California Must Choose Children
California leaders need solutions to support the well-being, care, and learning of babies, toddlers and young children — and of the caring adults in their lives — to create a state where children thrive.
About Choose Children
Choose Children is a partnership of organizations and individuals committed to creating a thriving future for California children and families.
We work to ensure that candidates for California Governor take action and support investment and approaches that advance the well- being, care, and learning of young children, their families, and the essential workers who care for them.
Why Choose Children
California has the 4th largest economy in the world, yet our children’s health and well-being do not match our economic output.
- 25% of young children live in poverty
- 89% of children do not have access to early learning
- The cost of childcare is twice the cost of attending a private university
- 60% of babies do not get well-child visits in the first 15 months of life OR
- 71% of children do not receive recommended developmental screenings within the first three years of life
- 17% of early educators make less than a living wage
Our kids need us – and we have a responsibility to ensure that young children begin their lives healthy, safe, and ready to succeed in school and life.
And, we need our kids even more. The economic vibrancy of our region relies on making it a place where families with young children can live and thrive.
Investments in early learning care leads to three lasting impacts
Advancing Children
Giving our youngest learners the start they need to learn, grow, and develop – and setting them up for academic and economic success.
Supporting Caregivers
Supporting economic mobility for those within the early learning workforce (and their children and families) and developing a pipeline of essential workers.
Supporting Local Economies
Bolstering economic and community development by supporting employed parents and by seeding the next generation of workforce talent.
Choose Children Partner Organizations
All Choose Children Partner Organizations have taken the CHOOSE CHILDREN PARTNERSHIP PLEDGE that captures our shared beliefs and commitment.
