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Administration seeks $5 million to fund statewide "belonging" outreach; LAO questions measurable goals
Summary
The Office of Community Partnerships and Strategic Communications asked the subcommittee for $5 million one-time to launch a "belonging" campaign to strengthen social connection and support community grants; LAO said the proposal lacks clarity on metrics and recommended caution amid budget constraints.
The Office of Community Partnerships and Strategic Communications requested $5 million one-time General Fund to launch a statewide "belonging" campaign intended to build social connections, support neighborhood engagement and fund local community grants.
What the agency proposed - Yumi Sara, Executive Director of the Office of Community Partnerships and Strategic Communications, explained the initiative will combine data-driven research, outreach and education, and grants to community-based organizations to reduce social isolation and strengthen neighborhood ties. - The office told the subcommittee it would use research to identify communities with acute needs (noting seniors and youth as priority groups), run a public awareness campaign, and provide grants to local organizations for outreach and engagement activities.
LAO and fiscal context - Rachel Ehlers of the Legislative Analyst's Office recommended a high bar for new general fund programs in a projected deficit year and said the proposal "lacks clarity" on how to define and measure a sense of belonging, what specific activities the funds would support, and how success would be evaluated. - Agency presenters said the funding is one-time and intended to support research and pilots to inform future work.
Public comment and alternative asks - California Rural Legal Assistance Foundation and the Trusted Messenger Coalition asked the committee to consider continued funding for community-based trusted-messenger grants; they requested $25 million in 2025-26 for grants that support outreach on extreme heat, water conservation, COVID-19, tax identification outreach and youth behavioral health, and said current funding ends in May 2025.
No final action recorded: The hearing included discussion and public comment; the subcommittee did not take a final funding vote during the session.
Context: Committee members expressed sympathy for the campaign's goals (reducing loneliness and supporting mental health), but cited competing budget priorities such as housing and homelessness when weighing new one-time investments.
