Press Releases
Press Releases
United Ways of California Reacts to Governor Brown's Budget Proposal
January 10, 2013
Los Angeles, CA –United Ways of California (UWCA) issued the following statement today relating to children’s health, education and family financial stability in response to Governor Jerry Brown’s budget proposal. The Governor’s proposed 2013-2014 budget contains a number of major changes that will affect children and families.
After several years of harsh budgets that imposed significant cuts to the programs that families rely on, UWCA is pleased to see that the Governor’s proposed budget appears to usher in an era of reinvesting in California’s future. While this budget is by no means ideal for California’s most vulnerable populations, it inspires more hope than budgets in recent years, and smartly begins to rebuild our damaged health, education, and human services budgets.
Read more: United Ways of California Reacts to Governor Brown's Budget Proposal
United Ways of California Congratulates Governor Jerry Brown on Passage of Proposition 30
November 7, 2012
California Voters have responded to Governor Brown’s call for a Temporary Tax Hike to Save Schools
South Pasadena, CA – With the passage of Proposition 30 in the November 6 Presidential election, California will prevent $5.3 billion in trigger cuts to K-12 schools and $500 million in cuts to California’s public universities. Peter Manzo, President & CEO of United Ways of California stated “California has cut or deferred $20 billion from our schools and colleges in the past four years, despite having the ninth largest economy in the world. With the passage of Proposition 30, schools will be spared from losing as much as a month of school days and avoid massive cuts to educational programs our children need to succeed.”
Read more: United Ways of California Congratulates Governor Jerry Brown on Passage of Proposition 30
Nonprofits Shouldn't Mistake Nonpartisanship with Neutrality in the 2012 Elections
The following op-ed was published in the The Chronicle of Philanthropy.
August 19, 2012.
By Peter Manzo and Jan Masaoka
As partisanship heats up in anticipation of the November election, some nonprofits, think tanks, watchdogs, and good-government folks are seeking refuge in the cooler climes of nonpartisanship.
But in doing so, many charity and foundation leaders are mistaking nonpartisanship with neutrality and sitting on the sidelines while important economic and social issues are under debate.
Read more: Nonprofits Shouldn't Mistake Nonpartisanship with Neutrality in the 2012 Elections
United Ways of California Commends Supreme Court Decision on Affordable Care Act
Sacramento, CA
June 27, 2012
United Ways of California hails the Supreme Court's decision to uphold the Affordable Care Act as good news for millions of California children, families, and businesses who will benefit from many of the provisions of this health care legislation, some of which are already helping more children and individuals access health care. UWCA applauds the work that California’s Health Benefit Exchange and other agencies have done to date in California to implement this important law and calls on California policymakers to continue the state’s substantial progress toward implementation and ultimately, comprehensive, affordable health coverage for every child in the state.
Read more: United Ways of California Commends Supreme Court Decision on Affordable Care Act
United Ways of California Reacts to Governor Brown's May Revise Budget Proposal
Major Changes to Health and Human Services Could Harm Children and Families
May 14, 2012
Los Angeles, CA
United Ways of California issued the following statement May 14, 2012 relating to children’s health, education and family financial stability in response to Governor Jerry Brown’s May Revise budget proposal. The Governor’s revised budget contains an alarming number of major changes that will affect children and families. On behalf of United Ways of California, Pete Manzo, President & CEO, said:
"This revised budget calls the question of what kind of California we all want to live in - do we believe we can again provide first-class educational opportunities, comprehensive health coverage for children and individuals, effective assistance to parents struggling to support their families, and help our state be more competitive in a global economy?
Read more: United Ways of California Reacts to Governor Brown's May Revise Budget Proposal
United Ways of California Reacts to Governor Brown's Budget Proposal
Major Changes to Health and Human Services Could Harm Children and Families with No Guarantee of Success
January 6, 2012
Los Angeles, California
United Ways of California issued the following statement today relating to children’s health, education and family financial stability in response to Governor Jerry Brown’s budget proposal. The Governor’s budget contains an alarming number of major changes that will affect children and families.
