California College Students Can Now Access Up to $306 a Month in Food Benefits
Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Oct. 09 that California has simplified eligibility requirements for CalFresh, making it easier for hundreds of thousands of college students to receive up to $306 per month to purchase groceries.
Under the new rules, undergraduate students enrolled at least half-time in degree programs at California Community Colleges, California State University campuses or the University of California campuses can meet an initial eligibility requirement through their enrollment.
Previously, students faced additional requirements that often discouraged applications. Students must still meet income and other eligibility criteria to receive benefits.
“We can’t expect students to learn if they’re hungry, and in California, there is no reason for them to be, whether they’re in kindergarten, high school, or college,” Newsom said.
The administration estimates the changes could help more than 200,000 additional students enroll in CalFresh, providing more than $250 million in food assistance.
Newsom announced the changes during a visit to the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank alongside First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom and California Department of Social Services (CDSS) Director Jennifer Troia.
“Every California student deserves access to nutritious food and the opportunity to reach their full potential,” Siebel Newsom said.
The state also launched “Full Carts,” an outreach campaign encouraging eligible students to apply. Ripple executive Chris Larsen contributed $1.5 million to support the campaign, with additional backing from Instacart and Snap.
“College is challenging enough — students should not have to worry about where their next meal will come from,” Troia said.
CalFresh, California’s version of the federally funded Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), provides food assistance to low-income residents. Nearly 5.2 million Californians in more than 3.1 million households receive benefits monthly.
The expanded access builds on California’s broader efforts to address food insecurity, including universal school meals, summer food assistance and programs connecting schools with locally grown produce.
Students can check their eligibility and apply for benefits at BenefitsCal.com.
Rep. Kamlager-Dove Introduce Bill in Congress to Expand Medicaid Eligibility for Foster Youth
U.S. Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-CA-37) and Don Bacon (R-Neb.-2) have reintroduced two bipartisan bills aimed at expanding Medicaid access for current and former foster youth, including broader coverage and improved access to dental care.
The legislation, introduced Oct. 1, would address gaps in Medicaid eligibility and enrollment that can leave young people without health coverage as they transition out of the foster care system. Kamlager-Dove and Bacon are co-chairs of the Foster Youth Caucus.
The Foster Youth Dental Act of 2026 would expand Medicaid eligibility for foster youth by increasing incentives for dental providers, creating more opportunities to enroll in Medicaid and preventing lapses in coverage.
The Expanding Coverage for Former Foster Youth Act would broaden Medicaid-to-26 eligibility for former foster youth by removing certain enrollment restrictions. The bill would include young people who left foster care through kinship guardianships or were emancipated before turning 18. It would also require states to conduct coordinated outreach and enrollment efforts.
“We must support the health care needs of the more than 23,000 young people who age out of our nation’s foster care system each year,” said Kamlager-Dove. “I’m proud to reintroduce these bipartisan, compassionate bills alongside Rep. Bacon to close persistent gaps in our health care system that too often force foster youth to go without the care they deserve.”
Bacon said access to health care can help former foster youth navigate the transition to adulthood, particularly for those without a traditional support system.
“Ensuring that former foster youth are eligible for Medicaid and have access to dental services helps prevent them from falling through the cracks,” Bacon said.
Gov. Newsom Swears In 10,000 New Paid Service Corps Workers
Gov. Gavin Newsom has sworn in more than 10,000 new California Service Corps members who will be paid to work on community projects across the state, expanding a program that the governor’s office says has become the largest state-level service force in the nation.
Newsom, First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom and Governor’s Office of Service and Community Engagement Director Josh Fryday welcomed the new members for the 2026-27 service year. They will work on disaster preparedness and recovery, hunger, student mentoring, and climate action while gaining hands-on experience and skills that can help lead to college and career opportunities.
Since Newsom established the California Service Corps in 2019, more than 50,000 Californians have participated in the program and logged nearly 26 million hours of service, according to the governor’s office. The program is now larger than the federal Peace Corps.
“The solution to so many of our challenges comes from service, which can bring people together, give people a sense of purpose, and remind us of our common humanity,” Newsom said.
The new service corps comes as California prepares for what the governor’s office described as a potentially strong El Niño season. Newsom has directed California Volunteers to prepare service members and volunteers to help communities with preparedness, response, and recovery efforts.
The corps includes programs such as College Corps, California Climate Action Corps, and Youth Service Corps. Since 2018-19, the programs report that members have tutored or mentored more than 608,000 students, distributed more than 313 million pounds of food, and provided disaster preparedness, response, or recovery services to more than 318,000 people.
“Ten thousand Californians are starting their service today, and each one is empowered to make a difference,” Fryday said. “Service creates opportunities to strengthen communities, address challenges and inspire others to do the same.”
Newsom also launched the California Service Corps Alumni Network, which will connect more than 50,000 current and former participants with career development, networking and job opportunities.
The network is designed to help alumni build on the skills and relationships gained through service while staying connected to public service and their communities.
Report: School Absenteeism Is Linked to Mental Health
School absenteeism in California is closely linked to student mental health, according to a new analysis from the Public Policy Institute of California, which found higher rates of absences among students reporting sadness and suicidal thoughts.
Nearly 1.1 million California students, or 19%, were chronically absent during the 2024-25 school year, meaning they missed at least 10% of instructional days. While students miss school for many reasons, PPIC researchers say mental health can both contribute to absenteeism and worsen as students become more disconnected from school.
Data from the 2023-24 California Healthy Kids Survey found a notable relationship between absences and emotional well-being among students in grades 7, 9 and 11. About 36% of students who missed two or more school days reported chronic sadness, compared with 24% of students who missed fewer days.
Students reporting suicidal thoughts also had higher levels of absenteeism. About 15% of students who missed two or more days reported suicidal thoughts, compared with 10% of students who had fewer absences.
“While students miss school for many reasons, these survey findings suggest that one important reason is student well-being,” PPIC researchers Shalini Mustala and Brett Guinan wrote.
The analysis also found that nearly one in four students who missed school cited feeling very sad, hopeless, anxious, stressed or angry, or not getting enough sleep, as a reason for their absence.
The researchers said schools can help by making mental health services more accessible. Student support teams and school-based teletherapy are among the approaches that research suggests can help reduce absenteeism by connecting students with mental health and other services.
California has invested in school-based support through initiatives including the Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative and the California Community Schools Partnership Program. An evaluation of the community schools program found reductions in chronic absenteeism under its whole-child approach, which integrates student supports such as mental health services.
