On Saturday, June 22, Governor Newsom and leaders from the state legislature came to an agreement on the state budget. The final vote happened on Thursday, June 27.

Thanks to the collective action of all of you who signed and shared CSHA’s budget opposition letter, the final state budget includes a compromise to provide Early Start service providers, including SLPs and SLPAs, with their promised rate implementation pay increases in six months instead of in twelve months. Rate implementation will now occur on January 1, 2025, rather than July 1, 2025.

Although we had hoped that there would be no delay in the rate implementation at all, the grassroots advocacy that you participated in made it so that our voices were heard and impacted the decisions of lawmakers in our state. Previously, it was announced that SLPs, SLPAs, and other service providers were going to wait a whole year for rate increases. This was reduced to six months after state leaders were inundated with your emails that included our opposition letter and called for their support. This is a massive win for CSHA advocacy! Thank you for raising our collective voice,and take pride in knowing that your actions helped guide decisions that impact SLPs, SLPAs, and the children we support across the state.

You can read more about the budget at the following link here.

As an SLP working in Early Start, I am grateful to have colleagues like you. Millions of thanks again, and never forget: when we join together we win!

In Solidarity,
Kelly Arellano, M.S., CCC-SLP
CSHA Ad Hoc Committee on Early Intervention – Chair