text:
(a) A resource family approved by a licensed foster family agency pursuant to Section 1517 or 1517.5 of the Health and Safety Code may transfer their approval to a county upon the successful completion of activities, as specified by the department, which shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following:

(1) The resource family shall complete the following activities:

(A) Submit to the county information necessary to initiate the transfer process on a form specified by the department.

(B) Authorize the county to request that clearances and exemptions issued to the resource family and all adults residing or regularly present in the home be transferred from the department to the county pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1522 of the Health and Safety Code.

(C) Cooperate with the county in conducting an approval update, as specified in the written directives or regulations adopted by the department pursuant to Section 16519.5.

(2) (A) The county shall complete the following activities:

(i) With respect to notifications issued by the Department of Justice pursuant to Section 11105.2 of the Penal Code and Section 1522.1 of the Health and Safety Code, submit a request to the Department of Justice as specified in paragraph (4) of subdivision (h) of Section 1522 of the Health and Safety Code.

(ii) Complete an approval update for the resource family as specified in the written directives or regulations adopted by the department pursuant to Section 16519.5.

(I) The county shall request a copy of the written report completed pursuant to Section 1517 of the Health and Safety Code, any updates to the written report regarding the resource family, and documents in the resource family case record, including any updates to the resource family case record, as specified in the written directives or regulations adopted by the department, from the licensed foster family agency.

(II) The licensed foster family agency shall forward a copy of the written report completed pursuant to Section 1517 of the Health and Safety Code, any updates to the written report regarding the resource family, and documents in the resource family case record, including any updates to the resource family case record, as specified in the written directives or regulations adopted by the department, to the county within 20 business days of receipt of the request.

(B) (i) Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), a county shall not approve or deny an application if there is a pending investigation that poses a health and safety risk or pending administrative action against the applicant or an adult residing in the home, as specified in the written directives or regulations adopted by the department pursuant to Section 16519.5.

(ii) A county may approve or deny the application after the investigation or administrative action has concluded, and the county confirms the applicant is still eligible to apply for approval and does not pose a health and safety risk to children or nonminor dependents.

(b) A county may deny a resource family’s request to transfer approval to a county for any of the reasons specified in Section 16519.61. If the county denies a resource family’s request, the resource family shall be entitled to a hearing, as specified in Section 16519.6.

(c) Resource family approval by a licensed foster family agency pursuant to Section 1517 or 1517.5 of the Health and Safety Code shall be forfeited by operation of law upon the transfer of the resource family approval to a county in accordance with this section.

(d) A resource family approved pursuant to this section shall comply with the written directives or regulations adopted pursuant to Section 16519.5 and comply with other applicable federal and state laws in order to maintain approval.

(e) Effective October 1, 2024, or upon the effective date of the act that added this subdivision, whichever is later, the rate paid on behalf of a child or nonminor dependent to an approved resource family approved by a licensed foster family agency that has applied to transfer their approval to a county pursuant to this section shall be the rate most recently established for the child or nonminor dependent pursuant to Section 11461. Upon approval of the resource family by the county, the rate may be adjusted based on the needs of the child, consistent with guidance provided by the department.

(f) (1) Effective October 1, 2024, or upon the effective date of the act that added this subdivision, whichever is later, the department may temporarily waive provisions of this section to facilitate the expedient transfer of an approval of a resource family that was approved by a licensed foster family agency pursuant to Section 1517 or 1517.5 of the Health and Safety Code to a county. Waivers pursuant to this subdivision shall not include waivers of background check requirements.

(2) It is the intent of the Legislature that, as part of this process, the department provide, on a timely basis, any information and documentation related to pending investigations or administrative actions against the resource family to the county to facilitate decisions regarding approval of the resource family.

(3) This subdivision shall be inoperative on January 1, 2027.

(g) For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:

(1) “Department” means the State Department of Social Services.

(2) “County” means a county child welfare or probation department.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2024, Ch. 403, Sec. 3. (AB 2496) Effective September 22, 2024.)

article: 2. Resource Family Approval Program


kind: section

code: WIC

text:
(a) Notwithstanding any other law, contracts or grants awarded for purposes of this article shall be exempt from the personal services contracting requirements of Article 4 (commencing with Section 19130) of Chapter 5 of Part 2 of Division 5 of Title 2 of the Government Code.

(b) Notwithstanding any other law, contracts or grants awarded for purposes of this article shall be exempt from the Public Contract Code and the State Contracting Manual, and shall not be subject to the approval of the Department of General Services.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2017, Ch. 732, Sec. 107. (AB 404) Effective January 1, 2018.)

division: 9. PUBLIC SOCIAL SERVICES

chapter: 5. State Child Welfare Services

article: 2. Resource Family Approval Program

path: 9. PUBLIC SOCIAL SERVICES > 5. State Child Welfare Services > 2. Resource Family Approval Program


text:
A county or the department may deny a resource family application or rescind the approval of a resource family, and the department may exclude an individual from any resource family home, for any of the following reasons:

(a) Violation of Section 16519.5, the written directives or regulations adopted pursuant to Section 16519.5, or any applicable law.

(b) Aiding, abetting, or permitting the violation of Section 16519.5, the written directives or regulations adopted pursuant to Section 16519.5, or any applicable law.

(c) Conduct that poses a risk or threat to the health and safety, protection, or well-being of a child, another individual, or the people of the State of California.

(d) The conviction of the resource family applicant, parent, or associated individual at any time before or during their approval of a crime described in Section 1522 of the Health and Safety Code.

(e) Engaging in acts of financial malfeasance, including, but not limited to, improper use or embezzlement of the money or property of a child, fraudulent appropriation for personal gain of money or property, or willful or negligent failure to provide services.

(f) Any other reason specified in the written directives or regulations adopted pursuant to Section 16519.5.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2023, Ch. 226, Sec. 3. (SB 407) Effective January 1, 2024.)

article: 2. Resource Family Approval Program


text:
(a) The out-of-court statements of a child under 12 years of age who is the subject or victim of an allegation at issue constitutes admissible evidence at an administrative hearing conducted pursuant to this article. The out-of-court statement may provide the sole basis for a finding of fact if the proponent of the statement provided the statement to all parties prior to the hearing and the adjudicator finds that the time, content, and circumstances of the statement provide sufficient indicia of reliability. However, the out-of-court statement shall not be admissible if an objecting party establishes that the statement is unreliable because it was the product of fraud, deceit, or undue influence.

(b) This section shall not be construed to limit the right of any party to the administrative hearing to subpoena a witness whose statement is admitted as evidence or to introduce admissible evidence relevant to the weight of the hearsay evidence or the credibility of the hearsay declarant.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2016, Ch. 612, Sec. 125. (AB 1997) Effective January 1, 2017.)

article: 2. Resource Family Approval Program


text:
(a) An administrative law judge conducting a hearing pursuant to this article may permit the testimony of a child witness or a similarly vulnerable witness, including, but not limited to, a witness who is intellectually disabled, to be taken outside the presence of the respondent if all of the following conditions exist:

(1) The administrative law judge determines that taking the testimony of the witness outside the presence of the respondent is necessary to ensure truthful testimony.

(2) The witness is likely to be intimidated by the presence of the respondent.

(3) The witness is afraid to testify in front of the respondent.

(b) If the testimony of a witness is taken outside of the presence of the respondent, the county, or the department in an exclusion action, shall provide for the use of one-way closed-circuit television or video so the respondent can observe the witness’ testimony. Nothing in this section shall limit a respondent’s right to cross-examine the witness.

(c) The administrative law judge presiding over a hearing in which testimony is taken pursuant to this section may clear the hearing room of any person in order to protect a witness from intimidation or other harm, taking into account the rights of all persons.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2017, Ch. 732, Sec. 110. (AB 404) Effective January 1, 2018.)

article: 2. Resource Family Approval Program


text:
(a) In any administrative proceeding conducted pursuant to this article in which a child or other minor is the victim in an allegation of inappropriate sexual conduct, evidence of specific instances of the victim’s sexual conduct with individuals other than the alleged perpetrator is subject to all of the following limitations:

(1) The evidence is not discoverable unless it is to be offered at an administrative proceeding to attack the credibility of the victim as provided for in subdivision (b). This paragraph is intended only to limit the scope of discovery and is not intended to affect the methods of discovery authorized by statute.

(2) The evidence is not admissible at the administrative proceeding unless offered to attack the credibility of the victim as provided for in subdivision (b).

(3) Reputation or opinion evidence regarding the sexual behavior of the victim is not admissible for any purpose.

(b) Evidence of specific instances of a victim’s sexual conduct with individuals other than the alleged perpetrator is presumed inadmissible absent an offer of proof establishing its relevance and reliability and that its probative value is not substantially outweighed by the probability that its admission will create substantial danger of undue prejudice or confuse the issues.