“We understand California’s dire fiscal situation, and we appreciate that the Governor’s budget does not attempt to reach balance only through cuts, but the fact remains that even in the best case, this budget further jeopardizes the future of millions of vulnerable California children and their families by threatening loss of health coverage and care, increasing obstacles to self-sufficiency and shrinking educational pathways.” said Peter Manzo, President & CEO of United Ways of California.
Read more: United Ways of California Reacts to Governor Brown's Budget Proposal
CPUC Action Would Ensure 100% 2-1-1 Coverage For All California Residents In Times of Disasters and Emergencies
2-1-1 Available to Provide Timely, Critical Non-Life-threatening Information in Times of Disaster. Will Help Reserve 911 for Life-saving Emergency Calls.
September 13, 2011
San Francisco, California
The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) last week voted unanimously to approve a petition from 2-1-1 California to ensure 2-1-1 will be available to connect all Californians to vital information and referral services in times of disaster. Currently, 2-1-1 is available 24/7, 365 days a year in 30 counties, accessible to 91% of all Californians. But many rural communities do not have access to 2-1-1. The action will enable 100% availability of 2-1-1 to California residents in the event of a disaster or emergency.
The CPUC also appointed 2-1-1 California as the “Lead Entity” to coordinate 2-1-1 service statewide. 2-1-1 services are provided by local and regional 2-1-1 service providers, and 2-1-1 California is a partnership developed to coordinate their work statewide on an informal basis. Assigning 2-1-1 California as the lead entity will help ensure a more formal coordinated telecommunications, IT, software and organizational infrastructure to better connect and coordinate regional 2-1-1’s statewide and to expand 2-1-1’s during emergencies and non-emergencies alike.
California Budget Deal Gambles with Children’s Health
June 27, 2012
SACRAMENTO, CA – A coalition of leading children’s health advocates expressed outrage with the budget passed today by the Legislature, which jeopardizes access to health care for California children. This budget will eliminate the Healthy Families Program and shift nearly 900,000 children
to Medi-Cal.
“With this short-sighted decision, the Administration and Legislature are experimenting with the health of 900,000 children,” said Peter Manzo, President & CEO of United Ways of California. “Eliminating California's popular and successful Healthy Families Program is risky. The concerns
about this proposal expressed by legislators today necessitate instituting a strong oversight mechanism to make sure there actually is a doctor available before each child is transitioned.”
Read more: California Budget Deal Gambles with Children’s Health
Clock is Ticking on Children’s Health Coverage
Legislators and the Governor Need to Step Up and Prevent Hundreds of Thousands of Kids from Losing Health Insurance
August 23, 2011
Sacramento, California
On behalf of the state’s leading children’s advocates, Wendy Lazarus, Founder and Co-President of The Children’s Partnership, released the following statement in response to recent communications regarding a potential 37 percent shortfall in California’s Healthy Families budget for the current fiscal year.
Last week, the Managed Risk Medical Insurance Board, which administers the Healthy Families Program, responded to an August 12 inquiry from the Department of Finance by announcing it would have no choice but to disenroll children from health coverage unless needed revenues are again approved. If California lawmakers and the Governor fail to extend an assessment on managed care plans before the end of the legislative session on September 9, Healthy Families will lose $130 million in state funds and $260 million more in federal matching funds.
Advocates to California Congressional Leaders: Find a Budget Fix that Works for Families Too
Sacramento
July 7, 2011
California advocacy organizations committed to improving children’s health reacted to negotiations among congressional leaders that could cut health care for children and families across the state and throughout the country. A new study released today by the National Bureau of Economic Research (link below) emphasizes how critical health coverage is for low-income families.
Human Development Report Shows Large Disparities Among Californians in the Areas of Health, Education and Income
Report illustrates the markedly different opportunities and outcomes for California residents across geography, race and gender.
