ARTICLE 7. Continuum of Care Reform Oversight [16523.5. - 16523.59.]

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC 7.

in effect

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 16523.5. Section 16523.5.

(a) The State Department of Social Services, the State Department of Health Care Services, the California State Association of Counties representing the counties, the County Welfare Directors Association of California, the County Behavioral Health Directors Association of California, and the Chief Probation Officers of California shall provide quarterly in-person updates to the Legislature on progress toward the implementation of Continuum of Care Reform (CCR). (b) Specific components of the updates described in subdivision (a) shall cease when notification by the applicable party of the completion of a specific activity occurs or when it is agreed by all parties that a component is no longer necessary for other reasons. (c) The updates described in subdivision (a) shall include the updates specified in Sections 16523.51 to 16523.56, inclusive. (d) For purposes of this article, the following definitions apply: (1) “CANS” means the Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths assessment tool. (2) “Child and family team” or “CFT” has the same meaning as provided in Section 16501. (3) “Continuum of Care Reform” or “CCR” means the Continuum of Care Reform enacted by Chapter 773 of the Statutes of 2015, Chapter 612 of the Statutes of 2016, Chapter 732 of the Statutes of 2017, and Chapter 910 of the Statutes of 2018. (4) “Department” means the State Department of Social Services, unless otherwise specified. (5) “Foster family agency” or “FFA” has the same meaning as provided in Section 1502 of the Health and Safety Code. (6) “Group home” has the same meaning as provided in Section 1502 of the Health and Safety Code. (7) “Intensive services foster care” has the same meaning as provided in Section 18360. (8) “LOCP” means level of care protocol. (9) “Resource family approval” or “RFA” has the same meaning as provided in Section 16519.5. (10) “Short-term residential therapeutic program” or “STRTP” has the same meaning as provided in Section 1502 of the Health and Safety Code. (11) “Temporary shelter care facility” has the same meaning as provided in Section 1530.8 of the Health and Safety Code.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 16523.51. Section 16523.51.

Update on the Transition of Providers to the CCR Program Models. With a focus on changes over time, the updates described in Section 16523.5 shall include status updates on the transition of providers to the short-term residential therapeutic program (STRTP), resource family approval (RFA), therapeutic foster care, intensive services foster care, and temporary shelter care facilities program models. Data reporting under this section shall include all of the following: (a) The number of applications for STRTP and foster family agency (FFA) licensure, placement capacity of STRTPs, and updates on the outcomes of licensure requests. (b) (1) The average number of days from initial application for a provisional STRTP license to issuance of the license. (2) The number of provisional and permanent STRTP and FFA licenses issued, the number of permanent STRTP and FFA licenses under compliance review, and the number of provisional STRTP licenses that will expire prior to achieving full licensure. (c) The number of active licenses for STRTPs and FFAs, the placement capacities of each, and the percentage of each that have achieved accreditation. (d) (1) By county, the number of group homes for which extensions have been requested by probation or child welfare agencies, and the number approved by the department. (2) The primary reasons group home license extensions are necessary. (e) The number and geographic distribution of children remaining in group homes and the status of their transition plans. (f) The number of FFAs and group homes not pursuing a license under CCR standards, the placement capacity of those providers, and the number of children placed with those providers. (g) (1) The number and capacity, as data becomes available, of in-home, intensive service homes available as an alternative to congregate care placement, including, but not limited to, therapeutic foster care and intensive services foster care. (2) To the extent that information described in this subdivision is not available to be shared, the counties and entities listed in subdivision (a) of Section 16523.5 shall describe the limitations and explore and present options for remedying the lack of available information. As part of this process, meetings may be held with stakeholders, county representatives, legislative staff, and the Department of Finance to identify acceptable solutions, alternatives, or proxies. (h) The number and identification of counties with licensed temporary shelter care facilities. (i) The number of reports received by the department from county placing agencies regarding youth requiring an STRTP-level of care in which the county either is unable to secure a placement into an STRTP or has received notice of a requested placement change from the STRTP before treatment is complete, and data that include the ages, gender identity, and service needs of the youth, including final disposition of those cases.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 16523.52. Section 16523.52.

