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Family Voices of California Newsletter
In this issue:
✨ Protecting Medi-Cal Coverage for Families
🏛️ Policy, Budget & Advocacy Updates
📝 Medi-Cal & Medicaid Matters
🗣️ Family Feedback Opportunities
📅 Upcoming Trainings, Workshops & Webinars
🌤️ Resources for Families
Family Voices of California in Sacramento: Protecting Medi-Cal Coverage for Families
This week, Nancy Netherland, Senior Specialist with Family Voices of California, joined state leaders, advocates, and partner organizations in Sacramento to speak out in support of California bills aimed at protecting Medi-Cal coverage from harmful federal cuts and administrative barriers.
Nancy shared powerful testimony about what Medi-Cal means for children with complex health care needs and their families. As she reminded lawmakers, Medi-Cal is not an abstract policy — it is access to medications, therapies, in-home supports, and the care children need to stay healthy, safe, and included in their communities.
The bills discussed — including AB
2201, AB 2161, AB 2208, and SB 1202 — focus on streamlining renewals, reducing paperwork burdens, protecting affordability, and improving outreach so eligible families do not lose coverage because of confusion or administrative hurdles. These protections are especially important as California faces the potential impact of federal Medicaid cuts and increased eligibility requirements.
Nancy’s testimony brought the issue back to what matters most: real families, real children, and the real consequences when health coverage is interrupted. Medi-Cal helps families avoid crisis — and these protections help make sure children and youth with special health care needs can continue getting the care they need to thrive.
Policy, Budget & Advocacy Updates
CalMatters 2026 Voter Guide: California Governor’s Race: Compare the Candidates
California voters will choose a new governor in 2026, and the primary field is crowded. The governor plays a major role in shaping policies that affect families across the state, including health care, disability services, education, emergency response, housing, and the state budget.
Under California’s “top two” primary system, the two candidates who receive the most votes in the June 2 primary will advance to the November election, regardless of political party. With several candidates running, voter education matters.
CalMatters has created a nonpartisan voter guide and quiz to help Californians compare candidates and learn more about where they stand on key issues.
🔗 Take the quiz and explore the candidate guide.
CDLA Day of Action at the Capitol (Hosted by the California Disability Leadership Alliance)
📅 May 26 | ⏰ 10 AM – 4 PM | 📍 Sacramento
Join advocates from across California to rally for disability rights, protect critical services, and push for greater accessibility statewide. ASL, CART, and Spanish interpretation provided.
🔗 More Info
Undivided Presents: California Legislative & Budget Update — May 2026
Proposed budget decisions and policy changes could affect services, funding, and supports for people with disabilities and their families.
Join Aaron Carruthers, Executive Director of the California State Council on Developmental Disabilities (SCDD), for a clear update on what’s happening—and what it means for you.
📅 May 21, 2026
⏰ 12:00 – 1:00 PM
🔗Register here
Making Sense of Governor Newsom’s 2026–27 May Revision
The California Budget & Policy Center is hosting a virtual webinar to help explain Governor Newsom’s 2026–27 May Revision and what it could mean for Californians. Budget Center experts will share key takeaways, discuss potential impacts across the state, and explore what may be missing from the proposal as budget negotiations continue.
The webinar will also cover federal threats and how California is responding. Live Spanish interpretation will be available.
📅 May 22, 2026
⏰ 10:00 – 11:15 AM
🔗Register here
Medi-Cal & Medicaid Matters
Important updates and tips to help families understand and use their health coverage.
Medi-Cal Dental Benefit Changes Beginning July 1, 2026
The California Department of Health Care Services has shared information about upcoming changes to Medi-Cal dental benefits.
Starting July 1, 2026, some adult Medi-Cal members age 19 and older may only have coverage for emergency dental services. This change applies to adults who do not qualify for federal full-scope Medi-Cal and is based on immigration status.
Full dental benefits will continue for members who are:
- Under age 19
- Pregnant or within one year after pregnancy ends
- Under age 26 and were in foster care on their 18th birthday
DHCS says notices will be mailed to affected members beginning in April 2026. Families can contact Medi-Cal Dental with questions at (800) 322-6384.
🔗 Learn more about Medi-Cal Dental Benefit Changes
Family Feedback Opportunities
Surveys are shared for informational purposes. Participation is optional.
6th Annual There Should Be a Law Contest
The State Council on Developmental Disabilities invites you to participate in There Should be a Law Contenst.
If you ever had a problem and thought, "there should be a law to fix this!"
Well, there is a solution—YOU! Send the problem and your solution to the California SCDD for a chance for your idea to be selected and become SCDD's next legislative priority!
Submit your idea online at: https://bit.ly/BillIdeas2026.
Research Opportunity: Adults with Childhood-Onset Conditions
Researchers at Stanford are looking for adults, family members, caregivers, and healthcare providers to share their experiences supporting individuals with complex health conditions that began in childhood.
