Continum of Care Reform (CCR) AB 403 (Stone)

Fact Sheet on AB 403 (Stone) Policy Changes How Accomplished Updates the assessment process Establishes core services and supports for foster youth, their families, and resource families Strengthens training and qualifications for resource families providing care to foster youth and congregate care facility staff Transitions children from congregate care into home-based family care with resource families Transforms group homes into Short-Term Residential Treatment Programs (STRTPs) Revises the foster care rate structure Requires STRTPs and treatment foster family agencies to be certified by counties through their mental health plans Evaluates provider performance Home-Based Family Care: Reducing placements in congregate care settings Residential Treatment: STRTPs will provide short-term, specialized, and intensive treatment and will be used only for children whose needs cannot be safely met initially in a family setting Providing Core Services: FFA programs, STRTPs, and social workers will provide core services and supports to foster youth and their placements Performance Measures and Outcomes: A multi-departmental review team will focus on the programs’ administrative and service practices, and overall performance, to ensure providers are operating programs that use best practices, achieve desired outcomes for youth and families and meet local needs

Ongoing Activities CCR Calls – 2 – 3/month CCR Meetings - monthly Probation Mental Health DSS/DHCS Education Subcommittee Department of Finance CCR Newsletters Materials to share with the field

Resources to review California Department of Social Services Communication Toolkit on CCR http://www.cdss.ca.gov/cdssweb/PG4921.htm http://calswec.berkeley.edu/toolkits/continuum- care-reform-ccr

Timeline for implementation SELPA OOHC funding for 16-17 has been “held harmless” at 15- 16 levels New census data will be taken on December 1 This will be used to calculate 17- 18 funding Calculation methodology for 17- 18 not yet determined for OOHC to SELPAs STRTPs applying for status now to exist past June 30, 2017 Some Current Group homes will apply for one year waivers to remain in business until June 30, 2017 New Level and Rate structures are to be in place by January 1, 2017 Residential Board and Care rates and FFA rates have been released by DDS These DO NOT necessarily equate to OOHC rates for SELPAs

Rate and Level Structure for FFA DSS structure outlines levels of care based on need of child, not age Levels of Care 1 – 4 are considered the basic 4 levels of placement. Additional SERVICES can be onto any level of care placement based on the medical necessity eligibility of the child Additional SERVICES would be provided more specialized or specially trained family placements Therapeutic Foster Treatment and Short term Residential Treatment Programs are considered SHORT Term Treatment SERVICES, NOT LEVEL of CARE PLACEMENTS by this metric A Foster Youth in a STRTP would not be receiving LOC 1 – 4 while in STRTP, but could be in LOC 1 – 4 and receiving TFT simultaneously

Issues and Ponderables Insufficient Foster Family Homes Therapeutic Foster Treatment Services will require significant training and documentation STRTPs are still working out licensure and application processes Not all current homes will apply or qualify Requirements under AB403 are quite substantial 6 Month Short Term stay can be renewed with Child/Family Team review SELPA Funding still needs to be worked out SELPA funding may not continue to be linked to DSS rates for FFAs Movement of students, or lack thereof, may shift the landscape of serving students Educational Placements for students may need to catch up with location of homes

We will keep you posted Connect with: Benay Loftus Sam Neustadt Anjanette Pelletier Mildred Browne