Priority Access (PASS) Agency Commitments & Draft Recommendations Presented to the California Child Welfare Council March 4, 2015

The Need for Priority Access The Current Situation: The state has a moral obligation and fiscal incentive to see these parents succeed in reunification. Child Welfare Council – Priority Access to Services and Supports Court- Ordered Case Plan Family enters CWS Concrete needs Knowledge Parental Stress Risk for Child Abuse & Neglect Parents must navigate multiple systems Services build parental capacity Safe, Nurturing Family Reunification Strong families & communities

The Vision The PASS Project is working to create a future in which: Parents in reunification are: 1. Readily identified as a priority population within each system (social services, housing, employment, courts, corrections/probation). 2.Immediately fast-tracked through eligibility and into services. 3.Supported through case management to achieve success within the specified timeframe and become successful parents to their children. The State of California has achieved the nation’s highest reunification success rate and reduced costs dramatically not only in child welfare but across multiple systems. Thousands of youth turn 18 each year and enter the world with the support of their family and a greatly increased change of succeeding as adults. Child Welfare Council – Priority Access to Services and Supports

The PASS Structure Child Welfare Council – Priority Access to Services and Supports PASS Leadership Team Behavioral Health Team Housing Team Corrections & Probation Team Workforce/ Employment Team Resource Teams: State and County CWS; Judicial and Legislative Partners; etc.

Commitments: Behavioral Health Child Welfare Council – Priority Access to Services and Supports Pathways DHCS and CDSS will provide guidance to, and identify and remove barriers for, County Mental Health Departments and Contracted County Managed Care Health Plans to provide priority access to mental health and substance use disorder treatment for parents of children in foster care. Care Coordination DHCS will ensure that (1) the full continuum of evidence-based programs and practices for mental health and substance use disorders treatment are available on a priority basis to parents with a child in foster care; and (2) that parents in reunification have the support they need to navigate complex service systems. Implementation Tools State oversight and local management tools to facilitate priority access are disseminated by state partners and actively utilized by counties. CDSS and DHCD disseminate tools to local BH systems to facilitate priority access for FR parents; support counties in understanding the process and using the tools.

CHILD WELFARE Process Flow: Current CW, MH, and SUD Systems Day 1 72 Hours 6 mo. Day 1 12 mo. Document Findings CW Worker Initial Investigation Court “Detention Hearing” Call to Hot Line reporting a problem Periodic updates to Court Court Hearing Periodic updates to Court MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER SERVICES Primary Care Provider If court orders MH Services If court orders SUD Services Assessment: Diagnosis/ Impairment Level County MH Plan County MH Managed Care Plan Treatment Plan County MH or Specific MH Provider Specific MH Provider County MH or Specific MH Provider Specific MH Provider Assessing MH Clinician provides treatment Assessing MH Clinician refers to provider Brief Intervention by PC Provider Treatment: Residential, NTP/MAP, Outpatient, Detox, Perinatal, etc. etc. SBIRT Assessment Primary Care Provider Provider Primary Care Provider Provider Progress Reporting Family Reunification Plan Jurisdiction & Disposition Hearing Recommendations CW Worker Risk Assessment CW Worker Risk Assessment SUD Needs Assessment County SUD Office SUD OfficeCounty

Recommendations: Behavioral Health Child Welfare Council – Priority Access to Services and Supports Identification: As early as possible, identify PARENTS’ need for BH services and initiate the process with the appropriate parties (County BH, Managed Care Providers, etc.) Entry into Services: Embed the information needed to identify parents in reunification upon entry into the Behavioral Health system. As the Reunification Plan is developed, Child Welfare and Behavioral Health partners will work together to align treatment plans, timelines, etc. Care Coordination: Utilize/enhance care coordination mechanisms in CW and BH systems (e.g., peer support, case managers, inter-disciplinary teams) to support parents in successfully achieving treatment milestones and to ensure progress is communicated to Child Welfare/Courts. DHCS/BH and CDSS will develop and disseminate tools to ensure the CW and BH are able to prioritize parents in reunification for services and supports.