Los Angeles, CA
May 17, 2011
A new report released May 17, 2011 provides, for the first time, an easy-to-understand composite number that measures the well-being of Californians in the areas of health, education and income. A Portrait of California uses the internationally recognized Human Development Index to rank how Californians are doing against key benchmarks, broken out by demographic, geographic and other distinctions. This exhaustive report was prepared by the American Human Development Project, a nonpartisan initiative that seeks to move beyond an overreliance in the U.S. on GDP as a measure of well-being.
Read the full report and find regional data here.
United Ways of California Reacts to Governor Brown's May Revised Budget Proposal
Los Angeles, CA
May 16, 2011
Peter Manzo, President & CEO of the United Ways of California, issued the following statement today in response to Governor Jerry Brown’s May revised budget proposal to merge Healthy Families into Medi-Cal (a General Fund savings of $31.2 million) and increase funding for K-12 education by $3 billion.:
“United Ways of California believes that health, education and financial stability are the building blocks for a good life, and that addressing any of those areas effectively requires attention to all. We appreciate that, while facing an enormous budget deficit, the Governor recognized the importance of education in our children’s lives by increasing funding for K – 12 education. Clearly that is a win for our kids.
Read more: United Ways of California Reacts to Governor Brown's May Revised Budget Proposal
United Ways Throughout California Offer Free Tax Preparation Help to Working Families
Los Angeles, CA
March 16, 2011
As part of annual efforts to increase tax refunds and credits for low- and moderate-income families and individuals, California’s United Ways are operating and funding dozens of free community tax preparation programs and Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) sites throughout the state.
“With less than one month to go until state and federal income taxes are due, we want to make sure people are aware that free tax preparation help is available to those who need it,” said Peter Manzo, President & CEO of United Ways of California. “Last year programs supported by California’s United Ways’ were responsible for the preparation of more than 132,700 tax returns, amounting to over $153 million in refunds for low – and moderate – income residents. We hope to surpass those numbers this year.”
Read more: United Ways Throughout California Offer Free Tax Preparation Help to Working Families
United Ways of California Reacts to Governor Brown's Budget Proposal
Cost Increases in Children’s Health Programs Could Jeopardize Access to Healthcare
for More than 120,000 Children
Los Angeles, CA
January 10, 2011
Peter Manzo, President & CEO of the United Ways of California, issued the following statement today in response to Governor Jerry Brown’s budget proposal relating to children’s health and education. The budget proposal would increase premiums for more than half a million children enrolled in the State’s Healthy Families program, would significantly increase co-pays for emergency room visits, hospital stays and prescription drug coverage for children enrolled in Healthy Families and Medi-Cal, and would eliminate vision benefits for children under Healthy Families. The Governor’s budget largely preserves K-12 education funding at existing levels.
Read more: United Ways of California Reacts to Governor Brown's Budget Proposal
California Misses Opportunity for Share of $206 Million in Federal Funding for Covering Uninsured Children
Sacramento, CA
December 27, 2010
California today forfeited millions of dollars in federal funding to other states - money that could have gone to provide critical health insurance for California’s children – as the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) awarded $206 million in “performance bonuses” to 15 states that took steps to insure eligible children.
“It is really tragic that we lost out on an opportunity to provide health coverage to more California children, especially when there’s no reason California couldn’t have earned a performance bonus. The winning states face tough budgets just like we do, but they recognized that in hard times it is more important than ever to cover uninsured kids, and the federal government rewarded that commitment,” said Judy Darnell, Director of Public Policy at United Ways of California, on behalf of a coalition of organizations who work together towards ensuring all California children have health coverage.
More Articles...
- UWCA Accepts Connecting Kids to Coverage Challenge
- February 11th is National "2-1-1 Day"
- New Report Finds That Three in Ten California Households Cannot Afford Basic Needs
- Governor Signs Vital Legislation to Help Fund Health Coverage for Children in California
- UWCA Applauds Signing of AB1422 Which Prevents 1 Million Kids from Losing Access to Health Coverage
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