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Independent, objective, nonpartisan research
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Health & Safety Net

Analyzing policies for reducing poverty and increasing well-being

Featured Blog Post · December 5, 2022

Investing in Schools to Address COVID-19’s Toll on Youth Mental Health

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Safety net programs kept more than 19.7% of children out of poverty in fall 2021.
Schools were a key source of food for low-income families despite closures during the pandemic.
At 13.7%, LA County has the highest poverty rate in the state; Central Valley and Sierra region have the lowest at 9.3%.
California’s uninsured rate fell from 17% to 7% after the Affordable Care Act passed in 2014.
More than 1/4 of Californians are living in or near poverty.
66% Most California adults favor providing health care to undocumented immigrants.
Nearly half of California children participate in CalFresh, CalWORKs, or both over their early years.
64% Most poor families in California are working.