GOOD. AND WELCOME. THIS IS THE
ASSEMBLY BUDGET SUBCOMMITTEE
NUMBER ONE ON HEALTH AND HUMAN
SERVICES. TODAY WE WILL BE
DISCUSSING PROGRAMS THAT SERVE
VULNERABLE CHILDREN. THEN WE
WILL TALK ABOUT AUTOMATION
PROJECTS AND FINALLY END WITH
THE CONVERSATION AROUND THE
DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY SERVICES
AND DEVELOPMENT BUDGET PROPOSAL.
WE WILL START WITH THE OPENING
ISSUE ON RACIAL DISPARITIES IN
CHILD WELFARE AND THE ROLE OF
CAL WORKS IN THE COMMUNITY
PREVENTION PATHWAY. WE ARE
DELIGHTED TO WELCOME LEADERS
BOTH IN THE CHILD WELFARE AND
CAL WORKSPACES TO SPEAK AT THE
SAME TABLE TO THIS INTERRELATED
TOPIC THAT HOLDS PROMISE FOR
BREAKING THE CYCLE OF POVERTY
FOR MORE OF CALIFORNIA'S
CHILDREN. TODAY WE ARE HAVING AN
IN PERSON HEARING AND THE
CAPITAL IN ROOM 444. ALL
PANELISTS TODAY ARE ALL IN THE
ROOM AND PRESENTING IN PERSON.
WE ARE ACCEPTING PUBLIC COMMENT
AT THE END OF THE HEARING, BOTH
IN THE HEARING ROOM AND ON THE
PHONE. THE PHONE NUMBER TO
CONNECT IS ON THE COMMITTEE
WEBSITE AND SHOULD BE ON THE
SCREEN IF YOU ARE WATCHING OVER
THE INTERNET, THE NUMBER IS TOLL
FREE 18776. AND THE PUBLIC
ACCESS CODE IS 131544. IF YOU
ENCOUNTER ANY PROBLEMS, PLEASE
CONTACT THE ASSEMBLY BUDGET
COMMITTEE. AT 916319 2099, A
STAFF MEMBER WILL ASSIST YOU.
THOSE WAS WISHING TO TESTIFY IN
PERSON MAY DO SO WHEN WE START
PUBLIC COMMENT ONCE WE HAVE
COMPLETED ALL OF THE DISCUSSION
ISSUES ON THE AGENDA IS WHEN WE
WILL BEGIN PUBLIC COMMENT AFTER
ALL OF THE MEMBERS HAVE
CONCLUDED THEIR QUESTIONS FOR
THE PANELS. THERE WILL BE NO
VOTES TAKEN IN TODAY'S HEARING,
AND I WANT TO NOTE THAT WE ARE
ACCEPTING WRITTEN FEEDBACK
THROUGH THE SUB ONE EMAIL
ACCOUNT, AND THAT ADDRESSES
BUDGET SUB ONE AT S M DOT C A
DOT GOV BEFORE WE INVITE OUR
FIRST PANEL TO BEGIN. I WILL
MAKE SOME INTRODUCTORY COMMENTS
AND THEN WE'LL OPEN IT UP TO SEE
IF ANY COLLEAGUES WOULD LIKE TO
DO THE SAME. PART OF OUR
CHALLENGE IN GOVERNMENT IS TO
SEE ABOVE THE SILOS AND TO
LEVERAGE THE INTERRELATIONSHIP
BETWEEN PROGRAMS. WE'VE
REBRANDED PROGRAMS AND
REFURBISHED THEM IN AN EFFORT TO
REIMAGINE AND TO IMPROVE
OUTCOMES. WE'VE MADE BIG
CULTURAL CHANGES AND SHIFTED
PARADIGMS IN MANY AREAS. CLOSING
THE DEVELOPMENTAL CENTERS
EXPANDING CAL FRESH TWO R S S I
POPULATION ENDING GROUP HOMES
AND BUILDING CONNECTIONS TO THE
MEDICAL BEHAVIORAL HEALTH FOR
OUR FOSTER YOUTH. HEALTH FOR ALL
AS WELL AS CALENDAR JUST AS A
FEW EXAMPLES. BUILDING UPON SOME
OF THESE PAST CONVERSATIONS, IT
IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO ENACT NEW
CHANGES IN OUR ANTI POVERTY
PROGRAMS WITH SPECIAL ATTENTION
TO THE WELFARE OF OUR CHILDREN.
SEEING KELL WORKS AS A PRIMARY
PREVENTION STRATEGY TO IMPROVE
OUTCOMES AND TO REDUCE THE STARK
DISPARITIES IS A OF HIGH
INTEREST. AND INTEREST THAT I
HOPE THE ADMINISTRATION AND I
CAN EMBRACE AND SHARE AS WE DO
MORE IN THE CHILD WELFARE
PREVENTION. THE DISPARITIES THAT
WE WILL HEAR UNDER ISSUE ONE ARE
PROFOUND. HISTORIC AND
DISTURBING. IT IS WIDELY
RECOGNIZED THAT POVERTY IS A KEY
DRIVER OF THESE DISPARITIES. AND
WE HAVE A CORE SAFETY NET
PROGRAM THAT IS PERFECTLY
SITUATED TO AID FAMILIES WHO ARE
AT RISK OF THEIR CHILDREN
ENTERING THE CHILD WELFARE
SYSTEM. MOVING CALL WORKS TO BE
MORE CENTRAL IN THE CONVERSATION
ABOUT CHILD WELFARE PREVENTION.
IS A STRATEGY THAT WE CAN
MARSHAL FORWARD AS A STATE. I AM
HOPEFUL THAT WE CAN TAKE SOME
KEY STEPS THIS YEAR TO ACTIVATE
THIS CONNECTION TO THE
PREVENTION CONVERSATION. I WANT
TO READ TOO QUICK QUOTES THAT I
THINK ARE IMPORTANT TO THE
CONVERSATION. THE FIRST IS FROM
DAVID SWANSON HOLLINGER, WHO IS
THE CO CHAIR OF THE PREVENTION
AND EARLY INTERVENTION COMMITTEE
OF THE CALIFORNIA CHILD WELFARE
COUNCIL. AND HE SAYS. I THINK IT
IS ABOUT HELPING FAMILIES BEFORE
IT GETS TO CHILD WELFARE. WE
NEED LEADERSHIP FROM OUR SYSTEMS
, OUR PUBLIC PARTNERS TO PRIVATE
AGENCIES AND OUR COMMUNITY TO
SUPPORT AND TO STRENGTHEN OUR
FAMILIES. AND SECOND FROM
JESSICA MATTOON NEWSOME, PROGRAM
DIRECTOR OF FAMILY AND
CHILDREN'S SERVICES IN SAN
FRANCISCO HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY
, SHE SAYS WHEN WE DISCUSSED THE
DATA, PEOPLE ARE SHOCKED. BLACK
AND NATIVE AMERICAN CHILDREN AND
FAMILIES ARE TOUCHED BY THE
CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM
DISPROPORTIONATELY AND AT
SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER RATES THAN
OTHER GROUPS. UNDERSTANDING THIS
DISPROPORTIONALITY HELPS US
EXAMINE OUR OWN BIASES AND
STARTS TO THINK ABOUT HOW WE CAN
BE PART OF THE CHANGE INSTEAD OF
PART OF THE PROBLEM. TODAY WE
WILL TALK IN DEPTH ABOUT THE
LARGE SCALE INITIATIVES THAT THE
STATE IS INVOLVED IN IN CHILD
WELFARE. INCLUDING THE CONTINUUM
OF CARE REFORM AND THE WORK TO
IMPLEMENT THE FEDERAL FIRST
EXCUSE ME, FEDERAL FAMILY FIRST
PREVENTION SERVICES ACT. WE'LL
HEAR FROM THE MANY VOICES AND
WE'LL BE ASKING FOR SOME
IMPORTANT FOLLOW UP WORK FROM
THE ADMINISTRATION. WITH THAT
SAID, I AM GRATEFUL TO OUR
PANELISTS WHO ARE HERE IN
PERSON. I'D LIKE TO NOW OPEN IT
UP AND SEE IF ANY OTHER MEMBERS
WHEN LAKE OPENING COMMENTS WITH
THAT WE WILL BEGIN WITH PANEL
ONE REGARDING RACIAL DISPARITIES
AND CHILD WELFARE AND THE ROLE
OF CALL WORKS IN THE COMMUNITY
PREVENTION PATHWAYS. HMM. FOR
THOSE PANELISTS WHO ARE
PRESENTERS? I'D ASKED THAT WE
PLEASE PRESENT IN THE ORDER THAT
YOUR NAME APPEARS IN THE AGENDA
. I'D LIKE TO REMIND ALL OF THE
PANELISTS TO PLEASE LIMIT YOUR
REMARKS TO FIVE MINUTES MAXIMUM
, GIVEN THE DENSITY OF OUR
AGENDA AND SPEAKERS TODAY AND
OUR DESIRE TO TURN TO THE PUBLIC
COMMENT BEFORE TOO LATE INTO THE
AFTERNOON OR EARLY EVENING. SOME
OF THE QUESTIONS FOR THE
PANELISTS FOR THIS ISSUE ARE
WHAT IS THE STATE'S VISION AND
TANGIBLE GOALS TO REDUCE RACIAL
DISPARITIES IN CHILD WELFARE?
WHAT IS THE CORRELATION BETWEEN
POVERTY AND INVOLVEMENT IN THE
CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM? AND WHAT
IS THE RELATIONSHIP AND ROLE OF
THE CALL WORKS PROGRAM IN THE
STATES GOALS RELATED TO
PREVENTION. WE WILL HAVE SIX
PRESENTERS ON THIS PANEL FOR
ISSUE ONE. UM AND WE WILL BEGIN
WITH MISS SHORT WHEN YOU ARE
READY. THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON
CHAIR AND MEMBERS ANGELA, SHORT
WITH THE LEGISLATIVE ANALYST'S
OFFICE. I'LL BE PRESENTING TODAY
FROM THIS HANDOUT, WHICH
PROVIDES AN UPDATE TO OUR
OFFICES, ONGOING RESEARCH AND
ANALYSIS INTO THIS ISSUE. I
BELIEVE YOU HAVE THE HANDOUT.
THE SERGEANT ALSO HAS COPIES. UM
ALSO, IT'S AVAILABLE ON THE
SUBCOMMITTEE'S WEB PAGE, AS WELL
AS HELIOS PAGE. JUMPING RIGHT IN
. AS WE KNOW FOSTER YOUTH IN
CALIFORNIA ARE
DISPROPORTIONATELY LOW INCOME
BLACK AND NATIVE AMERICAN. THIS
FIRST FIGURE SERVES TO
DEMONSTRATE THE DISPROPORTIONATE
REPRESENTATION OF VARIOUS RACIAL
AND ETHNIC GROUPS BETWEEN THEIR
SHARE OF CALIFORNIA'S OVERALL
CHILD POPULATION. AND, UM THEIR
REPRESENTATION IN THE FOSTER
CARE SYSTEM. SO, FOR EXAMPLE,
LOOKING AT BLACK YOUTH, WE SEE
THEY MAKE UP AROUND FIVE, OR 6%
OF CALIFORNIA'S OVERALL CHILD
POPULATION, BUT ACCOUNT FOR MORE
THAN 20% OF YOUTH AND FOSTER
CARE. IN ADDITION, WE HAVE
RECENT RESEARCH FROM DR EMILY
PUTNAM, HORNSTEIN AND OTHERS ON
THE CUMULATIVE OR LIFETIME CHILD
WELFARE SYSTEM INVOLVEMENT. UM
SPECIFICALLY, THIS RESEARCH
LOOKED AT CALIFORNIA'S 1999
BIRTH COHORT AND FOUND NEARLY
ONE AND TWO BLACK AND NATIVE
AMERICAN YOUTH. BY THE TIME THEY
TURN, 18 BECOME INVOLVED WITH
THE CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM AT SOME
LEVEL. TURNING TO PAGE TO THE
SAME RESEARCH ALSO FOUND THAT
LOWER INCOME FAMILIES
SPECIFICALLY THOSE WITH MEDICAL
AS THEIR INSURANCE, EXPERIENCED
CHILD WELFARE INVOLVEMENT AT
MORE THAN TWICE THE RATE OF
HIGHER INCOME FAMILIES OR THOSE
WITH PRIVATE INSURANCE. AND
MOREOVER, WE KNOW THAT THE VAST
MAJORITY OF OUR FAMILIES AND THE
CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM ARE
EXPERIENCING POVERTY OR
OTHERWISE FACING SOME LEVEL OF
ECONOMIC HARDSHIP. TURNING TO
PAGE THREE. THIS FIGURE USES
DATA FROM THE CALIFORNIA CHILD
WELFARE INDICATORS PROJECT TO
ILLUSTRATE THE DISPARATE
LIKELIHOODS OF DIFFERENT RACIAL
AND ETHNIC GROUPS OF BECOMING
INVOLVED WITH THE SYSTEM AT
VARIOUS LEVELS. UM, SO THIS IS
COMPARING VARIOUS GROUPS TO
WHITE CHILDREN, MEANING THAT
BARS MOVING TO THE RIGHT OF THE
OF THAT CENTER LINE ARE SHOWING
THOSE GROUPS ARE MORE LIKELY TO
BE INVOLVED BARS. THE LEFT,
CONVERSELY, MEANS THAT GROUP IS
LESS LIKELY TO BE INVOLVED. SO
AGAIN, LOOKING AT BLACK CHILDREN
, JUST AS AN EXAMPLE. WE SEE
THERE NEARLY THREE TIMES MORE
LIKELY COMPARED TO WHITE
CHILDREN TO BE SUBJECT OF A
MALTREATMENT ALLEGATION AND MORE
THAN FIVE TIMES MORE LIKELY THAN
WHITE CHILDREN TO ACTUALLY BE IN
FOSTER CARE. TURNING TO PAGE
FOUR. THIS FIGURE IS
DEMONSTRATING A SIMILAR CONCEPT
IN TERMS OF DISPARITIES BETWEEN
DIFFERENT GROUPS. HOWEVER, THIS
IS COMPARING JUST CHILDREN IN
POVERTY. SO WHEN WE LOOK AT
FAMILIES EXPERIENCING POVERTY,
WE SEE THAT DISPARITIES ARE
DIMINISHED SOMEWHAT, HOWEVER,
NOTABLY BLACK AND NATIVE
AMERICAN CHILDREN STILL ARE
SIGNIFICANTLY MORE LIKELY THAN
ANY OTHER RACIAL OR ETHNIC GROUP
TO BE IN FOSTER CARE. TURNING TO
PAGE FIVE. ALL THE FIGURES WE'VE
TALKED THROUGH TO THIS POINT ARE
USING ARE JUST LOOKING AT THE
MOST RECENTLY AVAILABLE DATA AT
A POINT IN TIME. HOWEVER IF WE
LOOK HISTORICALLY WE CAN SEE
THAT THE TRENDS IN TERMS OF
DISPROPORTIONATE REPRESENTATION
REALLY HAVEN'T CHANGED VERY MUCH
OVER TIME. TURNING TO PAGE SIX
AND NOW TOUCH JUST BRIEFLY ON A
FEW SPECIFIC POLICY AREAS THAT
ARE OFFICES EXPLORING THROUGH
OUR CONTINUED RESEARCH. UM WE'RE
REALLY FOCUSING ON THE FRONT END
OF THE CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM AT
THIS POINT, MEANING INITIAL
ALLEGATIONS AND TREES INTO CARE
, BECAUSE, AS WE JUST SAW IN
THOSE FIGURES,
DISPROPORTIONALITY ARE PRESENT
AT THAT LEVEL AND THEN REALLY
CASCADE THROUGHOUT THE REST OF
THE SYSTEM. SO THOSE THREE AREAS
THAT OUT JUST TOUCH ON BRIEFLY
HERE ARE MANDATED REPORTING
NEGLECT AND PREVENTION SERVICES
, BEGINNING WITH MANDATED
REPORTING THE VAST MAJORITY OF
MALTREATMENT ALLEGATIONS COME
FROM MANDATED REPORTERS. THESE
ARE INDIVIDUALS ACTUALLY DEFINED
BY STATUTE IN CERTAIN
PROFESSIONS, WHO HAVE REGULAR
CONTACT WITH CHILDREN AND
FAMILIES, SUCH AS TEACHERS,
DOCTORS, LAW ENFORCEMENT,
ETCETERA. TURNING TO PAGE SEVEN.
UH SOME KEY QUESTIONS WE'RE
EXPLORING AROUND MANDATED
REPORTING INCLUDE OUR CURRENT
PRACTICES, AFFECTIVE. Dð
MANDATED REPORTERS RECEIVE
SUFFICIENT TRAINING IN
PARTICULAR IMPLICIT BIAS
TRAINING. SHOULD ALL MANDATED
REPORTS GO DIRECTLY TO THE CHILD
WELFARE AGENCY OR IS THERE SOME
ALTERNATIVE PATHWAY WE COULD
CONSIDER AND FINALLY AS WE'RE
CONSIDERING ANY CHANGES TO
MANDATED REPORTING, HOW CAN WE
CONTINUE TO ENSURE CHILD SAFETY
IS PRIORITIZED? SO OUR NEXT
TOUCH BRIEFLY ON NEGLECT, AS YOU
CAN SEE FROM THE FIGURE ON PAGE
EIGHT, THE VAST MAJORITY OF
YOUTH AND CALIFORNIA'S FOSTER
CARE SYSTEM HAVE ENTERED CARE
DUE TO, UM A MALTREATMENT,
ALLEGATIONS OF NEGLECT, AS
OPPOSED TO PHYSICAL ABUSE OR ANY
OTHER REASON IN PARTICULAR, OVER
TIME, AS WE CAN SEE MORE THAN
80% OF OUR FOSTER YOUTH HAVE
BEEN PLACED DUE TO NEGLECT.
HOWEVER WE DON'T HAVE GOOD
AGGREGATED DATA AT THE STATE
LEVEL THAT REALLY ALLOWS US TO
UNDERSTAND. UNDERSTAND
SYSTEMATICALLY. WHAT ARE THE
UNDERLYING HARMS OR RISKS TO THE
CHILD? WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
NEGLECT? WE DO HAVE ONE RECENT
STUDY THAT EXAMINES SOCIAL
WORKER NARRATIVE REPORTS SO
REALLY LOOKING INTO INTO THE
DETAIL OF WHAT WAS THE FAMILY
EXPERIENCING WHAT WERE THE
PARTICULAR CONDITIONS AND THIS
STUDY DID IDENTIFY THAT SOME
COMMON PARENTAL RISK FACTORS
INCLUDE SUBSTANCE USE DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE, MENTAL HEALTH. AND A
FEW OTHER AREAS. TURNING INTO
PAGE NINE AGAIN CONSIDERING THAT
WE DON'T WE STILL DON'T HAVE
GOOD, AGGREGATED DATA TO BE ABLE
TO BETTER REALLY ANALYZE WHAT'S
HAPPENING. WHEN WE TALK ABOUT
NEGLECT. THE AREAS WE'RE
EXPLORING. HERE ARE WHAT DATA
SHOULD THE STATE COLLECT TO
BETTER UNDERSTAND THE UNDERLYING
RISKS OR HARM TO A CHILD OF
NEGLECT? AND ARE THERE ANY
STATUTORY CHANGES OR
CLARIFICATIONS THE LEGISLATURE
COULD CONSIDER TO BETTER DEFINED
WHAT NEGLECTED TRULY MEANS. AND
THEN, LASTLY, TURNING TO PAGE 10
, THE FINAL POLICY AREA WHERE
REALLY FOCUSED ON IN OUR ONGOING
RESEARCH IS PREVENTION SERVICES.
RESEARCH HAS FOUND THAT POVERTY
AND ECONOMIC STRESSORS CREATE
CONDITIONS IN WHICH CHILD
MALTREATMENT IS MORE LIKELY TO
OCCUR. RESEARCH ALSO HAS FOUND A
CLEAR RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN
INCREASING STATE PUBLIC
ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS SUCH AS CASH
ASSISTANCE, NUTRITION ASSISTANCE
, HOUSING, SUPPORT, TAX CREDITS
AND MORE AND DECREASING CHILD
MALTREATMENT. FINALLY AS NOTED
RESEARCH ALSO HAS IDENTIFIED
SUBSTANCE USE. MENTAL HEALTH AND
MENTAL HEALTH ARE SOME KEY
UNDERLYING HARMS OF NEGLECT. SO
WITH THAT IN MIND, WHAT SUPPORTS
COULD THE LEGISLATURE CONSIDERED
TO TARGET DISPROPORTIONATELY
IMPACTED COMMUNITIES PRIOR TO
THEIR SYSTEM INVOLVEMENT? HOW
CAN THE LEGISLATURE ENSURE
POVERTY ALLEVIATION PROGRAMS,
INCLUDING COW WORKS AND CHILD
WELFARE SUPPORTS ARE TRULY
COMPLEMENTARY. AND SIMILARLY,
HOW CAN THE LEGISLATURE HELP
ENSURE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND
MENTAL HEALTH BUDGET
AUGMENTATIONS AND PROGRAMS ARE
COMPLEMENTARY TO CHILD WELFARE?
SO I'LL STOP THERE AND HAPPY TO
ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU
. NEXT WE WILL HEAR FROM
DIRECTOR JOHNSON. GOOD AFTERNOON
. THANK YOU. CHAIR COMMITTEE
MEMBERS KIM JOHNSON, CALIFORNIA
DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES,
AND I JUST WANT TO THANK THE
COMMITTEE FOR THE INTENTION OF
ADDRESSING AND IDENTIFYING THESE
INEQUITIES. THAT'S A BIG PORTION
OF OUR WORK IS BEING HAVING THE
DATA BEING CLEAR ABOUT THE TRACK
OVER TIME. OUR PROGRESS IN THE
SPACE BUT REALLY NAMING THE
INEQUITIES THAT WE'RE SEEING IN
THE DISPARITIES AND
DISPROPORTIONALITY. TO THE
COMMITTEE'S QUESTIONS. OUR
ULTIMATE VISION IS TO ACHIEVE
EQUITY AND ELIMINATE THOSE
DISPARITIES AND
DISPROPORTIONALITY THAT ALL
POINTS IN THE CHILD WELFARE
CONTINUUM AND BEYOND, IN OUR IN
OUR OTHER PROGRAMS, AND, UH, WE
ABSOLUTELY WANT TO JUST AGAIN.
