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In a California statewide survey sponsored by the Blue Shield of California Foundation, 1918 adults were asked about the impact COVID-19 had on their personal lives. Some of the findings around domestic violence according to PerryUndem, a non-partisan public opinion research firm, is 9 in 10 Californians feel domestic violence is a serious problem and two-thirds consider domestic violence to be a public issue that should be addressed by all of us

Unhealthy cultural norms for male behavior, referred to as toxic masculinity, are widespread. In a recent statewide survey by the Blue Shield of California Foundation of almost 2,000 Californians from a variety of racial and ethnic backgrounds, a majority of respondents said they felt “our” culture (interpreted as either mainstream White culture, or their own culture), pressures men to conform to gender norms such as being aggressively competitive and dominating or being in charge of others.

Child care is a critical part of the fabric of our society—it supports children’s healthy development and supports their parents and caregivers by enabling them to engage fully in the workforce. Children in child care arrangements receive a range of essential services. Access to nutritious food and the opportunity to establish healthy eating habits at a young age are some of the most fundamental supports provided by child care programs.

Amid a pandemic that shined a harsh light on domestic violence, Californians are increasingly viewing these abuses as a pressing social issue, according to a new survery of nearly 2,000 adults.

Carolyn Wang Kong, Chief Program Director of the Blue Shield of California Foundation, will receive Grantmakers In Health’s 2021 Terrance Keenan Leadership Award in Health Philanthropy. The award recognizes outstanding health grantmakers whose work is distinguished by leadership, innovation, and outstanding achievement.

To achieve health equity and end domestic violence in California, Blue Shield of California Foundation is focusing on the areas where it can have the

Last week, a coalition of funders launched the California Black Freedom Fund (CBFF) to finance Black-led organizations throughout the state. Along with its explicit support for Black leadership, the fund is notable for its focus on power-building, according to Akonadi Foundation President Lateefah Simon.

Philanthropic organizations and funders have joined together to launch the California Black Freedom Fund, a new $100 million initiative to provide abundant resources to Black-led power-building organizations in the state over the next five years. Co-created with Black leaders and organizers, the first-of-its-kind fund will ensure that California's growing ecosystem of locally rooted Black-led organizing efforts have the sustained investments and resources they need to eradicate systemic and institutional racism.

Inequities that increase the risk of childhood trauma and domestic violence have worsened during the pandemic. "We envision a future in the Bay Area where leaders, communities and residents unite to prevent pervasive adversities in childhood and promote healthy development.” Alongside Genentech and Futures Without Violence, Blue Shield of California Foundation is going “All in for Kids” in to prevent domestic violence and help kids heal and thrive.

Domestic violence all too often explodes outside of California’s homes, resulting in the deaths of not only people in those households but also law enforcement and collateral victims. State leaders could prevent these tragedies, the Little Hoover Commission stated in a report released Friday titled “Beyond the Crisis: A Long-Term Approach to Reduce, Prevent, and Recover from Intimate Partner Violence.” Domestic violence now is treated as a family issue, but Little Hoover’s staff recommended in this report that state leaders adopt a strategic statewide plan for early intervention that is based on accurate data.

$3.75 million in grants supporting California communities to build economic strength and prevent domestic violence

"The All In For Kids Fund will support Bay Area families that currently navigate fragmented systems, missing critical opportunities for healing and prevention. To break the cycle of domestic violence we must reduce childhood exposure to violence in the home," said Debbie Chang, President and Chief Executive Officer of Blue Shield of California Foundation. "The project will bring together the experiences of families, with a focus on racial equity, to prevent domestic violence and childhood adversity. By strengthening and supporting the systems that care for children, we can have a positive impact today, and lay the groundwork for a future without domestic violence and childhood trauma."

To build a truly equitable state, CA FWD and its wide array of partners understand the need to hold policy and decision makers, as well as each other accountable for progress. On Dec. 3, CA FWD CEO Micah Weinberg and Debbie Chang, president and CEO, Blue Shield of California Foundation unveiled the California Dream Index, a tool that tracks and measures 10 key indicators of economic mobility, security and inclusion. With equity built into the index, the data can be analyzed by race and ethnicity, region, and county as well as income and educational attainment.

For more than three years, California Forward (CA FWD) and its many partners have worked on a ground-breaking project to bring accountability and measurement to the progress the state is making in providing opportunity for all. CA FWD developed the California Dream Index in order to help more residents and families claim their California Dream and to help public and private decision-makers develop data-informed policy decisions that also keep us accountable for progress.

The California Dream Index, launched Dec. 3 by nonprofit California Forward at its annual California Economic Summit, aims to track the state’s fight against economic inequity. The index will better inform policymakers and community leaders on whether their actions are making a difference.