Topic Category: CalFresh

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

Posted on by Jared Call

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

Published on Apr 28, 2023 in CalFresh, State Legislation

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 thank supporters of the bill for making your voices heard. Your advocacy means we are one step closer to ensuring the state finally closes the state meal reimbursement gap for Family Child Care providers. Thank you.

We would also like to thank Assemblymember Wicks for her leadership on AB 679, and for her ongoing commitment to improving food access and child care for Californians with low income.

What’s next?

Now that the bill has passed it's policy committee hearings in the Assembly, the bill is moving to the Assembly Appropriations Committee. Join us in asking the Committee to move the bill on to the Assembly Floor!

Here are three easy ways to support boosting CalFresh benefits:

1) Call and/or Email these key Legislative leaders:

Please also contact your Assemblymember if they are listed below as members of the Appropriations Committee (find your Rep here):

Sample script: 

Hi, my name is _____ and I live in ______. I’m calling to urge Assemblymember ______ to support AB 679, a bill that will bring equity to child care nutrition programs by eliminating the state meal reimbursement gap that discriminates against providers in family child care (FCC) homes. Please support AB 679. Thank you. [Or choose one or more of the following reasons or tell them your own]

  • Existing California law creates an inequitable gap that keeps family child care providers from receiving full state reimbursement for meals served to children in their care. They are required to be reimbursed for only 75% of the meals served to kids in their care. This gap means family child care providers receive no state funding for one out of every four meals they serve. We need to end this discriminatory policy now.
  • CA must change the outdated law that forces family child care providers to be reimbursed for only 75% of the meals they serve to the kids in their care.

2) Show your support on social media!

Tweet or post your support and tag key members, especially Assemblymember Holden (@ChrisHoldenNews) and Speaker Rendon (@Rendon63rd).

Sample tweets:

All children deserve to be well nourished and thrive. And family child care providers deserve equal reimbursement for healthy meals served to kids in their care. Plz support AB 679! @ChrisHoldenNews @Rendon63rd

CA needs to step up and change the outdated law that forces family child care providers to be reimbursed for only 75% of the meals they serve to the kids in their care. @ChrisHoldenNews @Rendon63rd

We are disappointed in CA’s racist policy that only reimburses family child care providers for 75% of the meals they serve to kids in their care. Support AB 679! @ChrisHoldenNews @Rendon63rd

3) We are also advancing a state budget request to allocate the funding called for in AB 679.

Click here to read our coalition budget sign-on letter. To add your organization in support of fair meal reimbursements in child care, please email your organization's logo to jared@nourishca.org. Thank you!

Background

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. Join us in calling on the state to make the modest, long overdue investment in equity. Take one (or all!) of the actions above today.

Questions? Contact: Jared Call at jared@nourishca.org.

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

Posted on by Jared Call

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

Published on Apr 18, 2023 in Adults, CalFresh, Child Nutrition, Older Adults, State Legislation

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 to the Senate Floor and one step closer to raising the monthly minimum benefit to $50.

Here are two easy ways to support SB 600:

1) Call and/or Email These Senators

    1. Senator Anthony Portantino, Chair (D-25) (916) 651-4025
    2. Senate President pro Tempore Toni Atkins (D-39) (916) 651-4039

Please also contact your Senator if they are listed below as members of the committee (find your rep here):

Sample script:

Hi, my name is _____ and I live in ______. I’m calling to urge Senator ______ to support SB 600, a bill that will raise the CalFresh minimum benefit from $23 per month to $50 per month. Please support SB 600 in Senate Appropriations. Thank you.

  • Many Californians need more help putting food on the table, We need to raise the CalFresh minimum benefit from $23 per month to $50 per month.
  • Pandemic-era CalFresh benefit boosts expired abruptly in March. SB 600 is one way to help mitigate the harm of those drastic cuts.
  • Many older adults and people with disabilities only receive $23 a month in food assistance. SB 600 will raise that to $50.

2) Show your support on social media!

