Assemblywoman Rubio’s Bill to Provide Mental Health Services to Preschool Students Passes Education Committee
SACRAMENTO, CA – Today, Assemblywoman Blanca E. Rubio (D-Baldwin Park) announced Assembly Bill 2698 made it out of the Assembly Education Committee. The bill protects the education of our earliest learners by allowing providers to use existing funds to hire a mental health consultant to improve outcomes for preschool age children and prevent expulsion.
“As teacher myself, I believe we need to help ensure that all our children are given the proper resources to ensure success in the classroom,” said Rubio. "This bill takes a proactive approach that benefits all childcare providers and their students to maximize the opportunity for success.”
Current law fails to provide adequate resources to providers and to the students that may have behavioral challenges. This bill is a priority for the Legislative Women’s Caucus this year.
“Providing these services to our youngest and often most vulnerable learners is critical. Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation can play an important role in helping children and families and will equip teachers to address challenging behaviors, reducing expulsion from preschool. This is a great opportunity to create better outcomes for kids,” said Scott Moore, Chief Executive Officer of Kidango, a large non-profit provider in the San Francisco Bay Area and sponsor of the measure.
The 48th Assembly District, is comprised of the cities of Azusa, Baldwin Park, Bradbury, City of Industry, Covina, Duarte, El Monte, Glendora, Irwindale, Monrovia, West Covina, and the San Gabriel Valley unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County, including Bassett, Charter Oak, Citrus, East Arcadia, Ramona, Valinda and West La Puente.
###
Website of Assemblymember Blanca E. Rubio: www.asm.ca.gov/Rubio