Overview: Housing & Community Development Child Welfare Council – Priority Access to Services and Supports Department of Housing & Community Development Provides leadership, policies and programs to preserve and expand safe and affordable housing opportunities and promote strong communities for all Californians. Housing instability often brings families to the attention of child welfare and, in many cases, serves as a barrier to family reunification. HCD is one of many state agency financing entities Leadership role with respect to numerous housing & homeless assistance programs implemented by local government and/or non-profit organizations

Committments: Housing & Community Development Child Welfare Council – Priority Access to Services and Supports PASS Housing Convening October 6, 2014 – Integrated, cross sector conversation – Education of housing providers & partners – Identification of effective housing options for families in reunification Identify effective, evidence-based housing approaches for families in reunification. Promising Options:  Rapid Re-Housing  Transitional Housing  Supportive Housing

Commitments: Housing & Community Development Child Welfare Council – Priority Access to Services and Supports Identify families in reunification who also need housing and/or homelessness assistance Expand Availability of effective housing and homelessness program options Facilitate Priority Access through cross-system education and outreach Maximize funding allocation for effective, evidence based housing options for families in reunification.

Recommendations: Housing & Community Development Child Welfare Council – Priority Access to Services and Supports Developing access to current and future State Housing Programs through review of targeting, set-asides or direct funding approaches: – Reviewing HCD MHP program, new National Housing Trust Fund, and reaching out to State Tax Credit Program – Developing a better system level view and approach to funding and coordination at the local level Cross education between systems: – Housing sector participation on Child Welfare Council – Benefit of housing first approaches, promote/educate use of emerging coordinated entry systems, and coordinated assessment tools Data and research development to support: – Reviewing case files database for better information on housing needs and supports – In continued national conversations concerning best housing intervention approaches and best leverage points among systems

Overview: Workforce/Employment Child Welfare Council – Priority Access to Services and Supports California Workforce Investment Board (CWIB)  assists the Governor in setting and guiding policy in the area of workforce development.  required by the federal Workforce Investment Act of Partner/ Leader Facilitator/ Convener Motivator/ Evaluator

Commitment 1: Expand Awareness of and Strategies for Engaging Parents in Reunification and Prioritizing Access An Information Notice will be sent to entire California Workforce System providing guidance and information on: Upcoming Opportunities for Learning Communities Accelerator Fund to Facilitating Multi-Disciplinary Teams: Child Welfare/Public Assistance Housing Corrections/ Probation Behavioral Health Care Workforce Development Community-Based Organizations Strategies for Stabilizing Parents/Families Stabilizing Services: Meaningful Family Engagement Coordinated Assessment and Case Planning Service Delivery: health/ behavioral treatment; legal services, housing, parenting/ coping skills, public assistance/ income supports Strategies for Sustaining Families Sustaining Services: AJCC Career Planning Services Life Skills, Work Readiness Skills Development: (credentials/degrees) and work- based learning (earn and learn) in high-demand sectors Collaborative Coaching Job Development and Job Placement Job Retention Networks/Services Support Services: child care, transportation, work supports

Challenge: Few resources specifically dedicated to developing, prototyping, and piloting new strategies or “out of the box” ideas. Solution: Leverage current CWIB Accelerator process to create and prototype innovative strategies that accelerate access to training and employment for Parents in Reunification. Accelerator Goals: Identify replicable practices at the county level to inform statewide policy and local service delivery. Replicable Models for Ensuring Access to Workforce Development for Parents in Reunification Evaluation of Innovative Practices Oversight from Leadership Leverage Process and Funding Commitment 2: FR Parents are the Target Population in next Workforce Accelerator Fund

Overview: Corrections and Probation Child Welfare Council – Priority Access to Services and Supports State Corrections State Administered High Level Offenders Service: – In-Prison Based (pre-release) – Community Based (post-release) Service delivery: – Evidence-Based Programming – Based on Assessed Need – Provided by Contracted Providers County Probation County Administered Lower Level Offenders Service: – Community-based (post-release or in-lieu of sentencing) Service delivery: – Evidence-Based Programming – Referral by probation officer – Re-entry Hubs/Day Reporting Centers

Child Welfare Council – Priority Access to Services and Supports Increase awareness of PASS related to criminal justice. Commitments: Corrections and Probation

Child Welfare Council – Priority Access to Services and Supports Data Match Identify inmates or parolees with reunification order to services Memo/fact sheet on best practices in reunification specific to probation Develop data linkages to provide offender priority access to available reunification services. Commitments: Corrections and Probation

Child Welfare Council – Priority Access to Services and Supports NEXT STEPS  Distribute PASS flier to Probation Departments  CDCR to continue Data Match project with CDSS  CDCR and Probation to convene Forum/Roundtable in Spring. Topics for discussion include:  Interactions at front end of system  Current best practices across state and counties  Parent/mentor perspective and system challenges Recommendations: Corrections and Probation

Priority Access (PASS) Agency Commitments & Draft Recommendations Presented to the California Child Welfare Council March 4, 2015