(c) As used in this section, “victim” means a person who claims to have been subjected to inappropriate sexual conduct by an alleged perpetrator, including, but not limited to, a person who is an adult at the time of hearing but was under 18 years of age at the time of the alleged inappropriate sexual conduct.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2017, Ch. 732, Sec. 111. (AB 404) Effective January 1, 2018.)

article: 2. Resource Family Approval Program


text:
(a) For matters set before the State Hearings Division, the county or respondent may file a request with the department for a rehearing within 30 days after receiving the decision of the department that is a proposed decision of an administrative law judge adopted by the department as a final decision and order, a final decision rendered by an administrative law judge, or a decision issued by the department. The department shall grant or deny the request no later than the 90th business day after the request is made. The remaining provisions of Section 10960 shall apply to the rehearing request.

(b) If the department grants the request, the rehearing shall be conducted in accordance with Section 16519.6 and following.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2017, Ch. 732, Sec. 112. (AB 404) Effective January 1, 2018.)

article: 2. Resource Family Approval Program


text:
A resource family approval shall be forfeited by operation of law when one of the following occurs:

(a) The resource family surrenders the approval to the county child welfare agency or probation department.

(b) The sole resource family parent dies.

(c) The resource family abandons the approved home.

(d) The resource family fails to cooperate with a biennial update, as described in paragraph (6) of subdivision (g) of Section 16519.5, within 30 days of the date of written notice by the county child welfare agency or probation department.

(e) A resource family approval is forfeited by operation of law, as provided in Section 16519.58 of this code or Section 1517.5 of the Health and Safety Code.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2020, Ch. 104, Sec. 22. (AB 2944) Effective September 18, 2020.)

article: 2. Resource Family Approval Program


text:
(a) A portion of the annual resource family training shall support the case plans, goals, and needs of children in the resource family home, if there are any children in the home, in accordance with applicable written directives or regulations, as specified by the department.

(b) A county, in its discretion, may require a resource family or applicant to receive one or more hours of relevant specialized training that is in addition to the hours of that training that are required by state law.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2017, Ch. 705, Sec. 1. (AB 507) Effective January 1, 2018.)

article: 2. Resource Family Approval Program


text:
(a) The written report evaluating a resource family applicant’s capacity to foster, adopt, and provide legal guardianship of a child based on all of the information gathered through the resource family application and assessment processes, or any update to the written report, completed pursuant to Section 16519.5 of this code or Section 1517 of the Health and Safety Code is confidential and may be released only to the following individuals and entities:

(1) The applicant or resource family.

(2) A tribal agency.

(3) The county child welfare agency or county probation department.

(4) The State Department of Social Services.

(5) A licensed foster family agency pursuant to Section 1517.5 of the Health and Safety Code.

(6) A county adoption agency, as defined in Section 8513 of the Family Code, or a licensed adoption agency, as defined in Section 8530 of the Family Code.

(7) For the purpose of assessing the appropriateness of a placement or proposed placement pursuant to the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children, a member of the child welfare agency in the sending state.

(b) The written report, or any update to the written report, described in subdivision (a) shall not be further disseminated by the receiving individual or entity to any individual or entity, other than those individuals or agencies authorized to receive the written report pursuant to subdivision (a).

(c) Notwithstanding subdivision (b), this section does not limit an applicant or resource family from disseminating those portions of the written report that relate to the applicant or resource family.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2018, Ch. 910, Sec. 47. (AB 1930) Effective January 1, 2019.)

article: 2. Resource Family Approval Program


text:
The Legislature recognizes that wards and dependent children share many characteristics, often have similar family histories, and often require similar services such as out-of-home placement. The Legislature also recognizes that while there are similarities in the characteristics and service needs of the ward and dependent populations, there are also significant differences, the first being that the wards have been found responsible for committing offenses. Given this difference, the Legislature deems it imperative that placement agencies give special consideration when placing wards to factors which are not as significant when placing dependent children, including the effect on, including safety of, the community in which the out-of-home placement facility is located. However, the Legislature also acknowledges that for some wards, separate from the issue of accountability and punishment with regard to the offense, after satisfying the orders of the court with regard to the offense, placement in the out-of-home care system, with board and care funded through the Aid to Families with Dependent Children-Foster Care program, is appropriate and in their best interest.

In order to ensure that wards in the out-of-home care system, with board and care funded through the Aid to Families with Dependent Children-Foster Care program, receive appropriate services, and to ensure that applicable federal and state statutory requirements are met, it is the intent of the Legislature that the State Department of Social Services, regulate and monitor these placement activities.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 1993, Ch. 1089, Sec. 36. Effective January 1, 1994.)

article: 3. Miscellaneous Provisions

path: 9. PUBLIC SOCIAL SERVICES > 5. State Child Welfare Services > 3. Miscellaneous Provisions


text: The State Department of Social Services, in consultation with representatives of local probation departments, foster care providers, and other interested parties, shall review federal and state statutes, federal requirements, and state regulations pertaining to the placement of children whose board and care is funded through the Aid to Families with Dependent Children-Foster Care program, and shall by January 1, 1995, develop regulations which identify specific initial and ongoing placement activities which must be performed by the probation department to ensure the needs of wards in placement whose board and care is funded through the Aid to Families with Dependent Children-Foster Care program are met.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 1993, Ch. 1089, Sec. 37. Effective January 1, 1994.)

article: 3. Miscellaneous Provisions


text:
(a) The Department of General Services and all other affected state agencies shall cooperate with the State Department of Social Services and the California Health and Human Services Agency Data Center to expedite and achieve timely completion and review of the Technical Architecture Alternatives Analysis Plan and all procurements related to child welfare services.

(b) Notwithstanding Section 11040 of the Government Code, the State Department of Social Services may obtain outside legal counsel to assist in negotiations for automation contracts related to child welfare services.

(c) The State Department of Social Services shall consult with stakeholders, including the County Welfare Directors Association, during the development of procurement and automation strategies related to child welfare services.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2004, Ch. 229, Sec. 58.5. Effective August 16, 2004.)

article: 3. Miscellaneous Provisions


text:
(a) A foster care provider, in consultation with the county case manager, shall be responsible for ensuring that adolescents, including nonminor dependents, as described in subdivision (v) of Section 11400, who remain in long-term foster care, as defined by the department, receive age-appropriate pregnancy prevention information to the extent state and county resources are provided.

(b) A foster care provider, in consultation with the county case manager, shall be responsible for ensuring that a foster youth or nonminor dependent is provided with appropriate referrals to health services when the foster youth either reaches 18 years of age or the nonminor dependent exits foster care, and to the extent county and state resources are provided.

(c) As part of the home study process, the prospective foster care provider shall notify the county if the provider objects to participating in adolescent pregnancy prevention training or the dissemination of information pursuant to subdivisions (a) and (b). A licensed foster care provider shall notify the county if the provider objects to participation. If the provider objects, the county case manager shall assume this responsibility.

(d) Subdivisions (a), (b), and (c) shall not take effect until the department, in consultation with the workgroup, develops guidelines that describe the duties and responsibilities of foster care providers and county case managers in delivering pregnancy prevention services and information.

(e) (1) The department, in consultation with the State Department of Health Care Services, shall convene a working group for the purpose of developing a pregnancy prevention plan that will effectively address the needs of adolescent male and female foster youth. The workgroup shall meet not more than three times and thereafter shall provide consultation to the department upon request.

(2) The working group shall include representatives from the California Youth Connection, the Foster Parent’s Association, group home provider associations, the County Welfare Director’s Association, providers of teen pregnancy prevention programs, a foster care caseworker, an expert in pregnancy prevention curricula, a representative of the Independent Living Program, and an adolescent health professional.

(f) The plan required pursuant to subdivision (e) shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following:

(1) Effective strategies and programs for preteen and older teen foster youth and nonminor dependents.

(2) The role of foster care and group home care providers.

(3) The role of the assigned case management worker.

(4) How to involve foster youth and nonminor peers.

(5) Selecting and providing appropriate materials to educate foster youth and nonminors in family life education.

(6) The training of foster care and group home care providers and, when necessary, county case managers in adolescent pregnancy prevention.

(g) Counties currently mandating foster care provider training shall be encouraged to include the pregnancy prevention curricula guidelines and educational materials that may be developed by the workgroup pursuant to subdivision (f).

(h) In order to train case management workers and foster care providers, the department shall develop a curriculum that is consistent with, and in addition to, the pregnancy prevention plan and the curricula guidelines and educational materials developed by the workgroup pursuant to subdivisions (e) and (f).

(i) The curriculum created pursuant to subdivision (h) shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following:

(1) The rights of youth and nonminor dependents in foster care to sexual and reproductive health care and information, to confidentiality of sensitive health information, and the reasonable and prudent parent standard.

(2) How to document sensitive health information, including, but not limited to, sexual and reproductive health issues, in a case plan.

(3) The duties and responsibilities of the assigned case management worker and the foster care provider in ensuring youth and nonminor dependents in foster care can obtain sexual and reproductive health services and information.

(4) Guidance about how to engage and talk with youth and nonminor dependents about healthy sexual development and reproductive and sexual health in a manner that is medically accurate, developmentally and age appropriate, trauma informed, and strengths based.

(5) Information about current contraception methods and how to select and provide appropriate referral resources and materials for information and service delivery.

