“We should not go backward on essential efforts.” PHI Statement on California Revised 2024-25 State Budget

Statement from Matthew Marsom, Chief Program, Policy and Government Relations Officer, Public Health Institute

“As the State of California grapples with a historic budget deficit, the Public Health Institute recognizes that every cut is difficult and challenging. Still, PHI is deeply concerned at how profoundly the Governor’s proposed budget will undermine critical efforts to ensure the health of communities across the state.

“We urge the state to maintain critical investments in state and county public health infrastructure, including the Future of Public Health funding to local health departments, and to vital mental health services. This includes the Children’s Youth and Behavioral Health Initiative Public Education and Change Campaign, which supports grassroots community-based organizations to increase access to culturally rooted mental health services for queer and BIPOC youth and adults, and also includes youth suicide prevention services.

“The final budget should also continue to invest in and protect funding surveillance, including the Climate and Health Surveillance Program and California’s Cancer Registries. Data from the cancer registries are the only reason we know that some cancers, including colorectal cancers, are rising dramatically among younger adults, and the reason we are able to prioritize earlier screenings to save lives. We also must continue to fund opioid response, intervention and treatment initiatives like PHI’s Bridge medication assisted treatment initiative, which research shows is effectively getting—and keeping—people who use opioids in treatment.

“We cannot address critical existing and emerging public health issues without strong public health systems, including both governmental and community-based public health. The pandemic exposed the cumulative impacts of underinvestment in public health, particularly for low-income and BIPOC individuals and systemically excluded communities. We should not go backward on essential efforts to ensure the public health ecosystem can respond and care for people.”