Tweet or post your support and tag key members, especially Senator Portantino (@Portantino) and Senate President pro Tem Toni Atkins (@SenToniAtkins)

Sample tweets:

  • #SB600 will ensure no one receives les than $50 CalFresh per month. Plz support SB 600 @Portantino @SenToniAtkins
  • #SB600 will help more Californians afford the foods they need. Plz support SB 600 @Portantino @SenToniAtkins
  • Many CalFresh recipients only receive $23 per month. That's not enough to afford even the basics. #SB600 will raise the minimum benefit to $50/month. Plz support SB 600 @Portantino @SenToniAtkins

Questions? Contact: Jared Call at jared@nourishca.org.

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

Posted on by Jared Call

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

Published on Mar 31, 2023 in CalFresh, State Legislation

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 like to thank supporters of the bill for making your voices heard. Your advocacy means we are one step closer to ensuring the state increases investments to boost CalFresh benefits to help mitigate the harm caused by the CalFresh benefits cliff. Together, we've also moved the program one step closer to becoming a permanent supplement to CalFresh. Thank you.

We would also like to thank Assemblymember Arambula for his leadership on AB 605, and for his ongoing commitment to improving food access for Californians with low income.

What’s next?

Now that the bill has passed it's policy committee hearings in the Assembly, the bill is moving to the Assembly Appropriations Committee. Join us in asking the Committee to move the bill on to the Assembly Floor!

Here are three easy ways to support boosting CalFresh benefits:

1) Call and/or Email these key Legislative leaders:

Please also contact your Assemblymember if they are listed below as members of the Appropriations Committee (find your Rep here):

Sample script: 

Hi, my name is _____ and I live in ______. I’m calling to urge Assemblymember ______ to support AB 605, a bill that will boost CalFresh benefits to help people afford the foods they need and want to stay healthy. It will also support California farmers and grocery retailers. Please support AB 605. Thank you. [Or choose one or more of the following reasons or tell them your own]

  • CalFresh benefits were recently cut. AB 605 will help families afford the foods they need. Please support AB 605.
  • AB 605 will help reduce the harm households are facing due to the CalFresh benefits cut.
  • In the long-term, AB 605 will position the program to become permanently available to CalFresh families throughout California
  • No one should go hungry in the great state of California. Food is an essential part of a full and healthy life. AB 605 is a “win-win-win” that reduces hunger, improves public health, and boosts California’s economy.

2) Show your support on social media!

Tweet or post your support and tag key members, especially Assemblymember Holden (@ChrisHoldenNews) and Speaker Rendon (@Rendon63rd).

Sample tweets:

#AB605 will boost CalFresh benefits immediately without any extra forms or hassle for participants. Please support AB 605!  @ChrisHoldenNews @Rendon63rd

Support AB 605, the CalFresh Fruit & Vegetable Supplemental Benefits Expansion. Fight hunger, improve health, and support California's economy @ChrisHoldenNews @Rendon63rd

AB 605 will bolster households' food budgets immediately and ongoing. The state must use every option to reduce the harm of the CalFresh cuts. Support AB 605! @ChrisHoldenNews @Rendon63rd

3) We are also advancing a state budget request to allocate the funding called for in AB 605.

Click here to read our coalition budget sign-on letter. To add your organization in support of funding the CalFresh Fruit and Vegetable Supplemental Benefits Expansion, please email your organization's logo to jared@nourishca.org. Thank you!

Background

CalFresh helps more than five million people put food on the table. But federal benefit levels limit purchasing power, especially in the face of California’s relentlessly high cost of living. For the majority of CalFresh participants, benefits do not last through the whole month.

Recognizing the potential for supplemental benefit programs to fight hunger and support California's economy, the state funded the Fruit and Vegetable EBT Pilot in 2018. Since the pilot was funded, the number of Californians relying on CalFresh has risen by over one million individuals. California can respond to the need for more nutrition assistance by building on the recently launched pilot.

We applaud Assemblymember Arambula's leadership to boost CalFresh and move a major step closer to a statewide supplement benefits program. We need your help to show broad support to the Legislature. You can support AB 605 by joining our campaign and taking one or more of the actions above today!

Questions? Contact: Jared Call at jared@nourishca.org.