WE'VE ANOTHER COMMITTEE HAS BEEN
SPEAKING ABOUT THE TERMS OF
EQUITY AND WHAT WE MEAN BY THAT,
BUT WE'RE ULTIMATELY TALKING
ABOUT WHEN A PERSON'S RACE
GENDER, SEXUAL ORIENTATION,
GENDER, IDENTITY ABILITY OR
DISABILITY, NATIONAL ORIGIN,
LANGUAGE OR ANY OTHER ASPECT OF
THEIR IDENTITY CAN NO LONGER
PREDICT THEIR LIFE OUTCOMES AND
OUTCOMES FOR ALL GROUPS ARE
IMPROVED. AGAIN I'VE SHARED WITH
THE COMMITTEE PRIOR THAT I DID
ESTABLISH AN OFFICE OF EQUITY IN
2019 WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF
SOCIAL SERVICES, AND THAT IS TO
ENSURE WE HAVE FOCUSED
LEADERSHIP ACROSS THE
ORGANIZATION TO EMBED EQUITY
PRINCIPLES AND WHAT WE ARE DOING
, HAVING AMBASSADORS ACROSS THE
ORGANIZATION. OUR ABILITY AND
CAPACITY TO LOOK AT OUR POLICIES
. OUR PROGRAM DESIGNED THROUGH
THAT LENS WAS ALL THE INTENT
BEHIND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THIS
OFFICE. IN ADDITION TO THAT,
WE'VE ESTABLISHED AN ASSISTANT
DIRECTOR OF EQUITY AND INCLUSION
, WHICH ADVISES AND ASSISTS THE
EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP, INCLUDING
MYSELF AND THE FORMATION,
IMPLEMENTATION AND EVALUATION OF
THOSE POLICIES AND PRACTICES, UM
AND SPECIFICALLY FOCUSES ON
CHILD WELFARE AND FOSTER CARE
PROGRAMS. WITHIN THE OFFICE OF
EQUITY, INCLUDING THE DIRECTOR
OF THE OFFICE, THE ASSISTANT
DIRECTOR THAT I JUST REFERENCED.
WE ALSO HAVE AN OFFICE OF TRIBAL
AFFAIRS. SO TO THE
DISPROPORTIONALITY, UM AND OVER
REPRESENTATION OF NATIVE
AMERICAN CHILDREN, INDIAN
CHILDREN IN OUR CHILD WELFARE
SYSTEM. THIS IS KEY AND
PARAMOUNT. AND I'M GRATEFUL TO
MY PREDECESSOR DIRECTOR LIKE
BORN FOR ESTABLISHING THIS
OFFICE. PRIOR TO MY TIME IN THIS
ROLE, BUT REALLY, THE OFFICE IS
THERE TO ORGANIZE AND FACILITATE
OUR GOVERNMENT TO GOVERNMENT
CONSULTATION WITH TRIBAL LEADERS
AND REPRESENTATIVES. THEY HELP
SUPPORT AND PROVIDE TECHNICAL
ASSISTANCE AND CAPACITY BUILDING
ACROSS THE ORGANIZATION, BUT A
BIG PORTION OF WHAT THEY ARE
FOCUSED ON IS THE IMPLEMENTATION
OF THE INDIAN CHILD WELFARE ACT
TO FIDELITY. SO WE'RE WORKING
NOT ONLY WITH TRIBAL LEADERS BUT
ALSO WITH OUR COUNTY PARTNERS IN
ENSURING THAT'S UH, A EFFORT
THAT WE ARE ALL MOVING TOWARDS I
WILL JUST NOTE NOTING THE
SUPREME COURT IN RAKHINE COURT
AT THAT'S CURRENTLY IN PROCESS
THE DEPARTMENT IN THE
ADMINISTRATION CONTINUE OUR
COMMITMENT TO CALIFORNIA'S EQUAL
. OBVIOUSLY WE'VE TAKEN THE
FEDERAL LAW AND HAVE SEVERAL
COMPONENTS THAT WE'VE EMBEDDED
INTO THE CALIFORNIA LAW AND WE
ARE COMMITTED TO CONTINUE THIS
WORK AND SO AGAIN, WE HAVE GROWN
THIS OFFICE OVER TIME, INCLUDING
THE EXPANSION OF ACTUAL FIELD
LIAISONS THAT ARE OUT INTO
COMMUNITIES AGAIN WORKING ON
THAT CONNECTION BETWEEN THE
COUNTIES AND THE TRIBES TO
SUPPORT THAT IMPLEMENTATION OF
EQUAL WE ARE OFF. ALSO THIS PAST
YEAR CREATED AN EQU ESTATE PLAN
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH TRIBAL
LEADERS AND COUNTIES IN ARE IN
THE PROCESS OF IMPLEMENTING THAT
MANY TOOLS HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED
OUT OF THIS OFFICE. IN
PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CHILDREN
AND FAMILY SERVICES DIVISION AS
WELL. WE HAVE A COMPLIANCE
HOTLINE WHERE, AS WE'RE SEEING
ANY CHALLENGES WITH IMPLEMENTING
CHOIR AGAIN, GOLD BEING KEEPING
INDIAN CHILDREN WITH WITH THEIR
FAMILY AND TRIBES. WE HAVE AN
ABILITY TO LOOK AT WHAT'S COMING
IN THROUGH THAT HOTLINE ADDRESS
IMMEDIATE CONCERNS, BUT LOOK AT
TRENDS OVER TIME AND HOW THAT
SHAPES THE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
THAT WE PROVIDE. GOING FORWARD.
ALSO JUST NOTE THAT WHILE THE
OFFICE OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS IS
FOCUSED ON PRIMARILY FOCUSED ON
THE INDIAN CHILD WELFARE ACT,
IT'S ALSO BEEN REALLY THE
CATALYST THAT DRIVES US TO HAVE
NEW WAYS, RECREATING SET ASIDES
OF SUPPORTING IN OUR HOUSING AND
HOMELESSNESS PROGRAMS, TRIBAL
COMMUNITIES. WE HAVE TRIBAL TAN
IF CONVERSATIONS THAT WE HAVE IN
PARTNERSHIP WITH TRIBES IN CALL
WORKS AS WELL AND MANY OTHER
COMPONENTS, SO WE'RE GRATEFUL TO
HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY AND IN
PARTNERSHIP WITH THE LEGISLATURE
ADMINISTRATION, TOO. LAUNCH MANY
OF THE FIRST OF ITS KIND OF
FUNDING FOR SOME OF THESE
EFFORTS, INCLUDING TRIBAL
DEPENDENCY REPRESENTATION, WHICH
WE'VE NEVER HAD BEFORE, UM, AND
THERE'S SET ASIDES WITHIN THE
FAMILY, FINDING ENGAGEMENT AND
SUPPORT THAT THE COMMITTEE WILL
HEAR ABOUT IN A BIT AS WELL FOR
TRIBAL COMMUNITIES AND MUCH MORE
I, THE CULTIVATING AND
MAINTAINING THE MEANINGFUL
RELATIONSHIP IS KEY HERE. I JUST
HAD THE GREAT PRIVILEGE OF
SPENDING THE LAST LAST WEEK, A
COUPLE OF DAYS OF LAST WEEK IN
HUMBOLDT COUNTY AT WORKING
DIRECTLY WITH TRIBAL LEADERS AND
THE COUNTY TO TALK ABOUT WHAT
ELSE THE STATE CAN BE DOING TO
ADDRESS DISPARITIES AND WORK ON
FIDELITY. SO A REALLY AGAIN A
HUGE PRIORITY FOR US IN
ADDRESSING DISPARITIES THAT WE
SEE ALSO IN TERMS OF ADDRESSING
SYSTEMIC DISPARITIES FOR BLACK
FAMILIES AND CHILD WELFARE
PROGRAMS. WE AS AS YOU'VE HEARD
A SIGNIFICANT HISTORIES OF
SYSTEMIC RACISM IN SOCIETY AND
GOVERNMENT, NOT UNLIKE THE
TRIBAL EXPERIENCE, AND SO WE
HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT A NUMBER OF
EFFORTS ALSO FOCUSED ON TRAINING
AND COMPETENCIES. WE, UM UH IN
CHILD WELFARE HAVE DONE THINGS
THAT WE ARE NOW REPLICATING IN
OUR CALORIES AND CAL FRESH
PROGRAMS LIKE PROVIDING IMPLICIT
BIAS TRAINING, TOO. COUNTY STAFF
AND STATE STAFF. AGAIN TO BUILD
OUR OWN COMPETENCIES AND
RECOGNIZING THE POWER THAT THESE
MEMBERS OF OUR GOVERNMENT HAVE
IN REALLY ULTIMATE, ULTIMATELY
DETERMINING THE LIFE COURSE OF
CHILDREN AND FAMILIES. AND SO I
ALSO JUST WANT TO LIFT UP. WE
HAVE SOMETHING CALLED THE
INTEGRATED CORE PRACTICE MODEL
THAT GUIDES ALL OF THE WORK THAT
WE'RE DOING. IT ACTUALLY WAS
BUILT FROM A 2010 FEDERAL GRANT
, SPECIFICALLY LOOKING AT THE
DISPARITIES IN THE BLACK AND
AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY AND
SHAPED BY THOSE COMMUNITIES AND
HOW WE LOOK AT OUR OUR SUPPORT
AND STRATEGIES OF HOW WE INFORM
TRUMP INFORMED APPROACHES AND
SUPPORTS MOVING FORWARD. UM
YOU'LL HEAR A LOT ABOUT UM UH,
HOW WE ARE REALLY CHANGING HOW
WE'RE THINKING ABOUT OUR SYSTEMS
LIKE THE INFLOW OF CHILD
WELFARE. SO TO THE COMMENTS THAT
THE L. A REFERENCED RELATED TO
MANDATED REPORTING, AND YOU'LL
HEAR THAT AGAIN FROM OUR
ASSISTANT SECRETARY AT
CALIFORNIA HEALTH AND HUMAN
SERVICES AGENCY. UH MANDATED
REPORTING TO COMMUNITY
SUPPORTING. NOT UNLIKE THE
CONVERSATION AGAIN. WE JUST HAD
IN THE COW WORKSPACE OF HOW WE
CAN RE ENVISION HOW WE ARE
SUPPORTING FAMILIES, BUT, UM,
HOW BIG OF A DIFFERENCE WOULD
THAT MAKE BOTH IN? OF COURSE TO
THE AGAIN THE L. A S REPORT THE
TRAINING AND SUPPORTS THAT ARE
NEEDED FOR MANDATED REPORTERS TO
UNDERSTAND THEIR OBLIGATIONS.
BUT WHAT IF IT WAS LEADING TO
THE SUPPORT ON THE OTHER END
THAT CONNECTS FAMILIES TO WHAT
THEY HAVE. SO THAT'S A HUGE
PIECE OF THE WORK WE'RE DOING
TOGETHER, ALSO PART OF OUR
FAMILY FIRST PREVENTION SERVICES
PLAN AS WELL. NOW SPEAK A LITTLE
BIT MORE TO THAT, IN JUST A
MOMENT COMMITTEE ASKED THE
CORRELATION BETWEEN POVERTY AND
INVOLVEMENT IN THE CHILD WELFARE
SYSTEM. I WANT TO JUST FIRST AND
FOREMOST SAY, AH, THAT WE ARE
ENSURING THAT WE'RE NOT
CORRELATING BEING POOR WITH
BEING INVOLVED IN CHILD WELFARE.
AH YOU KNOW, WE DO CERTAINLY TO
THE TO THE POINTS BEING MADE SEE
THAT THE MOST COMMON CONCERN IS
RELATED TO THE ALLEGATION OF
GENERAL NEGLECT, AND I WANT TO
LIFT UP AND APPRECIATE
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S HOLDEN THAT
SPONSORED A B 2085 THAT WE NOW
HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY IN OUR
IMPLEMENTING WHICH REALLY
REDEFINED. GENERAL NEGLECT AND
HOW WE'RE LOOKING AT THAT OVER
TIME FROM A PLACE WHERE, UM, WE
ARE REVISING IT TO DESCRIBE
SUBSTANTIAL RISK OF SUFFERING
SERIOUS PHYSICAL HARM OR
ILLNESS. AND SO AGAIN, WE ARE AT
STATES THAT IT'S NOT FURTHER
GENERAL NEGLECT IS NOT INCLUDED
PARENTS ECONOMIC DISADVANTAGE
THAT WE ARE THINKING VERY
SPECIFICALLY INTENTIONAL ABOUT
HOW THAT'S DEFINED AND HOW THAT
THEN LEADS TO CONNECTION. UM BUT
AGAIN, I WANT TO JUST HIGHLIGHT
THAT WE HAVE TO LOOK AT EVERY
PART OF ART THAT THE MANDATED
REPORTING IS ONE EXAMPLE. WE
HAVE TO LOOK AT EVERY PART OF
OUR FLOW PROCESS THROUGH THE
CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM TO IDENTIFY
WHAT ADDITIONAL WAYS WE CAN
REFORM THAT SPACE. OVER TIME.
THE COMMITTEE ASKED THE
RELATIONSHIP ENROLL OF THE COW
WORKS PROGRAM IN THE STATE
SCHOOLS RELATED TO PREVENTION
AGAIN. I WANT TO JUST LIFT UP
KIND OF THE THEORY OF CHANGE IN
OUR PREVENTION WORK. IN OUR PLAN
, AND THAT IS REALLY ABOUT IF
CALIFORNIA SHAPES POLICY AND
PRACTICE TO PROMOTE THE SAFETY
AND WELL BEING OF ITS CHILDREN,
YOUTH AND FAMILIES THAN
CALIFORNIA'S PREVENTION PARTNERS
AND FAMILY, STRENGTHENING
AGENCIES CAN PROMOTE CHILD AND
FAMILY SAFETY AND WELL BEING BY
STRENGTHENING THE CAPACITY
WITHIN COMMUNITIES TO CARE FOR
ONE ANOTHER WORK EFFECTIVELY
TOGETHER AS A NETWORK OF
SUPPORT. AND LEVERAGE RESOURCES
TO ENHANCE IMPACT SO THAT WE ARE
INTEGRATED. I REALLY APPRECIATE
YOUR OPENING COMMENTS CHAIR IN
THAT SPACE OF SILOS THAT WE ARE
INTEGRATED TO SUPPORT FAMILIES
TO PROVIDE A SAFE AND STABLE AND
NURTURING RELATIONSHIPS AND
ENVIRONMENTS. SO IT'S THAT NO
WRONG DOOR CONCEPT IN PART OF
OUR OVERALL STRATEGY, AND SO
THINKING OF THAT, AND THINKING
ABOUT OUR COW WORKS PROGRAM,
WHICH IS PROVIDING THAT CASH
ASSISTANCE AND AGAIN ROBUST
ARRAY OF SUPPORTS TO HELP
FAMILIES MEET THEIR MOST BASIC
NEEDS. TO REACH THAT ECONOMIC
STABILITY, BUT ULTIMATELY,
FAMILY STABILITY IS CERTAINLY
KEY TO THAT WORK. UM A FEW
PIECES I REFERENCED IN OUR PRIOR
CONVERSATION AND COW WORKS THAT
I JUST WANT TO LIFT UP AGAIN. IT
IT IS THE ADDITION OF COMPONENTS
LIKE FAMILY STABILIZATION, THAT
WE RECOGNIZE THAT WHEN A FAMILY
IN COERCIVE WORKS AS
EXPERIENCING CRISIS THAT WE ARE
WRAPPING AROUND SUPPORTS TO
STABILIZE THEM TO THEN THINK
ABOUT ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES
TO ENGAGE IN WORK AND EDUCATION
SUPPORTS. WE'RE LOOKING AT THE
NEEDS OF THE CHILD IN TERMS OF
THOSE SUPPORTS. I DIDN'T WANT TO
THANK THE CHAIR FOR THEIR
LEADERSHIP ON HOME VISITING
VOLUNTARY STRENGTH. THE BASED
EDITION TO OUR COW WORKS PROGRAM
THAT IS ALL ABOUT CONNECTING
FAMILIES. TO THE SUPPORTS THAT
WILL PROVIDE THAT STABILITY IN
THE LONG TERM AND HAVING A
TRUSTED PARTNER IN RELATIONSHIP
TO WALK ALONGSIDE A FAMILY IN
THAT SPACE, AND THAT WE ARE JUST
GRATEFUL FOR THE OUTCOMES WE ARE
SEEING TO DATE WITH THAT
ADDITION TO OUR PROGRAM IN AND
LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING
STRENGTHENING THAT EFFORT. WE OF
COURSE, ALSO HAVE POLICY CHANGES
THAT I'VE REFERENCED TO THE
COMMITTEE BEFORE AROUND FAMILY
REUNIFICATION, YOU'LL HEAR AGAIN
CALIFORNIA HEALTH AND HUMAN
SERVICES AGENCY AND, OF COURSE,
OUR SECRETARY WHO TALKS ABOUT
HOW WE'RE KEEPING FAMILIES
TOGETHER. SO WE HAVE TOGETHER
BETWEEN THE LEGISLATURE AND
ADMINISTRATION CHANGED OUR
POLICIES. TO ENSURE THAT IF A
FAMILY IS WORKING TO BE
REUNIFIED, THEY HAVE THE
SUPPORTS. THEY NEED TO DO THAT
AND BE MORE SUCCESSFUL IN THAT
SPACE, AND I'LL ALSO REFERENCE.
WE HAVE REINVIGORATED OUR
LINKAGES PROJECT, WHICH IS
REALLY ABOUT THINKING THROUGH
THE FAMILIES THAT ARE PART OF
BOTH COW WORKS AND OUR CHILD
WELFARE SYSTEM. HOW ARE WE
WORKING AS A SYSTEM TOGETHER TO
INTEGRATE OUR RESOURCES AND
CONNECTIONS AND NOT ASK THEM TO
DO DUPLICATIVE OR MORE THAN
WHAT'S MAYBE EVEN DOABLE WHEN
THEY HAVE THEIR SEPARATE
PLANNING PROCESSES? ALSO JUST
WANT TO SHARE AGAIN AS I DID
PRIOR IN THE LAST COMMITTEE THAT
AGAIN WHAT WE SEE AND WHAT WE
KNOW. IN TERMS OF IMPACTING
CHILD POVERTY IS THAT WE
ACTUALLY SAW CHILD POVERTY DROP
IN 2021 FROM 17.6 TO 9% FROM THE
FALL OF 2019 TO THE FALL OF 2021
. THAT REALLY DID MARK THE
LOWEST EVER CHILD POVERTY RATE
AND THAT WAS AGAIN DUE TO THE
SAFETY NET. SUPPORTS CHILD TAX
CREDIT. HOW FRESH EMERGENCY
ALLOTMENTS THAT AGAINST ABILITY
AND AGAIN THE SUPPORTS THAT
WE'VE BUILT THAT WERE MUCH PART
OF WHY THAT SUCCESS WAS WAS
OCCURRING. THE COMMITTEE ASKED.
HOW CAN THE COW WORKS PROGRAM BE
STRENGTHENED TO IMPROVE OUTCOMES
AND AGAIN WANT TO NOTE THAT
WE'LL CONTINUE ON OUR FAMILY
REUNIFICATION POLICY
IMPLEMENTATION, ANOTHER SPACE
AND OTHER COMPONENTS OF THIS,
BUT IT'S ALSO ABOUT OUR COW
WORKS OUTCOMES. AN
ACCOUNTABILITY REVIEW THAT WE'VE
TALKED ABOUT WITH THIS COMMITTEE
PRIOR LOOKING HOLISTICALLY AT
THE OUTCOMES THAT ARE THAT WE
ARE AIMING FOR THAT WE ARE
FOCUSED ON AN INTENTIONAL ABOUT
ON FAMILY AND CHILD WELL BEING
SERVICE DELIVERY, ENGAGEMENT AND
BARRIER REMOVAL. WITH A MUCH
MORE ROBUST ARRAY THAT IN THE
PAST OF JUST HAVING A WORK
PARTICIPATION RATE. UM AND SO
AGAIN, I THINK IN TERMS OF
OUTCOMES AND HOW WE'RE LOOKING
AT OVER THIS AT TIME AGAIN,
YOU'VE HEARD ME KIND OF START
WITH INTERNAL TO THE DEPARTMENT
BECAUSE IT'S CRITICAL AGAIN FOR
US THAT WE HAVE THAT INTENTION
OF HOW WE'RE LOOKING AT DATA
OVER TIME AND IN ADDRESSING
THESE TWO PARENTS DISPARITIES
AND HAVING FOCUSED LEADERSHIP
WHO'S ESSENTIALLY SAUL
RESPONSIBILITY IS TO DO THAT IN
PARTNERSHIP AND AGAIN BUILDING
THE CAPACITY OF THE
ORGANIZATION. BUT CERTAINLY IN
TERMS OF THE DATA THAT WE'RE
LOOKING AT THE INN DISPARITIES
OVER TIME. THAT'S A HUGE PIECE
OF WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT. WE
HAVE DATA THAT WE COLLECT AS
PART OF OUR, UM, OUR CHILD AND
FAMILY SERVICES REVIEW OR CFS
ARE PROCESS THAT ALSO LOOKS AT
THIS AND ASK COUNTIES TO LOOK AT
THIS DISPARITIES IN
DISPROPORTIONALITY LOCALLY SO
THEY CAN ADDRESS UM THIS OVER
TIME AND HOW THEIR SPECIFIC IN
THEIR COMMUNITY TO IDENTIFY
PLANS TO ADDRESS THOSE
DISPARITIES. SO AGAIN, MORE WORK
TO BE DONE. UH AND JUST AGAIN
APPRECIATE THE LIFTING UP OF HOW
WE'RE MOVING ON THIS WORK
TOGETHER. THANK YOU. NEXT, WE
WILL HEAR FROM ANDREW SHANE.
MANAGING DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC
POLICY AT GRACE AND CHILD
POVERTY IN CALIFORNIA. THANK
YOU. CHAIR NUMBERS. THANK YOU
FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO TESTIFY
TODAY ON BEHALF OF THE
REIMAGINED COW WORKS COALITION.
