Briefing explored new report prepared by Bobbie Wunsch, MBA and Tim Reilly, MA with Pacific Consulting Group and funding by The California Endowment.

In nearly 30 years of operation, local community health plans have earned the support of Democrats and Republicans alike for their ability to provide high-quality Medi-Cal services at lower cost. Currently, there are major changes on the way to the California Medicaid program—moving many of its most vulnerable populations from a fee-for-service system into managed care. The presentation looks at California’s local community plans as they are uniquely positioned to serve the four broad initiatives. In addition it highlights how these local community health plans are distinguished from other Medi-Cal health plans in origin and purpose, market impact, and accomplishment.

California Preschool Study by RAND
Issues, Policy Options and Recommendations for Preschool Adequacy and Efficiency in California. (71 Min)

Thursday, May 28, 2009
10:30 – 12:00 pm
State Capitol, Room 2040
Sacramento, California

This is the final report in RAND’s California Preschool Study. “Issues, Policy Options and Recommendations for Preschool Adequacy and Efficiency in California,” features policy recommendations for how to narrow the achievement gap by preparing children to succeed in K-12.

 Presenters include:

• Meera Mani, Program Officer and Leader, Preschool Grantmaking, The David & Lucile Packard Foundation
  
• Lynn Karoly, Senior Economist, RAND Corporation
  
• Giannina Perez, Associate Director of Early Care and Education, Children NOW
  
• Catherine Atkin, President, Preschool California
  
• Molly Munger, Co-Founder and Director, Advancement Project

In California, there has been limited information about the nature and quality of the early care and education (ECE) arrangements of preschool-age children – those who are one or two years away from Kindergarten entry. A recently released report – drawing on data collected by the RAND study team from a representative sample of preschool-age children in California – will provide answers to these and other questions about preschool use and quality in California:

• What percent of 3 and 4 year olds are in ECE programs?
• What is the quality of those programs?
  
• How do access and quality vary for children of different racial or ethnic backgrounds or children from low-income versus high-income families?

Presenters include:

• Arron Jiron, Program Officer, Children, Families and Communities Program, The David & Lucile Packard Foundation
• Lynn Karoly, Senior Economist, RAND Corporation
  
• Catherine Atkin, President, Preschool California
  
• Giannina Perez, Senior Policy Associate, Children NOW

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