(j) (1) Subject to an appropriation for this purpose, the department shall compile and report annual performance and outcome data on the implementation of sexual and reproductive health training and education and the availability and use of sexual and reproductive health care services.

(A) Performance data shall include the total number and rate of all of the following:

(i) County social workers and probation officers who have received the information described in subdivision (i) through a training program described in Section 16206.

(ii) Judges who have received the information described in subdivision (i) through a training program described in Section 304.7.

(iii) Group home administrators who have received the information described in subdivision (i) through a training described in subdivision (c) of Section 1522.41 of the Health and Safety Code.

(B) (i) Outcome data shall include integrated data drawn from data maintained by the State Department of Social Services, the State Department of Health Care Services, and the State Department of Public Health. The categories included in the outcome data, as well as the specific indicators used within each category, shall be determined in consultation with the work group convened pursuant to subdivision (e) and shall include, but not be limited to, those categories listed in clause (ii). Outcome indicators used within each category may include, but are not limited to, measures found in the Core Set of Children’s Health Care Quality Measure for Medicaid and CHIP (Child Core Set), and the Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS), or measures developed using Medi-Cal, Family PACT, and other administrative and claims data codes.

(ii) Categories of outcome data shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following:

(I) The total number and rate of youth who gave birth, the number of live births, and the number of live births weighing less than 2,500 grams, such as indicator National Quality Forum (NQF) 1382 from the Child Core Set.

(II) Maternal health outcomes for youth, such as indicator NQF 0471 from the Child Core Set.

(III) Prenatal care received by youth, including, but not limited to, date of initiation of prenatal care by trimester, frequency of service delivery, and type of provider of care, such as indicator NQF 1517 from the Child Core Set.

(IV) Postnatal care received by youth, including, but not limited to, frequency, type of service delivery, and type of provider of care.

(V) The total number and rate of youth who received contraceptive counseling, initiated contraception, and contraception method selected, such as indicators NQF 2902, 2903, and 2904 from the Child Core Set.

(VI) Testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infection in youth, such as indicator NQF 0033 from the Child Core Set or Chlamydia Screening in Women Ages 16-20 (CHL-CH) from HEDIS.

(VII) Frequency with which treatment of youth for sexually transmitted infection was followed by testing the same youth for reinfection within a one- to six-month time span.

(VIII) Receipt of annual wellness exam, such as Adolescent Well-Care Visits (AWC) from HEDIS, and frequency with which a general health exam or annual exam was paired with contraceptive counseling, pregnancy testing, sexually transmitted infection testing, or contraceptive initiation.

(iii) Outcome data shall be disaggregated and reported by age, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, county, and county placement type, if possible.

(iv) Outcome data shall be reported in a way that does not identify individual youth and complies with all applicable state and federal confidentiality and privacy laws and regulations.

(2) The department shall consult the working group convened pursuant to subdivision (e) in the selection of additional performance and outcome data categories and measures to include in the report and in the development of the report framework. Every three years, or earlier if needed, the department shall consult the State Department of Health Care Services and the State Department of Public Health and revise measures, if necessary.

(3) The report shall be completed annually, commencing on January 1, 2023, and shall be posted on the department’s internet website in a manner that is publicly accessible.

(4) For the purposes of this subdivision, “youth” means foster youth 10 years of age and older and nonminor dependents.

(k) The department shall adopt regulations to implement this section.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 696, Sec. 25. (AB 172) Effective October 8, 2021.)

article: 3. Miscellaneous Provisions


text:
To ensure that coordinated, timely, and trauma-informed services are provided to children and youth in foster care who have experienced severe trauma, all of the following shall occur:

(a) (1) Each county shall develop and implement a memorandum of understanding setting forth the roles and responsibilities of agencies and other entities that serve children and youth in foster care who have experienced severe trauma. Participants in the development and implementation of the memorandum of understanding shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following:

(A) The county child welfare agency.

(B) The county probation department.

(C) The county behavioral health departments.

(D) The county office of education.

(E) The regional center or centers that serve children and youth with developmental disabilities in the county.

(F) Foster care or other child welfare advocacy groups, as deemed appropriate by the organizations that will be parties to the memorandum, serving in an advisory capacity.

(2) The memorandum of understanding shall include, at a minimum, provisions addressing all of the following:

(A) Establishment and operation of an interagency leadership team.

(B) Establishment and operation of an interagency placement committee, as defined in Section 4096.

(C) Commitment to implementation of an integrated core practice model.

(D) Processes for screening, assessment, and entry to care.

(E) Processes for child and family teaming and universal service planning.

(F) Alignment and coordination of transportation and other foster youth services.

(G) Recruitment and management of resource families and delivery of therapeutic foster care services.

(H) Information and data sharing agreements.

(I) Staff recruitment, training, and coaching.

(J) Financial resource management and cost sharing.

(K) Dispute resolution.

(L) Processes, as developed through tribal consultation with the federally recognized tribes within each county, for engaging and coordinating with these tribes in the ongoing implementation of the memorandums of understanding described in this section.

(3) (A) No later than October 1, 2021, members of the interagency leadership team, or its designees, shall establish a process to provide, arrange for, or ensure the provision of, at least six months of family-based aftercare service to children and youth, as described in Section 4096.6, and acknowledgment that federal financial participation under the Medi-Cal program is only available if all state and federal requirements are met and the service is medically necessary.

(B) Members of the interagency leadership team described in subparagraph (A) of paragraph (2), or its designees, may, to the extent permitted by federal law, and subject to the limitations described in subparagraph (C), disclose to, and exchange with, one another information or a writing that may be designated as confidential under state law if the member of the team having that information or writing reasonably believes it is generally relevant to the identification, reduction, or elimination of barriers to services for, or to placement of, children and youth in foster care or to improve provision of those services or those placements.

(C) Members of the interagency leadership team, or its designees, who receive disclosed or exchanged information or a writing pursuant to subparagraph (B) shall destroy or return that information or writing once the purposes for which it was disclosed or exchanged are satisfied. The information or writing shall be used only for the purposes described in subparagraph (B). Any information or writing disclosed or exchanged pursuant to subparagraph (B) shall be confidential and shall not be open to public inspection, unless the information or writing is aggregated and deidentified in a manner that prevents the identification of an individual who is a subject of that information or writing. Any discussion concerning the disclosed or exchanged information or writing during a team meeting shall be confidential and shall not be open to public inspection.

(D) Members of an interagency placement committee, as defined in Section 4096, child abuse multidisciplinary personnel team, as defined in Section 18961.7, or child and family team, as defined in paragraph (4) of subdivision (a) of Section 16501, that is convened for the purpose of implementing the provisions of the memorandum of understanding developed pursuant to this subdivision shall comply with applicable statutory confidentiality provisions for that committee or team. Members of teams convened for purposes of implementing the memorandum of understanding shall comply with applicable records retention policies for their respective agencies or programs.

(4) To the extent possible, the implementation of the memorandum of understanding shall utilize existing processes and structures within and across the respective organizations that are parties to it.

(b) (1) (A) No later than June 1, 2019, the Secretary of California Health and Human Services and the Superintendent of Public Instruction shall establish a joint interagency resolution team consisting of representatives from the State Department of Social Services, the State Department of Health Care Services, the State Department of Developmental Services, and the State Department of Education.

(B) (i) The primary roles of the joint interagency resolution team shall be to develop guidance to counties, county offices of education, and regional centers with regard to developing the memoranda of understanding required by this section, to support the implementation of those memoranda of understanding, and to provide technical assistance to counties to identify and secure the appropriate level of services to meet the needs of children and youth in foster care who have experienced severe trauma.

(ii) The agencies shall ensure that a process is developed for counties and partner agencies that are parties to the memorandum of understanding to request interdepartmental technical assistance from the joint interagency resolution team.

(2) (A) No later than January 1, 2020, the joint interagency resolution team, in consultation with county agencies, service providers, and advocates for children and resource families, shall review the placement and service options available to county child welfare agencies and county probation departments for children and youth in foster care who have experienced severe trauma and shall develop and submit recommendations to the Legislature addressing any identified gaps in placement types or availability, needed services to resource families, or other identified issues. The joint interagency resolution team shall update its review and provide recommendations to the Legislature no later than December 31, 2022, that take into account the specific needs and characteristics of youth with unplanned discharges from short-term residential therapeutic programs and youth for whom counties were unable to, or have difficulty with, securing placements and providing trauma-informed services, which may include, but is not limited to, as applicable, youth impacted by commercial sexual exploitation, youth with acute behavioral needs, and youth with intellectual or developmental disabilities. The recommendations shall also articulate a statewide plan for any additional development needed for a trauma-informed, therapeutic continuum of care to support youth in-state in the least restrictive setting.

(B) A report submitted to the Legislature pursuant to this paragraph shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code.

(3) No later than June 1, 2020, the joint interagency resolution team, in consultation with county agencies, service providers, behavioral health professionals, schools of social work, and advocates for children and resource families, shall develop a multiyear plan for increasing the capacity and delivery of trauma-informed care to children and youth in foster care served by short-term residential therapeutic programs and other foster care and behavioral health providers.

