Notes from 9.26.18 meeting re aligning with 4CA policy efforts

At the September 26, 2018 Sonoma County ACEs Connection meeting, there was discussion about firming up the SCAC policy subcommittee and aligning efforts with 4CA. For those seeking more information regarding 4CA, click this link: www.4cakids.org   See attached for the 4CA Action Plan 

Link to resent post by Gail Yen at 4CA: ACEs Connection Updates on the (4CA)'s Endorsed Bills

Copied from the 4CA website:
The California Campaign to Counter Childhood Adversity is guided by the 4CA Action Plan, a statewide policy agenda to prevent and mitigate the effects of childhood adversity. Our goal to raise awareness of the impact of childhood adversity on children, youth, families and communities. In addition, we aim to address gaps and structural inequities in systems so they can prevent and appropriately respond to childhood adversity, strengthen protective factors and build resilience

4CA OBJECTIVES

4CA advocates for public policies that:

1. Increase awareness about the impacts of childhood adversity and the opportunities that build protective factors and resilience.
2. Promote a trauma-informed workforce with demonstrated knowledge and skills to work with children, youth, families, and communities
3.  Build systems and practices that promote early identification coupled with evidence-based interventions and promising practices to mitigate and/or prevent the negative consequences of childhood adversity

4CA STRATEGIES 

These objectives will be achieved through the following strategies:*

1. Raise public awareness 
2. Develop a trauma-informed workforce
3. Recruit and train a diverse workforce
4. Increase access to interventions
5. Promote early identification coupled with interventions
6. Partner in efforts to address determinants of childhood adversity
7. Cultivate trauma-informed systems

Track Policy Opportunities list of bills that are aligned with the Action Plan or aim to protect children's safety net (click here to see priority legislation for 2017 & 2018: www.4cakids.org/policy

Support  Policymaker Education Day education day to increase awareness of childhood adversity 

Develop and Disseminate Advocacy Materials for community advocates to effectively frame childhood adversity and what to do about it

Engage in Advocate Education training materials to increase knowledge about current models to address childhood adversity

Propose your Own Tactic for 4CA to consider and prioritize 

2018 Priority Legislation: 

• Jurisdiction of the Juvenile Court (SB 439, Mitchell & Lara), currently in California the juvenile court has jurisdiction of people 18years of age and below. This bill would establish a minimum age for juvenile justice jurisdiction to be 12years of age.

  • Sponsors of this bill: Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice, Children’s Defense Fund-CA and National Center on Youth Law, & Youth Justice Coalition.

• Pupil Health: Pupil and School Staff Trauma: Trauma-Informed Schools Initiative (AB 2691, Jones-Sawyer), this bill seeks to establish a Trauma-Informed Schools Initiative to address the impact of adverse childhood experiences on the educational outcomes of students by providing information on how to become trauma-informed schools

  • Sponsors of this bill: Children Now

• Foster Youth: Family Urgent Response System (AB 2043, Arambula), this bill seeks to establish a statewide toll-free hotline and mobile response system to provide immediate support for foster families and youth during times of crisis, and connect youth and families to services in their communities.

  • Sponsors of this bill: California Behavioral Health Directors Association, California Welfare Directors Association Children Now

• Trauma-Informed Awareness Day (ACR 235, Arambula) resolution to designate May 22, 2018, as Trauma-Informed Awareness Day in California, in conjunction with National Trauma-Informed Awareness Day, to highlight the impact of trauma and the importance of prevention and community resilience through trauma-informed care.
  
  2017

  • CA Continuing Medical Education (AB 1340, Maienschein), for the Medical Board to consider including a course for primary care providers on integrated mental and physical health care, to identify and treat mental health issues in children and young adults.

    • Status: Passed and signed into law.

  • CA Mental Health Services for Low-Income Children (AB 340, Arambula), establish an advisory working group to update, amend, or develop, tools and protocols for screening children for trauma as part of routine health screening through Medicaid.

    • Status: Passed and signed into law.

  • California Values Act (SB 54, De León), prohibit state or local resources from being used to support mass deportations and ensure public institutions are safe spaces for children, families and communities.

    • Status: Passed and signed into law.

  Note: Posting legislative updates and advocacy opportunities does not signify endorsement by 4CA, its members or affiliated organizations.