CONTINUUM OF CARE REFORM (AB403) Alexis Barries Project Associate Youth Engagement Project Alyssum Maguire Project Coordinator Youth Engagement Project

TODAY’S PRESENTATION WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT

 the Youth Engagement Project at and we’ll send you a copy when its ready WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT FROM THIS PRESENTATION Want a copy of the handbook when it’s ready?

 CCR is a work in progress- many people are working on the details of how changes will happen  CCR is changing quickly so it’s possible what we share today might change based on input the California Department of Social Services gets from stakeholders (like you!) WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT FROM THIS PRESENTATION We Don’t Have All The Answers

What is Continuum of Care What is the vision of this Reform (AB 403) Short Term Residential Therapeutic Programs Resource Families Special Considerations Who is involved? Who to Contact WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT FROM THIS PRESENTATION Topics

CONTINUUM OF CARE REFORM WHAT DOES IT MEAN?

WHAT DOES “CONTINUUM OF CARE” MEAN? Continuum of Care (Now) Committed permanent Family or Independence Group Homes Foster, Relatives, Adoptive Homes There are many different types and levels of care

Committed permanent Family or Independence Continuum of Care Different services are provided in different placements

Committed permanent Family or Independence It becomes difficult to build trust with service providers when they change between placements Continuum of Care Different services are provided in different placements When youth need different services, they may have to move

Committed permanent Family or Independence Services are coordinated around the placement Continuum of Care It is difficult for youth and caregivers to navigate the multiple systems

Committed permanent Family or Independence Continuum of Care Moving to new placements and service providers makes it even more difficult to coordinate services smoothly

Group Homes Start with Continuum of Care Continuum of Care: Review Committed permanent Family or Independence Foster, Relatives, Adoptive Homes

Committed permanent Family or Independence Add different types of services that change based on where youth live Continuum of Care: Review

Committed permanent Family or Independence Add many moves back and forth between homes Continuum of Care: Review

Committed permanent Family or Independence Finally- add difficulty coordinating services Continuum of Care: Review

Committed permanent Family or Independence Changes need to be made Continuum of Care: Review

CONTINUUM OF CARE REFORM The vision of this reform is for foster to youth experience: Family based settings Permanency/independence Youth and family voice Stable homes

Committed permanent Family or Independence WHAT DOES “CONTINUUM OF CARE REFORM” MEAN? Fewer levels of care with more focus on permanent homes or independence

Committed permanent Family or Independence When youth need new services, those services go to wherever they are living WHAT DOES “CONTINUUM OF CARE REFORM” MEAN? Committed permanent Family or Independence

Services are expected to be culturally relevant for the youth they are serving WHAT DOES “CONTINUUM OF CARE REFORM” MEAN? Committed permanent Family or Independence

WHAT DOES “CONTINUUM OF CARE REFORM” MEAN? Committed permanent Family or Independence Fewer moves between homes

Services are coordinated around the youth and family’s needs Committed permanent Family or Independence WHAT DOES “CONTINUUM OF CARE REFORM” MEAN?

Child and Family Teams

Make sure service providers communicate and work together (coordination) Child and Family Teams WHAT DOES “CONTINUUM OF CARE REFORM” MEAN?

Make sure youth and family are involved in assessing needs and making plans WHAT DOES “CONTINUUM OF CARE REFORM” MEAN? Child and Family Teams

Committed permanent Family or Independence Foster Care System Now

Committe permanent Family or Independence Committed permanent Family or Independence Foster Care System Now CCR’s Vision

SHORT TERM RESIDENTIAL THERAPEUTIC PROGRAMS WHAT ARE THEY AND HOW WILL THEY WORK?

WHAT DOES SHORT TERM RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT PROGRAM MEAN?

In AB 403, STRTPs are called Short Term Residential Treatment Centers or STRTCs Youth helped change the name!

SHORT TERM RESIDENTIAL THERAPEUTIC PROGRAMS Who can live in STRTPs? Youth who cannot safely live in a family setting Youth who need 24 hour supervision Youth who need intensive mental health treatment

Why have STRTPs? Youth who are in crisis need intensive services before they are ready to move to a family based setting, a permanent home, or an independent living situation SHORT TERM RESIDENTIAL THERAPEUTIC PROGRAMS

SHORT TERM RESIDENTIAL THERAPEUTIC PROGRAM What Does Short Term Mean? Short term means youth should live in STRTPs for the shortest amount of time possible.

SHORT TERM RESIDENTIAL THERAPEUTIC PROGRAM What Does Short Term Mean? Short term is case by case, there is not a definition for short term that applies to all youth

SHORT TERM RESIDENTIAL THERAPEUTIC PROGRAM Will trainings for STRTP staff change? Yes! More training will be required Certain topics will be required

SHORT TERM RESIDENTIAL THERAPEUTIC PROGRAM Will trainings for STRTP staff change? Yes! More training will be required Certain topics will be required for example: positive Discipline the Effects of Trauma foster Youth Rights

SHORT TERM RESIDENTIAL THERAPEUTIC PROGRAM How will STRTPs be held to the standards? Government agencies will still watch over STRTPS they can do audits and check the STRTPs files they can fine STRTPs

SHORT TERM RESIDENTIAL THERAPEUTIC PROGRAM How will STRTPs be held to the standards? After CCR, STRTPs will also have to be accredited they have to meet the very high standards of an outside organization