(4) (A) Members of the joint interagency resolution team described in this subdivision may, to the extent permitted by federal law, and subject to the limitations described in subparagraph (B), disclose to, and exchange with, one another information or a writing that may be designated as confidential under state law if the member of the team or committee having that information or writing reasonably believes it is generally relevant to the identification, reduction, or elimination of barriers to services for, or to placement of, children and youth in foster care or to improve provision of those services or those placements.

(B) Members of the joint interagency resolution team who receive disclosed or exchanged information, or a writing, pursuant to subparagraph (A), shall destroy or return that information or writing once the purposes for which it was disclosed or exchanged are satisfied. The information or writing shall be used only for the purposes described in subparagraph (A). Any information or writing disclosed or exchanged pursuant to subparagraph (A) shall be confidential and shall not be open to public inspection, unless the information or writing is aggregated and deidentified in a manner that prevents the identification of an individual who is a subject of that information or writing. Any discussion concerning the disclosed or exchanged information or writing during a team meeting shall be confidential and shall not be open to public inspection.

(5) The joint interagency resolution team shall track and report deidentified information of children and nonminor dependents in foster care who have been assisted to preserve, or secure new, intensive therapeutic options. This information shall be posted on the internet website of the California Health and Human Services Agency beginning July 1, 2022, shall be updated annually, and shall include the number of children and nonminor dependents served through its technical assistance process, characteristics of individuals served, and, as applicable, local and statewide systemic issues identified by the team.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 86, Sec. 50. (AB 153) Effective July 16, 2021.)

article: 3. Miscellaneous Provisions


text:
(a) It is the intent of the Legislature in enacting this section to establish a methodology for reconciling the state’s and each county’s costs and savings resulting from implementation of the Continuum of Care Reform (CCR), as directed through legislation and administrative directives, in light of the requirements of Section 36 of Article XIII of the California Constitution, which pertains to state or federal legislation enacted after September 30, 2012, that has an overall effect of increasing the costs already borne by a local agency for certain programs or levels of service.

(b) The Department of Finance, in consultation with the State Department of Social Services, the County Welfare Directors Association of California, the Chief Probation Officers of California, and the California State Association of Counties, shall develop and implement a methodology for determining the state’s and each county’s overall actual costs and savings resulting from the CCR initiative. The methodology shall take into account the CCR-related assistance and administration costs and savings of the state and each county associated with the implementation of the CCR initiative, based on the best available data.

(c) (1) The overall CCR-related assistance and administration costs and savings for each county shall be reconciled at least once for each fiscal year, beginning in the 2018–19 fiscal year, to determine the amount of state funding, if any, that is owed to each county or the amount of county savings, if any, that are available to offset state funding from the General Fund. The Department of Finance, in collaboration with the entities listed in subdivision (b), shall determine the process by which any state funding owed to counties is provided or any county savings offsets state funding.

(2) If any state funding owed is not provided to the county, the county is not obligated to continue implementation of the CCR initiative beyond the level of state funding provided.

(3) The overall CCR-related assistance and administration costs and savings of each county incurred since July 1, 2016, shall be included in the first reconciliation done pursuant to this section.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2018, Ch. 35, Sec. 37. (AB 1811) Effective June 27, 2018.)

article: 3. Miscellaneous Provisions


text:
(a) (1) A child welfare public health nursing early intervention program shall be conducted in the County of Los Angeles, as provided in this section, and with the county’s consent. The purpose of the program is to improve outcomes for the expanded population of youth at risk of entering the foster care system by maximizing access to health care and health education, and connecting youth and families to safety net services. It is the intent of the Legislature for the program to maximize the use of county public health nurses in the field in order to provide families with children who are at risk of being placed in the child welfare system with preventative services to meet their medical, mental, and behavioral health needs.

(2) The program shall be administered by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (DPH), in cooperation with the county’s Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS).

(3) Funding appropriated for purposes of the program shall be used for, but not limited to, the following:

(A) Hiring a sufficient number of new public health nurses, with the goal of achieving an average caseload ratio of 200:1.

(B) Hiring additional public health nursing supervisors to provide necessary guidance and support.

(C) Hiring senior and intermediate typist clerks to assist with data entry.

(D) Establishing an accountability mechanism and a shared information and data exchange system.

(b) A county public health nurse providing services under the program may do all of the following:

(1) Respond to emergency response referrals with social workers.

(2) Conduct emergency and routine home visits with social workers.

(3) Educate social workers on behavioral, mental and physical health conditions.

(4) Identify behavioral and health conditions that social workers are not trained to identify.

(5) Provide followup with families of youth who remain in the home to monitor compliance with the medical, dental, and mental health care plans to promote wellbeing and minimize repeat referrals.

(6) Conduct routine followups and monitoring of medically fragile and medically at-risk children and youth in the Family Maintenance and Reunification programs.

(7) Provide parents and guardians with educational tools and resources to ensure the child’s physical, mental, and behavioral health needs are being met.

(8) Interpret medical records and reports for social workers.

(c) (1) The DPH, in cooperation with the DCFS, shall develop appropriate outcome measures to determine the effectiveness of the program, including established triaging tools and visitation protocols, in achieving the objectives described in paragraph (1) of subdivision (a). Commencing on January 1 during the fiscal year when funding has been provided to the DPH by the State Department of Social Services, and each January 1 thereafter, the DPH shall report to the Legislature on the effectiveness of the program using those outcome measures, including any recommendations for continuation or expansion of the program.

(2) A report submitted under this subdivision shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code.

(d) (1) Before January 1, 2021, and to the extent enabled by existing resources or appropriated funds, the State Department of Health Care Services, in consultation with the County of Los Angeles, shall determine the steps required to seek any federal approvals necessary to claim federal financial participation for those allowable Medicaid activities of the program described in subdivision (a) and shall seek any federal approvals necessary to claim federal financial participation available for those identified Medicaid activities.

(2) The County of Los Angeles shall submit to the State Department of Health Care Services any information deemed relevant to the determination described in paragraph (1) at the time and in the form and manner specified by that department.

(3) With respect to any Medicaid activities identified pursuant to paragraph (1) for which federal approval is sought, those activities shall be implemented only to the extent that the State Department of Health Care Services obtains any necessary federal Medicaid approvals.

(4) Notwithstanding Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, the department may implement, interpret, or make specific this subdivision, in whole or in part, by means of provider bulletins, plan letters, or other similar instructions, without taking any further regulatory action.

(e) Contingent upon an appropriation in the annual Budget Act, the State Department of Social Services shall provide funds to the DPH for the purposes described in this section.

(f) Notwithstanding any other law, including the personal services contracting requirements of Article 4 (commencing with Section 19130) of Chapter 5 of Part 2 of Division 5 of Title 2 of the Government Code, Part 2 (commencing with Section 10100) of Division 2 of the Public Contract Code, and the State Contracting Manual, any state funds annually appropriated to the State Department of Social Services for the purposes described this section that are not used as the nonfederal share for Medicaid expenditures approved pursuant to subdivision (d) shall be passed through in a single lump-sum to the DPH.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 86, Sec. 51. (AB 153) Effective July 16, 2021.)

article: 3. Miscellaneous Provisions


text:
(a) The State Department of Social Services shall license transitional housing placement providers that provide supervised transitional housing services to foster children who are at least 16 years of age pursuant to Section 1559.110 of the Health and Safety Code.

(b) Transitional Housing Program-Plus providers, as defined in subdivision (s) of Section 11400, shall not be subject to licensure pursuant to Section 1559.110 of the Health and Safety Code, if they are certified to provide transitional housing by the applicable county and have obtained a local fire clearance.

(c) By July 31, 2012, the department shall establish certification standards and procedures for the Transitional Housing Placement program for nonminor dependents as described in subdivision (c) of Section 16522.1, in consultation with the County Welfare Directors Association, the California Youth Connection, county probation departments, provider representatives, and other stakeholders, as appropriate.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2017, Ch. 731, Sec. 11. (SB 612) Effective January 1, 2018.)

path: 9. PUBLIC SOCIAL SERVICES > 5. State Child Welfare Services > 4. Transitional Housing Placement Program


text:
(a) In order to be licensed as a transitional housing placement provider pursuant to Section 1559.110 of the Health and Safety Code and be eligible for payment of AFDC-FC benefits pursuant to Sections 11403.2 and 11403.3, an applicant shall obtain certification from the applicable county specifying whether the facility will serve foster youth at least 16 years of age and not more than 18 years of age, nonminor dependents, as defined in subdivision (v) of Section 11400, or both, as follows:

(1) A program serving foster children at least 16 years of age and not more than 18 years of age shall obtain a certification entitled “Transitional Housing Placement program for minor foster children.”

(2) A program serving nonminor dependents at least 18 years of age and not more than 21 years of age shall obtain a certification entitled a “Transitional Housing Placement program for nonminor dependents.”

