February 19, 2025 - In this post, we provide background on the state’s major food assistance programs, CalFresh and the California Food Assistance Program; provide updates on caseload trends; and analyze the Governor’s proposed food assistance budget. Under the Governor’s budget, there are no major newly proposed augmentations or solutions.
February 19, 2025 - In this post, we provide some basic background on the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) program followed by an overview and assessment of the Governor’s CalWORKs budget proposals.
March 4, 2024 - In this brief, we provide background on the CalWORKs program followed by an overview and assessment of the Governor’s California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) budget proposals, which include a number of budget solutions. In addition, the brief provides issues for consideration to help the Legislature evaluate the administration’s proposals in the current year, budget year, and beyond.
February 22, 2023 - In this post, we provide some basic background on the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) program followed by an overview and assessment of the Governor’s CalWORKs budget proposals.
May 29, 2024 - Provides initial high-level takeaways and comments regarding May Revision proposals for the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) program. Includes comments on the overall CalWORKs budget with a focus on new proposals at the time of the administration’s May Revision.
February 21, 2025 -
In this post, we provide background on the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids program, information on the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families pilot and California’s pilot application, and comments and questions for the Legislature to consider surrounding the implementation of the pilot.
(03/20/25) Update on Federal Pilot. In March 2025, the federal government notified the five previously selected pilot states—California, Maine, Kentucky, Minnesota, and Ohio—that these states were deselected from the pilot project. The federal Administration for Children and Families (ACF) indicated it plans to take a new approach to the pilot program and will issue a new request for proposals from states. The previously selected pilot states will not be subject to work participation rate requirements for federal fiscal year 2025. More information is available on the ACF website.
February 16, 2024 - This post provides background and caseload trend updates for the state’s major food assistance programs--CalFresh and the California Food Assistance Program (CFAP)--and analyzes the Governor’s proposed food assistance budget, which includes no major new proposals.
February 11, 2022 - In this post, we provide some basic background on the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) program, an update on recent program changes and caseload trends, and an overview of the Governor’s CalWORKs budget proposals.
September 11, 2024 - The Supplemental Report of the 2024-25 Budget Act contains statements of legislative intent and requests for studies that were adopted by the Legislature during deliberations on the 2024-25 budget package.
November 17, 2023 - This post summarizes the state’s 2023-24 spending package for child care and preschool. It is part of our Spending Plan series, which contains posts focused on each major sector of the state budget.
Update (12/20/23): Corrected total child care program costs in Figure 1.