All children deserve to be well nourished and thrive. But California fails to fairly invest in nourishing our youngest learners and supporting child care providers. Existing state law creates an inequitable gap that keeps certain providers from receiving the full state reimbursement for meals served to children in their care.

This gap means family child care home-based child care providers receive no state funding for one out of every four meals they serve. California’s
child care system undervalues and underpays essential labor historically performed by Black, Latina, and immigrant women. Ending the reimbursement gap is one important step toward eliminating those inequities.

Legislative Action

1) Bring equity to child care nutrition programs by eliminating the reimbursement gap that discriminates against providers in family child care (FCC) homes.

2) Support the Governor’s January budget proposal to provide a $1.5 million COLA to Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) operators to account for the increased cost of food

Take Action! Tell State Budget Leaders to Fund the CalFresh Safe Drinking Water Pilot Extension

We are pleased to share that the CalFresh Safe Drinking Water Pilot Extension budget request was included in the Senate budget package at $3 million one-time funding. Nourish California would like to thank supporters of the [...]

Take Action! Tell State Budget Leaders to Fund the CalFresh Fruit & Vegetable Pilot Extension

We are pleased to share that the CalFresh Fruit & Vegetable Pilot Extension budget request was included in the Assembly budget package at $10 million one-time funding. Nourish California and SPUR, the bill’s cosponsors, would like [...]

Food With Care (AB 679) Held in Assembly Appropriations

Today, AB 679 (Wicks): Food with Care failed to pass out of the Assembly Appropriations Committee. Nourish California and the CACFP Roundtable, the bill’s cosponsors, are deeply disappointed the bill will not be moving forward. However, [...]

Governor’s May Revision Misses Opportunity for Needed Investments in the Nutrition Safety Net

On May 12, Governor Newsom introduced his revised 2023-24 State Budget proposal, which maintained funding levels and support for most major safety net programs.  While we appreciate that major cuts were avoided, the revised plan still [...]

AB 311 (Santiago) “Food4All” Needs Your Help to Pass Assembly Appropriations

AB 311 (Santiago) “Food4All” has passed the Assembly Human Services Committee. The bill is currently in the suspense file in the Assembly Appropriations Committee. Join us in asking the Assembly Appropriations Committee to advance the bill [...]

SB 245 (Hurtado) “Food4All” Needs Your Help to Pass Senate Appropriations

SB 245 (Hurtado) “Food4All” has passed the Senate Human Services Committee. The bill is currently in the suspense file in the Senate Appropriations Committee. Join us in asking the Senate Appropriations Committee to advance the bill [...]

Support Healthy Meals in Family Child Care as AB 679 (Wicks) Heads to Assembly Appropriations

We are pleased to share that AB 679 (Wicks) “Food with Care”, passed out of the Assembly Education Committee this week on unanimous consent. Nourish California and the CACFP Roundtable, the bill’s cosponsors, would like to [...]

SB 600 (Menjivar) Needs Your Support to Pass Senate Appropriations

Now that SB 600 (Menjivar) has passed out of its policy committee, the bill is up for discussion in the Senate Appropriations Committee. Join us in asking the Senate Appropriations Committee to move the bill on [...]

Don’t Keep Us in Suspense!

Don’t Keep Us in Suspense! Explaining the California Legislature Appropriations Committees’ Suspense File We’re now at the point in the legislative session when a lot of bills have been or will soon be heard in their [...]

Support Boosting CalFresh Benefits as AB 605 (Arambula) Heads to Assembly Appropriations

We are pleased to share that AB 605 (Arambula) the CalFresh Fruit & Vegetable Supplemental Benefits Expansion, passed out of the Assembly Agriculture Committee today on unanimous consent. Nourish California and SPUR, the bill’s cosponsors, would [...]
Transparent Background Image Food With Care1

Food with Care

Fair pay for child care providers.

Free meals for all kids.