(b) The certification for the Transitional Housing Placement program for minor foster children shall confirm that the program provides for all of the following:

(1) Admission criteria for participants in the program, including, but not limited to, consideration of the participant’s age, previous placement history, delinquency history, history of drug or alcohol abuse, current strengths, level of education, mental health history, medical history, prospects for successful participation in the program, and work experience. Youth who are wards of the court described in Section 602 and youth receiving psychotropic medications shall be eligible for consideration to participate in the program, and shall not be automatically excluded due to these factors.

(2) The department shall review the admission criteria to ensure that the criteria are sufficient to protect participants and that they do not discriminate on the basis of any characteristic listed or defined in Section 11135 of the Government Code.

(3) Strict employment criteria that include a consideration of the employee’s age, drug or alcohol history, and experience in working with persons in this age group.

(4) A training program designed to educate employees who work directly with participants about the characteristics of persons in this age group placed in long-term care settings, and designed to ensure that these employees are able to adequately supervise and counsel participants and to provide them with training in independent living skills.

(5) A detailed plan for monitoring the placement of persons under the licensee’s care.

(6) A contract between the participant and the licensee that specifically sets out the requirements for each party, and in which the licensee and the participant agree to the requirements of this article.

(7) An allowance to be provided to each participant in the program. In the case of a participant living independently, this allowance shall be sufficient for the participant to purchase food and other necessities.

(8) A system for payment for utilities, telephone, and rent.

(9) Policies regarding all of the following:

(A) Education requirements.

(B) Work expectations.

(C) Savings requirements.

(D) Personal safety.

(E) Visitors, including, but not limited to, visitation by the placement auditor pursuant to paragraph (5).

(F) Emergencies.

(G) Medical problems.

(H) Disciplinary measures.

(I) Childcare.

(J) Pregnancy.

(K) Curfew.

(L) Housing unit cleanliness.

(M) Use of utilities and telephone.

(N) Budgeting.

(O) Care of furnishings.

(P) Decorating of housing units.

(Q) Cars.

(R) Lending or borrowing money.

(S) Unauthorized purchases.

(T) Dating.

(U) Grounds for termination that may include, but shall not be limited to, illegal activities or harboring runaways.

(V) The approval of any nonparticipant roommates.

(10) Housing unit furnishings, and a policy on disposition of the furnishings when the participant completes the program.

(11) Evaluation of the participant’s progress in the program and reporting to the independent living program and to the department regarding that progress.

(12) A linkage to the federal Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. Sec. 2801 et seq.) program administered in the local area to provide employment training to eligible participants.

(13) Effective January 1, 2013, a program staffing ratio of case manager to participant not to exceed 1 to 12.

(c) The certification for the Transitional Housing Placement program for nonminor dependents shall confirm that the program provides for all of the following:

(1) That the program is needed by the county.

(2) That the transitional housing placement provider is capable of effectively and efficiently operating the program.

(3) That the transitional housing placement provider is willing and able to accept the AFDC-FC-eligible nonminor dependents for placement by the placing agency who need the level of care and services that will be provided by the program.

(4) That the plan of operation is suitable to meet the needs of the identified population.

(5) Maintain a program staffing ratio for nonminor dependents of case manager to participant not to exceed a shared average caseload of 1 to 12, inclusive, with a designated lead case manager assigned to each youth.

(6) That the provider has established a process, which includes the county if the county chooses to participate, to evaluate whether a participant may be placed with a nonparticipant.

(d) (1) A county may continue to approve payment to a transitional housing placement provider for a period of up to 14 days in a calendar month in which the nonminor dependent is absent from the placement if the nonminor dependent provides notice to the transitional housing placement provider that they intend to return to that placement within 14 days or the transitional housing placement provider has reason to believe the nonminor dependent will be returning within 14 days.

(2) If the county continues to pay the board and care costs for up to 14 days during the nonminor dependent’s absence, the transitional housing placement provider shall not provide a removal notice or fill a nonminor dependent’s place in the program.

(3) The State Department of Social Services shall issue guidance encouraging counties to continue to approve payment during temporary absences from the program as a best practice, consistent with federal law, to prevent nonminor dependent housing instability.

(e) For purposes of this section, “applicable county” means the county where the administrative office or subadministrative office of a transitional housing placement provider is located or a primary placing county.

(f) (1) If a county contracts with a transitional housing placement provider, the contract shall not contain terms that create unreasonable barriers for a qualified foster youth’s admission into or participation in the program. The contract shall be developed to provide maximum flexibility to meet the needs of the minor dependents and nonminor dependents served by the programs in the specific county contracting with the provider. The contract shall be developed with the understanding that, unless modified by a court order, a nonminor dependent has the same legal decisionmaking authority as an adult.

(2) The department is not required to review the contract described in paragraph (1). This subdivision does not require a county to enter into a contract with a transitional housing placement provider.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2025, Ch. 187, Sec. 2. (AB 1314) Effective January 1, 2026.)

article: 4. Transitional Housing Placement Program


text:
(a) Eligible persons may receive transitional housing only with the permission of both the independent living program of the county in which the program is located and the county department of social services or the county probation department that has custody of the person.

(b) This section does not apply to a nonminor dependent, as defined in subdivision (v) of Section 11400.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2012, Ch. 35, Sec. 139. (SB 1013) Effective June 27, 2012.)


text: Prior to county certification of any program to be provided by a transitional housing placement provider, the department shall approve a plan submitted by the county’s independent living program that includes assurances that the independent living program shall participate actively in the screening of candidates for this program and shall assist the licensed agency in the supervision of participants participating in the program. This section does not apply to nonminor dependents, as defined in subdivision (v) of Section 11400.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2017, Ch. 731, Sec. 13. (SB 612) Effective January 1, 2018.)


text: The department shall make information available to the Legislature upon request regarding services rendered pursuant to this article.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 1993, Ch. 799, Sec. 5. Effective January 1, 1994.)


text:
For purposes of this article, the following definitions shall apply:

(a) “Child welfare services” means either of the following:

(1) The same meaning as defined in Section 16501, including those services provided by a tribe, or tribal entity or agency.

(2) Child welfare services provided by a tribe, or tribal entity or agency, in accordance with tribal law or custom, if the tribe, or tribal entity or agency, provides at least one of the services described in paragraph (1) or (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 16501.

(b) “Department” means the State Department of Social Services.

(c) “Eligible family” means any individual or family that, at a minimum, meets all of the following conditions:

(1) Receives child welfare services at the time eligibility is determined.

(2) Is homeless, is at risk of homelessness, or is in a living situation that cannot accommodate the child or multiple children in the home, which may include, but is not limited to, individuals who have not yet received an eviction notice.

(3) Voluntarily agrees to participate in the program.

(4) Either of the following:

(A) Has been determined appropriate for reunification of a child to a biological parent or guardian by the county human services agency or tribe handling the case, the court with jurisdiction over the child, or both.

(B) A child or children in the family is or are at risk of foster care placement, and the county human services agency or tribe determines that safe and stable housing for the family will prevent the need for the child’s or children’s removal from the parent or guardian.

(d) “Homeless” means any of the following:

(1) An individual or family who lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence.

(2) An individual or family with a primary nighttime residence that is a public or private place not designed for or ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings, including, but not limited to, a car, park, abandoned building, bus station, train station, airport, or camping ground.

(3) An individual or family living in a supervised publicly or privately operated shelter designated to provide temporary living arrangements, including hotels or motels paid for by federal, state, or local government programs for low-income individuals or by charitable organizations, congregate shelters, or transitional housing.

(4) An individual who resided in a shelter or place not meant for human habitation and who is exiting an institution where the individual temporarily resided.

(5) An individual or family who will imminently lose their housing, including, but not limited to, housing they own, rent, or live in without paying rent, are sharing with others, or rooms in hotels or motels not paid for by federal, state, or local government programs for low-income individuals or by charitable organizations, if any of the following criteria are met:

(A) The primary nighttime residence will be lost within 14 days, as evidenced by any of the following:

(i) A court order resulting from an eviction action that notifies the individual or family that they must leave within 14 days.

(ii) The individual or family having a primary nighttime residence that is a room in a hotel or motel and where they lack the resources necessary to reside there for more than 14 days.

(iii) Credible evidence indicating that the owner or renter of the housing will not allow the individual or family to stay for more than 14 days, and any oral statement from an individual or family seeking homeless assistance that is found to be credible shall be considered credible evidence for purposes of this clause.

(B) The individual or family has no subsequent residence identified.

(C) The individual or family lacks the resources or support networks needed to obtain other permanent housing.

(6) Unaccompanied youth and homeless families with children and youth defined as homeless under any other federal statute, as of the effective date of this program, who meet all of the following:

(A) Have experienced a long-term period without living independently in permanent housing.

(B) Have experienced persistent instability as measured by frequent moves over that long-term period.

(C) Can be expected to continue in that status for an extended period of time because of chronic disabilities, chronic physical health or mental health conditions, substance addiction, histories of domestic violence or childhood abuse, the presence of a child or youth with a disability, or multiple barriers to employment.

