Links
Information affecting children and families on the web
Action Alliance for Children is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization. We do not necessarily endorse the opinions of any organization we link to.
Advocacy and policy
ACORN is a national organization that organizes grassroots groups in low- and moderate-income communities for social and economic justice. ACORN has thirteen chapters in California.
Annie E. Casey Foundation is a foundation
dedicated to improving the future of disadvantaged U.S. children.
KIDS COUNT project tracks state-by-state benchmarks of children's
well-being.
Applied Research Center is a public policy, educational, and research institute whose work emphasizes issues of race and social change.
Bay Area Parent Leadership Action Network is a regional network of parent leaders and organizations working to build a social justice movement for families. Parent leadership training available throughout California.
California Council of Churches brings up public policy issues of concern to the faith community for study by local congregations.
California First Five offers information on local First 5 commissions and additional resources for families.
California Partnership is a statewide coalition of community-based organizations that fights poverty in California.
California Tomorrow works to help schools, institutions serving families, early childhood programs, and communities to respond positively and equitably to diverse populations.
Child Welfare League of America is a national membership organization of agencies devoted to the well-being of vulnerable children and their families.
Children NOW provides policy analysis and research on issues affecting children in the US.
Children's Advocacy Institute
provides information and advocacy on children's issues. Also coordinates
the
Children's Advocates Roundtable, which brings together statewide and
regional children's organizations to share resources and information and
foster a children's political movement.
Children's Defense Fund
educates the country about children's needs and encourages preventive
investment in children, particularly poor children and children of color.
Children's Defense Fund, California works on a variety of issues,
including the state budget, health, child care, and economic justice.
Coleman Advocates for Children and Youth is a child advocacy organization working to improve the life of San Francisco's children, youth, and their families.
Connect for Kids provide information and and an action center for adults who want to make their communities work better for children.
MomsRising is a primarily internet-based grassroots organizing campaign working for more family-friendly policies in communities, workplaces, and government.
On the Capitol Doorstep provides information on California and federal legislation affecting young children.
Parent Voices is a grassroots advocacy organization of parents working to make quality child care available and affordable for all families.
PICO California is a community organizing network based in religious congregations working to strengthen families and improve communities.
Politics of Trust is an effort to foster civic engagement among Californians. Issue areas include healthy families, schools, health, diversity, public safety, and peace.
Stand for Children is a national umbrella organization linking local activists concerned about children's issues.
Voices for America's Children is a national organization devoted to building the capacity of state and local child advocacy organizations.
Budget, California and U.S.
California Budget Project provides independent analysis of issues affecting the economic and social well-being of low- and middle-income Californians.
California Legislative Analyst's Office provides nonpartisan fiscal and policy analysis to the California legislature.
Center on Budget and Policy Priorities is a research organization and policy institute addressing government policies, especially those affecting people with low-to-moderate incomes.
Child care and Early childhood education
California Child Care Resource and Referral Network provides information on county child care resource and referral agencies and how they provide support and resources for early care and education teachers and providers.
California Child Development Corps brings early childhood teachers and providers together to organize and advocate for better pay, benefits, job conditions, and professional respect.
California Head Start Association offers a unified voice providing leadership and advocacy for the Head Start community.
California State Department of Education, Child Development Division educates the general public about developmentally appropriate practices for infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and school-age.
Childcare Health Program promotes and facilitates the linkages between the health, safety, and child care communities, and the families they serve.
Child Development Policy Institute advocates on behalf of California children and families, with a focus on early care and education.
Child Development Training Consortium helps early childhood education teachers and providers work on professional development goals, also provides grants and stipends.
Fight Crime, Invest in Kids is a anti-crime organization that works to improve school readiness, early childhood development programs, schools, and after-school programs.
National Association for the Education
of Young Children promotes healthy development and education for all
young children.
California Association for the Education of Young Children is the
state affiliate and promotes excellence in early childhood education from
birth through 8 years.
Parent Voices is a grassroots organization campaigning to make quality child care affordable and accessible to all families.
Zero to Three is a national center for infants, toddlers, and families working to help children to develop a strong intellectual, emotional, and social foundation.
Families
California Partnership is a statewide coalition of community-based organizations that fights poverty in California.
Children's Defense Fund
educates the country about children's needs and encourages preventive
investment in children, particularly poor children and children of color.
Children's Defense Fund, California works on issues including the
state budget, health, child care, and economic justice.
Connect for Kids provide information and and an action center for adults who want to make their communities work for children.
