Fact Sheet Public Health Insurance in California By Shalini Mustala, Paulette Cha Oct 11, 2023 More than half of Californians are covered by public health insurance—mainly Medi-Cal, which covers low-income residents, and Medicare, which covers most adults aged 65 and older. The state is preparing to expand Medi-Cal to all low-income Californians, regardless of age or immigration status.
Report Strengthening California’s Transfer Pathway By Marisol Cuellar Mejia, Hans Johnson, Cesar Alesi Perez, Jacob Jackson Aug 29, 2023 Increasing the number of California community college students who transfer to four-year institutions is critical for creating a more diverse pool of college graduates. Despite recent progress, transfer rates remain low and racial disparities persist. Several reforms are already underway, and higher education institutions must continue to work together so more students can reach their academic goals.
event Bridging California’s Digital Divide Jul 18, 2023 The pandemic highlighted longstanding gaps in reliable internet access and spurred unprecedented investments in broadband. What are the barriers to digital access across California’s diverse communities? How can we leverage recent funding to overcome obstacles and ensure digital equity? Join us for a multi-day conference about these critical issues.
blog post Commentary: The Importance of Californians’ Views on Immigration Policies By Mark Baldassare Jun 27, 2023 With its large immigrant population, California is highly impacted by global migration trends as well as by immigration policy and politics at the national level. While large majorities of Californians hold a positive view of immigrants and support immigration policy changes, a deep partisan divide remains.
Fact Sheet California’s Cash-Based Safety Net By Caroline Danielson May 1, 2023 Safety net programs that provide cash assistance help low-income Californians meet their basic needs. State and federal tax credits reach a large number of people, while programs that offer monthly payments provide a higher level of support to participants. This assistance keeps millions out of poverty—but not all who are eligible are enrolled.
blog post California’s Farmworkers and Their Children Are Vulnerable to Food Insecurity By Paulette Cha Apr 25, 2023 Farmworkers—90% of whom are immigrants—have access to a patchwork of food assistance programs. For many, this patchwork does not include all of the nutritional safety net programs that help reduce poverty across the state.
blog post Video: The Impact of Health Insurance on Poverty in California By Mary Severance Apr 6, 2023 PPIC researchers Patricia Malagon and Caroline Danielson discuss a new report that examines how access to health coverage affects economic well-being across the state.
Report Achieving Universal Broadband in California By Joseph Hayes, Niu Gao, Darriya Starr, Amy Gong Liu Mar 29, 2023 In 2021, California invested over $6 billion to expand broadband infrastructure, address affordability, and promote digital literacy. This report examines barriers to installing broadband in underserved communities and offers recommendations as the state aims to close the digital divide.
Policy Brief Policy Brief: Achieving Universal Broadband in California By Joseph Hayes, Niu Gao, Darriya Starr, Amy Gong Liu Mar 29, 2023 The COVID-19 pandemic spurred historic federal and state investments in broadband. Achieving universal broadband in California will require coordinated efforts among service providers, municipalities, and community organizations to overcome existing barriers and leverage funding opportunities.
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.