Nutrition Action Alert 
June 16, 2016
In This Issue

One More Step: Help Us Secure Resources for School Breakfast

Yesterday, the Legislature sent a state budget to Gov. Jerry Brown that includes a great step forward for school breakfast. Last week, the Budget Conference Committee -- with support from the Brown administration -- advanced a significant investment in startup and expansion grants for after-the-bell breakfast. This investment will provide an additional $2 million over two years to prioritize and support implementation of after-the-bell breakfast at high-poverty schools where at least 60 percent of students are eligible for free or reduced-price school meals.

Thank you for your tremendous support of this effort. Here's to fighting hunger, supporting health, and improving academic achievement for children across our state!

Senator Leno Champions Investments in After-the-Bell School Breakfast
Senator Leno Champions Investments in After-the-Bell School Breakfast
Please join us in thanking the legislature and urging Governor Brown to maintain these funds as he finalizes the state budget. Let the Administration know we're counting on their commitment to invest in school breakfast. We encourage supporters of after-the-bell breakfast to write and tweet Governor Brown and state leaders. Sample text and tweets are below.

Send a Short Letter
Organizations, please be sure to submit your letter on letterhead.
Individuals, please be sure to include your mailing address in your letter. Please send your letters to   leg.unit@gov.ca.gov and tia@cfpa.net Please indicate "Support for school breakfast grant increase" in the email subject line.

Dear Governor Brown,

We thank you and the Legislature for the commitment to invest in school breakfast and California kids ( SB 828/AB 1600, Section 37) . A $2 million dollar investment to increase startup and expansion grants for after-the-bell breakfast in high-poverty schools will help ensure that our most vulnerable students have access to the nutritious meals they need to learn, grow, and achieve. 

We thank you for your leadership on equity in education and children's health, and we urge you maintain funding for this important issue.

Share a Tweet
  • Please maintain the investment in kids and #CAbreakfast after the bell @JerryBrownGov! TY @MarkLeno @PhilTing: goo.gl/DyUZH5 @CAFoodPolicy
  • Smart investment: #CAbreakfast for returns on health & academics @JerryBrownGov. TY@MarkLeno @PhilTing  goo.gl/DyUZH5 @CAFoodPolicy
  • Please continue increased support for #CAbreakfast so our kids learn, grow & achieve@JerryBrownGov goo.gl/DyUZH5 @CAFoodPolicy 
  • #CAbreakfast gets kids ready 2 learn @JerryBrownGov. TY @MarkLeno @PhilTing for smart investments goo.gl/DyUZH5 @CAFoodPolicy

Questions? Please contact Tia Shimada at 510.433.1122 ext 109
AB 2099 (Stone) Moves Forward to Senate Appropriations Committee

Yesterday, AB 2099 (Stone) - Safe Drinking Water Relief received bipartisan, unanimous support from the Senate Human Services Committee. Our thanks to Assemblymember Stone for championing this critical issue and to all of the bill's supporters for lending their voice to support an efficient and effective process to get relief to low income households without access to safe drinking water.

Testimony was provided by Jonathan Nelson from Community Water Center (CWC) and Hector Gutierrez from California Food Policy Advocates (CFPA). Jonathan discussed the water quality issues facing disadvantaged communities that make it difficult for them to access safe drinking water. Hector spoke to the need to leverage the State's Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) system to support families living in poverty who cannot afford to wait for long-term water infrastructure solutions and could benefit from an interim emergency drinking water benefit. AB 2099 now heads to the Senate Appropriations Committee.

How can you help: If you have not already done so, please submit a letter in support of AB 2099 and elevate your voice to help families access safe drinking water. These letters will help ensure that AB 2099 moves out of the Senate Appropriations Committee and onward to a full vote in the Senate.

Download a customizable letter of support and instructions for submitting your letter. doc

Learn more by visiting CFPA's AB 2099 page and s igning up to receive AB 2099 Legislative updates. link

Questions? Contact Tracey Patterson at 510.433.1122 ext 101
Save the Date! Water Access and Quality Convening August 12, 2016

CFPA invites you to attend this year's Water Access and Quality Convening. The event will be taking place August 12, 2016 at the California Endowment in Oakland from 10 am to 3:30 pm.

The convening will bring together a diverse group of organizations and stakeholders interested in improving water access and quality for children and communities across California. We will also be highlighting recent policy efforts and strategies being employed to increase the consumption and availability of water in schools, community settings, and federal nutrition programs.

Register for the convening. link

For more information, visit CFPA's Water Convening page.

Questions?  Contact Hector Gutierrez at 213.482.8200 ext 202
Save the Date! 
Next CalFresh Forum February 1, 2017

Each year, California Food Policy Advocates' (CFPA) CalFresh Forum brings together hundreds of key stakeholders from across the state to identify opportunities and discuss strategies to improve the reach and impact of CalFresh. The next CalFresh Forum is co-sponsored by the California Department of Social Services and will be held on February 1, 2017 in Sacramento, CA.

Stay tuned for registration details and a call for 2017 Freshy Award nominations, which recognize the efforts of individual Californians, as well as organizations, from across the state that have worked diligently in the last year to improve CalFresh.

View materials and resources from the 2015 CalFresh Forum. link

Questions? Please contact us at CalFreshForum@cfpa.net.
Main Office | 436 14th Street, Suite 1220 | Oakland, CA 94612 | 510.433.1122
Los Angeles | 205 S. Broadway, Suite 402 | Los Angeles, CA 90012 | 213.482.8200

Copyright © 2012. All Rights Reserved.