Children, Young Adults and Their Families

California Democrats believe that children and young people deserve the chance to become thriving and productive members of society. To do so, we will work to provide them with a healthy start, a solid education, and a safe community in which to thrive.

To help children and young adults reach their full potential, California Democrats will lead the charge to:

• Expand pre-natal, peri-natal and well-baby care, as well as immunization efforts;

• Enhance childhood education and development with enriching experiences, educational television and other electronic programming and curricula for children;

• Provide quality education at all levels, including vocational counseling, job training and apprenticeships;

• Promote in-school efforts for educational development, access to reasonably priced childcare, and early development centers;

• Lift at-risk families and working poor families out of poverty so that they can become independent and lead self-sufficient lives;

• Expand parks, recreation and mentoring centers for children and young people;

• Prosecute those who commit crimes against children, particularly sex crimes against minors, and strictly enforce the penalties for such crimes;

• Ensure that child abuse and neglect court proceedings are accessible and swift for all, and aggressively enforce child-support payment rulings;
• Support the removal of toxic substances from all toys sold in California;

• Promote, support and expand school and community-sponsored after-school programs; and

• Support the passage and implementation of nutritionally healthy school lunch and breakfast programs.