Sacramento, CA – The County Welfare Directors Association of California (CWDA) released the following statement from Executive Director Cathy Senderling-McDonald and President Trent Rhorer today: 

“The County Welfare Directors Association of California strongly condemns the recent actions of Texas Gov. Greg Abbott to classify gender-affirming care for transgender children as “child abuse.” Gov. Abbott’s position is harmful to children and families and will undermine efforts to provide gender-affirming care and support to youth who identify as transgender. Multiple studies show transgender children and adults are at greater risk of depression, thoughts of suicide and attempted suicide. LGBTQ youth are also at greater risk of experiencing homelessness.

“In addition, Gov. Abbott’s misguided actions will require doctors, nurses, teachers, and other adults who have contact with transgender children to report purported “abuse” to the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services or face possible criminal penalties. We are concerned that Gov. Abbott’s statement contributes to a misunderstanding of the role of child welfare services and our staff.  CWDA takes similar issue with recent statements made by some public officials in California threatening to call upon CPS when children arrive at school without masks. The goal of child welfare services is to prevent imminent harm to children; calling on child welfare agencies for political purposes when abuse or neglect are not present runs the risk pulling our already limited staff resources away from vulnerable children and youth who are victims of, or at risk of, abuse and neglect.”