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Support SB 600 (Menjivar) to Raise the CalFresh Minimum Benefit

Posted on by Jared Call

Support SB 600 (Menjivar) to Raise the CalFresh Minimum Benefit

Published on Mar 30, 2023 in CalFresh, State Legislation

More than an estimated five million Californians will experience a devastating cut to their CalFresh benefits when federally funded emergency (pandemic) allotments end in March 2023. The average CalFresh household will lose $163 per month. More than one in 10 households will see their benefits slashed from $281 to $23 per month.

Increasing the minimum CalFresh benefit is one way to help mitigate this loss. California can — and should — join the several other states that have already taken this action to help prevent poverty and food insecurity.

SB 600 will increase the CalFresh minimum benefit so no household receives less than $50 per month. The bill will be heard in the Senate Human Services Committee on April 17. Make your voice heard by submitting a letter of support by April 10.

Click here for a customizable letter of support with instructions on how to submit.

Thank you for your support and advocacy!

Questions?

Contact Jared Call at jared@nourishca.org.

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SB 245 Passes Senate Human Services with Unanimous Support!

Posted on by Muneera Gardezi

SB 245 Passes Senate Human Services with Unanimous Support!

Published on Mar 28, 2023 in CalFresh, Food4All, Immigrants, State Legislation

SB 245 (Hurtado): Food for All passed out of the Senate Human Services Committee last week with unanimous support! Nourish California and the California Immigrant Policy Center, the bill’s cosponsors, would like to thank supporters of the bill for the strong showing at last weeks hearing.

We are extremely grateful to our many Food4All coalition partners who called in to support.  We know that it takes time and effort out of people's lives and very busy schedules to amplify the importance of Food4All.

We would like to give a special thank you to Nieves, a community member of the Central Valley Immigrant Integration Collaborative (CVIIC), for providing a powerful testimony around her personal experience with food insecurity, outlining the importance of Food4All. We appreciate her willingness to share her personal story and expertise in her native language Triqui.

We would also like to thank Senator Hurtado for her leadership on SB 245, and for her commitment to expand CalFresh to all Californians regardless of immigration status or age.

You can view the SB 245 hearing testimony below.

What’s next?

AB 311 (Santiago): Food4All will be heard in Assembly Human Services Committee. We need your support as the bill heads to its first committee!      

AB 311 Sample Letter of Support

Submit a letter in support of AB 311. Use the sample letter above or write your own letter outlining the importance of Food4All. Please submit your letter as soon as possible.

Email letters to Clarissa.Dominguez@asm.ca.gov and cc: muneera@nourishca.org and mpanbehchi@caimmigrant.org.

AND/OR

Submit directly through the State’s online Advocate Portal for Legislative Position Letters.  NOTE: You will need to create an account for yourself/your organization to upload letters through the portal.

Organizations: please be sure to submit your letter on letterhead.

Individuals: please be sure to include your mailing address in your letter.

 

Want to join the Food4All movement? Check out our Food4All page for more information.

Have questions about the Food4All campaign? Contact betzabel@nourishca.org. 

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Food Hardships and Opportunities for Change

Posted on by Courtney Shojinaga

On March 22, 2023, Nourish California shared key findings from a series of focus groups and recent statewide surveys that asked Californians about their experiences accessing the food they need and want. This research was conducted in partnership with Fairbank, Maslin, Maullin, Metz & Associates (FM3).

You can access the recording of the webinar here and the presentation slides here.

Español:

Dificultades alimentarias y oportunidades para el cambio

El 22 de marzo de 2023, Nourish California compartió los hallazgos más significativos de una serie de grupos de enfoque y encuestas estatales recientes que preguntaron a los californianos sobre sus experiencias para tener acceso a los alimentos que necesitan y desean. Esta investigación se realizó en colaboración con Fairbank, Maslin, Maullin, Metz & Associates (FM3).

Puede acceder a la grabación del webinario aquí. Y a la presentación aquí.

Send a letter in support of AB 311 (Santiago)

Posted on by Betzabel Estudillo

AB 311 (Santiago) "Food4All" will be heard in Assembly Human Services Committee. We need your support as the bill heads to its first committee!

AB 311 Sample Letter of Support

How you can help: Submit a letter in support of AB 311. Use the sample letter above or write your own letter outlining the importance of Food4All. Please submit your letter as soon as possible.