(7) An individual or family who meets all of the following:

(A) Is fleeing, or is attempting to flee, domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, or other dangerous or life-threatening conditions that relate to violence against the individual or family member, including a child, that has either taken place within the individual’s or family’s primary nighttime residence or has made the individual or family afraid to return to their primary nighttime residence.

(B) Has no other residence.

(C) Lacks the resources or support networks, including, but not limited to, family, friends, or faith-based or other social networks, to obtain other permanent housing.

(e) “Homelessness” means the status of being homeless, as defined in subdivision (d).

(f) “Permanent housing” means a place to live without a predetermined limit on the length of stay, subject to landlord-tenant laws pursuant to Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 1940) of Title 5 of Part 4 of Division 3 of the Civil Code.

(g) “Program” means the Bringing Families Home Program established pursuant to this article.

(h) “Supportive housing” has the same meaning as defined in paragraph (2) of subdivision (b) of Section 50675.14 of the Health and Safety Code, except that the program is not restricted to serving only projects with five or more units.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2023, Ch. 43, Sec. 75. (AB 120) Effective July 10, 2023.)

article: 6. Bringing Families Home Program

path: 9. PUBLIC SOCIAL SERVICES > 5. State Child Welfare Services > 6. Bringing Families Home Program


text:
(a) To the extent funds are appropriated in the annual Budget Act, the department shall award program funds to counties and tribal governments for the purpose of providing housing-related supports to eligible families experiencing homelessness if that homelessness prevents reunification between an eligible family and a child receiving child welfare services, or where lack of housing prevents a parent or guardian from addressing issues that could lead to foster care placement.

(b) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), this section does not create an entitlement to housing-related assistance, which is intended to be provided at the discretion of the county or tribe as a service to eligible families.

(c) (1) It is the intent of the Legislature that housing-related assistance provided pursuant to this article utilize evidence-based models, including evidence-based practices in rapid rehousing and supportive housing.

(2) Housing-related supports available to participating families shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

(A) An assessment of each family’s housing and service needs, including a plan to assist them in meeting those needs, using an assessment tool developed in the local community or an assessment tool used in other jurisdictions.

(B) Housing navigation or search assistance to recruit landlords, and assist families in locating housing affordable to the family.

(C) The use of evidence-based models, such as motivational interviewing and trauma-informed care, to build relationships with a parent or guardian.

(D) Housing-related financial assistance, including rental assistance, security deposit assistance, utility payments, moving cost assistance, and interim housing assistance while housing navigators are actively seeking permanent housing options for the family.

(E) (i) Housing stabilization services, including ongoing tenant engagement, case management, public systems assistance, legal services, credit repair assistance, life skills training, and conflict mediation with landlords and neighbors.

(ii) Services provided pursuant to clause (i) shall be provided with input from the family, based on the needs of the family, and in coordination with other services being provided by child welfare services or tribes, family resource centers, family courts, and other services.

(F) If the family requires supportive housing, long-term housing through tenant or project-based rental assistance or operating subsidies and services promoting housing stability, subject to available funding pursuant to subdivision (a).

(d) The department shall award program funds to county child welfare agencies and tribes according to criteria developed by the department, in consultation with the County Welfare Directors Association of California, the Corporation for Supportive Housing, and Housing California, subject to all of the following requirements:

(1) (A) Except as otherwise provided in subparagraph (B), a county or tribe that receives state funds under this program shall match that funding on a dollar-by-dollar basis. The county or tribal funds used for this purpose shall supplement, not supplant, county or tribal funding already intended for these purposes.

(B) Beginning on July 1, 2021, a county or tribe that receives state funds under this article shall not be required to match any funding.

(2) A county or tribe that receives state funds under this program shall partner with a local homeless continuum of care that participates in a homeless services coordinated entry and assessment system, as required by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development.

(3) A county or tribe that receives state funds under the program shall utilize a cross-agency liaison to coordinate activities under the program with the homeless continuum of care and the county child welfare or tribal agency, including housing-related and child welfare services for families.

(e) The department, in consultation with Housing California, the Corporation for Supportive Housing, and the County Welfare Directors Association of California, shall develop all of the following:

(1) The criteria by which counties and tribal governments may be awarded funds to provide housing-related assistance to eligible families pursuant to this article.

(2) The proportion of program funding to be expended on reasonable and appropriate administrative activities to minimize overhead and maximize services.

(3) Eligible sources of funds for a county’s or tribe’s matching contribution.

(4) Tracking and reporting procedures for the program.

(5) A process for evaluating program data.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2025, Ch. 79, Sec. 28. (SB 119) Effective July 29, 2025.)

article: 6. Bringing Families Home Program


text:
(a) Notwithstanding the rulemaking provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code), the department may implement and administer the changes made to this article by the act that added this section by means of all-county letters or similar instructions from the department that shall have the same force and effect as regulations until regulations are adopted.

(b) The department shall adopt regulations implementing this article no later than July 1, 2024.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2023, Ch. 43, Sec. 77. (AB 120) Effective July 10, 2023.)

article: 6. Bringing Families Home Program


text:
(a) The State Department of Social Services, the State Department of Health Care Services, the California State Association of Counties representing the counties, the County Welfare Directors Association of California, the County Behavioral Health Directors Association of California, and the Chief Probation Officers of California shall provide quarterly in-person updates to the Legislature on progress toward the implementation of Continuum of Care Reform (CCR).

(b) Specific components of the updates described in subdivision (a) shall cease when notification by the applicable party of the completion of a specific activity occurs or when it is agreed by all parties that a component is no longer necessary for other reasons.

(c) The updates described in subdivision (a) shall include the updates specified in Sections 16523.51 to 16523.56, inclusive.

(d) For purposes of this article, the following definitions apply:

(1) “CANS” means the Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths assessment tool.

(2) “Child and family team” or “CFT” has the same meaning as provided in Section 16501.

(3) “Continuum of Care Reform” or “CCR” means the Continuum of Care Reform enacted by Chapter 773 of the Statutes of 2015, Chapter 612 of the Statutes of 2016, Chapter 732 of the Statutes of 2017, and Chapter 910 of the Statutes of 2018.

(4) “Department” means the State Department of Social Services, unless otherwise specified.

(5) “Foster family agency” or “FFA” has the same meaning as provided in Section 1502 of the Health and Safety Code.

(6) “Group home” has the same meaning as provided in Section 1502 of the Health and Safety Code.

(7) “Intensive services foster care” has the same meaning as provided in Section 18360.

(8) “LOCP” means level of care protocol.

(9) “Resource family approval” or “RFA” has the same meaning as provided in Section 16519.5.

(10) “Short-term residential therapeutic program” or “STRTP” has the same meaning as provided in Section 1502 of the Health and Safety Code.

(11) “Temporary shelter care facility” has the same meaning as provided in Section 1530.8 of the Health and Safety Code.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2019, Ch. 27, Sec. 105. (SB 80) Effective June 27, 2019.)

article: 7. Continuum of Care Reform Oversight

path: 9. PUBLIC SOCIAL SERVICES > 5. State Child Welfare Services > 7. Continuum of Care Reform Oversight


text:
Update on the Transition of Providers to the CCR Program Models. With a focus on changes over time, the updates described in Section 16523.5 shall include status updates on the transition of providers to the short-term residential therapeutic program (STRTP), resource family approval (RFA), therapeutic foster care, intensive services foster care, and temporary shelter care facilities program models. Data reporting under this section shall include all of the following:

(a) The number of applications for STRTP and foster family agency (FFA) licensure, placement capacity of STRTPs, and updates on the outcomes of licensure requests.

(b) (1) The average number of days from initial application for a provisional STRTP license to issuance of the license.

(2) The number of provisional and permanent STRTP and FFA licenses issued, the number of permanent STRTP and FFA licenses under compliance review, and the number of provisional STRTP licenses that will expire prior to achieving full licensure.

(c) The number of active licenses for STRTPs and FFAs, the placement capacities of each, and the percentage of each that have achieved accreditation.

(d) (1) By county, the number of group homes for which extensions have been requested by probation or child welfare agencies, and the number approved by the department.

(2) The primary reasons group home license extensions are necessary.

(e) The number and geographic distribution of children remaining in group homes and the status of their transition plans.

(f) The number of FFAs and group homes not pursuing a license under CCR standards, the placement capacity of those providers, and the number of children placed with those providers.

(g) (1) The number and capacity, as data becomes available, of in-home, intensive service homes available as an alternative to congregate care placement, including, but not limited to, therapeutic foster care and intensive services foster care.

(2) To the extent that information described in this subdivision is not available to be shared, the counties and entities listed in subdivision (a) of Section 16523.5 shall describe the limitations and explore and present options for remedying the lack of available information. As part of this process, meetings may be held with stakeholders, county representatives, legislative staff, and the Department of Finance to identify acceptable solutions, alternatives, or proxies.

(h) The number and identification of counties with licensed temporary shelter care facilities.