Family Resource Centers Network of California
includes dozens of parent-run local family resource centers that offer
support to parents of children with special needs.
Family Voices of California works to address the needs of families of children with special health care needs.
I Am Your Child is a national effort to raise awareness about the importance of a child's first three years and to expand quality programs in early childhood development.
Parent Voices is a grassroots advocacy organization of parents working to make quality child care available and affordable for all families.
Radio Bilingüe is a radio network with Latino control and leadership. Hosts La placita bilingüe, a weekly live call-in program in Spanish on a wide range of parenting topics.
Strategies provides technical assistance and training to family resource centers throughout California. Also offers a searchable list of family resource centers.
Zero to Three is a national center for infants, toddlers, and families working to help children to develop a solid intellectual, emotional, and social foundation.
Government, California and U.S.
California Legislative Counsel is the official site for California legislative information, including details about Assembly and Senate bills.
California State Department of Education
California State Department of Social Services
THOMAS: Legislative Information on the Internet is the Library of Congress service that makes federal legislation available online.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families administers the major federal programs supporting social services for children and families.
Health
100% Campaign works to ensure that all of California's children receive health coverage.
American Academy of Pediatrics offers resources on the health of children from infancy through young adulthood.
California Food Policy Advocates works to improve the health and well being of low-income Californians by increasing their access to nutritious, affordable, and safe food.
Childcare Health Program promotes and facilitates the linkages between the health, safety, and child care communities, and the families they serve.
Children's Environmental Health Network works to improve children's environmental health through education, research, and policy.
Families USA advocates for high-quality, affordable health and long-term care for all Americans.
Family Resource Centers Network of California includes dozens of parent-run local family resource centers that offer support to parents of children with special needs.
Family Voices of California works to address the needs of families of children with special health care needs.
National Information Center for Children and Youth with Disabilities provides information on disabilities and related issues affecting children and youth.
Prevention Institute advocates for fitness, nutrition, and related health issues, injury and violence prevention, and city and county initiatives.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families administers the major federal programs supporting social services for children and families.
Poverty and income
California Partnership is a statewide coalition of community-based organizations that fights poverty in California.
Families and Work Institute conducts policy and research on changes in the workforce and family life.
Housing California builds support for policies and programs that expand the availability of affordable housing, health care, education, and community economic development.
Labor Project for Working Families provides technical assistance, resources, and education to unions and union members addressing family issues in the workplace.
LIFETIME works to empower low-income parents to achieve their goals for education, employment and economic security.
National Center for Children in Poverty is a center at the Columbia University School of Public Health that identifies and promotes strategies to reduce the number of young children and their families living in poverty.
Insight Center for Community Economic Development (formerly the National Economic and Development Law Center) works to build communities' capacity to achieve greater economic and human development for low-income families.
Western Center on Law and Poverty works on poverty law litigation and legislative advocacy in California.
Schools
California State Department of Education
California State PTA offers information about individual PTA associations as well as resources and advocacy opportunities.
Californians for Justice is a statewide organization building a movement for economic and racial justice, with a strong emphasis on organizing students and parents for improving public schools in low-income communities and communities of color.
EdSource produces parent guides, fact sheets, and publications on California schools.
Institute for Democracy, Education, and Access at UCLA provides research, training, and advocacy with the goal of making high-quality public education available in low-income communities of color.
Justice Matters works to bring about racially just schools by developing and promoting education policy rooted in community vision.
Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund (MALDEF) has a Parent School Partnership program that trains parents, school staff, and community organizations to advocate for a quality education for their children.
Policy Analysis for California Education (PACE) is a research center focusing on issues facing California's K-12 education system, based at the University of California at Berkeley and at Stanford University.
WestEd is a nonprofit research, development, and service agency that works to improve education at all stages of life.
Violence prevention
Child-Responsible Media Campaign works to protect children from the negative effects of media violence by educating the public, tracking legislation, and advocating for policies that limit children’s exposure to media violence.
Child Welfare League of America is a membership organization of public and nonprofit agencies devoted to the well-being of vulnerable children and their families.
Family Violence Prevention Fund focuses on education, public policy reform, and other work to prevent domestic violence.
Million Mom March is a national grassroots organization dedicated to preventing gun death and injury and supporting victims and survivors of gun violence.
Prevent Child Abuse California is a network of local child abuse prevention councils that works to build community resources, promote prevention, and advocate for public policies to reduce child abuse.
Prevention Institute advocates for fitness, nutrition, and related health issues, injury and violence prevention, and city and county initiatives.