Description
Presenters and participants will discuss innovative ways to integrate outreach and education strategies for CalEITC, CalSavers, and CalFresh, so Californians are able to access all the programs for which they are eligible. Learn how you can join the efforts to conduct outreach and education to promote long-term financial stability for Californians in the 21st century. This session will be interactive.
Speakers
 | Ruth Holton-Hodson, Deputy Treasurer, Health and Retirement Initiatives for State Treasurer John Chiang Ruth Holton-Hodson has spent her 30-yr career as a consumer advocate in government, philanthropic and non-profit sectors. She is the Deputy Treasurer for Health and Retirement Initiatives for State Treasurer John Chiang where she Chairs the CA Health Facilities Financing Authority and represents the Treasurer on the CalPERS Board. She leads the outreach and stakeholder engagement efforts for California’s new retirement program for private sector workers, CalSavers. Prior to that, she served for 6 years as the Deputy Controller for Health and Consumer Policy. She spent almost 10 years working for The California Wellness Foundation as a Special Projects Director and then Director of Public Policy focused on increasing access to health care in low income communities, and educating the philanthropic sector about public policy grantmaking. She was the advocate and then Executive Director for California Common Cause where she ran two successful statewide initiative campaigns on campaign finance and ethics reforms. She began her public policy career as a lobbyist for the California Children’s Lobby. She has a Master’s in Educational Administration from The University of Chicago. |
 | Jared Call, Managing Policy Advocate, California Food Policy Advocate Jared leads the development of our Federal Agenda, and focuses on the intersection of the anti-hunger and anti-poverty movements and CFPA's mission. Current projects include advocating for a strong SNAP/CalFresh program in the federal budget and Farm Bill and implementing policies to improve CalFresh access and participation. Jared received his BA in International Relations from San Francisco State University. |
 | Judy Darnell, Vice President of Public Policy, United Ways of California In her role, Judy directs the organization’s policy and advocacy efforts. She leads a team that works with local member United Ways across California to advocate at both the state and federal level for crucial health, education and financial stability issues. Mrs. Darnell has worked for children, families and communities since the early 1990s and been with United Way since 1999. Prior to United Ways of California, Judy served as director of community building at United Way of Santa Cruz County. Her nonprofit work began in 1993 leading countywide collaborative processes to develop community based prevention programs, including children’s health coverage; alcohol, tobacco and other drug prevention; and a childhood obesity initiative addressing the social determinants of obesity. She also directed four California Healthy Start grants for a local school district. Mrs. Darnell holds a B.A. in psychology from Case Western Reserve University and a master of public policy from the Leon & Sylvia Panetta Institute of Public Policy at California State University Monterey Bay with a focus on government and health policy. |
 | Jonathan Herrera, Outreach & Marketing Manager, CalSavers Retirement Savings Program Jonathan Herrera is the Outreach & Marketing Manager for the CalSavers Retirement Savings Program, the state’s pioneering retirement savings program which will provide a path to retirement security for the seven million Californians who currently lack access to a retirement savings vehicle at work. Jonathan has 17 years of experience working in both personal and government finance. Prior to joining the CalSavers team, he spent 3 years at the State Treasurer’s Office helping California’s local agencies invest their idle funds in the Local Agency Investment Fund (LAIF), and 13 years at Citibank where he assisted with the organization’s business development and outreach strategies, and worked with a team of advisors to provide wealth management services and solutions for individuals, families, and businesses. Jonathan has a BA in Government from California State University, Sacramento. |