© 2025 First 5 Center for Children’s Policy. All rights reserved.
Blog Post
Alexandra Parma • Dec 4, 2020
In California, Black women are roughly four times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than women in all other racial/ethnic groups. California’s Black infants are almost three times more likely to die than white infants, regardless of the mother’s education and income. Indeed, a Black woman with an advanced degree is more likely to lose her baby than a white woman with less than an eighth-grade education.
Blog Post
Alexandra Parma • Oct 9, 2020
California has recently made several policy changes to increase the low rate of infants and toddlers receiving screenings to detect developmental delays. Starting in 2020, a new policy allows Medi-Cal providers to receive an incentive payment for screening infants and toddlers using a standardized screening tool that meets Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and AAP criteria, but it leaves out a newly recommended free developmental screening tool that offers distinct advantages.
Blog Post
Oct 1, 2020
The First 5 Association of California submitted a response to the Department of Health Care Services on its procurement process for managed care plans to serve the Medi-Cal population with recommendations designed to improve health outcomes for children and provide care with a whole-child, whole-family approach. The following provides an overview of the Association's response.
Blog Post
Alexandra Parma • Sep 22, 2020
When a child shows signs of a developmental concern, getting connected to supports early is key. Leticia DeGracia, a Sacramento mother of four young children, knew this was true and took swift action when two of her children, Jaqueline and Brandon, showed symptoms of autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
Blog Post
Sep 11, 2020
Brianna’s story is one of many that shows how difficult California’s early identification and intervention (EII) system can be for families to navigate. Without outside support systems, it is easy for families to get lost, frustrated, and disillusioned.
Blog Post
Aug 28, 2020
Effective August 1st, individuals receiving Medi-Cal who have been diagnosed with a maternal mental health condition, including postpartum depression (PPD), may qualify for an extension of coverage for up to a year.
Blog Post
Alexandra Parma • Jul 7, 2020
For a child with a developmental delay or disability, timely and accessible intervention services can be critical to that child’s wellbeing, as well as that of her parents or caregivers. COVID-19 has disrupted services for many families, compounding the stress related to changes to employment, child care, and overall routines. As a result, rates of stress, depression, and anxiety during the pandemic are significantly higher in households where a young child has a disability.
Blog Post
Cinthia Diaz • Jul 2, 2020
With a presidential administration that has kept immigrant families living in a constant state of fear due to one of the most aggressive agendas on immigration in modern times, and a virus that’s disproportionately affecting communities of color, home visitors can play a more vital role in immigrant families’ lives than ever before.
Blog Post
Hoda Shawky • Jun 23, 2020
While many women experience some mild mood changes after the birth of a child, commonly known as the “baby blues,” in California 1 in 6 women experience more significant symptoms of depression or anxiety. Orange County’s perinatal mental health toolkit is intended to provide educational, screening, treatment, and referral resources, the toolkit helps providers identify at-risk parents who may benefit from preventive services such as mentorship, classes, home visiting, and support groups.
Blog Post
Alexandra Parma • Jun 19, 2020
This week California released an important new policy making family therapy a covered benefit for children in Medi-Cal. This is a significant step forward in approaching children’s health from a whole-family wellness perspective.
© 2025 First 5 Center for Children’s Policy. All rights reserved.