1. Continuum of Care Reform (CCR) Update March 2, 2018
Loc H. Nguyen, DrPH, MSW
Continuum of Care Reform (CCR)/Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA)
Consultant
California Welfare Directors Association of California
Dr. Nguyen

2. County Welfare Directors Association of California (CWDA)
We are a non-profit representing the human services directors from each of the 58 California counties.
Our mission is to promote a human services system that encourages self-sufficiency of families and communities, and protects vulnerable children and adults from abuse and neglect.
Dr. Nguyen

3. Pre-Continuum of Care Reform (CCR)
Especially since the 1980s, belief was that a child who was abused should be in foster care.
If a child began to have more issues (e.g, mental health, etc.), you move the child to where the services were.
Dr. Nguyen

4. Pre-Continuum of Care Reform (CCR)
If child was in a regular foster home and started having issues, move the child to a Foster Family Agency.
If child was in FFA, move to low-level group home.
If child was in low-level GH, move to high-level GH.
Dr. Nguyen

5. Pre-CCR Placement Options
Foster Home (Relative/Non-Relative); Adoptive Home
Foster Family Agency (FFA)
Group Home (RCL 1-14) – currently in CA, RCLs 5-12, and 14
Dr. Nguyen

6. Continuum of Care Reform (CCR)
If a child had to be in foster care, they should be in a home or home-like setting.
If they need services, we bring services to them.
Dr. Nguyen

7. Continuum of Care Reform (CCR)
In 2012, we worked with CDSS to launch the CCR effort.
Assembly Bill 403,(Stone D-Monterey) was the legislative effort.
Governor Brown signed the legislation on October 11, 2015.
Dr. Nguyen

8. Resource Family Home (Relative/Non-Relative)
CCR Placement Options
Resource Family Home (Relative/Non-Relative)
Therapeutic Foster Care (TFC) Home
Foster Family Agency (FFA)
Dr. Nguyen

9. Short-Term Residential Treatment Program
STRTPs are not placements.
They are designed to be short-term interventions (3 to 6 months).
They have to have Medi-Cal certification, as well as approval of their mental health plan.
Dr. Nguyen

10. What has or will happen to current Group Homes?
All children in RCL Levels 5-9 will transition into a home-based setting (likely a Resource Family Home).
50% of children in RCL Levels will transition into a home-based setting (RF, TFC, or FFA); other 50% will go into a Short-Term Residential Treatment Program (STRTP).
Dr. Nguyen

11. What has or will happen to current Group Homes?
100% of children in RCL Levels 12/14 will go into a Short-Term Residential Treatment Program (STRTP).
The intent is to get these children into a home or home-like setting as soon as possible.
Dr. Nguyen

12. What has or will happen to current Group Homes?
All GHs can continue to operate as they are until December 31, 2018 (with conceptual support from a county).
All GHs have the option to transition into a STRTP.
Some GHs have already transitioned.
Dr. Nguyen

13. As of October 1, 2017, there were 3,582 children in GHs (any level).*
Current Statistics
As of October 1, 2017, there were 3,582 children in GHs (any level).*
As of February 1, 2018, there were 1,271 approved STRTP beds.**
Dr. Nguyen * **

14. Federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (PL 93-112) including Section 504
CCR and SELPAs
Federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (PL ) including Section 504
Local Control Funding Formula and Basic Aid Districts
AB 854 (2015)
Every Student Succeeds Act (2015)
CA Education Code
Dr. Nguyen

15. CCR: Impact of Fewer GHs
Currently, not every child placed in a current GH had originated in that County or SELPA.
There will be a fiscal SELPA impact of fewer GHs.
What happens to the SELPA infrastructure where the child will return to a home-based setting?
Dr. Nguyen

16. CCR: Child and Family Teams
One major CCR concept is Child and Family Teams (CFTs) which drives case plans and placement decisions.
CFTs involve the child/family, their SW, and any agency and others who support the child’s services.
Dr. Nguyen

17. CCR: Child and Family Teams
If a child is coming back from GHs (including GHs less than level 12) and has some spectrum of special needs, we have to be able to address their issues.
As such, SELPA representatives will be a critical component of a CFT.
Dr. Nguyen

18. AB 2083 (Cooley)
Requires county CW, Probation, BH, COEs, and regional centers to enter into a MOU to establish roles and responsibilities for youth involved in multiple systems.
Requires state-level counterparts to work together to provide technical assistance.
Dr. Nguyen

19. Contact Info
Loc H. Nguyen, DrPH, MSW CCR/ICWA Consultant California Welfare Directors Association 925 L Street, Suite 350 Sacramento, CA (Work Cell)
Dr. Nguyen