AS YOU SAID, MY NAME IS ANDREW
SHANE, MANAGING DIRECTOR OF
PUBLIC POLICY FOR GRAYSON AND
SHALL POVERTY, CALIFORNIA AND I
AM SO GLAD TO HAVE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO BE AT THIS TABLE
WITH THESE LEADERS TO DISCUSS
HOW REIMAGINING CALL WORKS TO BE
AN ANTI RACIST, FAMILY CENTERED
PROGRAM CAN ALSO ADDRESS RACIAL
DISPARITIES IN THE CHILD WELFARE
SYSTEM AS AN INTERVENTION TO
HELP PREVENT REMOVAL IN THE
FIRST PLACE, LIMIT THE DURATION
OF PLACEMENTS AND SUPPORT FAMILY
REUNIFICATION. CAL WORKS AS A
CRITICAL SAFETY NET PROGRAM,
PROVIDING BASIC CASH ASSISTANCE
AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES TO
APPROXIMATELY 360,000 FAMILIES
WITH 750 CHILDREN. IN THOSE
FAMILIES, THE ADULT CASELOAD IS
DISPROPORTIONATELY SINGLE WOMEN
OF COLOR, MORE THAN HALF OF WHOM
ARE NOT RECEIVING THE ADULT
PORTION OF THE GRANT. THE
CASELOAD IS APPROXIMATELY 60%
LATIN X 17% BLACK WITH
APPROXIMATELY 90% WOMEN. AS THE
POWERFUL TESTIMONY. BIKE
AALBORG'S ADVOCATE GLYNDEBOURNE
L. RECENTLY HIGHLIGHTED THEIR
CURRENT PROGRAM HAS SIGNIFICANT
FLAWS GROUNDED IN THE 1996
PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY, WELFARE
LAW FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
IN 1986 AND 1997. CAL WORKS
IMPLEMENTATION THAT
UNFORTUNATELY, IT WAS GROUNDED
IN RACIST, SEXIST CLASSIST
NOTIONS THAT PARENTS HAVE LOW
INCOMES ARE LAZY AND MUST BE
COURSE TO WORK THAT WE KNOW IT'S
NOT TRUE. A BODY OF RESEARCH
THAT THE LAW HAS DONE WELL TO
OVERVIEW HAS DOCUMENTED BOTH OF
HARMFUL ASSOCIATION BETWEEN ARE
CURRENTLY RIGID AND PUNITIVE
POLICIES THAT CONTRIBUTE TO
CHILD WELFARE PLACEMENTS AND THE
PROTECTIVE POTENTIAL OF CAL
WORKS AS A PREVENTATIVE
INTERACTION INTERVENTION. UH AS
DIRECTOR, JOHNSON POINTED OUT
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN POVERTY
AND CHILD WELFARE IS NOT
INTRINSICALLY CORRELATED.
HOWEVER THE DATA ARE LONG TERM
AND SHOW THAT IN PRACTICE.
UNFORTUNATELY THOSE THOSE
CONNECTIONS ARE QUITE STRONG.
AND IN FACT, THE 80% SORRY THE
80% DATA SHOWN BY THE L. A IN
TERMS OF THAT THE INITIAL, UM
REPORTS BEING RELATED TO NEGLECT
IS ACTUALLY FAR HIGHER
NATIONALLY THAT IT'S ONLY 60% OF
SUBSTANTIATED. CPS RESPONSES
INVOLVED NEGLECT ONLY, AND
OVERALL, WE KNOW THAT CHILDREN
ECONOMICALLY INSECURE HOUSEHOLDS
ARE SEVEN TIMES MORE LIKELY TO
EXPERIENCE NEGLECT COMPARED TO
OTHER CHILDREN. BUT THE DATA
ALLOW US TO BE EVEN MORE
SPECIFIC, SPOTLIGHTING THE HARM
OF WITHHOLDING VITAL CASH AID IN
DESTABILIZING FAMILIES, STATES
THAT HAVE IMPLEMENTED FULL
FAMILY 10 OF SANCTIONS, WHICH
WE'RE NOT DOING. WE ONLY HAVE
THE ADULTS BUT FOR ILLUSTRATIVE
PURPOSES, THE FULL FAMILY 10 IF
SANCTIONS FOR LACK OF COMPLIANCE
WITH WORK REQUIREMENTS WERE
ACTUALLY ASSOCIATED WITH A 12.7%
INCREASE IN TOTAL FOSTER CARE
ENTRIES, SO IN FACT THAT THAT
CONNECTION HAS HAS BEEN
DOCUMENTED AND BE GLAD TO SHARE
THE DATA WITH WITH EVERYONE. AND
EVERY STUDY COMPARING THE RACE
AND ETHNICITY OF SANCTIONED 10 F
FOR CAL WORKS RECIPIENTS FINDS
THAT AFRICAN AMERICANS ARE
SIGNIFICANTLY MORE LIKELY TO BE
SANCTIONED IN THEIR WHITE
COUNTERPARTS. FORTUNATELY
RESEARCH ALSO SHOWS THAT
IMPROVING ACCESS TO AND RAISING
LEVELS OF COW WORKS AND OTHER
PUBLIC BENEFITS AS DIRECTOR
JOHNSON SPOKE TO US WE HAVE THE
NATIONAL DATA ON DOESN'T HAVE TO
BE. JUST JUST CALL WORKS ALSO,
UM, THE CTC AND THE COVERS
EMERGENCY ALLOTMENTS. THESE
MITIGATE AGAINST THE POTENTIAL
RISK FACTORS FOR INTERVENTION
DUE TO NEGATIVE EARNINGS, SHOCKS
OR OTHER TOXIC STRESS IS THAT
FAMILIES OCCUR. NATIONALLY THIS
PROTECTIVE EFFECT IS ESPECIALLY
STRONG FOR FAMILIES WITH YOUNG
CHILDREN AGES 0 TO 4, HAVING
SHOWN TO DEMONSTRATE A 12%
DECREASE IN THE RISK FOR CHILD
TO CPS INVOLVEMENT AND A 50%
DECLINE IN THE RISK OF PHYSICAL
ABUSE INVESTIGATION. CONVERSELY
A 10% INCREASE IN THE STATE
PUBLIC BENEFIT LEVELS, INCLUDING
TANNER FOR A FAMILY OF FOUR HAS
BEEN SHOWN TO REDUCE FOSTER CARE
PLACEMENTS BY 8. OUR COALITION
HAS PROPOSED A SET OF
INTERRELATED REFORMS TO
REIMAGINE CAL WORKS AWAY FROM
ITS CURRENT FLAWS AND FULFILL
THE POTENTIAL OF THE PROGRAM.
HERE ARE JUST A FEW HIGHLIGHTS
AND HOW THEY WILL HELP STABILIZE
FAMILIES TO PREVENT CHILD
WELFARE REFERRALS AND SUPPORT
FAMILY REUNIFICATION, INCLUDING
SOME OF THE WONDERFUL EFFORTS
THAT DR JOHNSON OUTLINED.
ELIMINATING OR REDUCING
SANCTIONS TO FEDERAL MINIMUMS,
ENSURING PARENTS HAVE THE INCOME
TO AFFORD CRITICAL NECESSITIES
LIKE FOOD, RENT, UTILITY AND
SCHOOL SUPPLIES. SHIFTING
COWARDS. CURRENT RIGID WORK
FIRST FOCUS TO AN FAMILY
ASSISTANCE MODEL, ENABLING
COUNTIES TO QUICKLY OFFER
SUPPORT TAILORED TO PARENTS AS
WELL AS CHILDREN MOVED FROM A
PENALTY FOCUS INTO ONE IN WHICH
FAMILIES CREATE PLANS THAT MEET
THEIR NEEDS, INCLUDING ALIGNMENT
WITH REQUIREMENTS FOR FAMILY
MAINTENANCE OR REUNIFICATION.
SUPPORTING THE LINKAGES WORK,
ALREADY ONGOING, AS WAS POINTED
OUT EXPANDING THE ACTIVITIES
RELATED TO WORK PARTICIPATION TO
INCLUDE A WIDE VARIETY OF ANTI
POVERTY RELATED ACTIVITIES
NECESSARY FOR FAMILIES IN CRISIS
. IMPROVING ACCESS TO SUPPORTIVE
SERVICES TO MEET NEEDS RELATED
TO SUBSTANCE ABUSE, MENTAL
HEALTH AND OTHER RELATED RISK
FACTORS. ELIMINATE THE WORK
PARTICIPATION RATE PENALTY
PASSED THROUGH TO REMOVE THE
POTENTIAL PENALTY ON COUNTIES
AND MAKE CLEAR THAT CENTERING
FAMILY WELL BEING AND LONG TERM
SUCCESS OR THE PROGRAMS GUIDING
GOALS. AND FINALLY FULFILL THE
COMMITMENT TO ACHIEVE THE GRANT
LEVELS, AT LEAST AT 50% OF THE
FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL AND END
DEEP CHILD POVERTY FOR ALL
ASSISTANCE UNITS, INCLUDING AU
PLUS ONE THESE STEPS TO
REIMAGINE CAL WORKS AND NDP
CHILD POVERTY FOR ALL CHILDREN
ARE POWERFUL EVIDENCE BASED
INTERVENTIONS TO STABILIZE
FAMILIES AND PREVENT THE
TRAUMATIC LONG TERM CONSEQUENCES
OF REMOVAL CRITICAL TO THAT
CHILD'S WELL BEING AND WHICH
WILL ALSO SAY THE SIGNIFICANT
SOCIAL AND FINANCIAL COSTS
ASSOCIATED WITH CHILD WELFARE
PLACEMENT FOR A COW WORKS
CASELOAD THAT IS
DISPROPORTIONATELY LED BY WOMEN
OF COLOR. THESE LONG OVERDUE
REFORMS CAN ALSO ADDRESS RACIAL
DISPARITIES IN THE CHILD WELFARE
SYSTEM. I KNOW IT WASN'T
POSSIBLE TO HAVE A COW WORKS
PARTICIPANT HERE TODAY. SO I
JUST WANT TO VERY BRIEFLY
CHANNEL GLENDA FROM, UH, THE
SPARK COMMUNITY ADVOCATE WHO
JUST TESTIFIED TO THIS 22 WEEKS
AGO, WHEN PARENTS ARE DENIED
TRANSPORTATION SUPPORTS OR DON'T
BELIEVE THE TRANSLATION SERVICES
NEEDED TO NAVIGATE THE PROGRAM
IS, SHE REPORTED HER HUSBAND
SIMPLY SHUT DOWN. IT IS THE
CHILDREN IN THESE FAMILIES WHO
ARE THE ULTIMATE VICTIM OF THESE
POLICIES BEARING THE TOXIC
STRESS OF DEEPER POVERTY WHEN
PARENTS ARE SANCTIONED OR THE
TRAUMA OF WATCHING THAT PARENT
FIGHT FOR THEM TO COME BACK
UNDER THE PROGRAM. THE GOOD NEWS
IS CALIFORNIA DOES NOT NEED TO
HAVE THESE POLICIES ON THE
BOOKS. WE CAN FOLLOW THE EXAMPLE
BY VERMONT AND OTHER STATES TO
ENACT THESE FAMILIES FIRST, UH,
POLICIES WHICH ARE CRITICAL EVEN
TO FULFILL THE WONDERFUL WORK
THAT'S BEING DONE BY KELL OR CAR
WORKS TO POINT OUT THAT WERE
MENTIONED. THANK YOU. CHAIR FOR
YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THESE ISSUES
AND THE OPPORTUNITY TESTIFY
TODAY. THANK YOU. NEXT WE WILL
HEAR FROM NICK. UH THE SENATE
ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR
CALIFORNIA HEALTH AND HUMAN
SERVICES AGENCY. GOOD AFTERNOON
CHAIR ARAMBULA AND MEMBER
JACKSON. MY NAME IS NICK
PERSONAGE. ASSISTANT SECRETARY.
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES. UH I
WANNA THANK YOU FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO YOU
TODAY ABOUT THE CHILD WELFARE
COUNCIL. IN OUR FOCUS TOWARDS
UPENDING THE DISPARITIES THAT
EXIST IN THE COUNCIL IN THE
CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM. SO TO
START, I'LL GIVE YOU SOME
BACKGROUND. THE COUNCIL BEGAN IT
STARTED IN 2006. IT SERVES AS AN
ADVISORY BODY. UM IT'S COMPRISED
OF CO CHAIRS, WHICH IS CURRENTLY
SECRETARY GALLEY AND JUSTICE
EARL. THERE'S 45 MEMBERS THAT
REPRESENT STATE AND COUNTY
DEPARTMENTS, AS WELL AS OUR
TRIBAL NATIONS NONPROFIT SERVICE
PROVIDERS, ADVOCACY GROUPS,
PARENTS AND FORMER FOSTER YOUTH.
WITHIN THE CHILD WELFARE COUNCIL
. THERE'S ALSO SIX COMMITTEES
AND INACTION TEAM AND THEIR
FOCUS IS REALLY ON BUILDING THE
RECOMMENDATIONS PUT FORWARD TO
MEMBERS TO TAKE ACTION OR VOTE
ON. THERE'S TWO MAIN REASONS
THIS BODY EXISTS. ONE IS TO
IMPROVE THE COLLABORATION AND
PROCESSES BETWEEN THE MULTIPLE
AGENCIES IN THE COURTS. THE
SECOND IS TO ENSURE THAT THESE
MULTIPLE AGENCIES IN THE COURTS
ARE RESPONSIVE TO THE NEEDS OF
THE CHILDREN AND THEIR JOINT
CARE. AT THE BEGINNING OF 2022
SECRETARY. GALLEY INTRODUCED HIS
VISION FOR THE COUNCIL AND IT
WAS WELL RECEIVED. HIS VISION IS
A FOCUS TOWARD KEEPING FAMILIES
TOGETHER AS UM, DIRECTOR JOHNSON
HAS STATED A RECENT INVESTMENT
THAT ALIGNS WITH THIS FOCUS IS
THE CENTER FOR EXCELLENCE AND
FAMILY, FINDING ENGAGEMENT AND
SUPPORT. WHICH. IS REALLY THE
PERFECT ILLUSTRATION FOR HOLDING
TRUE TO AKIN FIRST AND FAMILY
CENTERED CULTURE. FAMILY.
FINDING ENGAGEMENT IN SUPPORT IS
A PRACTICE THAT RESPECTS THE
EXPERTISE OF THE FAMILY, AND IT
UNDERSTANDS THAT OUR CHILDREN
CANNOT HEAL WITHOUT BEING
CONNECTED TO THOSE PEOPLE THAT
ARE MOST IMPORTANT IN THEIR
LIVES. THE COUNCIL CONTINUES TO
SUPPORT THE INVESTMENT THROUGH A
SERIES OF ONGOING
RECOMMENDATIONS MADE BY THE
PERMANENCY COMMITTEE. AND THESE
RECOMMENDATIONS ARE WELL ALIGNED
WITH DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL
SERVICES. THROUGH ITS OWN
EFFORTS HAVE SEEN DRAMATIC
IMPROVEMENTS AND ESTABLISHING
FIRST PLACEMENTS WITH RELATIVES.
SINCE 2017. DSS NOTES 20%
INCREASE IN YOUTH THAT HAVE
FIRST PLACEMENT WITH A RELATIVE
OR AN EXTENDED FAMILY MEMBER. WE
KNOW THAT THIS ISN'T PERFECT,
BUT THIS IS A STRIVE IN THE
RIGHT DIRECTION. WITH A UNIFIED
APPROACH BETWEEN OUR COURTS AND
THE CHILD WELFARE DEPARTMENTS.
WE CAN CREATE A NETWORK OF
SUPPORTS FOR OUR YOUTH AND
ENSURE THAT THOSE PEOPLE THAT
MATTER THE MOST TO THEM HAVE A
ROLE IN PLANNING FOR THEIR
FUTURE. THE PREVENTION AND EARLY
INTERVENTION COMMITTEE HAS ALSO
BEEN VERY VOCAL AS OF LATE AND
HAS PROVIDED RECOMMENDATIONS FOR
STATEWIDE IMPLEMENTATION OF
COMMUNITY PATHWAYS. AND REALLY,
THIS IS, UH, IN SUPPORT OF THAT
PARADIGM SHIFT FROM MANDATED
SUPPORT MANDATED REPORTING TO
COMMUNITY SUPPORTING. TO AVOID
THE POSSIBILITY OF THIS
RECOMMENDATION FALLING TO THE
WAYSIDE. THE P E I COMMITTEE DID
A GOOD JOB IN SETTING UP A TASK
FORCE AND THEY'RE BEING CHARGED
WITH ENSURING THAT THE LEGAL
DEFINITION OF NEGLECT IS
REDEFINED THAT THERE IS A
REDESIGNING OF THE MANDATED
REPORTER TRAINING. AND
ADDRESSING POLICY AND PRACTICE
REFORMS TO INSTITUTE THE SHIFT
IN MINDSET FOR HOW AND WHEN WE
REPORT TO BE SUCCESSFUL, WE MUST
ENTER THE VOICE OF THOSE WITH
LIVED EXPERIENCES AND BY PLACING
EQUITY AT THE CENTER OF ALL
RECOMMENDATIONS MADE BY THE
COUNCIL. WE ARE REINFORCING THAT
SHIFT OF POWER TO THE
COMMUNITIES. AND THOSE THAT FEEL
MARGINALIZED. WE ARE ACUTELY
AWARE THAT OVER THE PAST DECADE
AS THE L. A S STATED THAT MORE
THAN 80% OF YOUTH AND FOSTER
CARE. UM AT ANY TIME WERE
REMOVED DUE TO NEGLECT. MORE
IMPORTANTLY, WE ARE AWARE THAT
THE ECONOMIC AND CONCRETE
SUPPORTS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH A
DECREASE IN NEGLECT. THROUGH
PROGRAMS LIKE CULTURAL BROKERS
WHO BREAK DOWN BARRIERS FOR
SUCCESSFUL ENGAGEMENT WITH
FAMILY AND KIN, SUCH AS
CONNECTING THEM WITH PUBLIC
BENEFITS. WE ARE SEEING RESULTS
THAT ARE CULTURALLY APPROPRIATE
AND RESPONSIVE TO THE NEEDS OF
FAMILIES. THERE HAVE BEEN
SPECIFIC EDITIONS TO THE COW
WORKS PROGRAM THAT TARGET
FAMILIES THAT MAY BE MORE
VULNERABLE TO POTENTIAL CHILD
WELFARE INVOLVEMENT, AND THE COW
WORKS PROGRAMS INCORPORATED
ADDITIONAL SUPPORTS FOR THESE
FAMILIES EXPERIENCING CRISIS
LIKE THE FAMILY STABILIZATION
PROGRAM TO ENSURE A BASIC LEVEL
LEVEL OF STABILITY. THE
LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR
GOVERNOR RECENTLY EXTENDED THE
AVAILABILITY OF COWER. COWARDS
ASSISTANCE FOR PARENTS WHOSE
CHILDREN WERE REMOVED FROM THEM
THROUGH THE CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM
IN ORDER TO SUPPORT THE
REUNIFICATION PROCESS. SO
OVERALL, BOTH THE CALIFORNIA
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY
AS WELL AS THE DEPARTMENT OF
SOCIAL SERVICES. ARE CONTINUALLY
STRIVING TO IMPROVE THE
EFFECTIVENESS OF THE COW WORKS
PROGRAM BY SUPPORTING FAMILIES
EXPERIENCING. NEED, INCLUDING
THOSE FAMILIES IN CRISIS. OR
WHOSE CHILDREN MAY BE AT RISK OF
EXPERIENCING NEGLECT OR ABUSE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK
YOU. NEXT, WE WILL HEAR FROM
KATHY SANDERLING MCDONALD,
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF CWD A.
THANK YOU, MR CHAIR MEMBERS
KATHY SENATOR LEE MCDONALD, CWD
A COUNTIES AS YOU HEARD ARE
ENGAGED IN A LOT OF EFFORTS
RIGHT NOW, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
THE STATE AND WITH OTHER
ORGANIZATIONS TO TRY TO HELP
REDUCE DISPARITIES AND
DISPROPORTIONALITY IN THE CHILD
WELFARE SYSTEM. OBVIOUSLY THOUGH
, GIVEN THE DATA THAT YOU SEE
MORE CAN BE DONE ON ALL OF OUR
PARTS. COUNTIES CONTINUE TO
ENGAGE IN DIFFERENTIAL RESPONSE
WORK. THE IDEA THERE IS TO
PARTNER LOCALLY WITH
ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS FAMILY
RESOURCE CENTERS TO RESPOND WHEN
THERE ARE REPORTS OF ABUSE AND
NEGLECT AND TRY TO PROVIDE
SERVICES TO HELP PREVENT ENTRIES
OF FOSTER CARE. WHAT WE'RE
SEEING NOW IS NEARLY ALL
COUNTIES WORKING TO DEVELOP
THEIR PREVENTION PLANS. WE'LL
TALK ABOUT THIS MORE WHEN WE GET
TO THE FAMILY FIRST PREVENTION
SERVICES PANEL, BUT AS DIRECTOR
JOHNSON NOTED, WE ARE LOOKING TO
UTILIZE FUNDS. UM, AND THAT WERE
PROVIDED BY THE THIS COMMITTEE
AND THE LEGISLATURE AND
ADMINISTRATION TWO YEARS AGO TO
TRY TO FURTHER BUILD OUT AND USE
THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT THAT ACT
PROVIDES. WE ALSO ARE CONTINUING
TO IMPLEMENT AND REVITALIZE THE
LINKAGES PROGRAM, AS NOTED BY
DIRECTOR JOHNSON. AND WE REALLY
APPRECIATE THAT EQUAL WORK AND
OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE TRIBES
AS WELL AS, UM, WE HAVE A
SPECIALIST IN EQUAL ON OUR STAFF
WHO CAN WORK INDIVIDUALLY WITH
COUNTIES AND TRIBES, AS WELL AS
WITH OUR STATE PARTNERS WHEN
ISSUES MAY ARISE. UM WHAT I
THINK WE CONTINUE TO SEE THOUGH,
AS YOU NOTED IN THE L. A
PRESENTATION AND REPORT IS THAT
WE HAVE DISPROPORTIONALITY AT
EVERY STAGE FROM THAT FIRST
PHONE CALL ALL THE WAY THROUGH
AND DEPENDING ON WHICH GROUP OF
CHILDREN, YOU'RE LOOKING AT IT.