Email letters to Clarissa.Dominguez@asm.ca.gov and cc: betzabel@nourishca.organd bchao@caimmigrant.org

AND/OR

Submit directly through the State’s online Advocate Portal for Legislative Position Letters. NOTE: You will need to create an account for yourself/your organization to upload letters through the portal.

Organizations: please be sure to submit your letter on letterhead.

Individuals: please be sure to include your mailing address in your letter.

 

Want to join the Food4All movement? Check out our Food4All page for more information.

CalFresh Fruit & Vegetable EBT Pilot Expansion (AB 605) Passes Assembly Human Services!

Posted on by Jared Call

 

AB 605 (Arambula) passed out of its first hearing in the Assembly Human Services Committee yesterday on a unanimous 8-0 vote. Nourish California and SPUR, the bill’s cosponsors, would like to thank supporters of the bill for the strong showing at today’s hearing.

Over 20 organizations and individuals across the state submitted letters of support, and six organizations expressed support during the hearing’s public comment period. We are grateful for all who took time out of their busy schedules to make their voices heard. Together, we can help mitigate the CalFresh hunger cliff by dramatically increasing the number and geographic diversity of CalFresh households who can access supplemental benefits. Yesterday’s hearing moved the program one step closer to becoming a permanent supplement to CalFresh.  Thank you.

We would like to give a special thank you to David Barber-Dunham of San Diego. David’s powerful testimony illustrated the challenges CalFresh participants face affording the foods they need and want to stay healthy. He also told the Committee how helpful supplemental benefit programs have been for him and that AB 605 would benefit more people in his situation. We appreciate his willingness to share his experience and expertise.

We would also like to thank Assemblymember Arambula for his leadership on AB 605, and for his ongoing commitment to improving food access for Californians with low income.

Click here to watch the video of the AB 605 Assembly Human Services hearing.

What’s next?

AB 605 now moves on to the Assembly Agriculture Committee. We invite you to submit a letter of support in advance of the hearing. Click here to download a sample letter with instructions on how to submit.

Have questions about upcoming advocacy opportunities? Contact Jared Call at jared@nourishca.org.

Background

Fruit and vegetable supplemental benefit programs, which provide CalFresh participants with matching dollars when they buy fresh fruits and vegetables, make food more affordable while also supporting California farmers. Numerous organizations have piloted these initiatives, also commonly known as healthy food incentive programs, at grocery stores and farmers’ markets in California. Evaluations from those programs in California, and others nationally, show that they reduce hunger, improve health, and boost the agricultural economy.

We applaud Assemblymember Arambula’s leadership to boost CalFresh and move a major step closer to a statewide supplement benefits program. We need your help to show broad support to the Legislature. You can support AB 605 by joining Nourish California and our co-sponsors, SPUR, in sending in a letter of support today.

Nourish California 2023 State Legislative Agenda

Posted on by Jared Call

All Californians deserve access to nutritious food and other basic needs. Our team at Nourish California is working with the state legislature, the Newsom administration, partners, and community members to secure bold actions that tackle the alarming, persistent rates of hunger and hardship across our state. We invite you to join us in our advocacy to ensure everyone in California has enough to eat.

Our 2023 State Legislative Agenda is available in English and Spanish.

 

Have questions? Contact Jared Call, Senior Advocate, at jared@nourishca.org.

2023 CalFresh Forum Registration

Posted on by Kameron Mims-Jones

2023 CalFresh Forum February 15-16, 2023

**Traducción en español abajo

2023 CalFresh Forum registration is open, and we’re going hybrid this year! 

Each year, the much anticipated CalFresh Forum brings together hundreds of key stakeholders from across the state to acknowledge outstanding work, identify opportunities, and discuss strategies to improve the reach and impact of CalFresh. 

 

Nourish California is proud to host a two-day 2023 Calfresh Forum in partnership with the California Department of Social Services CalFresh Branch.

When: February 15-16, 2023 

Where: Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown - Arena & The Whova Virtual Platform 

Hybrid Day One: February 15, 9:30–2:30 

  • In Person Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown - Arena

Space is limited to 125 participants for in person attendance to allow for distance between guests. Networking opportunities abound!

Or

  • Virtually via the Whova Platform 

We will live-stream this engaging day of CalFresh legislative updates, featured speakers, and more!

