California Ballot Initiative to Raise Earmarked Funds for the Foster Care System

Abstract

While recent proposals in the California legislature have been successful in adding nominal dollars to the foster care system, a more radical and comprehensive initiative must be undertaken to address the issue of inadequate foster care funding in the state. Perhaps the only issue more disconcerting than the lack of resources is the looming threat to existing resources. The federal mechanisms which provide the bulk of funding for foster care services are exceedingly vulnerable to curtailment. Consequently, the resource problem afflicting the foster care system is two-fold: (1) An under funded system is providing limited and substandard care to foster youth and (2) the federal funding mechanisms providing the bulk of existing funds will soon face challenges. Work must be undertaken to provide additional and stable sources of funding to ensure the viability of existing services and to facilitate the implementation of new services for this underserved community. The long-standing “scattered” and “reactive” nature of policy making in this field makes it imperative that advocates take an aggressive grassroots posture to proactively improve and protect foster care services before they are completely crippled.This proposal seeks to introduce a ballot initiative to impose a 3.5% monthly internet access fee for all high-speed data lines servicing businesses and residences in California. The funds raised would be earmarked for new foster care services and programs in the state. Unused funds would be placed in a reserve account earmarked for future foster care services.