Building Healing Systems & Thriving Families

In early 2021, the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) partnered with Parent Voices and
SPR to bring California parent perspectives to inform the transfer of programs from the California Department of Education (CDE) to CDSS. Parent Voices and SPR collected parent perspectives via a series of listening sessions and a survey.

This report synthesizes key themes and recommendations across the initial Early Childhood Policy Council meeting and four listening sessions, with parent survey data adding to and supporting the qualitative findings. Specifically, this report begins with key themes related to parents’ positive experiences with CDSS, then goes on to share challenges that parents have experienced with CDSS.  After presenting key themes, the report shares parent recommendations for CDSS as they continue to implement components of the CDSS transition plan. Lastly, the report concludes with parents’ overarching perspectives on the child care systems and the changes they hope to see to support all California families. Read here.