Sacramento Head Start Alumni Association

Budget Strategy Sessions

Oct 18, 2002

Youth Agencies Plan URGENT
Statewide Budget Strategy Sessions
In the face of budget cutting threats to virtually every funded community program not protected by Proposition
98, the California Coalition for Youth, the Children?¡?¦s Advocacy Institute and the California Adolescent Health
Collaborative are organizing budget strategy sessions in Sacramento, Los Angeles and San Diego. The purpose
of these meetings is to hear a current assessment of the budget situation, and to develop a strategy that youth
advocates and providers can share in approaching lawmakers about ways to minimize the damage to our
service infrastructure in the coming budget negotiations.
It is becoming clear that the intention of both the legislature and the Governor is to severely cut youth
services to meet the expected severe budget situation (once the elections pass). And they must not do this
without the advice and guidance of those impacted, including the youth and families who will be hurt the
most from their action.
Accordingly, the following meetings will bring together a working group of advocates and program
leaders to brainstorm about such a strategy and how we can implement it for maximum impact, both on a
statewide level and hopefully to enhance the advocacy efforts of individual programs or communities.
The results of these meetings will be distributed widely, and provided to each legislator, the Governor,
other policymakers and every media outlet that we can identify. Though the results most likely will refer to some
particular programs, our hope it to present the strategy in a way that advocates for a coordinated approach to
minimizing the damages to youth services in general.
MEETING SCHEDULE:
Sacramento/Northern California:
DATE: Monday, October 28, 2002.
LOCATION: State Capitol, Room 126
TIME: 2pm until 6:00pm
Policymakers and northern California providers are invited to this meeting. State and community
budget advisors will provide an overview of the pending situation and answer questions from providers about
youth services budget issues. All participants will then discuss and develop strategies to develop an effective
campaign to minimize the damage. The background materials, comments and ??Onal strategy ideas from this
meeting will then be formatted as the starting point in the discussion to follow the next week at the two
locations below:
Los Angeles/Central California Area:
DATE: Tuesday, November 20, 2002
LOCATION: Bresee Community Ctr., 184 S. Binini Pl, L
TIME: 2pm until 6pm
San Diego/Southern California:
DATE: Wednesday, November 14, 2002
University of San Diego
LOCATION: Hahn Univ. Cntr, Rm 107, 5998 Alcala Park
TIME: 2pm until 6pm
Directions and other information about each meeting will be posted on the California Coalition for
Youth?¡?¦s website (www.CalYouth.org). CCY expects to also host one or more statewide conference calls on the
results, to be announced at a later date. You will be noti??Oed by e-mail.
Each meeting will be limited to approximately 35 participants. An additional 5 slots will be provided for
youth and young adults under the age of 24 who wish to be involved to ensure that youth voices are heard.
Participants MUST RSVP no later than ONE WEEK in advance of each meeting. All persons interested in receiving
e-mail updates must provide CCY with an address and contact person. Check our website or e-mail CCY at
AskUs@CalYouth.org or call Valerie at 916-340-0505.