Report California’s Food Stamp Program: Participation and Cost Challenges for the State By Caroline Danielson, Jacob Alex Klerman Sep 16, 2011 California’s food stamp program, known as CalFresh, is a critical piece of the state’s safety net and serves 3.8 million Californians. More than half are children. Yet compared to other states, fewer eligible Californians actually participate, and the state’s administrative costs are higher. Examining historical data from all 50 states, the authors find that ending mandatory fingerprinting of adult CalFresh enrollees would likely increase participation and reduce costs.
Policy Brief Policy Brief: The Impact of Health Insurance on Poverty in California By Caroline Danielson, Patricia Malagon, Shannon McConville, Mary Severance Mar 27, 2023 The Affordable Care Act has helped millions of Californians gain health insurance over the past decade. In addition to improving access to care, the ACA has enhanced financial well-being. This work focuses on the significant contribution of publicly funded health coverage—particularly Medi-Cal—to family resources across the state.
Report California’s Care Workforce By Shannon McConville, Daniel Payares-Montoya, Sarah Bohn Apr 3, 2024 State master plans on the aging population and early learning and care have prioritized workforce expansion and career pathways for care workers who provide key services to young children, older residents, and people with disabilities. A new report outlines current realities and highlights challenges and opportunities in growing this critical workforce.
Report Assessing Teen Well-Being and Mental Health after the Medi-Cal Expansion By Paulette Cha Jan 27, 2021 Through the Medi-Cal expansion, California invested in adult mental health—but did teens also benefit? This report examines trends in adolescent mental health and maltreatment, and investigates disparities around race and immigration status. These topics weigh heavily as the strain of the pandemic on home life raises concerns over teen well-being.
Report Health Coverage and Care for Undocumented Immigrants: An Update By Paulette Cha, Shannon McConville Jun 23, 2021 COVID-19 has revealed how gaps in health care coverage among immigrants can put the health of entire communities at risk. This report updates findings on the ways undocumented Californians connect with the health care system to inform policy discussions around providing affordable health insurance for all.
Occasional Paper, Report Making Health Policy at the Ballot Box: Californians and the November 2004 Election By Mark Baldassare, Renatta DeFever, Kristy Michaud Feb 23, 2005 With funding from The California Endowment, Woodland Hills, California, February 23, 2005.
Report The Importance of CalFresh and CalWORKs in Children’s Early Years By Caroline Danielson, Tess Thorman, Sarah Bohn Dec 3, 2020 When a crisis disrupts finances, California families may turn to CalFresh and CalWORKs. About half of children access one or both of these safety net programs by age five. Knowing when children may participate, and for how long, can help policymakers address barriers to access.
Report Improving Health Care Data in California By Shannon McConville, Paulette Cha, Caroline Danielson, Daniel Tan Feb 26, 2020 California policymakers are moving to create a health care payment database (HPD) for examining health care use, costs, and outcomes. A state HPD would be a crucial resource to inform state policy around homelessness and improving children’s well-being. This report highlights research that could be advanced by an HPD.
Fact Sheet Income Inequality in California By Tess Thorman, Daniel Payares-Montoya Apr 17, 2024 California’s income gap narrowed in 2022, but the disparity between high and low incomes is wider in California than in most other states. Over the longer term, income inequality has been driven by earnings growth among college-educated workers.
Report Emergency Department Use in California: Demographics, Trends, and the Impact of the ACA By Shannon McConville, Caroline Danielson, Renee Hsia Feb 11, 2019 Visits to hospital emergency departments in California have grown considerably in recent years. But we find no evidence that the expansion of health coverage under the Affordable Care Act caused those increases.
