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

2. 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

3. 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

4. Resources to review California Department of Social Services
Communication Toolkit on CCR
care-reform-ccr

5. Timeline for implementation
SELPA OOHC funding for has been “held harmless” at levels
New census data will be taken on December 1
This will be used to calculate funding
Calculation methodology for 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

6. 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

7. 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

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