United Way Silicon Valley works closely with United Ways of California to advocate for the preservation and expansion of Medi-Cal and Healthy Families, and locally for Santa Clara County’s Healthy Kids program.  Our advocacy work is focused on increasing children’s access to health care in California and most appropriately fits in the “cutting red tape” section of the challenge. We educate community members on children’s health access policy issues (e.g. governor’s budget implications for children health coverage or how the new health exchange will affect children), connect advocates with elected officials and media outlets to champion causes, and engage policymakers in solutions to preserve the programs and increase access.