 

Virtual Day Two: February 16, 9:00- 2:00 pm - Whova virtual platform  

  • Virtually via the Whova Platform 

The second day will be fully virtual. The event will include virtual networking, our annual Freshy Award presentation, and virtual breakout sessions. You helped identify the topic for these sessions, including college student access, Food4All implementation, and emerging Calfresh advocacy opportunities! 

 

Registration Costs & Details 

This year we will offer two registration options for attendance:

 

Registration Option #1 (limited to 100 in-person registrations)

Hybrid option: One in-person registration on February 15 plus full virtual access on February 16. This option will cost $75 and includes: 

  • In-person day-one agenda attendance on February 15th
  • Plated lunch
  • Social hour
  • Virtual day-two agenda access on February 16th through the Whova virtual platform
  • Virtual gift card for break refreshments
  • Pre-engagement via Whova

Registration Option # 2

Two-day Virtual registration will cost $35* and includes: 

  • Live streaming  through the Whova virtual platform of full in-person agenda on February 15 + full virtual day two agenda access on February 16
  • Virtual gift card for break refreshments
  • Pre-engagement via Whova 
     

*Discount code for full fee waiver available upon request; no application or questions asked -Reach out to Kameron   calfreshforum@nourishca.org

 

**Español

El registro para el Foro de CalFresh 2023 ya está abierto, ¡Y el evento será híbrido este año!

Cada año, el esperado Foro de CalFresh reúne a cientos de participantes de todo el estado para reconocer el excelente trabajo, identificar oportunidades y discutir estrategias para mejorar el alcance y el impacto de CalFresh.

 

¡Nourish California se enorgullece de organizar un Foro de Calfresh 2023 de dos días, en asociación con la subdivisión de CalFresh del Departamento de Servicios Sociales de California!

Cuándo: 15 y 16 de febrero de 2023

Dónde: Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown - Arena y en la plataforma virtual de Whova

 

Opciones para el primer dia , 15 de Febrero, Híbrido

  • En persona en el Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown - Arena

El cupo es limitado para 125 participantes en persona para poder guardar  una distancia segura. ¡Con muchas oportunidades para convivir y conectarse!

  • Virtualmente en la plataforma de Whova

 ¡Transmitiremos el evento en vivo, incluyendo las actualizaciones legislativas de CalFresh, oradores destacados y mucho más!

 

El segundo día, 16 de febrero, será virtual en la plataforma virtual de Whova

  • Virtualmente en la plataforma de Whova

 

El segundo día será completamente virtual. El evento incluye convivencia para conectarse con otros participantes, la presentación anual de los premios “Freshy” y sesiones de discusión  virtuales. ¡Usted ha identificado los temas de interés que incluirán, el acceso a la comida para los estudiantes universitarios, la implementación de Food4All y nuevas oportunidades para abogar por el programa de Calfresh en este año!

 

Costos de registro y detalles

Este año ofreceremos dos opciones de inscripción para asistir:

Opción de registro #1 (limitado a 100 registros en persona)

Opción Híbrida: La inscripción PRESENCIAL del día uno (el 15 de febrero) + la inscripción virtual completa del día dos (16 de febrero) costará $75 e incluye:

  • Espacio para asistir al el evento en persona el primer día - el 15 de febrero
  • Comida
  • Hora social 
  • Acceso VIRTUAL del segundo día (16 de febrero) a través de la plataforma virtual Whova
  • Tarjeta de regalo virtual para bebidas o refrigerios
  • Evento preliminar de introducción a través de Whova

Opción de registro # 2 

El registro VIRTUAL para los DOS días costará $35* e incluye:

  • Transmisión en vivo a través de la plataforma virtual Whova de la agenda presencial completa de el dia 15 de febrero + el acceso a la agenda virtual completa del 16 de febrero
  • Tarjeta de regalo virtual para bebidas o refrigerios
  • Evento preliminar de introducción a través de Whova

 

*Código de descuento disponible para cubrir la tarifa total, con solicitud previa; sin papeleo ni preguntas -Communíquese con Angeles Nelson, angeles@nourishca.org

 

Register Below

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Your 100% tax-deductible donation is an investment in our research and supports our mission to give California’s critically under-resourced communities the nutrition they desperately need.

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