SHORT TERM RESIDENTIAL THERAPEUTIC PROGRAM How will STRTPs be held to the standards? STRTPs will have to be accredited the organization will ask youth about how the STRTP is doing

SHORT TERM RESIDENTIAL THERAPEUTIC PROGRAM How will STRTPs be held to the standards? STRTPs will have to be accredited the organization will also do random inspections of the group home

SHORT TERM RESIDENTIAL THERAPEUTIC PROGRAM How will STRTPs be paid? They will be paid differently, but the rates haven’t been finalized yet The new payments can begin January 1 st 2017

SHORT TERM RESIDENTIAL THERAPEUTIC PROGRAM How will STRTPs be paid? There are several factors being taken into consideration while setting the new rates for example: services needed extracurricular activities

SHORT TERM RESIDENTIAL THERAPEUTIC PROGRAM Are There Exceptions to when group homes must become STRTPs? Group homes can get more time to switch over to the new standards (and the new pay)

SHORT TERM RESIDENTIAL THERAPEUTIC PROGRAM SUMMARY: STRTPs Youth should live there the shortest amount of time possible They are for youth who need 24 hour care, intense mental health treatment, and can’t live in a family based home

SHORT TERM RESIDENTIAL THERAPEUTIC PROGRAM SUMMARY: STRTPs They will be paid differently Staff and administrators training requirements will change

SHORT TERM RESIDENTIAL THERAPEUTIC PROGRAM SUMMARY: STRTPs They will have to be accredited Some group homes will be able to get extensions

RESOURCE FAMILIES WHAT, WHY, AND HOW?

RESOURCE FAMILIES What are Resource Families? Resource Families are the new name for caregivers in a family setting foster families relative caregivers adoptive families

RESOURCE FAMILIES How do Caregivers Become a Resource Family? Home environment assessment Background check

RESOURCE FAMILIES How do Caregivers Become a Resource Family? They have to pass a permanency assessment Even though they might not become a permanent family, they have to prove that they are capable of being a permanent family

RESOURCE FAMILIES Certain topics will be required, for example: foster care and probation systems the Effects of Trauma health issues in foster care What training will Resource Families get?

RESOURCE FAMILIES Why change to Resource Families ? Before CCR there were 3 different processes to become a foster family, a relative caregiver, or an adoptive family Adoption Foster Parent Relative Caregiver

RESOURCE FAMILIES Why change to Resource Families? After CCR the process will be streamlined They will all be called resource families and have to meet the same standards Adoption Foster Parent Relative Caregiver Resource Family

RESOURCE FAMILIES Why change to Resource Families? This should make it easier for foster families and relative caregivers to become legally permanent families Adoption Foster Parent Relative Caregiver Permanent Family Resource Family 

RESOURCE FAMILIES What are Resource Families Expected to Do? They are expected to support the youth’s permanency plan. They are expected to use their best judgement to allow the most “normal” family life possible They have to provide a family setting that meets each individual youth’s needs

SUMMARY: Resource Families Family based homes will all be called Resource Families Resource Families can be either related or unrelated by blood to the youth RESOURCE FAMILIES

SUMMARY: Resource Families They will have to pass a home assessment, a permanency assessment, and a background check All resource families will have to meet the same standards RESOURCE FAMILIES

SUMMARY: Resource Families If they are not going to be the permanent family, then they will be expected to support the permanency plan It will be easier for foster parents and relative caregivers to legally become permanent families RESOURCE FAMILIES

SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS HOW WILL WE MAKE SURE THE VISION OF CCR IS FOR ALL YOUTH?

SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS Some youth may need special services and caregivers may need special training to provide the right kind of support CCR has special sections written for youth with certain experiences

SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS Yearly trainings will be required for STRTPs and Resource Families on the needs of youth who have experience with Probation Tribal Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, and Expression (SOGIE) Commercially Sexually Exploited Children (CSEC)

SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS Community colleges who train caregivers will also be required to offer orientations and trainings on Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, and Expression (SOGIE)

SUMMARY: Special Considerations The vision of CCR applies to all youth STRTPs and Resource Families will get training to provide specialized support to youth with certain experiences SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS

WHO IS INVOLVED? WHO IS HELPING MAKE DECISIONS ABOUT CCR?

WHO IS INVOLVED? Who does the California Department of Social Services ask when they are making decisions about CCR? They are involving people who are effected by CCR, or who might have an effect on CCR for example: youth caregivers county administrators

WHO IS INVOLVED? How is the California Department of Social Services Getting Input? They are mostly getting input from youth organizations through meetings Some examples of meetings include: Workgroups Focus groups Informational

WHO IS INVOLVED? What Kind of Input is the California Department of Social Services Asking For? They are asking for input on documents that affect the way CCR will be carried out, for example: what training caregivers get how caregivers and STRTPs will be paid how to spread the word to youth

WHO IS INVOLVED? How is the California Department of Social Services Getting Input? They are also getting input and answering questions through at

WHO IS INVOLVED? V.O.I.C.E.S Youth Center Amber Twitchell California Youth Connection Jenny Vinopal Director of programs UC Davis CAARE Center Michelle Ornelas-O’Knight Youth Engagement Project Alyssum Maguire Project Coordinator How is the California Department of Social Services Getting Input?

 YEP at and we’ll send you a copy when its WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT FROM THIS PRESENTATION Want a copy of the handbook when it’s ready?

Thank You!!!