Bringing Up California

A whole child approach envisions a society rooted in racial and economic justice, where all children are embraced, valued and cared for; where every Black, Native American, Asian American, Pacific Islander and Latine child and their family has access to systems and services that promote their health, well-being, and the life opportunities that enable them to thrive.

Our mission is to advance a collective whole child equity agenda that seeks to improve the conditions under which children develop, learn, live and play, celebrate and value the strengths and attributes of their racial/cultural/linguistic identity, and support their sense of belonging.

Together, we work to make California the best state to have, raise and be a child. To accomplish this, Bringing Up California (formerly the Whole Child Equity Partnership), a multi-racial, multi-sector coalition of community and statewide organizations, advocates, community organizers, direct service providers and issue area experts, works across multiple disciplines to advance holistic policies and programs that center the assets and needs of California’s Black, Native American, Asian American, Pacific Islander and Latine young children and their families, who face the greatest systemic challenges.

Bringing Up California’s evergreen guiding principles are to:

• Advance strategies that promote healing and long-term asset building for children, families, and communities most impacted by institutionalized anti-Black racism
• Move forward community-centered, culturally and linguistically affirming solutions in health, education and social systems
• Uplift community strengths and leadership to understand how to best meet the needs of children and families and allocate resources

Building on these principles, Bringing Up California has established the following goals to advance racial equity and economic justice for children from prenatal phase to age 3, and their families:

1. California families have access to navigation and peer support to guide them to economic, social-emotional and developmental services in their communities that are culturally resonant
2. California families have the social support and adequate financial resources to support the healthy development of their infants and toddlers.
3. California birthing people are able to receive adequate prenatal care, birthing/parenting supports, and postpartum care to support the healthy birth and development of their infant and toddler.
4. California families have the social support to enable the early learning development of their infant and toddler.
5. California families with young children have affordable, reliable and high-quality health coverage and care.

The coalition is co-chaired by The Children’s Partnership and Catalyst California. Steering Committee members include: Around Birth Collective; Black Californians United for ECE; California Black Women’s Health Project; California Child Care Resource and Referral Network; California Coalition for Black Birth Justice; Californians for Justice; California Preterm Birth Initiative; Center for District Innovation and Leadership in Early Education; End Child Poverty CA/GRACE; Families in Schools; First 5 Association; First 5 LA; Ile Omode; InnerCity Struggle; San Diego Community Birth Center; SEIU Local 99; and Ventures.  

To learn more, please contact Manuel Fierro, Associate Director of Early Childhood Policy, at mfierro@catalystcalifornia.org.