MAYBE THE CHILDREN WHO ARE BLACK
REMAIN LONGER IN CARE CHILDREN
WHO ARE LATINO. UM MAY COME IN
MORE AT A RAPID PACE, BUT GO
HOME QUICKER SO WE CAN TRY TO, I
THINK, ALSO LEARN FROM
DIFFERENCES THAT WE SEE. HOW DO
WE GET SOME CHILDREN BACK WITH
THEIR FAMILIES QUICKLY. AND HOW
DOES THAT WORK? WHY DO SOME STAY
SO LONG? WE WANT TO TRY TO. I
THINK ARREST AND CHANGE FROM THE
VERY START LIKE YOU'VE HEARD
JUST FROM THAT FIRST PHONE CALL
THAT WE GET. BACKING IT UP EVEN
FURTHER NOW AND THINKING ABOUT
HOW WE WORK WITH COMMUNITIES AND
DIRECTLY WITH MANDATED REPORTERS
TO SAY, HOW DO WE STRENGTHEN
FAMILIES? AND HOW DO WE CHANGE
THE DYNAMIC WHERE THE ONLY PLACE
TO CALL IN SOME SITUATIONS WHEN
YOU'RE WORRIED ABOUT A CHILD OR
A FAMILY IS THE CHILD WELFARE
SYSTEM? AND SO WE THINK THAT
THERE IS GREAT PROMISE AND A LOT
OF THE WORK THAT IS THAT IS
BEING DONE. WE ALSO THINK THAT
CALL WORKS OFFERS GREAT PROMISE
TO JUST AS MR SHANE SAID. AND AS
DIRECTOR JOHNSON NOTED, WHERE
ADMINISTERING THE HOME VISITING
PROGRAM, WHICH YOU'VE BEEN A
CHAMPION OF MR CHAIR, AS WELL AS
THE FAMILY STABILIZATION PROGRAM
. THOSE HAVE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY
FOR US TO PROVIDE SERVICES FOR
OUR COW WORKS RECIPIENTS AND
ALSO TRY TO ARREST THE EFFECTS
OF POVERTY. IN ADDITION, THE CAL
WORKS FAMILY REUNIFICATION
PROGRAM, WHICH DIRECTOR JOHNSON
ALSO MENTIONED ALLOWS US TO
DIRECTLY WORK WITH FAMILIES WHO
ARE BOTH IN THE CHILD WELFARE
SYSTEM AS WELL AS IN THE COW
WORKS PROGRAM. W D. A WAS
PLEASED AND IT WAS ONE OF THE
FIRST BILLS I WORKED ON WHEN I
CAME TO SEE W. D, A AND 2000 TO
SPONSOR THE ORIGINAL LEGISLATION
THAT ALLOWS US TO CONTINUE
PROVIDING SUPPORTIVE SERVICES IN
THOSE SITUATIONS. HOWEVER AT THE
TIME WE WERE NOT ABLE TO
CONTINUE THE GRANT NOW, A COUPLE
OF YEARS AGO, AS YOU'VE HEARD,
WE WERE ABLE TO AGAIN SPONSOR
AND EFFORT AND SUCCESSFULLY TO
CONTINUE PROVIDING THE GRANT TO
THE FAMILIES AS WELL AS THE
SUPPORTIVE SERVICES WHEN
CHILDREN ARE REMOVED IN PLACE IN
FOSTER CARE. IT JUST DIDN'T MAKE
A LOT OF SENSE EVER AND
CERTAINLY NOT WITH THE COST OF
LIVING IN THE HIGH COST OF
HOUSING. TO IMPOVERISHED
FAMILIES WHEN THEIR CHILDREN ARE
PULLED OUT, PUT INTO FOSTER CARE
, AND WE'RE ATTEMPTING TO
REUNIFY THEM, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE
KNOW THAT THERE'S SO MUCH
DISPROPORTIONALITY AND WHO'S IN
THE SYSTEM WHO ARE RECEIVING
SERVICES FROM OUR PROGRAMS TO
BEGIN WITH. IT JUST REALLY
EXACERBATES AND KIND OF
PERPETUATED ALL OF THE, UH, THE
RACISM, CLASSISM SEXISM THAT WE
KNOW EXISTED. AND THAT OUR
SERVICES ARE BUILT ON AND THAT
WE'RE TRYING TO BREAK FREE FROM
AND SO EVEN WITH THOSE
ADDITIONAL ECONOMIC SUPPORTS
COUNTIES RECOGNIZED, WE DO NEED
TO CONTINUOUSLY WORK TO REDUCE
RACIAL ETHNIC AS WELL AS
ECONOMIC BIAS IN OUR SYSTEM
THROUGH CONTINUED TRAINING,
WORKFORCE SUPPORTS AND
EMPOWERING FAMILIES AND
COMMUNITIES TO IDENTIFY AND
DRIVE THE SERVICES THAT THEY
NEED LOCALLY, NOT US COMING IN
AND SAYING WE KNOW WHAT YOU
NEED, BUT AS GOING TO THEM AND
SAYING, LET'S TALK AND YOU TELL
US WHAT YOU NEED, AND WE WILL
BRING THOSE SERVICES AND
RESOURCES TO BEAR AS YOUR
PARTNER. UM I DO WANT TO SHARE
JUST A COUPLE OF ADDITIONAL
THINGS. FIRST YOU HEARD FROM THE
ASSISTANT SECRETARY REGARDING
THE CHILD WELFARE COUNCIL. I'M A
PROUD MEMBER OF THAT COUNCIL
REPRESENTING CWD A AND WAS
PLEASED TO VOTE FOR THE
COMMUNITY PATHWAYS EFFORT. UM,
THE IDEA, MOVING FROM SIMPLY
HAVING THAT MANDATED REPORTING
TO ALSO HAVING A WAY TO SUPPORT
COMMUNITIES. IT'S NOT DONE YET.
WE OBVIOUSLY HAVE WORK TO DO,
BUT I THINK IT HOLDS SIGNIFICANT
PROMISE FOR OUR CONTINUED
ABILITY TO REALLY MEET FAMILIES
AND COMMUNITIES. HE'S UM, WHERE
THEY ARE AND LEARN FROM THE WORK
THAT THEY'VE DONE THE PROGRAMS
AND SERVICES THAT THEY'VE BUILT
UP OFTEN. THOSE THINGS DON'T
HAVE AN EVIDENTIARY BASE. YOU
KNOW, WE REALLY LIKE TO SEE
EVIDENCE BASED PROGRAMS, BUT
THINGS THAT ARE HOMEGROWN AND
SMALLER COMMUNITIES THAT MAY BE
VERY CULTURALLY RELEVANT. MAY
NOT HAVE THAT EVIDENCE BASE SO
WE MAY HAVE TO PUT IN STATE
FUNDING COUNTY FUNDING TO BE
ABLE TO SUPPORT THOSE FOR SOME
TIME. IDEALLY WE COULD BUILD
THAT EVIDENCE BASED AND
ULTIMATELY BE ABLE TO BRING DOWN
FEDERAL DOLLARS FOR THAT, BUT WE
CERTAINLY SHOULD SUPPORT THE
PROLIFERATION AND EXPANSION OF
THOSE SERVICES. UM I WANT TO
JUST ALSO SAY ONE LAST THING,
WHICH IS ONE OF THE QUESTIONS
THAT THE L. A O ASKED WAS
RELATED TO BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
AUGMENTATIONS AND CHILD WELFARE
AUGMENTATIONS, AND HOW CAN WE
ENSURE THAT THOSE ARE REALLY
COMPLEMENTARY TO EACH OTHER? IT
SEEMS LIKE THERE'S A FEW NEEDS
HERE. WE WOULD SAY MORE
COORDINATION OF CARE BY MAKING
SURE THAT WERE JOINTLY WORKING
TOGETHER MORE TRAINING AND
WORKFORCE SUPPORTS. WE REALLY
APPRECIATE THE RECENT
INVESTMENTS BY THE
ADMINISTRATION, THE LEGISLATURE
IN BOTH CHILD WELFARE AND
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH. I MEAN, A LOT
OF THIS WAS LED TO THE CAL TEAM
INITIATIVE. AND, UM, A HUGE
EXAMPLE THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT IS
AUTOMATIC ELIGIBILITY FOR
SPECIALTY MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES
FOR CHILDREN WHO ARE IN FOSTER
CARE OR AT RISK OF BEING IN
FOSTER CARE. THOSE ARE
TREMENDOUS CHANGE AND BEING ABLE
TO ACCESS THOSE SERVICES IS
GOING TO BE EXTREMELY IMPORTANT
. UM THAT WAS A JOINT
RECOMMENDATION BY OUR PARTNERS
THAT CB HD A AS WELL AS CWD, A
AND WE WERE SO PLEASED TO SEE IT
HAPPEN. AH, THE HCS AND CDSS IN
THIS BUDGET HAVE PROPOSED CHILD
AND FAMILY TEAMS FOR FAMILY
MAINTENANCE CASES. THE IDEA
BEING TO BRING THE TEEMING
EFFORT THAT IS SUCCESSFUL WHEN
DONE, UM, ROBUSTLY TO CASES THAT
WE'RE TRYING TO KEEP TOGETHER
ONCE WE'VE REUNIFIED OR IF WE
THINK WE'RE NOT QUITE AT A PLACE
WHERE WE NEED TO BRING YOU INTO
CARE, BUT WE WANT TO PROVIDE
SOME SERVICES AND REALLY HAVING
THE VOICE OF THE FAMILY AND
OTHER PEOPLE WHO ARE IMPORTANT
TO THEM IS REALLY CRITICAL IN
THAT. WE'RE ALSO HAVING
SIGNIFICANT DIFFICULTY ACCESSING
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, INCLUDING
BOTH MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE
USE DISORDER SERVICES FOR THE
PARENTS. THAT'S AN AREA WHERE,
UM, IF THE PARENT IS USING
SUBSTANCES OR HAS UNTREATED
MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS, I THINK, AS
YOU SAW, THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT
WAS PRESENT IN SO MANY OF THOSE
NEGLECT CASES THAT MISS SHORT
REPORTED ON FROM THE L A. OH, WE
KNOW THAT THERE IS HUGE DEMAND
FOR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
PRACTITIONERS. RIGHT NOW THERE
WERE WORKFORCE INVESTMENTS MADE
. SOME OF THOSE ARE PROPOSED TO
BE DELAYED. WE DO JUST URGE THAT
WE ALL TAKE A REALLY CRITICAL
EYE AS WE THINK ABOUT HOW WE
BUILD THAT WORKFORCE. IT IS IN
SIGNIFICANT DEMAND, EVEN OVER
THE WEEKEND, AND TODAY WE'VE
HEARD YOU KNOW FROM HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY THESE
PROPOSALS AND THEY ARE VERY
IMPORTANT AND ALSO THE WORKFORCE
IS VERY STRETCHED AT THE MOMENT.
THROUGH ALL OF THE DEMANDS ON IT
, AND SO WORKING TOGETHER TO
INCREASE OUR SOCIAL WORK, UM AND
COUNTY STAFF ON THE CHILD
WELFARE SIDE, AS WELL AS
ENSURING THAT THOSE INVESTMENTS
IN THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
WORKFORCE ARE ALSO BEING BROUGHT
TO BEAR ARE EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.
JUST WANTED TO MAKE A FEW NOTES
ON THAT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE. AARON
CARSON DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE.
NOTHING TO ADD ON THIS ISSUE.
BRING IT UP TO THE DIASPORA. ANY
MEMBERS? QUESTIONS WILL BEGIN
WITH DR JACKSON. THANK YOU ALL
LOVE CERTAINLY FOR BEING HERE.
UM, OBVIOUSLY, THERE'S STARTING
TO BE MORE REPORTS ON
IMPLEMENTING A BLIND CASE REVIEW
TO HELP WITH THE
DISPROPORTIONALITY THAT WE ARE
SEEING. CERTAINLY WE KNOW LOS
ANGELES COUNTY RIGHT NOW IS
GOING THROUGH A PILOT. UM WHEN
ARE WE READY TO PULL THE
TRIGGER? THANK YOU. COMMITTEE
MEMBERS. WE THE WE ARE FOLLOWING
THIS VERY CLOSELY. JUST JUST LET
ME START THERE. UM WE ACTUALLY
HAVE BEEN IN TOUCH WITH WITH L.
A COUNTY'S, UM, EFFORT HERE IN
SOME EARLY RESULTS THAT WE HAVE
SEEN THAT HAVE BEEN PROMISING.
SO UH, WITH THE WITH THE BLIND
REMOVAL WE'VE SEEN, UM A REAL
CHANGE IN THE DATA AND THE
OUTCOMES THAT HAVE BEEN BEEN AS
A RESULT, SO WE ARE JUST VERY,
VERY CLOSELY IN TOUCH RIGHT NOW
, IN FOLLOWING THIS TO SEE WHAT
WE CAN LEARN IN TERMS OF ANY
OTHER IMPLEMENTATION OR SCALE ON
THIS EFFORT. ANY IDEA WHEN WE
SHOULD START SEEING THE NEXT?
THE FIRST ROUND OF DATA THAT
COMES FROM THAT? WE DO HAVE THE
FIRST ROUND OF DATA, SO I'M
HAPPY TO FOLLOW UP WITH THE
COMMITTEE ON ON WHAT'S BEEN
SHARED. AND WE CAN COORDINATE
THAT WITH L. A COUNTY, PLEASE.
THAT WOULD BE VERY, VERY
HELPFUL. SECONDLY OBVIOUSLY WE
KNOW THAT ONE OF, UH,
SIGNIFICANT PART OF THOSE WHO
ARE MOST VULNERABLE ARE SINGLE
MOTHERS. YOU'VE ALREADY WE'VE
ALREADY INDICATED. THAT MANY
CASES MONEY RUNS OUT FOR THE
PARENT, BUT CONTINUES FOR THE
CHILD. UM WHERE, UM. ARE WE
CONSIDERING ANY WAY TO FIX THAT?
OR IS THAT A FEDERAL ISSUE? WHO
CAN FIX THIS? AGAIN. IT SIMPLY
REJECTION. THANK YOU FOR THE
QUESTION. KIM JOHNSON SOCIAL
SERVICES. YES SO CURRENTLY, UM,
THIS IS A STATE CONSTRUCTION SO
WE CAN WE, THE STATE CAN CAN
MAKE ANY ADJUSTMENTS TO THE TO
THIS PIECE. CERTAINLY PART OF
ALL OF OUR CONVERSATION AROUND
PROVIDING CASH ASSISTANCE IN
ADDITIONAL SUPPORTS. THERE ARE
CERTAINLY FEDERAL RULES THAT ARE
RELATED TO THAT, AND THIS IS
AGAIN GOING BACK TO THE WORK
PARTICIPATION RATE, RIGHT? WHAT
ACTIVITIES COUNT? UM WHAT RULES
DO WE HAVE RELATED TO SANCTION
POLICIES? THESE KINDS OF THINGS.
THERE ARE PIECES OF THAT THAT
WILL IMPACT WORK PARTICIPATION
RATE, BUT WE HAVE MADE
ADJUSTMENTS OVER TIME AS A STATE
AND CAN CONTINUE TO LOOK AT
THAT. I WILL SAY THAT WE ARE
ACTUALLY VERY WE ARE FOREIGNERS
. VERY FEW STATES WHO CONTINUES
THE CASH ASSISTANCE TO THE CHILD
AND IN FACT, THINK THAT'S A
REALLY KEY AND CRITICAL
COMPONENT OF OUR PROGRAM THAT'S
SUPPORTING FAMILIES FOR A LONGER
DURATION. BUT IN TERMS OF ANY
OTHER POLICY CHANGES RELATED TO
ADDITIONAL SUPPORTS FOR THE
FAMILY. UH WE COULD WE COULD DO
THAT. AND THEN CERTAINLY. THINK
ABOUT WHAT THE CONSEQUENCES
WOULD BE IN TERMS OF AN
IMPLICATION WORTH WORK
PARTICIPATION RATE. I WILL AGAIN
SAY YOU ARE ALL ARE VERY CLOSE
TO RECEIVING A REPORT FROM THE
DEPARTMENT RELATED TO THAT THE
WORKGROUPS CONSULTATION WITH US
ON RECOMMENDATIONS RELATED TO
WORK PARTICIPATION RATE. AND I
WILL ALSO SAY TO YOU THAT, UM,
POLICIES AROUND SANCTIONING
WHERE IT WAS A BIG PIECE OF
FEEDBACK. THAT WE RECEIVED FROM
STAKEHOLDERS IN THAT
CONVERSATION SO MORE TO COME ON
THAT TOPIC, BUT AGAIN, MUCH OF
THOSE PROVISIONS ARE IN THE
STATE STATUTORY CONSTRUCTION.
CAN WE BRING IN? UM UM KATHY
SANDERLING MCDONALD, PLEASE. AND
THEN FOLLOWED BY ANDREW SHANE.
THANK YOU WHISPERING. THANK YOU
, UH, FAMILY MEMBER, JACK SAID
KATHY'S UNDERLING, CWD A. UM ON
THAT POINT, I WOULD JUST NOTE
ALSO TO SORT OF HOW TO THINK
ABOUT COW WORKS AND THE FEDERAL
RULES ARE WE FULLY EXHAUST THE
FEDERAL BLOCK GRID THAT WE
RECEIVED. WE SPEND IT AND THEN
AND THEN A LOT MORE AND SO
REALLY ANY INVESTMENT AT THIS
POINT IN CALL WORKS. THINK OF IT
AS A STATE GENERAL FUND DOLLAR
BECAUSE EVEN THOUGH THERE'S A
BLOCK GRANT, IT'S NOT LIKE IT'S
MATCHING FUNDS LIKE WE SEE IN
THINGS LIKE MEDICAL OR IF WE PUT
UP A DOLLAR WILL GET A DOLLAR.
THAT SORT OF THING. YOU KNOW
WE'VE EXHAUSTED IT, SO IT'S
ALWAYS A STATE GENERAL FUND. SO
THAT DOES PUT A LOT OF THE
DECISIONS THAT BACK SQUARELY ON
THE STATE TO MAKE THE DECISION
AS FAR AS OUR DO WE HAVE THOSE
FUNDS, YOU KNOW, IT'S UM THE, UH
AND ALSO IS THAT A POLICY THAT
WE WANT TO DO? I THINK ONE OF
THE THINGS THAT I THINK MR SHANE
MIGHT SPEAK TO THIS. I THINK WE
SPOKE ABOUT LAST, UH, WEEK AS
THINKING ABOUT FOR THOSE CHILD
ONLY CASES. I THINK WE KNOW THAT
THERE IS A GOOD BIT OF ECONOMIC
PARTICIPATION IN THE ECONOMY.
AND SO IT'S POSSIBLE THAT IT
MIGHT HELP TO SOME DEGREE OR AT
LEAST NOT HURT. UM, IF YOU THINK
ABOUT THAT. ALL WORK
PARTICIPATION RATE. TO THINK
ABOUT HOW WE MIGHT AID THOSE
INDIVIDUALS. BUT YOU KNOW, IT'S
MATH, RIGHT? SO YOU SORT OF
THINK, THINK THROUGH THAT, BUT,
UM, I JUST WANTED TO THROW A
COUPLE OF THOUGHTS OUT THERE.
YEP THANK YOU, ANDREW. SHANE
WITH THAT? THE REIMAGINE
COMMERCE COALITION? YEAH. JUST
JUST BRIEFLY THAT, YOU KNOW, TO
YOUR POINT, DR JACKSON THAT THE
FEDERAL RULES ARE ARE QUITE
STRICT ON WHAT THE WP OUR
REQUIREMENTS ARE, BUT THAT'S ON
THE STATE TO MEET THOSE, AND
THERE'S ACTUALLY A LOT OF
LATITUDE FOR HOW STATES
INTERPRET THAT FOR FAMILIES. AND
SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT EXPANDING
THE TYPES OF ACTIVITIES THAT
HOURS REQUIREMENTS, THE WAYS IN
WHICH WE CAN UTILIZE THESE
POLICIES WITHIN COW WORKS TO
HELP FAMILIES, YOU KNOW, EVEN
WITHOUT CHANGING THE SANCTIONS
POLICY, WHICH IS OF COURSE, VERY
IMPORTANT TO US. THERE ARE WAYS
TO HELP AND PROMOTE COMPLIANCE
IN THE PROGRAM THAT WILL, YOU
KNOW, HELP FAMILIES STAY ON AND
PREVENT SOME OF THE KINDS OF
ISSUES WITH TRYING TO MAINTAIN
ACCESS TO THE PROGRAM THAT THEN
ARE SOME OF THE SAME RISKS RISK
FACTORS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
WELL CERTAINLY IT'S A PRIORITY
OF NOT ONLY THIS SUBCOMMITTEE
BUT ALSO HUMAN SERVICES TO
ENSURE THAT WE THAT WE'RE GOING
TO FIX THAT. OKAY. BUT THE IDEA
IS, IS THAT THAT'S JUST THE
BEGINNING. OF WHAT? UH WE NEED
TO FIX ONCE THAT BLOCK HAS GONE
RIGHT ALLOWS US TO GET INTO SOME
OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT WE'RE
WE'RE STARTING TO SEE.
UNDERSTANDING THAT IT IS ALSO A
MATH ISSUE. I'M A POLITICAL
SCIENCE MAJOR AND MY BACHELOR'S
SO I HAVE. I DON'T KNOW WHAT
MATH IS. BUT AT THE END OF THE
DAY MAKE YOU TAKE THAT ONCE TASK
FORCE. I DON'T EVEN REMEMBER
WHAT I BARELY MADE. IT BARELY
MADE IT, BUT, UH, OBVIOUSLY WHEN
WE THINK OF THESE MORE OF
EMPOWERMENT AND PREVENTION
PROGRAMS. CERTAINLY. UH AND
WHETHER WE NEED TO DO A STUDY ON
THIS OR SOMETHING ABOUT HOW MUCH
CAN WE BE SAVING BY BEING ABLE
TO MAKING SURE THAT WE TRULY DO
ALL WE CAN TO STABILIZE THESE
FAMILIES. MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE
NOT JUST GIVING THEM ENOUGH TO
SURVIVE. BY GIVING THEM ENOUGH
TO BE ABLE TO GET TO A PATH OF
UPWARD MOBILITY. RIGHT, THEN
THIS IS ONE OF THOSE LONG TERM
THINGS. I KNOW. CALIFORNIA
DOESN'T DO THIS WELL, RIGHT LONG
TERM TO MAKING SURE THAT WE
UNDERSTAND HOW TO HOW TO HELP
PEOPLE THRIVE. LASTLY, UH. I
AGREE WITH THE MANDATED REPORT
MANDATED REPORTER REPORTING
ISSUE AND THAT IT NEEDS TO BE IT
NEEDS TO BE FIXED. UM, AS
SOMEONE WHO. WAS A MANDATED
REPORTER MYSELF AND SUPERVISED.
