California Alliance of Child and Family Services

08/27/2025

As reported by The Sacramento Bee , a new state audit finds cannabis brands use candy-like packaging that appeals to kids, leading to a 469% increase in child-related cannabispoisonings. Now, the same industry wants a tax cut (ASM Matt Haney) that would defund the youth prevention programs kids need. Youth Forward

Read the Article:

When California legalized recreational cannabis in 2016, voters were promised a safe, regulated market that would prioritize child safety. Nearly a decade

08/26/2025

We are so proud to celebrate the Catalyst Center’s Permanency & Youth Engagement Advisor, Celeste Walley, on her nomination for “Scholar of the Year” at this year’s FosterMoreys! This is well-deserved recognition.

Celeste is among an inspiring group of nominees across categories honoring youth, caregivers, and organizations whose dedication to foster youth is truly remarkable. Reading through their bios is a powerful reminder of the extraordinary impact being made every day.

Voting is open through September 19 — we encourage you to cast your vote for Celeste and for the other outstanding nominees!

Vote Here: https://form.typeform.com/to/lX1tAUhH?typeform-source

08/25/2025

Yesterday was Marsha P. Johnson’s birthday and we want to reflect on her revolutionary advocacy for LGBTQ+ youth, homeless communities, and people of color. As a Black trans woman and Stonewall leader, Marsha modeled how to center marginalized voices in social justice work, a lesson that remains urgent for child welfare today.

Her fight is a fight we continue today as the LGBTQ+ community are at a constant battle to keep the rights they have fought for and continue to advocate for the rights they should have. We will always keep the spirit of Marsha P Johnson with us as she exemplified what it means to advocate for our communities.

08/25/2025

When it comes to mental health, teens are often the first line of defense for each other. A powerful new story from KPBS shows how San Diego youth are formalizing that vital peer support.

Facing a shortage of traditional providers, innovative programs are training teens in active listening, resource navigation, and de-stigmatization. They're not replacing clinicians, they're building a bridge to care.

This is a model worth watching and supporting. Read how peer-led initiatives are making a real difference in communities.

A teen-run mental health hotline is seeing thousands of contacts from San Diego youth.

08/24/2025

A powerful new initiative tackles two critical challenges at once: building the behavioral health workforce by creating career pathways for opportunity youth. A new article from Davis Vanguard details the launch.

The Steinberg Institute and IFOSTER are launching a new website creating clear career pipelines. This is a win-win: it provides purpose and a career path for young people while growing a more diverse, passionate, and culturally competent workforce for all of us.

Read the full article to explore this resource and learn how to share it with the young people in your programs and community.

The Steinberg Institute and iFoster have launched a new website to expand access for opportunity youth to careers in behavioral health, providing peer support training and creating long-term, sustainable career opportunities within California's behavioral health workforce.

08/24/2025

Here at the California Alliance of Child and Family Services, we believe every child, youth, and family deserves access to quality behavioral health care. As the leading voice for organizations serving California’s most vulnerable communities, we are seeking a passionate and strategic Director of Behavioral Health Policy to drive systemic change.

If you're a mission-driven leader passionate about transforming behavioral health for California’s children and families, apply now to join our team in this important role. Together, we can build a healthier, more equitable future.

For more information and to apply, please visit:

California Alliance of Child and Family Services

08/23/2025

The most powerful tool in youth mental health isn't a new app or a complex therapy model, it's the art of listening. But how we listen matters. A recent article from Center for Health Journalism shows a journalist creating a safe, creative space, a writing workshop, to hear raw, authentic stories from unhoused youth about anxiety and coping that traditional methods might miss.

An important read for all providers.

“Anxiety feels like a bomb in my stomach and every second feels like a year and nothing makes it stop,” said one young woman. “Anxiety tastes like bad coffee on an empty stomach. Anxiety feels like something watching me sleep.”

08/23/2025

A recent CDC study found that nearly 40% of high school students experience persistent feelings of sadness and hopelessness. With devastating federal cuts to youth mental health services, TeenLine , a project of Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services , is answering the call.

As reported by Los Angeles Times , their trained teen volunteers are expected to field over 10,000 calls, texts, and emails from peers in crisis this year alone. They provide a critical lifeline by offering the one thing so many are desperate for: a compassionate listener who truly understands.

These teens are saving lives. Read this essential story on how teens are supporting teens.

Read the full article:

There are a lot of reasons why people reach out to Teen Line, a Century City-based hotline that connects young people in crisis to trained teenage volunteers.