Anyone can champion the cause. Whether you’re speaking out to improve education, income and health, reaching out to members of Congress, or wearing the LIVE UNITED shirt to show your support, you can help inspire hope and create opportunities for a better tomorrow. So go ahead and advocate in a LIVE UNITED world. Do it in public. Be visible. Be loud.

United Way of the Bay Area and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi recently worked together to advocate for increased federal funding for children’s health coverage. The co-hosted press conference at the Bayview Child Health Center garnered the attention of every major news outlet.

Speaker Pelosi and United Way CEO Anne Wilson were joined by San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom and San Francisco Supervisor Sophie Maxwell, as well as our partners from California Pacific Medical Center, Health Center Director Dr. Nadine Burke, and several families whose children receive care and were enrolled in insurance at the clinic.

We don't just ask people to give, but work for the common good by creating positive change that brings health, education and financial stability to all members of our communities.

Financially Stable Californians - Ensure all Californians are financially stable by maximizing income and by ensuring resources and policies to assist.

Healthy Children – Ensure all children in California have the health insurance they need to access a regular doctor and preventive care, so they can grow up healthy and ready to succeed in life – which benefits all of society, our economy and our communities.  At a minimum, we must ensure that this year’s policy and budget decisions do not result in more children losing health coverage.

A Tool to Help - Connect all Californians to the help and resources they need when and where they need them. 2-1-1 California to connect Californians with services, information, resources and volunteer opportunities in their communities 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Health
Given the magnitude of the state’s budget deficit, it is clear there will be many difficult budget decisions this year and everyone will feel some pain. United Ways believes more than ever this is a year about priorities, and a top priority must be children’s health.
» United Way of California Healthy Children Policy Statement
(Word Doc opens in a new window)
» California Budget Project: Effect of Proposed Cuts on Children
(PDF opens in a new window)
» Children’s Defense Fund: The Importance of Children’s Health Coverage (PDF opens in a new window)
» The California Endowment: Voter Survey on Children’s Health (PDF opens in a new window)
» Georgetown University Health Policy Institute: Center for Children and Families: Moving Backwards Report (PDF opens in a new window)
» UCLA Center for Health Policy Research
» Georgetown University Health Policy Institute: Center for Children and Families
» Covering California Kids
» Children’s Defense Fund California
» 100% Campaign

2-1-1
2-1-1 is an easy to remember telephone number that reduces the confusing maze of information and services that can overwhelm individuals who need help. Our goal is to create and sustain a statewide network of high-quality local and regional 2-1-1 call centers.
» 2-1-1 Fact Sheet (PDF opens in a new window)
» Trial By Fire – 2-1-1 and the San Diego Wildfires (PDF opens in a new window)
» 2-1-1 Bay Area
» 2-1-1 Nationwide