Nearly half of California’s youth report persistent feelings of hopelessness. Yet, despite being the wealthiest state in the union, 50-80% of our children who need mental healthcare go without it.
The current system is a "wait-until-crisis" model. Families are trapped in a maze of "provider not found" messages and six-month waitlists. Meanwhile, our schools have become the front lines of a mental health crisis they aren't equipped to handle. We are asking our teachers to be therapists and our security guards to be crisis counselors. This isn't fair to the staff, and it’s dangerous for the students.

California has the resources. What we lack is a mandate.

We are calling on Governor Newsom and the California State Legislature to establish the Youth Mental Health Access Guarantee:

• On-Site Clinical Support: Every K-12 public school student must have access to a licensed mental health professional on campus during school hours.
• The "Zero-Barrier" Rule: Services must be provided at no cost to the family, bypassing the "referral and insurance" loop that leaves so many behind.
• Rapid Response: Establish a maximum wait time (e.g., 72 hours) for a student to be seen following a request or referral.
• Funding for Specialists: Direct state funding specifically for school-based social workers, psychologists, and LMFTs—removing the burden from overstretched teaching staff.

Mental healthcare is healthcare. Healthcare is a right. We shouldn't wait for a tragedy to provide support. We need to meet students where they are: in the classroom.

Sign this petition to demand that California leaders prioritize our children’s lives over bureaucracy.