January Newsletter 2026
Welcome New Coalition Steering Committee Members!
The California Work & Family Coalition held an election at the end of 2025 for new Steering Committee members. The Coalition Steering Committee is a body that meets to help guide the Coalition’s work between membership meetings. SC members discuss and vote on taking a position or action and they can also call for a membership vote or internal discussion. Please welcome our newest SC members!
Yvette Cervantes, Orange County, Caregiver
Yvette Cervantes (she, her, hers) lives in Orange County where she has played a role in many non-profits and educational organizations. She played a big role in Coalition-led campaigns to win job-protected and paid leave for those who care for chosen and extended family members. She said that she found it important to educate lawmakers and advocates through sharing her personal story and expertise. “I grew up with the understanding that not everyone can use their voice, but we all deserve to be heard. My purpose in life is to make sure that becomes a possibility,” she said.
Tonia McMillian, Los Angeles, Black ECE
Tonia McMillian (she/her/hers) was a licensed Early Care and Education provider for over 29 years before retiring on December 8th, 2023. Ms. McMillian is a dedicated advocate who promotes pay equity, exposes institutional and systemic racism, sexism, caste references, and fights biases within the ECE field. After retiring from family childcare, she took on the role of “Woman Who Shakes Things Up” at Black Californians for Early Childhood Education. Ms. McMillian leads the Lift Every Voice Campaign, which includes Black early educators from across California.
Jenna Shankman, Oakland CA, Family Caregiver Alliance and CA Coalition on Family Caregiving
Jenna Shankman (she/her/hers) is a Policy Specialist at Family Caregiver Alliance (FCA), the Bay Area Caregiver Resource Center. Through her role at FCA and as a coordinator of the statewide CA Coalition on Family Caregiving, Jenna researches and advocates for policies that support family caregivers, including paid family leave. Jenna has a Masters in Social Work with a specialty in Community Organizing, Planning, and Development.
Stronger California Advocates celebrate the launch of the 2026 legislative session!
Stronger California Advocates celebrate the launch of the 2026 legislative session!
Coalition Director, Jenya Cassidy, took part in the annual Stronger CA advocates network reception on January 20th in Sacramento. Stronger California, led by Equal Rights Advocates, convenes a statewide network of organizations to meet, update each other, and support each other’s advocacy efforts in areas impacting women, workers, and families. The Coalition has been part of Stronger California since its beginning with staff and members leading the “Family Friendly Workplaces” pillar.
At the 2026 reception, advocates celebrated their wins on paid family leave, reproductive rights, child care and more with a special address from Senator Maria Elena Durazo about Coalition priority bill, SB 590 (paid leave for chosen and extended family members starting in 2028) and from Equal Rights Advocates, Executive Director, Noreen Farrell celebrating the long-standing alliances made through this network.
Making connections at the reception. From left to right: Noreen Farrell, Equal Rights Advocates; Jenya Cassidy, California Work & Family Coalition; Richard Thomason, Blue Shield of California Foundation, and Rachel Wick, Blue Shield of California Foundation
California Work & Family Coalition Statement on the 2026 January Budget
On January 9th, California Governor Gavin Newsom announced his proposed 2026-2027 State Budget. We applaud the January Budget’s investment in EDDNext, a multiyear project to ensure that every Californian can access critical Paid Family Leave, Disability Insurance and Unemployment Insurance in times of need.
With the passage of HR 1, the federal government has chosen to strip healthcare and food assistance away from workers and families, while simultaneously increasing funding for detention and deportation, as well as giving huge tax increases to corporations and the extremely wealthy. California leaders can choose to lead us into a different and better future, we call on our state leaders to commit to ensuring that every person in California can live and care for their family with dignity.
To read our full statement, click here.
Know your 2026 Paid Family Leave, State Disability Insurance, and Paid Sick and Safe Day Rights!
Visit the California Work & Family Coalition’s Resource Hub! The resource Hub provides resources and information to help California workers understand and navigate their paid leave rights.
Thank you to California Work & Family Coalition members for providing their resources to be part of the Resource Hub! If you would like to learn more about our members, click here.
COMMUNITY IMMIGRATION RESOURCES / RECURSOS DE INMIGRACIÓN PARA LA COMUNIDAD
This resource list is an ongoing collaboration between members of California Work & Family Coalition, California Immigrant Policy Center (CIPC) and Immigrants Rising.
If you would like to add a resource please email info@workfamilyca.org.
Esta lista de recursos es una colaboración continua entre los miembros de California Work & Family Coalition, California Immigrant Policy Center (CIPC) y Immigrants Rising.
Si desea agregar un recurso, envíe un correo electrónico a info@workfamilyca.org.
