All Children Thrive - California

Sacramento

Sacramento – Promoting Youth Mental Health and Well-Being with Measure L Cannabis Funds

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Sacramento – Promoting Youth Mental Health and Well-Being with Measure L Cannabis Funds

Every young person deserves the opportunity to thrive.

Yet, untreated mental health issues, rising homelessness, and limited access to after-school programs have undermined Sacramento’s youth, weakening the city’s long-term potential. A time-tested strategy to prevent poor health outcomes and reduce childhood trauma is to invest early in supportive services. That’s why Sacramento public health advocates, local officials, and students came together in 2022 to champion Measure L, a ballot initiative establishing a sustainable funding source for the city’s children.

“Years of organizing and youth leadership have brought us to this moment,” says Sacramento City Councilmember Mai Vang. “Young people throughout Sacramento have demanded that we prioritize them.”

Their coalition, Sac Kids First (SKF), coordinated by Youth Forward, brought together 35 youth-serving organizations and over 2,000 individuals to convince the city council to place the initiative on the ballot and later urge voters to pass the measure. In the process, the team hosted youth focus groups and conducted a citywide survey to gather input. After meeting with officials, hosting coalition meetings, and giving youth ample opportunities to lead advocacy efforts, the coalition successfully passed Measure L. The measure created a “Children’s Fund” in the City of Sacramento budget, fully funded by cannabis revenue.   

After its passage, Sacramento took decisive steps to ensure the Children’s Fund addressed youth challenges. In 2023, Youth Forward staff member Monica Ruelas Mares was appointed by then-Mayor Darrell Steinberg to the Planning and Oversight Commission for the fund. After she was elected commission chair, Mares led the effort to draft a five-year strategic investment plan aimed at stabilizing funding and increasing resources for youth services. In September 2024, the Sacramento City Council unanimously approved the ambitious plan which introduced targeted interventions including a basic income program for young people aging out of the foster care system. The city’s Youth Parks and Community Enrichment Department (YPCE) became the lead implementing agency for the fund, issuing its first Request for Proposals (RFP) for youth-serving organizations in November 2024.

While it accomplished its original goal, SKF is not letting its momentum go to waste. The coalition meets monthly to strengthen its advocacy strategies. Together, they use an “inside” strategy to keep partners informed and an “outside” strategy to engage regional stakeholders, ensuring transparency and accountability in line with Measure L’s intent.

“Measure L ensures equity is not just a promise but a reality,” says Leticia Aguilar, Executive Director of Native Sisters Circle, a partner organization within the Sac Kids First coalition. “It allows Native-led organizations like ours to create protective environments where youth can thrive. When we invest in their well-being today, we strengthen the future of our entire community.”

Sacramento: Children’s Fund

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Sacramento: Children’s Fund

A.C.T. Success Stories

THE CHALLENGE

Sacramento youth led community organizations drove the campaign for Measure L, establishing a Sacramento Children’s Fund. The fund earmarks an amount equivalent to 40% of local cannabis licensing fees. It also creates a permanent source of youth funding upwards of $10 million dollars a year.

Councilmember Jay Schenirer, Councilmember Mai Vang and Youth Coalition Leader Monica Ruelas-Mares at the launch of ballot initiative in June 2022

Starting in 2016, community organizations and supporters spent countless hours volunteering, canvasing, and persuading Sacramentans to increase investments in the city’s children and youth, with priority given to those most impacted by poverty, violence, and trauma.

THE ACTION

Sac Kids First, led by Youth Forward, began collaborating with All Children Thrive in 2021. A.C.T. funded and supported Youth Forward because of the direct impact that a children’s fund would have on all five of the A.C.T. community action areas. The funding could be used to promote healthy child development, create protective environments, improve youth development and civic engagement, strengthen economic supports for children and families, and/or create access to safe and stable housing.

Sac Kids First – When Children Thrive, Sacramento Thrives

After Sacramento city council voted 8-1 to put measure L on the November 2022 ballot, A.C.T. and Sac Kids First recruited youth and community members, conducted team meetings, and educated the community on the importance of a continuous investment in local youth. With A.C.T. guidance, youth and community leaders developed and distributed fact sheets and met with community members and local officials.

A previous attempt to create the Sacramento Children’s Fund was rejected by voters in 2020 by 54% to 45%. An analysis of the vote entitled A Tale of Two Cities found those who voted ‘NO’ came from predominantly white, wealthy neighborhoods.  Supporters from diverse neighborhoods of lower income.

Mayor Steinberg and Councilmember Loloee and community members posing with the Grant Drumline after the 2022 State of the City address.

Opponents to the 2022 Measure L suggested ample money was already set aside for youth. They also expressed concerns about the authority and nature of spending decisions. Supporters like the Teacher’s Association understood the value in year over year investment to prevent childhood adversity.

THE OUTCOME

In June of 2022, Mayor Darrell Steinberg reversed previous opposition to the Children’s Fund  and instead previewed the initiative at his State of the city address. In a meeting with Sac Kids First, he said, “This is a statement that not only do we value young people, but we believe we should grant them real power, because that is what makes a difference in our society, and in our city and in the way we make decisions.”

Mayor Steinberg – June 2022 State of the City

On November 8th, 2022, Measure L passed resoundingly with 62.77% of voters in support.  Measure L requires a portion of the General Fund to be allocated to a new Sacramento Children’s Fund and requires the budget to use a certain amount of the General Fund to maintain pre-existing levels of youth services.

Sacramento Children and Youth Health and Safety Act – Ballot Measure

© 2022. California Department of Public Health. Funded under contract #21-10471

Author, Jazmine Clark, is a Communications Manager for Public Health Advocates.

Jazmine Clark