Update on Capacity to Provide Mental Health Services. With a focus on changes over time, the updates described in Section 16523.5 shall include status updates on the capacity of STRTPs and FFAs to provide mental health services. Data reporting under this section shall include all of the following: (a) (1) By county, the number of STRTPs requesting mental health program approval and the outcomes of approval requests. (2) By county, the average number of days from application for mental health program approval to issuance of mental health program approval. (3) By county, the average number of days from application of Medi-Cal site visit to completion of site visit and certification. (b) (1) The number of STRTPs with a mental health program approval, Medi-Cal certification, and specialty mental health contracts to provide specialty mental health services, and the licensed capacity of those providers. (2) The number of FFAs with Medi-Cal certification and mental health contracts that allow for the provision of services beyond the types required by regulation. (c) The number of denied mental health program approvals for STRTPS, the number of denied Medi-Cal certification for STRTPs and FFAs, and the number of STRTPs and FFAs not awarded a mental health contract. (d) The number of FFAs approved to deliver therapeutic foster care, the capacity of the homes, the number of foster parents who have been trained and approved to provide therapeutic foster care, and the geographic service areas served.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 16523.53. Section 16523.53.

Tracking Child Outcomes over Time. (a) With a focus on changes over time, and to the extent data are available, the updates described in Section 16523.5 shall include status updates on all of the following child outcome measures: (1) The number and percent of children in out-of-home care, stratified by placement type, LOCP, and whether the supervising department is the county child welfare or probation agency. (2) The average number of placements per child, and the average length of stay per placement episode by placement type. (3) The proportion of placements that constitute a move to a less restrictive setting, and the proportion of placements that constitute a move to a permanent home. (4) The number and percent of children in residential placement without an identified home-based caregiver for transition, stratified by county. (5) Information on the evaluation of the LOCP tool and changes that may result from evaluation findings. (6) Ongoing information on state and county efforts to ensure consistent and valid statewide outcomes of the new LOCP tool for children across counties. (7) (A) By county, the number and percent of children entering intensive services foster care placements and therapeutic foster care specialty mental health services. (B) As they become available, data on which other services, including the broader array of behavioral health services, that children in these placements are determined to require, and the status of their service access and utilization rates. (8) As information becomes available, summarized results from the youth satisfaction survey. (9) (A) By county, the number and percentage of children in foster care receiving specialty mental health services on a quarterly or monthly basis, stratified by service type, county, placement type, and LOCP. (B) As data become available, services shall be further delineated by subcomponents, including assessment plan development, collateral contacts, rehabilitation, and therapy. (10) (A) By county, the number and percentage of children in foster care receiving mental health services on a quarterly or monthly basis under the Medi-Cal managed care and fee-for-service systems, stratified by service type, county, placement type, and LOCP. (B) As data become available, services shall be further delineated by subcomponents, including assessment plan development, collateral contacts, rehabilitation, and therapy. (11) For all children in foster care who screened positive for referral for mental health services assessment, the number of days from the date of placement and from the date of screening to the receipt of a specialty mental health service assessment and ongoing services pursuant to a medical necessity determination, stratified by county mental health plan and provider. (12) By county, the number and disposition of service complaints regarding specialty and nonspecialty mental health service delivery for foster youth. (13) The number and percentage of children with an open child welfare case and foster care placement who receive a required mental health screen and, when screened as positive, who receive a referral and mental health services. (14) By county, the number of youth who obtained legal permanency during each month or quarter. (b) To the extent that information described in this section is not available to be shared, the counties and entities listed in subdivision (a) of Section 16523.5 shall describe the limitations and explore and present options for remedying the lack of available information. As part of this process, meetings may be held with stakeholders, county representatives, legislative staff, and the Department of Finance to identify acceptable solutions, alternatives, or proxies.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 16523.54. Section 16523.54.