MANY EMPLOYEES WHO WERE MANDATED
REPORTERS, RIGHT? THERE'S A LOT
OF THINGS THAT CERTAINLY DO NEED
TO BE FIXED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
GET IT RIGHT? BUT ALSO IN CASE
THOUGH, WHEN WE HAVE
SUBSTANTIATED CASES. ONCE A
FAMILY IS. HAVE BEEN FOUND THAT
A REPORT OR AH! AN INQUIRY IS
SUBSTANTIATED. DOES THAT, THEN
UNLOCK OTHER ACCESS TO SOME OF
OUR OTHER SAFETY NET PROGRAMS TO
BE ABLE TO PUT OUR ARMS AROUND
THEM. AND IF NOT, IS THAT
SOMETHING THAT MIGHT BE HELPFUL?
SO IT'S CERTAINLY UH, FAMILIES
THAT ARE COMING INTO THE CHILD
WELFARE SYSTEM. IN THAT CASE,
YOU KNOW WHAT POTENTIALLY HAVE
COULD HAVE SOME SAFETY NET
SERVICES BUT CERTAINLY MIGHT
HAVE, UM OTHERS THAT ARE NEEDED,
SO I THINK IT'S PART OF THE
OPPORTUNITY WITH BOTH COUNTY
WITH THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM TO
IDENTIFY KIND OF WHAT SUPPORTS
ARE NEEDED TO BOTH AGAIN.
IDEALLY, REUNIFY SO, YES, IN
THAT CASE AGAIN, THERE WOULD BE
A CONNECTION IN WAY IN WHICH WE
WOULD BE LOOKING TO SUPPORT THE
FAMILY WITH THOSE OPTIONS AND
OPPORTUNITIES, AND IF THAT'S NOT
THE CASE, THEN OBVIOUSLY THERE'S
A WHOLE NOTHER SET OF RESOURCES
THAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING THROUGH
AGAIN THAT YOU'LL HEAR ON AND
ADDITIONAL PANELS AROUND FAMILY
FINDING ENGAGEMENT SUPPORT. HOW
ARE WE? IF THAT CHILD CAN'T STAY
CONNECTED TO THAT, THAT THAT
FAMILY HOW ARE WE CONNECTING
THEM TO KEN? THE OUTCOMES THAT
WE SEE WHEN WE DO THAT ARE SO
MUCH GREATER IN TERMS OF SUCCESS
FOR YOUTH, UM, SO AGAIN THAT WE
HAVE INVESTMENTS IN SUPPORTS.
THEY'RE KIND OF IT'S KIND OF THE
PATH AND THE KIND OF INDIVIDUAL
NEEDS OF THE CHILD WILL DICTATE
ADDITIONAL SUPPORTS. THAT WOULD
GO ALONG WITH THAT. BUT I ALSO
JUST SAY THESE ARE PLACES WHERE
WE'VE TOGETHER ESTABLISHED
PROGRAMS LIKE BRINGING FAMILIES
HOME. RIGHT. THIS IS THIS IS I
DIDN'T I DIDN'T IN RECOGNITION
THAT FAMILIES THAT MIGHT BE
INVOLVED IN THE CHILD WELFARE
SYSTEM, WHO MIGHT BE IN
SHELTERED AND SUPPORTED NEED
ADDITIONAL SUPPORT WITH THEIR
HOUSING TO GET AGAIN THAT
STABILITY SO WE HAVE BEEN
LOOKING AT AGAIN. WHAT IS THE
SUPPORT THAT'S NEEDED TO WRAP
AROUND THE FAMILY WITH THE GOAL
TO KEEP FAMILIES TOGETHER WHEN
WE CAN NOW THIS IS JUST ME
THINKING OUT LOUD, PRETTY
DANGEROUS. AH! BUT OBVIOUSLY SAY
A CHILD. MAYBE FOR SAFETY
REASONS IS NOT APPROPRIATE TO
KEEP THE CHILD AT HOME. BUT THEY
GO TO ANOTHER. WE FIND ANOTHER
FAMILY MEMBER. BUT WE'RE NOT
SURE WHETHER THEY HAVE THE
FINANCIAL MEANS TO REALLY DO
WHAT THEY NEED TO DO. IS IT
POSSIBLE FOR US TO SAY THAT
BECAUSE THAT CHILD IS NOW PLACED
WITH THIS FAMILY. NOW THEY HAVE
ACCESS TO CAL FRESH NOW THEY
HAVE ACCESS TO YOU SEE WHAT I'M
SAYING? BUT THEY MIGHT NOT HAVE
. THEY MAY NOT BE THERE HAVE
BEEN ENROLLED IN THE FIRST PLACE
. I THINK THAT'S A KEY PART. I
DEFER TO MR STERLING. SHE WANTS
TO SAY IT'S ABSOLUTELY A KEY
PART OF OUR WORK TOGETHER. I'LL
GIVE YOU ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF THAT
IS THE EMERGENCY IS DONE. ARE
YOU SAYING IT IS DONE? THAT'S
WHAT I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT.
OKAY GOOD EMERGENCY CHILDCARE,
UM, BRIDGE PROGRAM FOR FOSTER
FAMILIES. THIS WAS THE IDEA THAT
ME AS ANTI TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT
MY NIECE COMING TO ME NEEDS
CHILDCARE AND THAT THE COST OF
CHILDCARE COULD BE A HINDRANCE
FOR ME BEING ABLE TO SAY YES TO
SUPPORTING MY NIECE AND THAT
EXAMPLE RIGHT, SO WE CREATED
TOGETHER LEGISLATURE
ADMINISTRATION CHILDCARE DOLLARS
TO SUPPORT THAT RECRUITMENT AND
THAT THAT STABILITY FOR FAMILIES
WHO ARE WILLING AND ABLE TO MAKE
THAT CONNECTION SO YES, THESE
ARE THE KINDS OF CORRECTIONS
WERE MAKING. APPRECIATE IT. AND
OVER TIME WE'VE BEEN ABLE AS A
STATE TO INCREASE THE SUPPORT
THAT WE PROVIDE THE RELATIVE
CAREGIVERS. IN FACT, YOU'RE
GOING TO HEAR FROM MISS SCHWARTZ
ON THE NEXT PANEL, WHO, IN HER
PRIOR ROLE WITH THE ALLIANCE FOR
CHILDREN'S RIGHTS WAS A BIG
ADVOCATE AND WE WERE ABLE TO
WORK TOGETHER AND SUCCESSFULLY
GET, UM, PARODY IN NEAR. I THINK
WE'RE PRETTY MUCH THERE. I MEAN,
I CAN'T THINK OF ANYTHING WHERE
WE'RE NOT. BUT I'M SURE ANGIE
WOULD KNOW. UM SO YOU'LL HEAR
FROM HER. BUT ANYWAY, WE
INCREASE THE RATES PAID. WE MADE
ACCESS TO OTHER SUPPORTS THAT A
NON RELATED FOSTER PARENT WOULD
GET A RELATIVE CAN ALSO RECEIVE
WHEN I STARTED AGAIN SO MANY
YEARS AGO, IT WAS A VERY
LOPSIDED SYSTEM WHERE THE
RELATIVE WAS ESSENTIALLY
EXPECTED TO MOSTLY OUT OF THE
GOODNESS OF THEIR HEART JUST
TAKING THAT CHILD. BUT THE
STUDIES SHOW THAT THE MOST
RELATIVE CAREGIVERS THEMSELVES
ARE SINGLE WOMEN, OFTEN WOMEN OF
COLOR. THEY ARE OFTEN IN POVERTY
OR PUSHED INTO POVERTY BY TAKING
IN ONE OR MORE OF THEIR RELATIVE
CHILDREN. AND SO THEY WOULD DO
THAT. THEY WOULD DO IT OUT OF
THE GOODNESS OF THEIR HEART. BUT
WE WEREN'T HELPING THEM AND THEY
WERE STRUGGLING AND NOBODY NEEDS
THAT. SO WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO MAKE
IMPROVEMENTS IN THAT OVERTIME.
FANTASTIC THANK YOU. THANK YOU,
MR CHAIR. I'LL BRING IT UP TO
THE CHAIR AND I WISH TO SHARE
AND FOLLOW UP ON THE HOME
VISITING PROGRAM AS I HAD THE
PRIVILEGE OF MEETING WITH ALMOST
A DOZEN UM MOTHERS. WOMEN OF
COLOR, WHO SPOKE ABOUT THE
BENEFITS TO THE PROGRAM. THE, UM
SAFETY TO THE CHILDREN, THE
FAMILY WELL BEING THIS STABILITY
THROUGH GETTING UPSTREAM. AND
REALLY WANT TO UPLIFT THAT AS
WORK THAT WE'RE DOING
COLLABORATIVELY THAT HELPS TO
PREVENT AND AVOID THE CHILD
WELFARE SYSTEM. BUT WE STILL
HAVE THE STUBBORN DISPARITIES
THAT ARE BEFORE US AND WHAT I'D
LIKE TO TRY AND FIGURE OUT AS IF
THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY WITH THE
F F. PS PSA FUNDING THE FEDERAL
FAMILIES FIRST PREVENTION
SERVICES ACT IF WE CAN TARGET
SOME POPULATIONS TO GET UPSTREAM
ON THOSE SPECIFIC DISPARITIES,
CAN WE USE THOSE DOLLARS AND
TARGET SPECIFIC SUB POPULATIONS?
THANK YOU. CHAIR KIM JOHNSON.
SOCIAL SERVICES. UH GENERAL.
OVERALL THE ANSWER'S YES. I WANT
TO MAYBE SAY A COUPLE THINGS
THAT I DIDN'T SHARE. NOT ONLY
THIS WORKAROUND ADDRESSING
DISPARITIES, DISPROPORTIONALITY
IS A PRIORITY IN FOCUS OF THE
DEPARTMENT. IT'S THE
SECRETARIAT'S ALSO THE GOVERNOR
, SO I JUST WANT TO ALSO
IDENTIFY THAT LAST YEAR, THE
GOVERNOR HAS ISSUED AN EXECUTIVE
ORDER MANDATING DEPARTMENTS
ACROSS CALIFORNIA GOVERNMENT TO
HAVE PLANS TO ADDRESS INEQUITIES
IN THE WORK THAT THEY DO. ALSO
HAS A RACIAL EQUITY COMMISSION.
THAT'S THAT'S BEING ESTABLISHED.
THAT'S TRUE ALSO AT THE FEDERAL
LEVEL, SO I WOULD SAY THE
ADMINISTRATION FOR CHILDREN AND
FAMILIES HAS CHILDREN'S BUREAU
SPECIFICALLY WHO FOCUSES ON THE
CHILD WELFARE SPACE HAS A NUMBER
OF EQUITY PRIORITIES THAT THEY
HAVE OUTLINED SPECIFICALLY
ASKING STATES THESE QUESTIONS
AROUND HOW THEY'RE ADDRESSING
DISPARITIES PART OF OUR WORK.
THEY HAVE A CLEARINGHOUSE
ESSENTIALLY. OF EVIDENCE BASED
APPROACHES THAT THEY HAVE DEEMED
TO BE FUNDAMENTAL. IF YOU WILL,
RIGHT, THEY CONTINUED A BIT TO
ADD ON TO WHAT'S BEING APPROVED
TO BE ADDED TO THAT
CLEARINGHOUSE. BUT I THINK ONE
OF THE THINGS THAT THEY'VE
OUTLINED THAT'S CERTAINLY A
PRIORITY OF OURS IS ENSURING
THAT ALL OF THAT WE'RE BUILDING
THE EVIDENCE BASED APPROACHES
THAT ARE CULTURALLY APPROPRIATE.
TO BE ABLE TO ACCESS AND
INCLUDED. THEN OF COURSE, DRIVE
DOWN THE FEDERAL RESOURCES, UM
TO SERVE AND SUPPORT, SO I WOULD
SAY THAT IT'S CONSISTENT WITH
WHAT WE'RE BEING ASKED AT THE
FEDERAL LEVEL AS WELL. I THINK
OUR CONCERN WAS REALLY RELATED
TO PROP. TWO OH, NINE AND OUR
ABILITY TO DRIVE TOWARDS
SPECIFIC SUB POPULATIONS. I
UNDERSTAND WE AS A STATE HAVE
DONE THIS WITHIN EDUCATION,
LOOKING TO LOWEST PERFORMING
SUBGROUP. AND SO HOW DO WE
IDENTIFY WITHIN OUR CHILD
WELFARE SERVICES AND GET
UPSTREAM ON THOSE VERY SAME
POPULATIONS SO WE CAN DISRUPT
THESE DISPARITIES WHERE THEY
START. UM. I'D LIKE TO FOLLOW UP
. I HEARD EARLIER THAT, UM THE
SANCTIONS HAVE A VERY
SIGNIFICANT EFFECT ON THE
ABILITY FOR FAMILIES TOO. GET
THAT STABILITY. AND YET WHAT I
DIDN'T HEAR IS WHETHER OR NOT
THERE ARE DISPARITIES THAT WE'RE
SEEING WITHIN OUR AFRICAN
AMERICAN OR NATIVE AMERICAN
POPULATIONS REGARDING SANCTIONS
. ARE THEY BEING SANCTIONED THE
SAME EQUAL EQUALLY, OR IS THERE
SOME BIAS THAT WE SHOULD BE
ADDRESSING THEIR UPSTREAM? YOU
HAD SOME DATA ANSWERS? YES. HI
THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION. UM,
I THE DATA ARE QUITE STRONG ON
THAT. I DON'T HAVE THE
CALIFORNIA SPECIFIC INFORMATION
WITH ME, BUT I'D BE GLAD TO POP
ON THAT. BUT UNFORTUNATELY, A
BODY OF RESEARCH HAS FOUND THAT
IN EVERY STATE WHERE IT'S BEEN
STUDIED, THIS IS IN FACT TRUE,
AND WE CAN CERTAINLY TAKE A LOOK
AS WELL CHAIR. I WOULD
APPRECIATE THAT. I WILL. SINCE
IT WAS MENTIONED TWO WEEKS AGO,
I WILL JUST ELEVATE AGAIN. HOW
WE SHOULD BE RECOGNIZING ALL
THAT ARE IN THE HOUSEHOLD. I
UNDERSTAND IT'S A ZERO SUM GAME
, AND YET WE MUST MAKE SURE THAT
WE ARE NOT DOING THE WORK
AROUNDS LIKE AU, PLUS ONE
CURRENTLY, BUT MAKING SURE WE'RE
RECOGNIZING ALL OF THE FAMILIES
AS IT MAY ALLOW US TO AGAIN
ADDRESS SOME OF THOSE VERY SAME
DISPARITIES. UM MR SHANE. IF I
CAN I WANT TO FOLLOW UP ON HOW
THE GOVERNMENT CAN HELP ENSURE
THAT OUR POVERTY ALLEVIATION
PROGRAMS AND CHILD WELFARE
SUPPORTS ARE COMPLEMENTARY AND
HELPING EACH OTHER. SO JUST TO
GIVE ONE EXAMPLE OF THAT, UM,
AND PROPOSALS THAT WERE
ENVISIONING THAT WOULD ALLOW A
LOT MORE LATITUDE FOR THE ACTIVE
OF ACTIVITIES THAT ARE ABLE TO
FAMILIES AS WELL. AS YOU KNOW,
BUILDING SOME OF THE PROCESSES
THAT DIRECTOR JOHNSON AND
MISHANDLING DISCUSSED AROUND THE
PLAN DEVELOPMENT, BUT TO REALLY
ADVANCE THAT INTO A CO CREATED,
UH, PLAN WHERE THE FAMILY IS
WORKING HAND IN HAND WITH THE
COUNTY TO DEVELOP THAT WERE
THEIR PLAN IS WITH MORE OPTIONS
WITH WITH MORE ACCESSIBILITY TO
FAMILY STABILIZATION TO THE
OFFERING OF SUPPORT THAT WE
TALKED ABOUT IN A WAY THAT'S NOT
GOING TO BE LINKED TO THE TYPES
OF COMPLIANCE AND PUNISHMENT
RELATED TO THE SANCTIONS POLICY
THAT ALLOWS US I BELIEVE TO
MAXIMIZE THE POTENTIAL FOR
ALIGNMENT BETWEEN THE TYPES OF
PLAN THAT WOULD BE REQUIRED AND
THE CHILD WELFARE SIDE RELATED
TO FAMILY MAINTENANCE OR FAMILY
UNIFICATION, SO IT'S NOT A ONE
SIZE FITS ALL. BUT IT'S TRYING
TO DEVELOP THE PROCESS THAT
ALLOWS FOR THAT TYPE OF
ALIGNMENT AND SIMPLIFICATION FOR
THE FAMILY. SEEING NO FURTHER
QUESTIONS. I WILL THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. THIS PANEL WILL MAKE A
REQUEST FROM THE CHAIR. THE
SUBCOMMITTEE WILL RETURN TO THE
ISSUES IN CALL WORKS AT THE
APRIL 26TH HEARING THIS YEAR AND
WILL CONSIDER A PROGRAM
IMPROVEMENTS WITH THE PREVENTION
GOALS AND CHILD WELFARE THAT
WERE DISCUSSED TODAY IN MIND. I
WOULD LIKE TO ASK FOR THE STAFF
TO CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THE
CHILD WELFARE COUNCIL AND CDSS
TO DEVELOP PRIORITY GOALS FOR
CAL WORKS THROUGH THIS
PREVENTION LENS. WITH THE
REPORTING BACK TO THE
LEGISLATURE IN FUTURE YEARS.
ANTICIPATE THAT WE WILL BE
TAKING BUDGET ACTIONS ON THIS
SUBJECT IN MAY AND JUNE AS WE
HEAD TOWARDS A NEW FISCAL YEAR.
OUTSIDE OF THAT ALL ISSUES WILL
BE HELD OPEN. WE WILL NOW MOVE
ON TO PANEL TWO HANDS THE GAVEL
OVER AS I CAN'T REPLICATE
MYSELF.
AS WE BRING UP PANEL NUMBER TWO
WE ARE GOAL IS TO ASK, UM, SOME
VERY IMPORTANT QUESTIONS AS A
RELATES TO OUR PANELIST. HOW IS
THE STATE FAIRING AND CCR
IMPLEMENTATION AND WHAT ARE THE
CURRENT CHALLENGES? WHAT ARE THE
DEPARTMENT'S EFFORTS TO CREATE A
NEW RATE SYSTEM FOR THE CHILD
WELFARE SYSTEM? IS THE
DEPARTMENT ON TRACK TO HAVE A
NEW RATE STRUCTURE IN PLACE BY
JANUARY. 1ST 2025. AND WHEN WILL
A RATE PROPOSAL BE PUBLIC? AND
WE HAVE HERE. FIVE PRESENTERS
FOR THIS PAN TAL PANEL. UM ANGIE
SCHWARTZ, CHILDREN AND FAMILY
SERVICES DIVISION, DEPUTY
DIRECTOR OF THE CALIFORNIA
DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES.
UH KATHY CONTINUES TO STAY HERE
RUNNING THE MARATHON WITH US. AH
MISS CATHY SANDERLING MCDONALD,
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR COUNTY
WELFARE DIRECTORS ASSOCIATION OF
CALIFORNIA. TYLER REND, RIGHT?
RANDY RANDY RANDY, DEPUTY
DIRECTOR OF CHILD WELFARE POLICY
FOR THE CALIFORNIA LIONS OF
CHILD AND FOR CHILD AND FAMILY
SERVICES. ANGELA SHORT. WITH
PRINCIPAL FISCAL AND POLICY
ANALYSIS WITH THE LEGISLATIVE
ANALYST'S OFFICE AND AARON
CARSON. FINANCE BUDGET ANALYSIS
ANALYST FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF
FINANCE. WE WILL BEGIN WITH
DEPUTY DIRECTOR SCHWARTZ YOU MAY
BEGIN WHEN YOU'RE READY. GOOD
AFTERNOON. MEMBERS OF THE
COMMITTEE. ANDREW SCHWARTZ,
DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF THE CHILDREN
AND FAMILY SERVICES DIVISION
WITH THE DEPARTMENT. I WANT TO
APPRECIATE THE DETAILED OVERVIEW
OF CHILD WELFARE, FOUNDING AND
THE HISTORY OF THE CONTINUUM OF
CARE REFORM EFFORTS THAT WAS
PROVIDED IN THE AGENDA. AND AS
YOU JUST STATED ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S
I'LL BE ANSWERING THE QUESTIONS
THAT YOU JUST POSED, STARTING
WITH HOW THE STATE IS FARING AND
IMPLEMENTATION OF CCR. AND WHAT
ARE THE CURRENT CHALLENGES? CCR
BEGAN TO BE IMPLEMENTED INTO
2017, BRINGING TOGETHER A SERIES
OF EXISTING AND NEW REFORMS WITH
THE INTENT OF LIMITING THE USE
OF CONGREGATE CARE TWO INSTANCES
WHEN THEY WERE PROVIDING A SHORT
TERM THERAPEUTIC INTERVENTION
FOR A YOUNG PERSON WITH THE
OVERALL GOAL CENTERED AROUND
MAKING SURE ALL CHILDREN ARE
RAISED IN FAMILIES AND
PREFERABLY THEIR OWN FAMILY
SETTINGS. WE'VE HAD A LOT OF
SUCCESS WITH CCR TO DATE, UM, AN
INCREASED NUMBER OF YOUTH ARE
BEING RAISED IN FAMILY SETTINGS.