(i) The number of reports received by the department from county placing agencies regarding youth requiring an STRTP-level of care in which the county either is unable to secure a placement into an STRTP or has received notice of a requested placement change from the STRTP before treatment is complete, and data that include the ages, gender identity, and service needs of the youth, including final disposition of those cases.

article: 7. Continuum of Care Reform Oversight


text:
Update on Capacity to Provide Mental Health Services. With a focus on changes over time, the updates described in Section 16523.5 shall include status updates on the capacity of STRTPs and FFAs to provide mental health services. Data reporting under this section shall include all of the following:

(a) (1) By county, the number of STRTPs requesting mental health program approval and the outcomes of approval requests.

(2) By county, the average number of days from application for mental health program approval to issuance of mental health program approval.

(3) By county, the average number of days from application of Medi-Cal site visit to completion of site visit and certification.

(b) (1) The number of STRTPs with a mental health program approval, Medi-Cal certification, and specialty mental health contracts to provide specialty mental health services, and the licensed capacity of those providers.

(2) The number of FFAs with Medi-Cal certification and mental health contracts that allow for the provision of services beyond the types required by regulation.

(c) The number of denied mental health program approvals for STRTPS, the number of denied Medi-Cal certification for STRTPs and FFAs, and the number of STRTPs and FFAs not awarded a mental health contract.

(d) The number of FFAs approved to deliver therapeutic foster care, the capacity of the homes, the number of foster parents who have been trained and approved to provide therapeutic foster care, and the geographic service areas served.

article: 7. Continuum of Care Reform Oversight


text:
Tracking Child Outcomes over Time.

(a) With a focus on changes over time, and to the extent data are available, the updates described in Section 16523.5 shall include status updates on all of the following child outcome measures:

(1) The number and percent of children in out-of-home care, stratified by placement type, LOCP, and whether the supervising department is the county child welfare or probation agency.

(2) The average number of placements per child, and the average length of stay per placement episode by placement type.

(3) The proportion of placements that constitute a move to a less restrictive setting, and the proportion of placements that constitute a move to a permanent home.

(4) The number and percent of children in residential placement without an identified home-based caregiver for transition, stratified by county.

(5) Information on the evaluation of the LOCP tool and changes that may result from evaluation findings.

(6) Ongoing information on state and county efforts to ensure consistent and valid statewide outcomes of the new LOCP tool for children across counties.

(7) (A) By county, the number and percent of children entering intensive services foster care placements and therapeutic foster care specialty mental health services.

(B) As they become available, data on which other services, including the broader array of behavioral health services, that children in these placements are determined to require, and the status of their service access and utilization rates.

(8) As information becomes available, summarized results from the youth satisfaction survey.

(9) (A) By county, the number and percentage of children in foster care receiving specialty mental health services on a quarterly or monthly basis, stratified by service type, county, placement type, and LOCP.

(B) As data become available, services shall be further delineated by subcomponents, including assessment plan development, collateral contacts, rehabilitation, and therapy.

(10) (A) By county, the number and percentage of children in foster care receiving mental health services on a quarterly or monthly basis under the Medi-Cal managed care and fee-for-service systems, stratified by service type, county, placement type, and LOCP.

(B) As data become available, services shall be further delineated by subcomponents, including assessment plan development, collateral contacts, rehabilitation, and therapy.

(11) For all children in foster care who screened positive for referral for mental health services assessment, the number of days from the date of placement and from the date of screening to the receipt of a specialty mental health service assessment and ongoing services pursuant to a medical necessity determination, stratified by county mental health plan and provider.

(12) By county, the number and disposition of service complaints regarding specialty and nonspecialty mental health service delivery for foster youth.

(13) The number and percentage of children with an open child welfare case and foster care placement who receive a required mental health screen and, when screened as positive, who receive a referral and mental health services.

(14) By county, the number of youth who obtained legal permanency during each month or quarter.

(b) To the extent that information described in this section is not available to be shared, the counties and entities listed in subdivision (a) of Section 16523.5 shall describe the limitations and explore and present options for remedying the lack of available information. As part of this process, meetings may be held with stakeholders, county representatives, legislative staff, and the Department of Finance to identify acceptable solutions, alternatives, or proxies.

article: 7. Continuum of Care Reform Oversight


text:
Update on CCR-Related Costs and Savings. Once available, the updates described in Section 16523.5 shall include status updates on CCR-related costs and savings, including all of the following:

(a) By county, ongoing county costs and savings related to CCR implementation.

(b) Other services and supplemental payments for which counties use reinvested CCR-related savings, including funding to match Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment (EPSDT) federal funding and funding for FFA services-only rates.

(c) The extent to which the new STRTP and FFA rates are adequate to compensate providers for meeting the new service requirements of CCR.

(d) The extent to which each of the LOCP rate levels provides adequate resources to resource families caring for children at all assessed levels of need.

(e) A description of each county’s changes to specialized care increment (SCI) programs, if any, including any changes in benefit levels and suspensions or terminations of SCI programs.

article: 7. Continuum of Care Reform Oversight


text:
Child and Family Teams (CFT) and Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths (CANS) Implementation.

(a) The updates described in Section 16523.5 shall include a status update on the utilization of the CANS assessment.

(1) By county, the number and percentage of children in foster care receiving CFT meetings and CANS assessments.

(2) As data become available, data by county on the average frequency of meetings and assessments and the overall CANS scoring outcomes and trends over time.

(3) As it becomes available, data by county of the number of CANS assessments and who conducted the assessments.

(4) As it becomes available, data by county of the percentage of CANS assessments that are conducted at the required minimum of three months for behavioral health or the six-month minimum by the child welfare agency.

(b) To the extent that information described in this section is not available to be shared, the counties and entities listed in subdivision (a) of Section 16523.5 shall describe the limitations and explore and present options for remedying the lack of available information. As part of this process, meetings may be held with stakeholders, county representatives, legislative staff, and the Department of Finance to identify acceptable solutions, alternatives, or proxies.

article: 7. Continuum of Care Reform Oversight


text:
Resource Families.

(a) The updates described in Section 16523.5 shall include a status update on the implementation of the resource family approval process.

(1) Data on the progress of RFA implementation, including the number of RFA applications and approvals and the average number of days for an application to be approved or disapproved over time, separated by relatives and nonrelatives.

(2) The information described in paragraph (1) as applied to caregivers with a placement prior to approval, including the number of applications taking longer than 90 days and the number of applications taking longer than 180 days.

(3) By county, the number of newly approved resource family homes, stratified by relative and community homes.

(4) As data becomes available, data by county of the number of family homes no longer available for placement, stratified by families who have moved to legal permanency, including guardianship and adoption.

(5) By county, the number of families who have received additional supports or services through the Foster Parent Recruitment, Retention, and Support Funding Opportunity.

(b) To the extent that information described in this section is not available to be shared, the counties and entities listed in subdivision (a) of Section 16523.5 shall describe the limitations and explore and present options for remedying the lack of available information. As part of this process, meetings may be held with stakeholders, county representatives, legislative staff, and the Department of Finance to identify acceptable solutions, alternatives, or proxies.

article: 7. Continuum of Care Reform Oversight


text:
Supporting the Transitions of Child Welfare Youth from Group Homes and Reduced Use of Congregate Care. Pursuant to the extensions granted in subdivision (e) of Section 11462.04, the updates described in Section 16523.5 shall include information and aggregate data, as it becomes available, of the following, as it relates to children placed by child welfare:

(a) By county, the family finding activities attempted or underway, or other activities to connect the child to caring adults outside of the congregate care setting.

(b) Identification of the counties that have any existing or planned contracts, or efforts to directly provide or contract for intensive child specific recruitment services.

(c) Identification of counties with any existing or planned specialty mental health services targeted to address the mental health service needs of a foster child transitioning from congregate care to permanency or other family-based care setting, and a summary of any gaps that remain.

(d) The number of children that successfully achieved permanency following receipt of services described in subdivisions (a) to (c), inclusive.

article: 7. Continuum of Care Reform Oversight


text: System Changes. Pursuant to existing reporting requirements on the replacement statewide child welfare information system, Child Welfare Services – California Automated Response and Engagement System (CWS-CARES), the updates described in Section 16523.5 shall include a status update on the automation changes to the existing statewide child welfare information system, Child Welfare Services/Case Management System (CWS/CMS) and licensing systems needed to support CCR implementation, including, but not limited to, support for Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths (CANS), the RFA process, LOCP, and other programmatic elements.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2022, Ch. 50, Sec. 76. (SB 187) Effective June 30, 2022.)

article: 7. Continuum of Care Reform Oversight


text: Update on County Recruitment and Retention Efforts. As data are available, the updates described in Section 16523.5 shall include status updates on the recruitment and retention of new resource families, including, but not limited to, the number of new family-based providers separated by relatives and nonrelative caregivers, exits from care due to achieving legal permanency, and the supports and services available to family-based caregivers to support family stability.

article: 7. Continuum of Care Reform Oversight


text:
(a) The Child Welfare Services Program Improvement Fund is hereby established in the State Treasury. The fund shall consist of donated grants, gifts, or bequests made to the state from private sources, and the moneys in the fund shall be expended, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to enhance the state’s ability to provide a comprehensive system of supports that promote positive outcomes for children and families.

(b) To the extent possible, the department shall use moneys in the fund as a match to obtain federal participation in the cost of eligible activities.

