Marijke Rowland / Central Valley Journalism Collaborative

The San Joaquin Valley is expected to acutely feel the cuts. The region has the highest usage of the federal health insurance program in California.

After the largest insurer of nonprofit foster care agencies across California announced it was pulling out of the market and would not renew policies last year, organizations had a choice to make — find new insurance at a much higher rate, or stop placing youth with foster families.

The Central Valley’s LGBTQ+ community is once again learning what a difference a presidential administration makes. And it’s adapting.

Mental health professionals remain in short supply across California, a problem that has only gotten worse since the pandemic spurred an increase in demand for behavioral health services.

Leaders in San Joaquin and Stanislaus counties are among those who’ve opted to defer the new law, which would have gone into effect in January.