AS YOU HEARD FROM THE PREVIOUS
PANEL. TODAY NEARLY 50% OF
CHILDREN IN FOSTER CARE HAVE
PREDOMINANT PLACEMENTS, NOT JUST
WITH A FAMILY BUT WITH THEIR OWN
FAMILY, THEIR OWN RELATIVES OR
EXTENDED FAMILY MEMBERS. AND AS
THE PREVIOUS PANEL SPOKE TO
THOSE ARE EXTREMELY STABLE
PLACEMENTS. WE KNOW THAT 71% OF
CHILDREN WHO HAVE FIRST
PLACEMENTS WITH A RELATIVE ARE
STILL WITH THAT RELATIVE. IF
THEY'RE STILL IN CARE AT 12
MONTHS, WHICH IS EXACTLY WHAT WE
WOULD WANT. WE'VE ALSO SEEN A
DRAMATIC DECREASE IN THE USE OF
CONGREGATE CARE PLACEMENTS WITH
MORE OVER 60% FEWER YOUTH
RESIDING IN CONGREGATE CARE
SETTINGS AS COMPARED TO 2017.
WE'VE SEEN AN INCREASE IN YOUTH
RECEIVING THE SPECIALTY MAY NOT
MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES THAT THEY
NEED INCREASING FROM 36.1% IN
QUARTER, ONE OF 2017 TO 40%
QUARTER, ONE OF 2022. WE'VE ALSO
FULLY IMPLEMENTED THE LEVEL OF
CARE RATES ACROSS THE STATE
AGAIN. THE PREVIOUS PANEL WAS
SPEAKING ABOUT AND I THINK THIS
UNDERLING SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THE
GOALS TO SORT OF EQUALIZED,
FUNDING AND MAKE SURE ALL
CHILDREN ARE SUPPORTED IN FAMILY
SETTINGS. THE LEVEL OF CARE
SYSTEM ALSO A TUNES THAT TO THE
ACTUAL LEVEL OF NEED OF THE
YOUNG PERSON, SO WE'VE
IMPLEMENTED THAT SYSTEM AND
SENSE FULL IMPLEMENTATION HAPPEN
. WE'VE SEEN AN INCREASE IN THE
NUMBER OF YOUTH RECEIVING
LEVELS, TOO. THREE OR FOUR AND A
20% INCREASE. UM. OH SORRY. AN
INCREASE IN RECEIPT OF SFC
SERVICES FROM 7.5% OF OUR YOUTH
TO 20% SO AGAIN, WE'RE ABLE TO
MEET SORT OF THE HIGHER NEEDS OF
YOUTH THROUGH THESE REFORM
EFFORTS. THE CHALLENGES THAT WE
CONTINUE TO FACE ARE ADDRESSING
THE TRAUMA AND STABILIZING YOUTH
WITH OUR HIGHEST ACUITY OF
NEEDS. WE ASKED HIM EIGHT THAT
THEY'RE ABOUT 4% OF YOUTH IN
CALIFORNIA THAT HAVE COMPLEX
CARE NEEDS, MEANING THEY HAVE A
HIGH LEVEL OF NEEDS BEING
NEEDING TO BE MET BY NOT JUST
THE CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM, BUT
MULTIPLE SYSTEMS ARE MENTAL
HEALTH OR BEHAVIORAL HELP. OUR
OUR DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICE
SYSTEMS, OUR EDUCATIONAL
SYSTEMS. MOST OF THOSE YOUTH ARE
STABLE SUPPORT ARE STABLE,
PLACED IN STR TPS OR RELATIVE
HOMES OR COMMUNITY HOMES. WE
ESTIMATED THAT A SUBSET OF THAT
POPULATION PROBABLY 200 TO 300
YOUTH. HAVE WHAT WE WOULD DEFINE
AS UNMET. COMPLEX CARE NEEDS,
MEANING THEY'RE EXPERIENCING
STAYS AN UNLICENSED SETTINGS.
MULTIPLE 14 DAY NOTICES MULTIPLE
PLACEMENT CHANGES LONG LENGTH OF
STAY IN STR TPS WHICH AGAIN
THOSE ARE INTENDED TO BE SHORT
TERM THERAPEUTIC SETTINGS. SO
AGAIN, WHILE THE PERCENTAGE OF
YOUTH AND CONGREGATE CARE
PLACEMENTS OVERALL HAS DECREASED
BY MORE THAN 60% THOSE THAT ARE
IN OUR STR TP SETTINGS, THE
AVERAGE LENGTH OF STAY AND THE
PLACEMENT STABILITY INDICATORS
HAVE REMAINED LARGELY THE SAME,
SO THAT'S CONTINUING TO BE A
CHALLENGE THAT WE'RE TRYING TO
WORK ON TO BETTER ADDRESS THE
NEEDS OF THOSE YOUTH SO THAT
THEY DON'T HAVE THOSE LONG LINKS
THIS DAY. SUPPORTING YOUTH WITH
THE MOST COMPLEX NEEDS IS NOT A
NEW CHALLENGE. BUT PERHAPS
BECAUSE OF THE SUCCESS OF CCR.
WE ARE SEEING THE NEED TO SORT
OF REALLY LOOK AT THE GAPS
WITHIN OUR CONTINUUM AND ADDRESS
THOSE GAPS AND FIND NEW WAYS TO
ADDRESS THE TRAUMA THAT THOSE
YOUTH HAVE EXPERIENCED. AND
WE'RE WORKING ON THAT IN ANOTHER
NUMBER OF FORUMS, WE'VE GOT THE
COMPLEX CARE STEERING COMMITTEE
THAT IS MEETING AND I THINK
EVERYONE SITTING HERE IS PART OF
THOSE DISCUSSIONS IN ORDER TO
BRING TOGETHER ALL OF THOSE
SYSTEM OF CARE PARTNERS AND
REALLY INNOVATED AROUND HOW TO
MEET AND ADDRESS THE TRAUMA OF
THE YOUNG PERSON SO THAT THEY
CAN BE STABILIZED IN FAMILY
SETTINGS. WE'VE GOT THE
IMPLEMENTATION OF
RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE 80 2083
REPORT AND THE GAPS ANALYSIS.
WE'VE GOT THE CRISIS CONTINUUM
PILOT, WHICH WILL BE DISCUSSING
FURTHER LATER ON IN TODAY'S
CONVERSATION. WE'VE ALSO GOT THE
WORK TO IMPLEMENT THE CHILD
SPECIFIC FUNDING, WHICH PROVIDES
ADDITIONAL SUPPORTS FOR COUNTIES
AND PROBATION IN ADDRESSING THE
HEIGHTENED NEED OF SOME YOUTH
AND WILL BE TALKING ABOUT THAT
FURTHER IN THE AGENDA. AND THEN
WE'RE ALSO WORKING ON CAPACITY
BUILDING WITH OUR COUNTY'S
LEVERAGING THE 43 MILLION IN
CAPACITY BUILDING FUNDS, AND
AGAIN, THERE'S MORE. THERE ARE
ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS ON THAT. SO
SORT OF RECOGNIZING THAT WE'LL
GET TO THOSE THINGS. I WON'T BE
LABOR THOSE THINGS RIGHT THIS
MINUTE. THE SECOND QUESTION WAS
TO PROVIDE AN UPDATE ON THE
ALLOCATION OF THE 50 MILLION
AUGMENTATION FOR THE RESOURCE
FAMILY APPROVAL. SO RESOURCE
FAMILY APPROVAL WAS PART OF THE
CONTINUUM OF CARE REFORM EFFORTS
. UM AND WE HAD SEEN SORT OF
SIGNIFICANT DELAYS IN OUR
TIMELINES. IT WAS TAKING A LONG
TIME TO APPROVE FAMILIES. IT WAS
GOING DOWN BEFORE COVID CAME
BACK UP DURING COVID. IT'S GOING
BACK DOWN AGAIN. NOW THERE WAS
15 MILLION INCLUDED IN CURRENT
YEAR BUDGET ON GOING TO SUPPORT
COUNTIES AND HAVING THE
RESOURCES AND STAFFING NECESSARY
TO BRING THOSE TIMELINES DOWN.
UM AND TO DO THE RESOURCE FAMILY
APPROVAL PROCESS THAT ALLOCATION
AND THE CLAIMING INSTRUCTIONS.
WE'RE JUST RELEASED ON MARCH 3RD
2023 COUNTIES ARE GOING TO BE
ABLE TO ACCESS THOSE DOLLARS
BASED ON A NEGOTIATION THAT WE
DID WITH THE COUNTY WELFARE
DIRECTORS. 50% OF THE FANS ARE
DISTRIBUTED BASED ON THE
COUNTY'S PERCENTAGE OF TOTAL
STATEWIDE NUMBER OF ARF, A
PENDING AND PROBATIONARY
FAMILIES BETWEEN OCTOBER 1 2021
SEPTEMBER 30TH 2022. AND THEN
REMAINING 50% OF FANS ARE
DISTRIBUTED, BASED ON THE
COUNTY'S PERCENTAGE OF TOTAL
STATEWIDE EXPENDITURES. UM FROM
FISCAL YEAR 2019 20 AS PROVIDED
TO US THROUGH THE RECONCILIATION
REPORTS, BUT ALL COUNTIES WILL
RECEIVE A MINIMUM OF $10,000 AND
WE HAVE SEEN THE R F A TIMELINE
STABILIZED SINCE JULY OF LAST
YEAR, WITH AVERAGING AROUND 110
DAYS FOR PLACEMENT PRIOR TO
APPROVAL. AND ABOUT 125 DAYS FOR
THOSE THAT ARE DON'T HAVE
PLACEMENTS PRIOR TO APPROVAL.
WITH REGARD TO THE QUESTIONS
ABOUT THE RATES SYSTEM AND OUR
AND THE WORK TO REFORM OUR
CURRENT RATES SYSTEM, WE
CONVENED A SERIES OF SUBGROUPS
BETWEEN AUGUST AND NOVEMBER OF
LAST YEAR. THERE IS A RESOURCE
HOME SUBGROUP. STR T P INTENSIVE
SERVICES FOSTER CARE FOSTER
FAMILY AGENCIES AND THEN A
COUPLE OF SPECIAL SESSIONS
FOCUSED ON OUR YOUTH AND
SUPERVISED INDEPENDENT LIVING
PLACEMENTS. UM THE INTENT WAS
REALLY TO GET AS MUCH FEEDBACK
AS POSSIBLE IN TERMS OF WHAT WAS
WORKING AND NOT WORKING ABOUT
OUR CURRENT RATES SYSTEM. THE
LEADING FINDINGS FROM THOSE FOUR
SUBGROUPS WAS AT THE CURRENT
RATES ONLY SUPPORT KAREN
SUPERVISION AND DO NOT ADDRESS
THE SERVICE AND SUPPORT NEEDS
THAT OUR YOUTH ALSO HAVE THAT
RATES SHOULD FOLLOW THE CHILD
AND NOT THE PLACEMENT TYPE. THE
ASSESSMENT SHOULD BE BASED ON
THE CHILD'S LEVEL OF NEED, NOT
WHERE THE CHILD IS PLACED AND
THAT THE CURRENT RATES ARE
INADEQUATE ACROSS ALL PLACEMENT
SETTINGS. AFTER HOLDING THESE
WORK GROUP MEETINGS WERE NOW
WORKING TO DEVELOP A PROPOSAL
FOR AN ONGOING RATE STRUCTURE
THAT WILL IMPLEMENT IN JANUARY.
2025 WE DO BELIEVE WE'RE ON
TRACK TO HAVE THE POLICY
DEVELOPED AND APPROVED BY THAT
DATE, HOWEVER, DEPENDING ON THE
EXTENT OF THE CHANGES THAT WE
LAND ON THERE MAY NEED TO BE
ADDITIONAL TIME FOR
IMPLEMENTATION IN ORDER TO
ACCOMMODATE THE AUTOMATION NEEDS
THAT MAY BE NECESSARY. UM AND IN
TERMS OF WHETHER OR NOT WE'RE
CONTEMPLATING INCREASED RATES TO
ON A SHORT TERM BASIS, WE DO NOT
HAVE ANY CURRENT PROPOSAL TO
INCREASE RATES ON A SHORT TERM
BASIS, BUT WE ARE CONTINUING TO
PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO
COUNTIES TO IDENTIFY AREAS WHERE
IT MAY BE USEFUL. UM Tð TAKE
ADVANTAGE OF EXISTING
FLEXIBILITIES THAT EXIST IN THE
LAW TO SUPPORT INDIVIDUAL
CHILDREN AND FAMILIES ABOVE THE
SORT OF EXISTING RATE STRUCTURE
, SO THEY DO HAVE SOME OF THOSE
FLEXIBILITIES THAT ARE USUALLY
DONE ON A PROGRAM BASIS OR A
CHILD SPECIFIC BASIS. AND WITH
THAT, I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER
QUESTIONS OR WE'LL MOVE ON TO
OUR NEXT PANEL. AFTER EVERYONE'S
DONE, THEN WE'LL HAVE QUESTIONS.
OKAY GREAT. THANK YOU, MR CHAIR
MEMBERS, KATHY SANDERLING WITH
THE COUNTY WELFARE DIRECTORS
ASSOCIATION. UM SO OVERALL AS WE
ARE NOW, SEVERAL YEARS INTO THE
CCR IMPLEMENTATION, WE HAVE HAD
MANY SUCCESSES AND THERE IS
STILL UNFINISHED WORK TO BE
DONE. COUNTIES ARE CONTINUING TO
WORK TOWARD THE VISION OF
REDUCING LENGTHY RESIDENTIAL
TREATMENT STAYS, STRENGTHENING
FAMILIES AND INCREASING
PLACEMENTS WITH FAMILIES. AS YOU
HEARD FROM HIS SHORTS. WE'VE
ALSO WORKED REALLY HARD TO
REDUCE THOSE TIMELINES TO THE R
F A PROCESS. THAT'S THE RESOURCE
FAMILY APPROVAL PROCESS THAT WAS
MADE A STATEWIDE PROCESS OF
LICENSING AND APPROVING OUR
CAREGIVERS WHEN THE CCR WAS
IMPLEMENTED. WHILE WE ARE YET
MEETING THAT 90 DAY TARGET, WE
DO HOPE THAT THE INVESTMENT OF
$50 MILLION YOU HEARD ABOUT THE
ALLOCATION METHODOLOGY AND I
COULD NOT REPEAT THAT IF I
TRIED, UM, HOW WE ENDED UP
WORKING IT OUT. UM BUT WE DO
HOPE IT WILL HELP STABILIZE
FUNDING IN THE PROGRAM FOR
COUNTIES AND ENABLE OUR COUNTY
SAID JUST CONTINUE. BRINGING
THOSE TIMELINES DOWN WERE ALSO A
CO SPONSOR IN 2021 OF SV 3 54.
BILL BY SENATOR SKINNER, WHICH
WAS INTENDED TO REDUCE SOME
KNOWN BARRIERS IN THE CRIMINAL
BACKGROUND CHECK PROCESS FOR
RELATIVE CAREGIVERS, ESPECIALLY
THOSE THAT ALREADY HAVE AN
EXISTING RELATIONSHIP. UM AND
THAT IS OFTEN A REASON THAT WE
SEE DELAYS IN APPROVALS. AND SO
WE'RE HOPEFUL THAT THAT WILL
HELP WITH THAT, AND WE ALSO ARE
CO SPONSORING A FOLLOW UP BILL
THIS YEAR S VÀ 24 BY SENATOR
ASHBY THAT WILL EXPAND THOSE
CHANGES. TO NON RELATED EXTENDED
FAMILY MEMBERS, ANOTHER REALLY
CRITICAL GROUP THAT WE LOOKED TO
PROVIDE MORE FAMILY LIKE SETTING
OF CARE. WE'VE ALSO GREATLY
REDUCE THE NUMBER OF YOUTH
PLACED IN A GROUP HOMES AS YOU
HEARD, AND WHILE THESE ARE
EXTREMELY POSITIVE OUTCOMES, WE
AGREE THAT THE MAIN GROUP THAT
WE'VE REALLY LOOKED AT RIGHT NOW
IS WHAT IS A RELATIVELY SMALL
GROUP BUT A VERY NEEDY GROUP OF
YOUTH WITH THE MOST COMPLEX
NEEDS. THIS WAS A GROUP THAT WE
STRUGGLED WITH BEFORE THE CCR
WAS PUT INTO PLACE WITH MEETING
THEIR NEEDS ON A REGULAR BASIS
AND ENSURING THAT THEY'RE
RECEIVING THE SERVICES THAT THEY
NEED AN APPROPRIATE PLACE IN
SETTINGS. IDEALLY, A FAMILY
BASED SETTING THOSE FOSTER YOUTH
WITH COMPLEX NEEDS WERE THE
PRIMARY DRIVERS OF A BILL THAT
WE SPONSORED BACK IN 2018 2083
THAT REQUIRED THE STATE TO
IDENTIFY GAPS AND PLACEMENT
RESOURCES AND DEVELOP
RECOMMENDATIONS TO ADDRESS THOSE
GAPS. THERE'S BEEN DELAYS, BUT
WE ARE PLEASED TO TELL YOU. THE
REPORT CAME OUT IN JANUARY OF
THIS YEAR AND WE ARE WORKING
THROUGH THE RECOMMENDATIONS WITH
THE ADMINISTRATION.
UNFORTUNATELY AND SINCE AGAIN
SINCE CCR BEGAN THE NEED FOR
BOTH INTENSIVE RESIDENTIAL AND
FAMILY BASED TREATMENT SERVICES
HAS SIMPLY GROWN AS NOT ONLY THE
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH NEEDS OF OUR
YOUTH OF INCREASE BUT ALSO
INCREASING NEEDS AROUND NEEDS
ACROSS OVER MULTIPLE SYSTEMS.
MANY OF OUR YOUTH, FOR EXAMPLE,
HAVE DEVELOPMENTAL DELAYS OR
OTHER INTELLECTUAL ISSUES. THEY
HAVE EDUCATIONAL NEEDS THAT ARE
UNMET. AND SO WE KNOW THAT, UM
AND I'LL DEFER TO OUR NEXT
PANELIST, MR MINDY REGARDING
SOME OF THE ISSUES AND STRUGGLES
THAT STR TPS THOSE TREATMENT
PROGRAMS ARE FACING, BUT WHAT
WE'RE SEEING IS THAT MORE OF OUR
FOSTER YOUTH WITH THESE HIGHEST
NEEDS ARE BOUNCING FROM ONE STR
TP TO ANOTHER, WHICH REALLY
GREATLY EXACERBATES THEIR
EXISTING TRAUMA. UM JUST FROM
OCTOBER 2022. WE HAVE SOME POINT
IN TIME DATA FROM THE U. C.
BERKELEY WHICH IS OUR DATA
SYSTEM THAT WAS REFERENCED
EARLIER. WE KNOW THAT THE
SHELTER CARE POPULATIONS IN
THOSE COUNTIES THAT OPERATE
SHELTERS HAVE GROWN OVER TIME.
NEARLY 700 FOUGHT YOUTH ARE IN
WHAT'S CONSIDERED A RUNAWAY
STATUS AT THAT POINT IN TIME,
MOSTLY FROM RESIDENTIAL CARE
SETTINGS AND ABOUT ANOTHER 400
FOSTER YOUTH WERE IN NON FOSTER
CARE SETTINGS, WHICH COULD BE
JUVENILE HALLS, HOSPITALS. OR
UNLICENSED CARE LIKE A HOTEL AND
AIRBNB OR, UM, UNFORTUNATELY, AN
OFFICE AND THIS IS A
CONVERSATION THAT WE STARTED
HAVING. UM A FEW YEARS AGO, WHEN
WE HAD A NUMBER OF CHILDREN AND
YOUTH BOTH AND OUR CHILD WELFARE
SYSTEM, AS WELL AS THE PROBATION
SYSTEM RETURNED FROM PLACES THAT
WERE OUT OF STATE WHEN THOSE
WERE DECERTIFIED BY THE STATE AT
THE END OF 2020, AND REALLY,
WE'RE JUST SEEING SUCH A CRISIS
. AT THIS MOMENT. IT'S REALLY
CRITICAL TO UNDERSTAND WE AGREE
STRONGLY THAT THE RATES NEED TO
BE REVISITED WERE PART OF THAT
GROUP. AND WE THINK THAT THAT'S
SOMETHING THAT ABSOLUTELY NEEDS
TO HAPPEN. WE'RE ALSO WORRIED
ABOUT WAITING FOR OR ANOTHER
COUPLE OF YEARS FOR THAT TO GET
DONE GIVEN THAT, UM, WE'RE
CURRENTLY SURVEYING ARE UM ARE
COUNTIES AND BASED ON 33
COUNTIES SO FAR, UM MORE THAN
500 FOSTER YOUTH AND AT SOME
POINT IN 2022 WERE IN AN
UNLICENSED SETTING. THAT IS NOT
SAFE FOR THEM, AND IT IS NOT A
PLACE FOR THEM TO GET SERVICES.
AND SO WE ARE PARTNERING WITH
THE PROBATION CHIEFS
ASSOCIATION. TO PUT FORWARD THE
CONCEPT OF A RELATIVELY LIMITED
NUMBER OF ENHANCED STR TPS.
WE'RE CALLING THEM SHORT TERM
ASSESSMENT, TREATMENT AND
TRANSITION FACILITIES, THE IDEAS
THAT THEY WOULD WORK VERY
CLOSELY WITH THE YOUTH WITH
THEIR FAMILIES AND PROVIDE
AFTERCARE TO FIGURE OUT HOW DO
WE GET THEM INTO THAT NEXT
SETTING, WHERE IT IS A LICENSED
SETTING, WHERE THEY CAN RECEIVE
THE SERVICES THAT THEY NEED.
THIS IS NOT A PERFECT SOLUTION.
