ARTICLE 11. Services for Children with Severe Mental Illness [5878.1. - 5878.3.]

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC 11.

in effect

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 5878.1. Section 5878.1.

(a) It is the intent of this article to establish programs that ensure services will be provided to children with serious emotional disturbance, as defined in Section 5878.2 and that they be part of the children’s system of care established pursuant to this part. It is the intent of this act that services provided under this chapter to severely mentally ill children are accountable, developed in partnership with youth and their families, culturally competent, and individualized to the strengths and needs of each child and their family. (b) This act does not authorize any services to be provided to a minor without the consent of the child’s parent or legal guardian beyond those already authorized by existing statute. (c) If amendments to the Mental Health Services Act are approved by the voters at the March 5, 2024, statewide primary election, this section shall become inoperative on July 1, 2026, and as of January 1, 2027, is repealed.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 5878.2. Section 5878.2.

(a) For purposes of this article, “children with a serious emotional disturbance” means minors under 18 years of age who meet the criteria set forth in subdivision (a) of Section 5600.3. (b) If amendments to the Mental Health Services Act are approved by the voters at the March 5, 2024, statewide primary election, this section shall become inoperative on July 1, 2026, and as of January 1, 2027, is repealed.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 5878.3. Section 5878.3.

(a) Subject to the availability of funds as determined pursuant to Part 4.5 (commencing with Section 5890) of this division, county mental health programs shall offer services to severely mentally ill children for whom services under any other public or private insurance or other mental health or entitlement program is inadequate or unavailable. Other entitlement programs include but are not limited to mental health services available pursuant to Medi-Cal, child welfare, and special education programs. The funding shall cover only those portions of care that cannot be paid for with public or private insurance, other mental health funds or other entitlement programs. (b) Funding shall be at sufficient levels to ensure that counties can provide each child served all of the necessary services set forth in the applicable treatment plan developed in accordance with this part, including services where appropriate and necessary to prevent an out of home placement, such as services pursuant to Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 18250) of Part 6 of Division 9. (c) The State Department of Health Care Services shall contract with county mental health programs for the provision of services under this article in the manner set forth in Section 5897. (d) If amendments to the Mental Health Services Act are approved by the voters at the March 5, 2024, statewide primary election, this section shall become inoperative on July 1, 2026, and as of January 1, 2027, is repealed.

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