Self-Sufficiency Standard
California
The Center for Women’s Welfare Self-Sufficiency Standard defines the income working families need to meet a minimum yet adequate level, taking into account family composition, ages of children, and geographic differences in costs. The Standard is an affordability and living wage economic security measure that provides an alternative to the official poverty measure.
Publications
Technical Brief: The Family Needs Calculator for California 2021
October 2020 | Annie Kucklick & Lisa Manzer
Methodology Report: The Self-Sufficiency Standard for California 2018
February 2018 | Diana Pearce
Methodology Appendix: The Self-Sufficiency Standard for California 2014
January 2014 | Diana Pearce
Methodology Appendix: The Self-Sufficiency Standard for California 2011
October 2011 | Diana Pearce
Methodology Appendix: The Self-Sufficiency Standard for California 2011
2008 | Diana Pearce
The Self-Sufficiency Standard for California 2003
December 2003 | Diana Pearce
The Self-Sufficiency Standard for California 2000
November 2000 | Diana Pearce
The Self-Sufficiency Standard for California 1996
1996 | Diana Pearce
Overlooked and Undercounted 2009
Struggling to Make Ends Meet in California
By Diana Pearce | December 2009
Overlooked and Undercounted 2003: Struggling to Make Ends Meet in California
By Diana Pearce | September 2003
Partner
@InsightCCED | insightcced.org | Oakland, CA
A national economic justice organization, the Insight Center is working to build inclusion and equity form people of color, women, immigrants, and low-income families. Read more.
The Standard helps support the development of the Insight Center’s Family Needs Calculator which has been used in their work around reform of criminal legal fines and fees.
How to cite
All Self-Sufficiency Standard data that has been produced by the Center for Women’s Welfare is publicly available. When using the data, please credit the Self-Sufficiency Standard at the Center for Women’s Welfare, University of Washington.
Contact cwwsss@uw.edu with any questions regarding methodology or appropriate citation.
The Standard in Use - California
California Organization Advocates for Improved Child Care Funding
California Organization Advocates for Increased Child Care Funding The Children’s Council of San Francisco, which advocates for quality child care and education, uses the Standard
Promoting Family Economic Security in the San Francisco Bay Area Region
Promoting Family Economic Security in the San Francisco Bay Area Region Rise Together Bay Area and Insight Center for Community Economic Development’s report Promoting Family
Kidsdata.org
Kidsdata.org The Dave and Lucille Packard Foundation includes the Self-Sufficiency Standard in Kidsdata.org, a database tool providing access to information about the health and well-being
Sectoral Employment Intervention Analysis: Utilizing the Self-Sufficiency Standard in Santa Clara
Sectoral Employment Intervention Analysis: Utilizing the Self-Sufficiency Standard in Santa Clara In California’s Santa Clara County, the Self-Sufficiency Standard was used in a sectoral employment
Labor Union Negotiations
Labor Union Negotiations The Standard has been used in California, Connecticut, Illinois, New York, New Jersey, Hawaii, Nebraska, South Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia, and Washington State
Leichtag Foundation
Leichtag Foundation The Leichtag Foundation in San Diego used a self-sufficiency grant program aimed at giving people the tools they need to break the cycle
Measuring Housing Affordability: Assessing the 30 Percent of Income Standard
Measuring Housing Affordability: Assessing the 30 Percent of Income Standard The 30-percent of income standard is a widely used and accepted measure of the extent
The Kids Count! Project Analyzes the Well-Being of Children Across the United States
The Kids Count! Project Analyzes the Well-Being of Children Across the United States Many states in the Kids Count! Project use the Standard as an
Modeling Economic Solutions Using the Self-Sufficiency Standard
Modeling Economic Solutions Using the Self-Sufficiency Standard Rise Together published their Promoting Family Economic Security in the San Francisco Bay Area Region Report to highlight
The United Way of the Bay Area and Y&H Soda Foundation
The United Way of the Bay Area and Y&H Soda Foundation The United Way of the Bay Area and Y&H Soda Foundation are evaluating the
UCLA Applys the Standard to Elders with Adult Children for Policy Analysis
UCLA Applies the Standard to Elders with Adult Children for Policy Analysis The UCLA Center for Health Policy Research used the Standard to analyze the
Grants Awarded to Projects Focused on Helping Women Below the Standard in San Diego
Grants Awarded to Projects Focused on Helping Women Below the Standard in San Diego The San Diego Women’s Foundation focused its 2013-2014 grant cycle on
The Standard Supports Contract Negotiations in California
The Standard Supports Contract Negotiations in California The American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) won a higher wage floor in contract negotiations
Sonoma County Measures Self-Sufficiency and Work Program Success
Sonoma County Measures Self-Sufficiency and Work Program Success In 1997, Sonoma County, California adopted the Standard as its formal measure of self-sufficiency and as a