Adrienne Verrilli

Communications veteran and public policy expert with 12 years in nonprofits. Covers women's health, healthcare, affordable housing, and environment. Former banker turned progressive advocate. Democrat. Based in San Francisco.

Children of undocumented immigrants gain increased access to affordable, higher education

California’s Dream Act took a step forward when Governor Jerry Brown recently signed into law AB 130, a portion of the Dream Act that allows children of undocumented immigrants

By Adrienne Verrilli

/ July 27, 2011

Children of undocumented immigrants gain increased access to affordable, higher education

Independent health panel backs birth control coverage for women

The Institute of Medicine (IOM) issued a report this week recommending that birth control as well as other preventive health care services for women be covered at basically no cost

By Adrienne Verrilli

/ July 20, 2011

Independent health panel backs birth control coverage for women

More than just a grocery store is needed to fight obesity

For those looking for a silver bullet to fight obesity, you will have to keep looking. A study released by the University of North Carolina found that among people living

By Adrienne Verrilli

/ July 13, 2011

More than just a grocery store is needed to fight obesity

Contributions of LGBT community may soon be included in California textbooks

In a landmark move by the California legislature, a bill passed the Assembly that requires the state to include the contributions of the LGBT community in the public school’s

By Adrienne Verrilli

/ July 6, 2011

Contributions of LGBT community may soon be included in California textbooks

Feds seek to boost seniors’ use of no-cost preventive health care

Hoping to encourage seniors to take advantage of a little-known, but enormous benefit available due to the Affordable Care Act (a.k.a. health care reform), the Department of Health

By Adrienne Verrilli

/ June 22, 2011

Feds seek to boost seniors’ use of no-cost preventive health care

U.S. Supreme Court upholds California's in-state tuition rate for undocumented students

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that California can continue to offer in-state tuition to undocumented immigrants at the state’s public universities. Specifically, the Court refused to hear a

By Adrienne Verrilli

/ June 15, 2011

U.S. Supreme Court upholds California's in-state tuition rate for undocumented students

Blue Shield to return $167 million to individual policyholders

Blue Shield of California announced that it intends to return $167 million to its individual policyholders, and it plans to return money each year going forward. More specifically Blue Shield

By Adrienne Verrilli

/ June 8, 2011

Blue Shield to return $167 million to individual policyholders

California budget crisis decimating adult education programs

To help school districts deal with years of massive spending cuts in education, in 2009, the state legislature temporarily de-regulated $4.5 billion in funds formerly earmarked for 40 programs

By Adrienne Verrilli

/ June 1, 2011

California budget crisis decimating adult education programs

Single-payer health care system re-introduced in California

While California’s budget woes have dominated the headlines, the California Universal Health Care Act – Senate Bill 810 – was introduced by California State Democrats, seeking to create a single-payer health

By Adrienne Verrilli

/ May 25, 2011

Single-payer health care system re-introduced in California

K-12 funding gets $3 billion boost from Governor Brown’s revised budget

Capitalizing on a reduced budget shortfall, Governor Brown has increased funding for K-12 education by $3 billion in his revised budget released on May 16. With an unexpected increase in

By Adrienne Verrilli

/ May 18, 2011

K-12 funding gets $3 billion boost from Governor Brown’s revised budget

California small businesses unaware of health care reform benefits

Just over a year ago, President Obama signed into law the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (aka health care reform). However, while millions of Americans, particularly children and young

By Adrienne Verrilli

/ May 11, 2011

California small businesses unaware of health care reform benefits

Governor Brown vows to fight for public education even as parents fear additional cuts

Last week at the California State PTA convention, Governor Jerry Brown promised to protect public education even as he works to close a daunting $15 billion budget deficit and negotiate

By Adrienne Verrilli

/ May 4, 2011

Governor Brown vows to fight for public education even as parents fear additional cuts