NOTHING IS A PERFECT SOLUTION,
BUT IT'S BETTER THAN A HOTEL
ROOM WHERE SOCIAL WORKERS ARE
BEING ASKED TO SIT AND BASICALLY
JUST WATCH A KID WHO'S NOT
RECEIVING SERVICES. IT'S WAY
BETTER THAN AN OFFICE WHERE
THEY'RE SHOWERING IN THE
BATHROOM. I MEAN, THESE ARE
THESE ARE THE CHOICES AND SO
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE PUTTING
FORWARD. UM IT'S ALSO IN
ADDITION TO A BUDGET REQUEST, UM
WE ALSO HAVE A BILL AGAIN. I'M
WORKING ON SENATOR ASHBY. THE
BILL AND PROPOSAL FOR THE BUDGET
ALSO INCLUDES AND WE'LL FOLLOW
UP WITH ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
UM A REGIONALIZED HEALTH HOMES
TO TRY TO ENSURE THAT YOUTH IN
CARE WITH THOSE HIGH COMPLEX
NEEDS AS WELL AS THOSE WHO ARE
AT RISK BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT WE
DO HAVE THIS BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
CRISIS OUT IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT
WE CAN TRY TO HELP PROVIDE A
MORE COORDINATED SET OF SERVICES
, NOT JUST HEALTH, BUT ALSO
BEHAVIORAL, HEALTH AND OTHER
TYPES OF SERVICES AND REALLY
COORDINATE THEIR CARE AND GET
THEM LINKAGES TO APPROPRIATE
SERVICES. THAT ALSO WHICH I'LL
TALK ABOUT MORE UNDER ISSUE
NUMBER FOUR. THINKING THROUGH
HOW TO CONTINUE EXPANDING THE
COMPLEX CARE CAPACITY USING THE
GRANT FUNDING THAT WAS PROVIDED
AND SO, UM, YOU KNOW THERE'S A
LOT GOING ON, OBVIOUSLY, BUT
WE'RE REALLY TRYING TO THINK
ABOUT HOW TO ENSURE THAT YOU ARE
IN SAFE LICENSED SERVICE SERVICE
RICH ENVIRONMENTS ON A SHORT
TERM BASIS, WHILE WE ARE WORKING
TO GET THEM INTO A LONGER TERM
PLACEMENT COULD BE AN SCR TP
COULD BE IF THEY'RE IN REAL
CRISIS, HOSPITAL OR OTHER TYPE
OF FACILITY. IDEALLY IT'S WITH A
FAMILY WITH THE SUPPORTS THAT
THEY NEED AND SO WE'RE HOPING WE
CAN GET THEM STABILIZE AND MOVE
FORWARD. SO, UM, HAPPY AFTER THE
REST OF THE PANELISTS UNDER
ANSWER QUESTIONS AND LOOKING
FORWARD TO THE DISCUSSION. THANK
YOU. NEXT WE WILL HEAR FROM
TYLER WINDY, DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF
CHILD WELFARE POLICY AT THE
CALIFORNIA ALLIANCE OF CHILD AND
FAMILY SERVICES. GOOD AFTERNOON
CHAIR AND MEMBERS WERE WINDY ON
BEHALF OF THE CALIFORNIA
ALLIANCE OF CHILD AND FAMILY
SERVICES. UM THE ALLIANCE
REPRESENTS OVER 160 NONPROFIT,
COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS.
UM JUST BRIEF OVERVIEW. OUR
MEMBERS ARE FOSTER FAMILY
AGENCIES THAT RECRUIT AND TRAIN
RESOURCE PARENTS INTO THE SYSTEM
AND PROVIDE SOCIAL WORK
SERVICES. THE FAMILY BASED
PLACEMENTS WAS REPRESENTED
ADOPTION AGENCIES THAT HELP
ADOPT YOUTH OUT OF FOSTER CARE.
I'M SHORT TERM RESIDENTIAL
THERAPEUTIC PROGRAMS, WHICH
YOU'VE HEARD MENTIONED A FEW
TIMES THAT PROVIDE 24 7 KAREN
SUPERVISION TO, UM YOUTH THAT
REQUIRE ON SITE MENTAL HEALTH
SERVICES INTENSIVE SERVICES TO
TRY TO TRANSITION THEM BACK INTO
A UM, YOU KNOW, HOME BASED
SETTING, AND THEN WE ALSO DO
REPRESENT, UM TRANSITIONAL
HOUSING PROVIDERS AND MENTAL
HEALTH AND WRAP AROUND SERVICE
PROVIDERS. UM THE ALLIANCE WAS
VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THE VISION OF
CONTINUUM OF CARE. REFORM OF
MORE FOSTER YOUTH WITH FAMILIES
AND WEST CONGREGATE CARE
PLACEMENTS. HOWEVER, IN OUR
EXPERIENCE AS A UM, YOU KNOW,
MISS SUNDER NGUYEN HAD
MENTIONED, UM YOU KNOW THE
IMPLEMENTATION AND YOU KNOW, OUR
VISION OF IT HAS NOT
MATERIALIZED IN ALL OF THE WAYS
THAT WE HAD HOPED IT WOULD. UM,
MANY OF THE CHANGES PROPOSED
THROUGH CCR WHERE ACCOMPLISHED
REGULATORY LEE AND WE VIEW THAT
THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH TRAINING
AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE. FOR
THE FIELD TO REALLY EFFECTUATE A
LOT OF THE PRACTICE CHANGES THAT
ALSO NEEDED TO END UP OCCURRING.
UM WE ARE ENCOURAGED THROUGH,
HOWEVER, THERE HAVE BEEN SOME
SUCCESSES AND WE'RE, UM OR A LOT
OF SUCCESSES AND WE HAVE BEEN
ENCOURAGED THROUGH, YOU KNOW,
THE MORE WIDESPREAD USAGE OF
CHILDHOOD FAMILY TEAMS AND
WORKING TO INCORPORATE YOUTH AND
FAMILY VOICE INTO THE SYSTEM.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT THAT ALL YOUTH
COMING INTO THE SYSTEM,
EXPERIENCED TRAUMA AND REQUIRE A
TRAUMA INFORMED APPROACH. UM A
REDUCTION OF CHILDREN IN YOUTH
THAT ARE IN CONGREGATE CARE BY
OVER 60% AND THE MOVEMENT
TOWARDS A LEVELED RATE SYSTEM
FOR FAMILY BASED PLACE BENDS TO
ACKNOWLEDGE DIFFERENT LEVELS OF
NEED, ALTHOUGH ACKNOWLEDGED THAT
THE ADDITIONAL WORK ON THE TOOL
ON THE LEVEL OF CARE PROTOCOL IS
NEEDED, WHICH IS MENTIONED IN
THE AGENDA. UM WHILE WE HAVE
SEEN A REDUCTION IN CONGREGATE
CARE PLACEMENTS OVERALL, WE HAVE
NOT SEEN THAT THERE'S A
COMMISERATE INCREASE IN
INTENSIVE FAMILY BASED ON
PLACEMENTS SUCH AS INTENSIVE
SERVICES, FOSTER CARE OR SFC
THAT IS UTILIZED AS AN
ALTERNATIVE TO CONGREGATE CARE
OR THE WRAPAROUND SERVICES
NEEDED TO STEP YOUTH DOWN
SUCCESSFULLY. FROM CONGREGATE
CARE ARE MEMBERS PROVIDE 99% OF
AYE SFC ACROSS THE STATE.
SPEAKING SPECIFICALLY ON THE
RATE WORKGROUPS. WE WERE EAGERLY
PARTICIPATED AND WERE ENCOURAGED
BY A LOT OF THE CONVERSATION, UM
, IN THE CONVENED WORKGROUPS IN
THE FALL, AND THE
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF THE ACUITY OF
THE NEED OF THE USE OF SERVICES
FOR YOUTH, THE LACK OF FUNDING
AND THE FUNDING DISPARITIES THAT
EXIST AND THE SHIFTING LANDSCAPE
AS LESS YOUTH ARE COMING INTO
THE SYSTEM AND THE ACUITY THAT
THEY HAVE THAT THE RACETRACK
SCREWS NEED TO BE RE EVALUATED.
UM THE STATE ESTABLISHED RATE,
UM FOR SFC AND FF FE PLACEMENTS
DOES NOT RECEIVE AN ANNUAL COST
OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT BASED ON
THE C N I, UM, EVEN THOUGH THE
COST OF PROVIDING THE ROBUST
SERVICES NECESSARY GOES UP EVERY
SINGLE YEAR WE DID NOT RECEIVE A
COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT IN
2022 THAT HAS RESULTED IN
REDUCTION OF SERVICES AND
CAPACITY OF RESOURCE FAMILIES
ACROSS THE STATE OR RESOURCE
FAMILIES WITHIN FAA. UM
ADDITIONALLY, THE STATE JUST
LOST BETWEEN DECEMBER 2022
JANUARY 2023 OVER 750 LICENSED
STR TP BEDS, UM, BASED ON THE
STATE AFTER THE STATE, THE
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH CARE
SERVICES COMPLETED ASSESSMENTS
OF AS IF STR DPS WERE DESIGNATED
AS INSTITUTIONS OF MENTAL
DISEASE. THAT CAPACITY LOSS IS
HUGE ACROSS OUR SYSTEM, AND IT'S
UM THERE HAS NOT BEEN A
COMMISERATE ADJUSTMENT WITHIN
THE RATE STRUCTURE TO
ACKNOWLEDGE THAT MANY OF THESE
PROGRAMS WERE REDUCED FROM YOU
KNOW 32 64 DOWN TO 16 AND YOU
KNOW THE LOSS OF ABILITY TO DO
SOME KIND OF AN ECONOMY OF SCALE
TYPE APPROACH. UM UM,
ADDITIONALLY, UM, YOU KNOW, STR
TPS EXCEPT YOUTH THAT ARE COMING
FROM EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS,
HOSPITALS, UM, YOUTH THAT I HAVE
EXPERIENCED COMPLEX TRAUMA AND
WITH THE LOSS OF IN THE SYSTEM,
WE VIEW THAT, UM, IT'S YOU KNOW
IT, IT'S DETRIMENTAL TO THE
OVERALL SERVICES OF THE YOUTH.
UM SINCE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF
THE RATE WORKGROUP OR THE
PROPOSAL CURRENTLY IN STATE LAW
IS JANUARY ONE OF 2025. WE'RE
STILL ABOUT TWO YEARS AWAY FROM
IMPLEMENTATION OF ANY RATE
STRUCTURE CHANGES. SO WE DO HAVE
TO, UM, BUDGET REQUEST THIS YEAR
TO TRY TO SHORE UP EXISTING
PROGRAMS WORKING WITH TWO OF THE
MEMBERS IN THIS ROOM, UM
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S BLANCA RUBIO ON
THE F F A REQUEST THIS YEAR. AND
THEN WE HAVE ONE WITH
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S RAMOS ON STR
TPS JUST VERY BRIEFLY, UM, WE BE
F F A ONE IS TO INCREASE OF WHAT
THE COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT
WOULD HAVE IS PROPOSED TO BE
THIS YEAR, WHICH IS 8.3% WHICH
IS HUGE OF HOW MUCH INFLATION
HAS ACTUALLY GONE UP. AND THEN
THE OTHER ONE IS TO INCREASE THE
COSTS OR THE WAGES OF OUR DIRECT
CARE STAFF THAT HAVE TO HAVE
BACHELOR'S DEGREES AND MUST BE
TRAUMA INFORMED IN THEIR
APPROACH. THE AVERAGE RIGHT NOW
THAT THEY MAKE IS $19.50 AN HOUR
AND THESE ARE WORTH YOU, THE
STAFF THAT ARE REQUIRED TO
PROVIDE 24 7 KAREN SUPERVISION
TO OUR MOST VULNERABLE YOUTH
ACROSS THE STATE. SO, UM. UNDER
THE INABILITY TO HIRE RIGHT NOW
DIRECTLY IMPACTS THE PROGRAM
CAPACITY AND PROGRAM ABILITY TO
MEET THE RATIOS THAT THEY NEED
TO HAVE STATE STAFFING, SAFE
STAFFING. UM THE ALLIANCE DID
CONDUCT A SURVEY THIS YEAR OF 43
OF OUR FOSTER FAMILY AGENCIES,
UM, THAT HAVE OVER 3300 RESOURCE
FAMILIES AND 32% OF F F A SOCIAL
WORKERS TURNED OVER IN 2022. UM
44% OF THOSE THAT WERE SURVIVED
ARE GOING TO HAVE TO DOWNSIZE IN
, UM, LATER THIS YEAR IF THEY
DON'T RECEIVE SOME EXTRA SUPPORT
OR FUNDING AND 27% OF THEM ARE
AT RISK OF CLOSING AT LEAST A
SUB OFFICE. OR UM, YOU KNOW,
POTENTIALLY THEIR ENTIRE, UM,
YOU KNOW, SIDE OF THAT BIT PART
OF THEIR BOMB BUSINESS. SOCIAL
WORKER TURNOVER DOES DIRECTLY
IMPACT THE LIKELIHOOD OF
ACHIEVING PERMANENCY FOR YOUTH.
UM AFTER THREE SOCIAL WORKERS
YOU REDUCE DOWN TO 3% LIKELIHOOD
OF THE YOUTH ACHIEVING
PERMANENCY. UM WE ARE SUPPORTIVE
OF THE STATE'S APPROACH OF
MOVING TOWARDS A KIN. FIRST
CULTURE. UM WE DO BELIEVE,
HOWEVER, THERE NEEDS TO BE
ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FOR PROVIDERS
IN PROVIDING THE DIRECT SERVICES
TO RELATIVES AND FAMILIES. UM,
ONE EXAMPLE IS. SINCE RESOURCE
FAMILY APPROVAL TAKES SEVERAL
MONTHS, UM, FOR APPROVAL TO TAKE
PLACE SERVICES THAT ARE OFFERED
THROUGH THE F F A CAN ONLY BE
TURNED ON ONCE THE, UM FULL
APPROVAL IS MADE. AND EVEN
THOUGH THE FAMILY WILL BE
RECEIVING THE EMERGENCY
CAREGIVER FUNDING, THE EXTRA
SERVICES CANNOT BE DONE UNTIL
THE FULL APPROVAL DOES TAKE
PLACE ADDITIONAL. WE FOUND OUT
MANY OF THE NEW INITIATIVES
WHILE VERY EXCITING AROUND
FAMILY. FINDING AN ENGAGEMENT.
UM ARE F A PROCESSING AND
INTENSIVE HOME BASED SUPPORT FOR
COUNTIES. HAS NOT TRICKLED DOWN
AT THE MOMENT TO AND PARTNERSHIP
WITH OUR CBOS. WE'RE CONTINUING
CONVERSATIONS AROUND THAT, BUT
BELIEVE THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE
PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE COUNTIES
AND OUR MEMBERS. THANK YOU FOR
THE OPPORTUNITY AND HAPPY TO
ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU
NEXT REALLY HEAR FROM ANGELA
SHORT WITH THE L E O. THANK YOU,
ANGELA, SHORT WITH THE
LEGISLATIVE ANALYST'S OFFICE. UM
AS YOU'VE HEARD, BOTH FROM THE
DEPARTMENT AND OTHER PANELISTS,
THE STATE CERTAINLY HAS BEEN
MAKING SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS IN
TERMS OF MEETING VARIOUS
OBJECTIVES OF CCR. UM SO I KNOW
I WON'T REPEAT ALL OF THOSE AT
THE SAME TIME. A FEW KEY AREAS
OF CHALLENGE DO REMAIN. THAT
I'LL JUST EMPHASIZE HERE. FOR
EXAMPLE, RESOURCE FAMILY
APPROVAL TIMES REMAIN ABOVE THE
TARGET 90 DAYS. ADDITIONALLY AS
YOU'VE HEARD SECURING THE
APPROPRIATE PLACEMENTS AND
SERVICES, PARTICULARLY FOR OUR
YOUTH, WITH THE MOST COMPLEX AND
ACUTE CARE NEEDS DOES CONTINUE
TO BE A CHALLENGE AND REQUIRE
CASE BY CASE EXTRAORDINARY
EFFORT. IN THE CASE OF THESE
EXAMPLES, AS YOU'VE HEARD, THE
ADMINISTRATION AND COUNTIES ARE
WELL AWARE OF THE LEGISLATURE
HAS ALSO PROVIDED BUDGET
AUGMENTATIONS SPECIFICALLY FOR
THESE AREAS AS WELL AS OTHERS
WITHIN CCR. UM SO AT THIS POINT,
WE'RE REALLY JUST CONTINUING TO
MONITOR HOW THOSE FUNDS ROLL OUT
AND HOW SOLUTIONS WILL BE
IMPLEMENTED. UM AS YOU'VE HEARD
THERE, THERE ARE SEVERAL OTHER
AREAS, INCLUDING SOME MORE
TECHNICAL AREAS OF CCR THAT ARE
DESCRIBED IN YOUR AGENDA. SO I
WON'T BELABOR THOSE POINTS BUT
FINALLY DID JUST WANT TO MENTION
. UM WE DO CONCUR WITH THE STAFF
RECOMMENDATION ON PAGE 22 OF
YOUR AGENDA REGARDING REQUESTING
A SPECIFIC DATE AND AGREEING TO
AN OVERALL TIMELINE AS TO THE
FINAL CCR RATE STRUCTURE, WHICH
WILL BE REQUIRED TO BE
IMPLEMENTED BY JANUARY. 1ST OF
2025. UM JUST FOR A LITTLE MORE
CONTACT. THE RATES THAT WE
CURRENTLY USE FOR CCR ARE
INTERIM INTERIM RATES AND THE
RATE STRUCTURE REQUIRED TO BE IN
PLACE. AS OF JANUARY, 1ST 2025
WILL BE THE FINAL RATE STRUCTURE
SO THIS WILL BE IMPORTANT TO GET
RIGHT FOR THE ONGOING SUCCESS OF
CCR. UM SO WE THINK IT MAKES
SENSE FOR THE LEGISLATURE TO YOU
KNOW TO REQUEST A CERTAIN
DEADLINE AND TIMELINE TO ENSURE
THERE IS SUFFICIENT TIME NOT
ONLY FOR THE LEGISLATURE TO
REVIEW BUT ALSO FOR KEY
STAKEHOLDERS TO PROVIDE INPUT TO
ENSURE THAT THIS THAT THIS RATE
STRUCTURE REALLY, REALLY GETS IT
RIGHT FOR THE ONGOING SUCCESS OF
CCR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE. CARSON
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE SOMETHING
THAT THIS TIME BRING IT UP TO
THE DINOS REMEMBERS QUESTIONS.
DR JACKSON. 22 QUESTIONS, BUT
VERY IMPORTANT QUESTIONS IS UM.
WE SAW A LOT OF FOSTER CARE
PROVIDERS AND OTHERS CLOSED DOWN
BECAUSE OF THE TRANSITION.
SOMETIMES THEY JUST COULDN'T
MEET THE STANDARDS. OTHER
VARIOUS REASONS. BUT WE STILL
HAVE IN MY CORRECT IN SAYING WE
STILL DON'T HAVE ENOUGH
PLACEMENTS FOR ALL THE CHILDREN
THAT WE NEED TO PLACE THEM WITH.
WITHIN WITHIN THE STR TPS ARE
YOU TALKING SPECIFICALLY OR
ACROSS ALL PLACEMENTS ACROSS ALL
PLACEMENTS. I DON'T. I DON'T
KNOW THAT I WOULD CHARACTERIZE
IT AS NOT HAVING SUFFICIENT
PLACEMENTS. IT'S TRUE. WE'VE
SEEN TWO TRENDS. THAT NUMBER OF
LICENSED BED CAPACITY HAS GONE
DOWN. BUT THE NUMBER OF YOUTH IN
THE SETTINGS HAS ALSO GONE DOWN.
SO THIS POINT WE DO HAVE A
SLIGHTLY HIGHER PERCENTAGE OF
YOUTH UTILIZING OUR OVERALL. STR
TP CAPACITY AS AS COMPARED TO
BEFORE. SORT OF THE I M D RULE
AND OTHER THINGS SORT OF
IMPACTED THAT CAPACITY, BUT WE
STILL HAVE MORE THAN DOUBLE THE
NUMBER OF LICENSED BEDS AS WE DO
HAVE YOUNG PEOPLE IN THOSE STR
TP BEDS. THAT SAID. I THINK IT'S
EVERYONE HAS SPOKEN TO YOU.
WE'VE GOT YOUTH THAT HAVE HIGH
LEVELS OF ACUITY OF NEEDS AND
EVEN THOUGH THERE MAY BE A
LICENSE THAT IT MAY NOT BE THE
APPROPRIATE SETTING FOR THAT
INDIVIDUAL CHILD. AND SO WE ARE
CONTINUING TO REALLY LOOK AT.
