and more. It truly takes a village to raise a child, and Cradle-to-Career networks gather the village. 

California’s investment in Cradle- to- Career networks has proven highly successful, but funding is expiring. Our leaders can keep these networks going.

Executive Director Of Hayward Promise Edgar Chavez shares CA Promise Neighborhood Networks’ amazing work over the past two years and his vision of 1 million children being served through these place-based networks!

The Cradle to Career Coalition’s Wide Reach

The Cradle to Career Coalition is a collaborative effort of over 650 organizations serving 1.4 million California children. The Coalition aims to improve outcomes for children, break cycles of poverty, and create a more equitable system where children can thrive. 

Cradle-to-Career networks can span cities and counties or just one neighborhood. They connect community partners to create a web of resilience that provides children with long-lasting community support. 

Cradle-to-Career networks in California include Bright Futures Monterey Count, Chula Vista Promise Neighborhood (SBCS), Cradle to Career Fresno County, Cradle to Career Sonoma County, El Monte Promise Foundation, Everett Freeman Promise Neighborhood (Corning Promise), Hayward Promise Neighborhood, Marin Promise Partnership, Mission Promise Neighborhood, Oakland Promise, San Diego Promise Neighborhood (SBCS), Stanislaus Cradle to Career Partnership, United Way of San Diego County.

Clear and Powerful Impact

The impact of only two years of California’s investment in Cradle to Career Networks shows that this money matters. 

• Chula Vista Promise Neighborhood saw high school graduation rates go up 4.4%and chronic absenteeism decrease 15%. 
• Corning Promise Neighborhood was able to give 1,960 K-12 students no-cost mental health therapy sessions and attract $3.5 million to develop high-wage jobs with rural high schools through the Career Technical Education Pathway ReDesign. 
• Hayward Promise Neighborhood had an 184% increase in families accessing food and nutrition resources, as well as a 30% decrease in chronic absenteeism. 
• Mission Promise Neighborhood saw 23 families move into permanent, affordable housing; 236 families get help through public benefits; the high school graduation rate rise to 86% and the college-going rate rise to 88%. 

The data is clear: place-based partnerships deliver proven return on investment!

Time to Invest in Communities in 2025

This budget season we need to renew the existing 13.5 million dollar investment in Cradle-to-Career networks.  We also want to secure additional supports for Promise Neighborhoods ($1 million per year over three years for four Promise Neighborhoods), Regional Partnerships ($250,000 per year over three years for four regions), and DSS Administration including Oversight and Evaluation. Regional partnerships working in some of the most underserved areas such as the Salinas and Central Valley have shovel-ready projects with an acute need for modest state investment.

Without action, funding will sunset. Funding expires at the end of this fiscal year, threatening a funding cliff at the 4 Promise Neighborhoods that will abruptly end services for 130,374 children and families and cause the loss of 55 jobs.

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Learn more about California’s Cradle-to-Career Networks: www.cac2c.org.