A NEW RESOURCE FOR RECONNECTING CHILDREN AND FAMILIES WITH COMPLEX AND ENDURING NEEDS Residentially Based Services

The RBS Project It started with a realization Became a concept Then a framework Then a statute (AB 1453 – Soto) Now a demonstration Three counties: Los Angeles, Sacramento and San Bernardino One coalition: San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara & Contra Costa Over a dozen providers Two years – maybe 400 children and their families 2 The California RBS Project RBS Overview, 3/4/09

Who Will It Help? Target population: Long-term group home placement Limited family & community connections Few opportunities for permanency Details vary by county: Age Situation Acuity 3 The California RBS Project RBS Overview, 3/4/09

How Will It Help Them? Core service elements  Immediate and Ongoing Intensive Family Engagement & Involvement  Short-term, Intensive Placement Interventions  Intensive, Individualized and Evidence-Based Treatment  Parallel Community Services during Placement  Follow-up and Aftercare Supports & Services following Placement Key service characteristics: Continuity, consistency & clarity of care 4 The California RBS Project RBS Overview, 3/4/09

What are the Challenges? The Details Paying for it Managing utilization Putting the pieces together Dealing with placement changes Educational connections Explaining RBS to our friends 5 The California RBS Project RBS Overview, 3/4/09

How Will It Work? New alternative: Enrollment in RBS vs. Placement in GH Multiple designs for delivering the elements Residential and community linkages Flexible response Separate funding and regulatory criteria 6 The California RBS Project RBS Overview, 3/4/09

What’s Different? Residential just one part of an integrated array of options Team stays with child and family through transitions Multiple options for out of home care Coordinated planning The #1 goal is reconnection – Helping children achieve positive, sustained and resilient family relationships 7 The California RBS Project RBS Overview, 3/4/09

What Will It Be Like? Less reactive, more proactive Utilization management tied to needs and outcome achievement Consistent core connections Deal with ups and downs as natural and expected occurrences Family-centered care 8 The California RBS Project RBS Overview, 3/4/09

How Will It Be Paid For? No new state money Just flexible use of existing resources Behavioral health services through existing pathways How to get better outcomes for the same investment Must be neutral as to state AFDC-FC over a two year span County budget issues are a challenge 9 The California RBS Project RBS Overview, 3/4/09

How Will They Access RBS? The RBS system is a partnership County utilization will be part of design Capacity not only based on beds, But ongoing community support resources Enrollment likely for about 2 years Provider incentives based on progress 10 The California RBS Project RBS Overview, 3/4/09

How Will RBS Be Tested? Each site has different target populations and different structure – but similar service elements A private firm, Harder and Company, will conduct the evaluation A Family and Youth Advisory Committee and a State Oversight Committee will follow progress Results will be part of a recommended state- wide legislative package 11 The California RBS Project RBS Overview, 3/4/09

Will Other County Agencies be Affected? Most youth and families have multiple system connections The RBS team will provide an integrating forum Won’t replace existing authority and responsibility Workshops and training opportunities will be available for public and private agency staff who will be working with enrolled children and families 12 The California RBS Project RBS Overview, 3/4/09

What Have We Learned Spiral planning:  Funding drives services  Services drive utilization  Utilization drives funding Refine the message Patience is a virtue – sometimes Communicate on all channels Family and youth voice is critical RBS Overview, 3/4/09 The California RBS Project 13

Project Timelines March 1 st : The demonstration sites deliver their plans to California Department of Social Services (CDSS) for review March 4 th and 5 th : RBS demonstration sites present their plans to the RBS Statewide Committee March 6 th – begin iterative review process March 30 th : Final revisions to the plans June 1 st : CDSS completes review and issues authorization to initiate approved projects May – July: Initial training for public and private staff who will participate in the RBS system, private agencies begin retooling their facilities and programs to deliver RBB July – September: First children and families are enrolled 14 The California RBS Project RBS Overview, 3/4/09