Update on CCR-Related Costs and Savings. Once available, the updates described in Section 16523.5 shall include status updates on CCR-related costs and savings, including all of the following: (a) By county, ongoing county costs and savings related to CCR implementation. (b) Other services and supplemental payments for which counties use reinvested CCR-related savings, including funding to match Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment (EPSDT) federal funding and funding for FFA services-only rates. (c) The extent to which the new STRTP and FFA rates are adequate to compensate providers for meeting the new service requirements of CCR. (d) The extent to which each of the LOCP rate levels provides adequate resources to resource families caring for children at all assessed levels of need. (e) A description of each county’s changes to specialized care increment (SCI) programs, if any, including any changes in benefit levels and suspensions or terminations of SCI programs.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 16523.55. Section 16523.55.

Child and Family Teams (CFT) and Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths (CANS) Implementation. (a) The updates described in Section 16523.5 shall include a status update on the utilization of the CANS assessment. (1) By county, the number and percentage of children in foster care receiving CFT meetings and CANS assessments. (2) As data become available, data by county on the average frequency of meetings and assessments and the overall CANS scoring outcomes and trends over time. (3) As it becomes available, data by county of the number of CANS assessments and who conducted the assessments. (4) As it becomes available, data by county of the percentage of CANS assessments that are conducted at the required minimum of three months for behavioral health or the six-month minimum by the child welfare agency. (b) To the extent that information described in this section is not available to be shared, the counties and entities listed in subdivision (a) of Section 16523.5 shall describe the limitations and explore and present options for remedying the lack of available information. As part of this process, meetings may be held with stakeholders, county representatives, legislative staff, and the Department of Finance to identify acceptable solutions, alternatives, or proxies.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 16523.56. Section 16523.56.

Resource Families. (a) The updates described in Section 16523.5 shall include a status update on the implementation of the resource family approval process. (1) Data on the progress of RFA implementation, including the number of RFA applications and approvals and the average number of days for an application to be approved or disapproved over time, separated by relatives and nonrelatives. (2) The information described in paragraph (1) as applied to caregivers with a placement prior to approval, including the number of applications taking longer than 90 days and the number of applications taking longer than 180 days. (3) By county, the number of newly approved resource family homes, stratified by relative and community homes. (4) As data becomes available, data by county of the number of family homes no longer available for placement, stratified by families who have moved to legal permanency, including guardianship and adoption. (5) By county, the number of families who have received additional supports or services through the Foster Parent Recruitment, Retention, and Support Funding Opportunity. (b) To the extent that information described in this section is not available to be shared, the counties and entities listed in subdivision (a) of Section 16523.5 shall describe the limitations and explore and present options for remedying the lack of available information. As part of this process, meetings may be held with stakeholders, county representatives, legislative staff, and the Department of Finance to identify acceptable solutions, alternatives, or proxies.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 16523.57. Section 16523.57.

Supporting the Transitions of Child Welfare Youth from Group Homes and Reduced Use of Congregate Care. Pursuant to the extensions granted in subdivision (e) of Section 11462.04, the updates described in Section 16523.5 shall include information and aggregate data, as it becomes available, of the following, as it relates to children placed by child welfare: (a) By county, the family finding activities attempted or underway, or other activities to connect the child to caring adults outside of the congregate care setting. (b) Identification of the counties that have any existing or planned contracts, or efforts to directly provide or contract for intensive child specific recruitment services. (c) Identification of counties with any existing or planned specialty mental health services targeted to address the mental health service needs of a foster child transitioning from congregate care to permanency or other family-based care setting, and a summary of any gaps that remain. (d) The number of children that successfully achieved permanency following receipt of services described in subdivisions (a) to (c), inclusive.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 16523.58. Section 16523.58.

System Changes. Pursuant to existing reporting requirements on the replacement statewide child welfare information system, Child Welfare Services – California Automated Response and Engagement System (CWS-CARES), the updates described in Section 16523.5 shall include a status update on the automation changes to the existing statewide child welfare information system, Child Welfare Services/Case Management System (CWS/CMS) and licensing systems needed to support CCR implementation, including, but not limited to, support for Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths (CANS), the RFA process, LOCP, and other programmatic elements.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 16523.59. Section 16523.59.

Update on County Recruitment and Retention Efforts. As data are available, the updates described in Section 16523.5 shall include status updates on the recruitment and retention of new resource families, including, but not limited to, the number of new family-based providers separated by relatives and nonrelative caregivers, exits from care due to achieving legal permanency, and the supports and services available to family-based caregivers to support family stability.

Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026