This project aims to better understand what adult healthcare providers need to learn to improve care for this population.
Who can participate?
- Adults (18+) with childhood-onset complex conditions
- Family members or caregivers
- Healthcare providers working with this population
What’s involved?
- Two short online activities (about 30 minutes total)
- Anonymous participation
- $30 gift card upon completion
Take the Survey
Upcoming Trainings, Workshops & Webinars
Webinar: Essential Yet Out of Reach: Home Accessibility for Children with Disabilities
This webinar, the first in a two-part series, will introduce Foundation-funded research on the national landscape of programs and policies that support home accessibility for children with disabilities and their families across the country.
📅 May 21, 2026
⏰ 10:00 – 11:00 AM
🔗Register here
Parents for Change: Free Advocacy Training for Parents
Do you have a child with special needs or disabilities and believe systems need to change to better serve families like yours?
Parents for Change is a free online training for parents of young and adult children with special needs or disabilities who want to build advocacy skills and create change in schools, service systems, and public policy.
Participants will learn advocacy strategies, explore the legislative process, and gain tools for working with decision-makers. The program includes six monthly sessions from July through December 2026.
Participants receive a $100 stipend and must live in Santa Clara County or San Mateo County. Applications are due June 7.
Space is limited.
🔗 Apply here
BDCC May Webinar: Overcoming Barriers to Care in the ER
Do you have trouble getting the right care in the emergency room? This can happen in rural areas and cities, especially when ER staff are not familiar with bleeding disorders or rare diseases.
Join BDCC for a webinar with Sarah Tomlinson, MD, who will share tips for your next ER visit, including what to bring, how to communicate with ER staff, and how to help providers understand your care needs.
Spanish interpretation will be available.
California community members who attend will be entered into a raffle for one of two $25 gift cards to Amazon, Target, or Walmart. Industry members and BDCC staff are not eligible.
📅 May 27, 2026
⏰ 6:30 PM
🔗 Register here
All About In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS)
Live webinar hosted by Disability Rights California's Advocacy and Community Engagement (ACE) Team.
IHSS is a California program that helps low-income people who are aged, blind, or disabled live safely at home instead of in a care facility.
This presentation will cover:
- Who qualifies and how to apply
- Services IHSS can provide, including personal care, household help, protective supervision, and paramedical services
- What to do if your application is denied or your hours are reduced
📅 June 2, 2026
⏰ 10:00 – 11:30 AM
🔗 Register here
📅 June 4, 2026 (Spanish)
⏰ 10:00 – 11:30 AM
🔗 Register here
SCDD Statewide Self-Determination Program Required Orientation
The Department of Developmental Services (DDS), in partnership with the State Council, offers a statewide orientation for individuals and families interested in the Self-Determination Program (SDP) through the regional center.
This 2-hour training covers program basics, how to enroll, and next steps. A certificate of completion is provided which is required to enroll in the SDP program.
🔗 More information
🔗 Eligibility (DDS)
Resources for Families
Moving to Adult Health Care: Toolkit Series for Youth with Disabilities
The Center for Transition to Adult Health Care for Youth with Disabilities offers a 6-part toolkit series to help youth and young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities prepare for the transition from pediatric to adult health care.
The toolkits cover topics such as understanding health care transition, knowing your health care needs, leading daily health routines, understanding legal rights in health care settings, preparing for health care visits, and planning the move to adult care.
🔗 View the toolkits
California Connect: Free Accessible Phones and Communication Equipment
California Connect provides telecommunications equipment and services for Californians with hearing, vision, cognitive, mobility, or speech-related disabilities. Eligible California residents can apply for equipment that helps them communicate more easily by phone and stay connected with family, providers, and community supports.
Need help with the application? California Connect lists support by phone at 1-800-806-1191.
🔗 Apply online
DDS Life Outcomes Improvement System: New FAQ Available
The California Department of Developmental Services has released a new FAQ about the Life Outcomes Improvement System, known as LOIS. LOIS is a multi-year project to create a modern online system for regional center services, including case management, communication, financial management, and secure access to records.
DDS says LOIS will not replace service coordinators, but is intended to help individuals, families, regional centers, service providers, and DDS staff access information more easily and improve service coordination.
🔗 Read the LOIS FAQ
Supporting Children and Youth During Extreme Weather
Extreme weather events like wildfires, floods, storms, and extreme heat can affect children’s emotional well-being, especially when families are already managing health, disability, or caregiving needs. The Climate Mental Health Network offers practical, age-appropriate resources to help adults talk with children and youth, prepare for dangerous weather events, process emotions, and build a sense of safety and resilience.
Resources include printable tip sheets, emergency mental health phone numbers, Spanish-language materials, and guides for parents, caregivers, educators, and communities.
🔗 Explore the Extreme Weather resources
**This communication is supported by private funding.