(c) Moneys made available through the Child Welfare Services Program Improvement Fund shall be used to augment federal, state, or county funds made available for the child welfare services program.

(d) It is the intent of the Legislature that moneys in the Child Welfare Services Program Improvement Fund shall provide for activities including, but not limited to, the following:

(1) Providing mandated training statewide for all child welfare services social workers.

(2) Standardizing training so that all foster parents and relative caregivers in the state receive the same level and quality of training.

(3) Expediting the implementation of evidence-based practices, as recommended in the Child Welfare Services (CWS) Redesign.

(4) Supporting the state’s ability to achieve improved outcomes for children and families consistent with the terms of the State of California Program Improvement Plan (PIP) for the Child Welfare Services Program.

(5) Supporting technical assistance efforts for counties.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2004, Ch. 168, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 2005.)

path: 9. PUBLIC SOCIAL SERVICES > 5.1. Child Welfare Services Program Improvement Fund


text:
(a) The State Department of Social Services may fund the various activities authorized pursuant to Section 16524 by means of grants rather than contracts. The grants shall not be subject to the review specified in Section 10295 of the Public Contract Code.

(b) The department may renew grants for the various activities authorized pursuant to Section 16524 that exceed three years in duration if the grant is reviewed annually and the grantee is found to be satisfactorily meeting the grant objectives.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2010, Ch. 594, Sec. 1. (AB 2129) Effective January 1, 2011.)

chapter: 5.1. Child Welfare Services Program Improvement Fund


text: The Legislature finds and declares that in order to reduce the vulnerability of all children in California communities to incidents of commercial sexual exploitation, and adequately serve children who have been sexually exploited, it is necessary that counties develop and utilize a multidisciplinary team approach to early identification, prevention education, case management, service planning, and provision of services, and that counties develop and utilize interagency protocols to ensure services are provided as needed to this population.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2017, Ch. 558, Sec. 5. (AB 1227) Effective January 1, 2018.)

path: 9. PUBLIC SOCIAL SERVICES > 5.2. Commercially Sexually Exploited Children Program


text:
(a) (1) There is hereby established the Commercially Sexually Exploited Children Program. This program shall be administered by the State Department of Social Services.

(2) The department, in consultation with the County Welfare Directors Association of California, shall develop an allocation methodology to distribute funding for the program. Funds allocated pursuant to this section shall be utilized to cover expenditures related to the costs of implementing the program, prevention and intervention services, and training related to children who are, or may become, victims of commercial sexual exploitation.

(3) (A) Funds shall be provided to counties that elect to participate in the program for the provision of training to county children’s services workers to identify, intervene, and provide case management services to children who are victims of commercial sexual exploitation and trafficking, as applicable, and to foster caregivers for the prevention and identification of potential victims.

(B) The department shall contract to provide training for county workers and foster caregivers. Training shall be selected and contracted for in consultation with the County Welfare Directors Association, county children’s services representatives, and other stakeholders. The department shall consult and collaborate with the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office to provide training for foster parents of licensed foster family homes.

(4) Funds provided to the counties electing to participate in the program shall be used for prevention activities, which includes training county workers, intervention activities, and services to children who are victims, or at risk of becoming victims, of commercial sexual exploitation. These activities and services may include, but are not limited to, all of the following:

(A) Educating foster children to help recognize and help avoid commercial sexual exploitation. Counties may target educational activities to foster children who are at higher risk of commercial sexual exploitation.

(B) Engaging survivors of commercial sexual exploitation to do all of the following:

(i) Provide support to county staff who serve children who are victims of commercial sexual exploitation.

(ii) Participate in activities that may include education, training, and technical assistance.

(iii) Serve as advocates for and perform outreach and support to children who are victims of commercial sexual exploitation.

(C) Consulting and coordinating with homeless youth shelters and other service providers who work with children who are disproportionately at risk of, or involved in, commercial sexual exploitation, including, but not limited to, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youth organizations, regarding outreach and support to children who are victims of commercial sexual exploitation.

(D) Hiring county staff trained and specialized to work with children who are victims of commercial sexual exploitation to support victims and their caregivers, and to provide case management to support interagency and cross-departmental response.

(E) Providing supplemental foster care rates for placement of child victims of commercial sexual exploitation adjudged to be within the definition of Section 300, to foster homes, relatives, foster family agency certified homes, or other specialized placements for the increased care and supervision needs of the victim in accordance with Section 11460.

(b) Funds allocated for the program shall not supplant funds for existing programs.

(c) (1) In order to ensure timely access to services to which commercially sexually exploited children are entitled as dependents in foster care, in participating counties, county agency representatives from mental health, probation, public health, and substance abuse disorders shall participate in the case planning and assist in linking commercially sexually exploited children to services that serve children who are in the child welfare system and that are identified in the child’s case plan and may include other stakeholders as determined by the county.

(2) The entities described in paragraph (1) shall provide input to the child welfare services agency regarding the services and supports needed for these children to support treatment needs and aid in their recovery and may assist in linking these children to services that are consistent with their county plans submitted to the department pursuant to subdivision (d).

(d) (1) A county electing to receive funding from the Commercially Sexually Exploited Children Program pursuant to this chapter shall submit a plan describing how the county intends to utilize the funds allocated pursuant to paragraph (4) of subdivision (a).

(2) (A) The county shall submit a plan to the department pursuant to a process developed by the department, in consultation with the County Welfare Directors Association. The plan shall include documentation indicating the county’s collaboration with county partner agencies, educational entities, and children-focused entities, which shall include the formation of a multidisciplinary team to serve children pursuant to this chapter.

(B) A multidisciplinary team serving a child pursuant to this chapter shall include, but is not limited to, appropriate staff from the county child welfare, probation, mental health, substance abuse disorder, and public health departments. Staff from a local provider of services to this population, local education agencies, and local law enforcement, and survivors of commercial sexual exploitation and trafficking may be included on the team.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2017, Ch. 558, Sec. 6. (AB 1227) Effective January 1, 2018.)

chapter: 5.2. Commercially Sexually Exploited Children Program


text:
(a) (1) Each county electing to receive funds from the Commercially Sexually Exploited Children Program pursuant to this chapter shall develop an interagency protocol to be utilized in serving sexually exploited children. The county protocol shall be developed by a team led by a representative of the county human services department and shall include representatives from each of the following agencies:

(A) The county probation department.

(B) The county mental health department.

(C) The county public health department.

(D) The juvenile court in the county.

(E) The county office of education.

(F) The county sheriff’s department.

(2) The team may include, but shall not be limited to, representatives from local education agencies, local law enforcement, survivors of sexual exploitation, and other providers as necessary.

(b) At a minimum, the interagency protocol shall address the provision of services to children who have been sexually exploited and are within the definition of Section 300, including, but not limited to, the use of a multidisciplinary team approach to provide coordinated case management, service planning, and services to these children.

(c) Counties that developed a protocol prior to the inclusion of county offices of education and county sheriff’s departments as required partners pursuant to this section may, but are not required to, revise protocols to reflect input by these entities.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2017, Ch. 558, Sec. 7. (AB 1227) Effective January 1, 2018.)


text:
(a) The State Department of Social Services, in consultation with the County Welfare Directors Association, shall ensure that the statewide child welfare information system is capable of collecting data concerning children who are commercially sexually exploited, including children who are referred to the child abuse hotline and children currently served by county child welfare and probation departments who are subsequently identified as victims of commercial sexual exploitation.

(b) The department shall disseminate any necessary instructions on data entry to the county child welfare and probation department staff.

(c) The department shall implement this section no later than June 1, 2018.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2022, Ch. 50, Sec. 77. (SB 187) Effective June 30, 2022.)


text:
The State Department of Social Services, no later than April 1, 2017, shall provide the following information to the Legislature regarding the implementation of this chapter:

(a) The participating counties.

(b) The number of victims served by each county.

(c) The types of services provided.

(d) Innovative strategies relating to collaboration with children, child service providers, and survivors of commercial sexual exploitation regarding prevention, training, and services.

(e) The identification of further barriers and challenges to preventing and serving commercially sexually exploited children.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2014, Ch. 29, Sec. 79. (SB 855) Effective June 20, 2014. Operative January 1, 2015, pursuant to Section 16524.11.)


text: This chapter shall become operative on January 1, 2015.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2014, Ch. 29, Sec. 79. (SB 855) Effective June 20, 2014. Note: This section prescribes a delayed operative date (January 1, 2015) for Chapter 5.2, commencing with Section 16524.6.)


text: The definitions in this article shall control the interpretation of this chapter, unless the context requires otherwise.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 1993, Ch. 296, Sec. 2. Effective August 2, 1993.)

article: 1. General

path: 9. PUBLIC SOCIAL SERVICES > 5.3. Services for Children Who Are Exposed to Alcohol or Drugs or Who Are HIV Positive > 1. General


text: “Department” means the State Department of Social Services.

chapter: 5.3. Services for Children Who Are Exposed to Alcohol or Drugs or Who Are HIV Positive

article: 1. General