Status: on Senate Third Reading File
Action: Call your Senator TODAY!
Bill: AB 1057 – Home Visitation Program
Author: Boerner
Position: Strongly OPPOSE
Current Status
AB 1057 is on the Senate Floor for its Third Reading.
Summary of Concern
According to the latest version of the bill, social workers would be required to “encourage” families to enroll their infants in a range of government programs designed to engage families in a full-service government controlled system of family care.
AB 1057 sets up a system of home visitations that FPM opposes for a number of reasons. One major reason among others is that there are already a plethora of non-profit charities and organizations that offer many services for care of new parents and their infants.
It is a goal of FPM to promote and protect the natural family, community, and faith-based support systems that are available to help those in need of assistance, training, support, and encouragement. Included in this email are some examples of already existing organizations and programs that provide support and assistance to families with children in California. The organizations and services listed below are not affiliated with FPM.
Please complete the following action item. Always contact legislators as a parent and citizen. Do not call or write as a homeschooler.
Call the Senator who represents your district today.
Tell them: “Please vote no on AB 1057. The state should not be involved in an area of family promotion that is rightly and currently provided for by private organizations.”
Please use this link to find out which Assembly Member is representing your district: www.findyourrep.legislature.ca.gov.
Opposition Points
Parents can opt out of the program in AB 1057 as it is currently written but there are still big problems: First, this is the wrong direction for our government to be going – government has no authority and no responsibility in this area.; Second, the opt-out section could be changed very easily – just as we have seen with so many other violations of the sanctity and jurisdiction of the family; Third, opting out of this program may be frowned upon by social workers asking “why would a parent with nothing to hide be opposed to CPS visiting their newborn?” This mild coercion strays into the realm of ‘guilty until proven innocent’ which is not what our judicial system upholds. Parents should be free to not participate in invasive government programs without fear of scrutiny.
AB 1057 violates the familial and church spheres of authority and must be opposed. The authority of the state does not extend into the building and maintenance of families. That responsibility belongs to each individual family and the local churches that those families are members of.
We must also remain aware that many families are not members of local churches, and are often either under financial stress or are in disarray due to deaths in the family, divorce, infidelity, and single parenthood. In these situations, allowing the state to act as a co-parent can be very appealing.
Despite how easily and readily available the state program would be under this proposed legislation, there are already many faith-based and private non-profit organizations devoted entirely to serving parents and young children in any circumstances. FPM has compiled a list of just a few of these options below as an example, none of which are affiliated with FPM.
Additional Information
Safe Families for Children
Mission: Safe Families for Children seeks to keep children safe and families together. Safe Families for Children is rooted in faith, fueled by radical hospitality, disruptive generosity, and intentional compassion, to build a network of caring and compassionate volunteers to support families facing social isolation. Our goals are to prevent child abuse and neglect, reduce the number of children entering the child welfare system, and support and stabilize families.
Catholic Charities of California
Mission: Catholic Charities of California represents the 12 local Catholic Charities Organizations in the state of California. Every year these organizations provide more than 1.5 million professional social services to Californians who need help. Catholic Charities of California Inc. serves as the point of contact between state officials, legislators, foundations, and other statewide and national organizations.
Bethany Christian Services
Mission: Bethany demonstrates the love and compassion of Jesus Christ by protecting children, empowering youth, and strengthening families through quality social services. Bethany has locations throughout the Central Valley, Foothills, and Southern California.
Catholic Community Services
Mission: Catholic Charities is one of the largest, most comprehensive human services agencies in Northern California reaching more than 70,000 people annually in San Francisco, San Mateo, and Marin Counties. We are an integral part of our communities and play a role in keeping our neighborhoods diverse, productive, safe, and healthy through more than 30 programs and social justice advocacy.
Help One Child
Mission: Help One Child is committed to our unique, holistic approach, serving the full breadth of child welfare from prevention through emancipation or post-adoption. By partnering with local churches and community agencies, we address the unique needs of foster, adoptive and vulnerable families, striving to positively impact the long-term health and stability for family preservation.
Olive Crest
Mission: Olive Crest is dedicated to preventing child abuse by strengthening, equipping, and restoring children and families in crisis… One Life at a Time.
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