HOW DO YOU REALLY NOT DEVELOPED
JUST SOME, LIKE ANY CAPACITY,
BUT THE RIGHT TYPES OF CAPACITY
. RIGHT SO YOU KNOW, WE'RE
REALLY SEEING THAT YOUTH DO BEST
IN THESE MORE TRAUMA INFORMED,
REALLY SMALLER SETTINGS, WHICH
IS WHAT THE IMD RULE PUSHED US
TOWARDS THIS SORT OF REDUCING
THE SIZE OF THE SETTINGS AND,
YOU KNOW, WE EVEN HAVE HAD
COUNTIES INNOVATING WITH THINGS
LIKE STR TPS OF ONE AND STR TPS
HAVE TO AND SEE SUCCESS AND SORT
OF THAT REALLY INDIVIDUALIZED
INTENSIVE TYPE TREATMENT PROGRAM
. AND SO WE HAVE FLEXIBILITIES
BECAUSE OF A B 29 44 TO ALSO
ALLOW COUNTIES TO INNOVATE IN
THAT WAY TO SORT OF THINK ABOUT
HOW CAN YOU TAKE THAT KIND OF
STAFFING? WOULD BE IN AN STR TP
SETTING BUT SUPPORT A YOUNG
PERSON AND A MORE INDIVIDUALIZED
HOME BASED ENVIRONMENT, EVEN
THOUGH THE STAFFING WOULD BE
MORE LIKE A CONGREGATE SETTING
SO THIS IS A LONG WAY OF
ANSWERING YOUR QUESTION, LIKE DO
WE HAVE LIKE THE RIGHT SETTING
FOR EVERY SINGLE YOUNG PERSON IN
OUR SYSTEM RIGHT NOW? NO IT'S
CATHY SPOKE TO AND AS I SPOKE
TO, YOU KNOW, WE DO HAVE YOUTH
THAT ARE HAVING STAYS IN
UNLICENSED SETTINGS THAT ARE,
YOU KNOW, CYCLING FROM STR PTP
AT TEST HERE, TP, BUT I DON'T
KNOW THAT IT'S THAT WE DON'T
HAVE SORT OF THE RIGHT NUMBER OF
LICENSED BEDS. IT'S THAT WE
CONTINUE TO NEED TO REALLY LOOK
AT THE INDIVIDUALIZED NEEDS OF
THESE YOUNG PEOPLE. HOW MANY
YOUNG PEOPLE DO WE HAVE STAYING
THE NIGHT IN OFFICES? AND OTHER
UNACCEPTABLE PLACES, SO WE
ESTIMATE THAT THERE'S PROBABLY 2
TO 300 YOUNG PEOPLE THAT ARE
EXPERIENCED THAT THAT ARE SORT
OF UNMET COMPLEX CARE NEEDS,
WHICH IS INCLUSIVE OF THE YOUNG
PEOPLE THAT ARE IN THOSE
UNLICENSED SETTINGS. AND THIS IS
AN I'LL JUST JUMP IN. WE THINK
THAT'S A LITTLE LOW. UM I THOSE
WERE DOING THE SURVEY AND WE'LL
SHARE THE INFORMATION WHEN WE
GET IT. UM BUT BASED ON 33
COUNTIES THAT HAVE RESPONDED THE
SURVEY SO FAR, WE COUNTED UP 500
YOUTH THAT AT SOME POINT LAST
YEAR STAYED IN ONE OF THOSE
TYPES OF UNLICENSED LOCATIONS
AND SO MAYBE THIS IS A POINT IN
TIME VERSUS OVERTIME KIND OF
CONVERSATION. UM WE TEND TO
THINK AT ANY GIVEN POINT IN
TIME. IT'S A LITTLE HIGHER THAN
THAT, BUT I MEAN, IT'S HARD YOU
DON'T REALLY KNOW FOR SURE, BUT
I JUST I HAD TO JUMP IN BECAUSE
OF THAT. ALSO TO JUMP IN AND
STUFF. I THINK THAT JUST ADDED
CLARIFICATION. UM WHILE FOSTER
YOUTH IS ONE OF THE POPULATIONS
IN STR TPS, IT'S NOT THE ENTIRE
POPULATION THAT HAS SERVED
THROUGH THOSE PROGRAMS. SO WE
ALSO HAVE, UM, YOUTH AT FOUR
FORMALLY IN THE FOSTER CARE
SYSTEM THAT ARE PAID THROUGH
WHAT'S CALLED ADOPTION
ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS, OR ÁP. WE
ALSO HAVE SPECIAL EDUCATION,
YOUTH. AND, UM, YOU KNOW,
OCCASIONALLY SOME OR SOME
PRIVATE PLACEMENT. UM YOU
THROUGH COMMERCIAL INSURANCE, SO
IT'S NOT THE ENTIRE POPULATION,
BUT I THINK WHAT YOU WOULD SEEN
PREVIOUS TO THE IMD EXCLUSION,
AND THAT IS THAT YOU WOULD HAVE
POPULATIONS. UM UH, YOU KNOW
DIFFERENT POPULATIONS IN THE
SAME PROGRAM, OR YOU COULD HAVE
PROGRAMS THAT COULD SPECIALIZE
IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF THEIR
CAMPUS ON DIFFERENT, YOU KNOW,
NEEDS OF THE YOUTH. UM AND THAT
IS NOT SOMETHING THAT WE CAN SEE
ANYMORE. ONE YOU'VE HAD TO
PRODUCE DOWN TO THE SIZE OF 16
AND THE RATIOS RIGHT NOW. UM,
YOU UM, MAY NEED TO HAVE
ADDITIONAL STAFF OR ADDITIONAL
STAFFING AND YOU CANNOT STAFF
ENTIRELY TO THE FULL CAPACITY OF
THE PROGRAM. AND SO THAT'S
SOMETHING THAT IS EXISTS IN THE
RATE STRUCTURE RIGHT NOW IS THAT
YOU'RE PAID IN AN OCCUPANCY RATE
OF 90% HOSPITALS ARE CONSIDERED
FALL BETWEEN 80 AND 85. AND SO
THAT'S SOMETHING WITH COMING AND
GOING AND MEETING SAFE STAFFING
RATIOS THAT YOU NEED TO OPERATE
SOMETIMES OUT OF LOWER CAPACITY
, AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I
WAS ALSO JUST CHALLENGE IN OUR
RATES. BUT WHEN I ADD A
PROVISIONAL CLARIFICATION IN
ORDER TO MEET THE NEEDS TO
ENSURE THAT AT NO MATTER AT ANY
GIVEN TIME. THAT A YOUNG PERSON
. HAS THE RIGHT BED BECAUSE I
AGREE THE WRONG BID IS ALSO A
PROBLEM AND CAN CREATE ALL KINDS
OF PROBLEMS WITH OTHER YOUNG
PEOPLE, RIGHT. I USED TO WORK AT
A LEVEL 12 GROUP HOME BY SELF TO
GET THROUGH COLLEGE. I STILL
HAVE FLASHBACKS. UM. DOES THIS
BUDGET THAT THE GOVERNOR
PROPOSES FIX THE PROBLEM? WE
NEED TO FIX I WOULD SAY THE
RATES WORK THAT WERE HAVE
UNDERWAY IS LOOKING AT THOSE
ISSUES. BUT THAT'S NOT IN THIS
GOVERNOR'S, UM, BUDGET PROPOSAL
. SO THE WE'RE ON TRACK TO SORT
OF HAVE THAT PROPOSAL SO THAT WE
CAN IMPLEMENT OR START
IMPLEMENTING IN JANUARY OF 2025
, WHICH IS THE DEADLINE IN THE
STATUTE BY WHICH WE NEED TO HAVE
THE NEW RATE STRUCTURE.
IMPLEMENTED SO THAT WAS THE
SERIES OF WORKGROUPS THAT WE'VE
ENGAGED IN IS TO LOOK EXACTLY AT
THAT CALM AT THAT SET OF ISSUES
. AND HOW CAN WE MAKE SURE THAT
THE THAT THE RATES ARE REALLY
MEETING THE INDIVIDUALIZED NEEDS
OF THE CHILD? REGARDLESS OF THE
TYPE OF SETTING THAT THEY'RE IN
THAT THAT WE'RE REALLY TYING
THAT THE RATES TO THE NEEDS OF
THE CHILD AND THAT WE'RE ALSO,
UM, MAKING SURE THAT WE CAN MEET
NOT JUST THEIR CARE AND
SUPERVISION NEEDS BUT THEIR
SERVICES AND SUPPORTS NEEDS AS
WELL? SO THOSE ARE THOSE ARE THE
THEMES THAT CAME OUT OF THE WORK
GROUPS THAT WE HELD THAT WE'RE
TRYING TO FIGURE WORK. WE'RE
GRAPPLING WITH THOSE ISSUES
RIGHT NOW. SO WE'RE LOOKING AT
THIS IS MY CONCERN. THAT WE KNOW
THAT WE HAVE YOUNG PEOPLE AT ANY
GIVEN TIME. AND THEY'RE NOT VERY
FEW. THEY'RE NOT. IT'S NOT LIKE
IT'S JUST TWO OR THREE HERE. BUT
WE HAVE HUNDREDS. OF YOUNG
PEOPLE. WHO. WE KNOW WE NEED TO
FIND THE RIGHT BED FOR THEM. BUT
IT'S NOT GOING TO TAKE A IS
GOING TO TAKE US UNTIL 2025 TO
EVEN START THE PROCESS. TO, SO
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ANOTHER FEW
100 YOUNG PEOPLE AT SOME POINT
SLEEPING IN AN OFFICE. AT SOME
POINT SLEEPING IN A PLACE THAT
IS JUST NOT ACCEPTABLE. HOW DO
WE BRING A MORE SENSE OF URGENCY
TO THIS IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE
THAT THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN AGAIN?
BECAUSE EVEN IF WE WAIT UNTIL
NEXT WEEK. IT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE.
SO I WOULD SAY IN THE INTERIM
BEFORE WE HAVE THE FINAL RIGHT
STRUCTURE. WE DO HAVE A NUMBER
OF THINGS. I MEAN, WE HAVE A
SENSE OF URGENCY AROUND THIS
ISSUE. IT'S NOT A NEW ISSUE. OF
COURSE, YOU KNOW FROM YOUR WORK
. I MEAN, THIS IS DECADES OLD
PROBLEM, BUT WE DO HAVE
SIGNIFICANT NEW INVESTMENTS THAT
WE'RE UTILIZING. SO THERE'S THE
18.1 MILLION AN ONGOING FUNDING
THAT COUNTIES HAVE TO MEET THE
SPECIFIC NEEDS OF YOUTH WITH
COMPLEX CARE NEEDS. AND SO WE
ARE WORKING WITH COUNTIES TO
MAKE SURE THEY'RE TAKING FULL
ADVANTAGE OF THOSE DOLLARS. WE
DO TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE CALLS
THAT INVOLVE OUR ENTIRE SYSTEM
OF CARE TEAM, SO THAT'S NOT JUST
CHILD WELFARE. IT'S CHILD
WELFARE AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
AND OUR EDUCATION PARTNERS AND
DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES PARTNERS
PARTNERING WITH COUNTIES AROUND
SPECIFIC YOUNG PEOPLE, SO THE
COUNTIES WILL CALL AND SAY WE'VE
GOT A YOUNG PERSON WE'RE TRYING
TO BRING. WE'VE GOT CONSULTANTS
THAT ARE TRAUMA CONSULTANTS THAT
CAN HELP DO SOME OF THE BRAIN
MAPPING AND OTHER WORK FOR
SPECIFIC CHILDREN TO REALLY
UNDERSTAND, LIKE WHAT'S HAPPENED
HERE AND HOW CAN WE BEST
INTERVENED TO MEET THE NEEDS OF
THIS YOUNG PERSON? SO WE HAVE
THE U. C. DAVIS MIND INSTITUTE
AS ONE OF HIS AN EXAMPLE OF ONE
OF THOSE CONTRACTS THAT WE
UTILIZE IN THESE SPECIFIC
INSTANCES TO TRY TO UNDERSTAND,
LIKE, HOW CAN WE BEST INTERVENE
FOR THIS YOUNG PERSON? AND THEN
WE HAVE THOSE DOLLARS? THAT I
JUST REFERENCED AVAILABLE TO
SORT OF MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN
MAKE THE APPROPRIATE INVESTMENT
TO MEET WHATEVER NEED THAT YOUNG
PERSON HAS MORE DEVELOPING THE
ADDITIONAL CAPACITY WITH THE 43
MILLION OF THE CAPACITY BUILDING
FUNDS WERE ABOUT TO LAUNCH THE
CRISIS CONTINUUM PILOT. THOSE UM
UH, AWARDEES HAVE BEEN SELECTED
, SO I MEAN, THERE'S A LOT GOING
ON, PLUS THE COMPLEX CARE
STEERING COMMITTEE. THERE'S A
LOT GOING ON TO TRY TO SAY LIKE,
HOW CAN WE HAVE A MORE TRAUMA
INFORMED SYSTEM? AND AT THE SAME
TIME THE RATES WORK IS HAPPENING
TO SORT OF MAKE SURE THAT WE
HAVE A FINAL RIGHT STRUCTURE
THAT PROVIDES A MORE SYSTEMIC
WAY OF ADDRESSING THOSE LIKE
INDIVIDUALIZED NEEDS OF KIDS.
BUT IN THE MEANTIME, WE DO HAVE
INVESTMENTS THAT WE'RE TAKING
ADVANTAGE OF. SO I WOULD JUST
SAY THAT THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I'M JUST WORKING THROUGH THIS SO
OBVIOUSLY. UM WE HAVE A LOT
GOING ON TRYING TO GET GET
THROUGH IT. I UNDERSTAND THAT A
LOT OF IT GOING ON. I JUST WANT
TO MAKE SURE THAT, UM, AS WE ARE
ABLE TO WHILE WE'RE TALKING
ABOUT THIS BUDGET THAT WE'RE
DOING ABSOLUTELY ALL THAT WE CAN
TO AT LEAST MAKE A BIG DENT. AND
THE ISSUE THAT WE HAVE BECAUSE
I'M NOT SURE HOW A CHILD WHO'S
SPENDING THE NIGHT AT AN OFFICE
WOULD BE ABLE TO ACCEPT THAT
ANSWER. THAT SOUNDS LIKE A
SYSTEM ISSUE. AND SYSTEMS NEED
TO HURRY UP. AND MEET THE ACTUAL
NEEDS, RIGHT? AND SO I WOULD
JUST CONTINUE AS WE CONTINUE
THIS ITEM AS WE CONTINUE TO THE
BUDGET PROCESS, MR CHAIR WOULD
LOVE TO HAVE FURTHER DISCUSSIONS
AS IT RELATES. TO THAT. UM
LASTLY, WE KNOW THAT, UM. THERE
IS A DEADLINE COMING UP. UM, IN
ORDER. TO FOR THE COUNTY OF
ORIGIN TO RETAIN RESPONSIBILITY.
UM AND THE LIMITATION ON THE
PRESUMPTIVE TRANSFER PROVISIONS.
AH UM AND YOU? I THINK YOU
MENTIONED DELAYING THAT. OR
NEEDING TO DELAY THAT, OR WAS
THAT? IS THAT THE WRONG ISSUE
THERE OR MAKING A DETERMINATION
ABOUT THE. THE DEADLINE FOR
ADOPTION, ADOPTING REGULATIONS.
YOU MENTIONED IN YOUR EXAMPLE
ABOUT DELAYING SOMETHING. YOU
WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOMETHING
DELAYED. PRICE HERE THAT WRONG.
I DON'T I HEARD IT WRONG. IT'S
FINE. DON'T RECALL THING THAT
OKAY. OKAY. NO PROBLEM. DID YOU
HAVE SOMETHING? I CAN CHIME IN A
LITTLE BIT. I THINK WHAT YOU'RE
REFERRING TO IS THERE'S A B 10
51, WHICH IS MAKING CHANGES TO
PRESUMPTIVE TRANSFER, WHICH IS
FOR FOSTER YOUTH THAT ARE PLACED
OUT OF COUNTY IN SEVERAL
DIFFERENT PLACEMENTS. BUT AN STR
TP AND CHANGING WHO IS
RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR SPECIALTY
MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES. MAYBE 10
51 WILL MAKE IT THAT THE COUNTY
OF ORIGIN WHERE THEY CAME FROM
WOULD RETAIN RESPONSIBILITY.
WE'RE WORKING WITH THE COUNTY
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH DIRECTORS
ASSOCIATION ON DELAYING THAT
BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF
CHALLENGES ASSOCIATED WITH ON
THE GROUND. UM DECISIONS AROUND
THE YOU KNOW, MAKING SURE THAT
TIME REPAYMENT IS MADE FOR THE
SERVICES SO THAT SERVICES ARE
DELIVERED. UM, I THINK THIS IS
UP IN YOUR COMMITTEE NEXT WEEK,
MAYBE 551 SO, BUT HAPPY TO
ANSWER ANY MORE QUESTIONS ON
THAT. UM YEAH, WE PROBABLY JUST
NEED TO HAVE A SIDEBAR ON THAT
ONE. HAPPY TO THANK YOU. THANK
YOU, MR CHAIR. ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S
RAMOS. THANK YOU, MR CHAIR AND
THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION FROM
MY COLLEAGUE FROM RIVERSIDE, AND
IT DOES TOUCH ON A PROBLEM. AND
IT HAS BEEN YEARS. UM, IN THE
MAKING. IT WILL TAKE YEARS FOR
US TO GET TO WHERE WE NEED TO
BE. BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO MAKE
SURE THAT WHAT WE'RE DOING AS
THE STATE THAT LOCAL
JURISDICTIONS ARE LEVERAGING. UM
THOSE DOLLARS TO MAKE SURE THAT
PROGRAMS ARE SUCCESSFUL AT THE
LOCAL LEVEL, WHICH I WANTED TO
HIGHLIGHT THAT WITHIN A LOT OF
THE BUDGET NOW REQUEST COMING
FROM THE STATE. THERE IS
ACCOUNTABILITY AT THE LOCAL
LEVEL FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO
SHOW ONE THAT THEY'RE UTILIZING
THE DOLLARS AND TO PROVE THAT
IT'S GOING TOWARDS PROGRAMS THAT
ARE MAKING AN IMPACT. SO I
WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT'S THERE
AND I AM HONORED TO CARRY THE
BUDGET REQUEST OF THE $47
MILLION TO MOVE THESE PROGRAMS
FORWARD, BUT I DO WANT TO, UM
REALLY TALK MORE ON THAT
LEVERAGING OF THE DOLLARS AT THE
LOCAL LEVEL. WE NEED TO MAKE
SURE THAT STAYS IN THE SIGHT OF
MEMBERS ON THIS DIETS AND THE
LEGISLATURE. THAT WE ARE
APPROVING DOLLARS RIGHT AMOUNTS
OF MONEY TOWARDS PROGRAMS, BUT
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE
LOCAL LEVEL IS ALSO LEVERAGING
THOSE DOLLARS TO MAKE THE
PROGRAM SUCCESSFUL. SO IT'S ALL
WORKING TOGETHER TO ENSURE THAT
OUR YOUTH AND THOSE IN OUR
COMMUNITY THAT NEED THOSE
SERVICES ARE GETTING THEM IN A
TIMELY MANNER. THANK YOU, MR
CHAIR. THANK YOU. MY FIRST
QUESTION IS GOING TO BE FROM MR
RANDY. I'M HOPING YOU CAN HELP
CONTEXTUALIZED. THE DATA POINT
YOU PROVIDED YOU HAD STATED THAT
32% OF SOCIAL WORKERS WERE
TURNING OVER. CAN YOU COMPARE
THAT TO WHERE YOU ARE
HISTORICALLY REGULARLY AND WOULD
YOU ATTRIBUTE THIS TO THE LOC?
AH I WOULDN'T DIRECTLY
ATTRIBUTED TO THE LOC. UM BUT I
WOULD JUST SAY, UM YOU KNOW,
WHEN I HAVE TALKED TO MEMBERS
ABOUT THEIR TURNOVER, THEY HAVE
SHARED THAT WITH THE RATE NOT
BEING INCREASED THAT IT'S BEEN,
IT'S THE WORST THAT THEY HAVE
EVER SEEN AT THE LEVEL. UM AND
WITH THEIR SOCIAL WORKERS. AND
IT IS TAKING THEM FOR LIKE, UM,
ONE OTHER DATA POINT THAT I
DIDN'T MENTION WAS. IT TAKES
THEM FOUR MONTHS RIGHT NOW TO
END UP HIRING A SOCIAL WORKER
AND TO BE ABLE TO FULFILL THAT
POSITION. UM AND FULFILLING. THE
POSITION IS ONE PART. IT'S ALSO
CAN YOU GET THEM THROUGH OUR
BACKLOG? BACKGROUND CHECK SYSTEM
, WHICH IS WHY NOT THE SUBJECT
OF THIS HEARING? UM THERE'S YOU
KNOW SIGNIFICANT DELAYS THAT
IMPACT OUR PROVIDERS ACROSS THE
BOARD. I'M RELATED TO GUARDIAN.
I'M GONNA FOLLOW UP WITH MISS
SCHWARTZ. IF I CAN WE HEARD THE
JANUARY 1ST 2025 DATE AS WHEN IT
WILL BE IMPLEMENTED. BUT WHEN
WILL YOU RELEASE WHAT THE LOC
RATES ARE AND WHEN WILL WE BE
ABLE TO START TO DELIBERATE THAT
AS MORE THAN LIKELY IT WILL NEED
TO BE BUDGETED WITHIN THE NEXT
BUDGET YEAR AND SOME HOPING TO
HAVE YOU PROVIDED DATE SO WE CAN
ALSO HOLD YOU ACCOUNTABLE TO
DELIVERING BY THAT TIME SO WE
CAN HAVE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT
WHERE THE LOC RADIUS WE'RE
WORKING SO THAT WE CAN HAVE
THOSE CONVERSATIONS IN THE NEXT
IN THE COMING BUDGET CYCLE. UM
AS THE GOVERNOR RELEASES HIS
BUDGET ON JANUARY 10TH. I
ANTICIPATE US HAVING UM. THAT
INFORMATION BY THEN, IS THERE A
DATE OVER THE FALL THAT WE ARE
ABLE TO SEE THOSE LOC RATES SO
WE CAN ALSO PARTICIPATE AND BE
INVOLVED OR WILL WE BE RECEIVING
IT AFTER THE NEW YEAR? I DON'T
KNOW THAT THERE'S ANY DATE THAT
WE CAN COMMIT TO. WE ARE HAVING
AN ONGOING CONVERSATIONS WITH
STAKEHOLDERS IN COUNTIES AND
PROBATION AS WE'RE WORKING
THROUGH THIS PROCESS. I HOPE WE
ARE ABLE TO HAVE ADVANCED
CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THOSE RATHER
THAN SIMPLY HEARING ABOUT IT
THROUGH THE BUDGET PROCESS. I
THINK IT WOULD BE IMPORTANT. TO
HAVE THOSE WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE
AND STAKEHOLDERS. GIVE FEEDBACK
ON WHAT WE ULTIMATELY DECIDE,
AND SO UM. I'LL LEAVE IT THERE
FOR NOW WE'LL FOLLOW UP ON ONE
ITEM ON THE TOP OF PAGE 21. IF I
CAN THERE WAS A MENTION THAT OUR
SYSTEMS ARE NOT COMPATIBLE
SPECIFICALLY WITH THE CANS
ASSESSMENT THAT IF YOU WERE A
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH STAFF, AND YOU
ENTERED INTO THE BEHAVIORAL
HEALTH REPORTING SYSTEM THAT YOU
WERE NOT ABLE TO SEE THAT
INFORMATION WITHIN THE CHILD
WELFARE SYSTEM. AND SO I'M
TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHEN THE
PLAN IS FOR US TO INTEGRATE
THOSE TWO HAVE BEHAVIORAL,
HEALTH AND CHILD WELFARE. BE
INTEGRATED. IS IT GOING TO BE
UNDER CAL SAWS? OR WILL IT BE
THROUGH CWS CARES? HOPING YOU
CAN PROVIDE SOME COMMENTS AS THE
AGENCY'S OVERALL GOAL ALIGNS
WITH INTEGRATION OF THESE
SYSTEMS. INTEGRATION UM IS
SCOPED FOR CARERS VERSION ONE.
DO WE HAVE A TIME OF
IMPLEMENTATION ON THAT JUST SO
WORRIED, ABLE TO COORDINATE OR.
I THINK WE'RE STILL UM, WORKING
ON THE FINAL TIMELINE FOR
IMPLEMENTATION OF THAT. WE WOULD
ANTICIPATE HAVING A MORE FIRM
TIMELINE BY ME REVISION AND LOOK
FORWARD TO THE ADMINISTRATION
BEING ABLE TO PROVIDE THOSE
TIMELINES. BY THAT TIME. I
APPRECIATE THAT. CENTRALLY
MACDONALD, SIR, IF I MIGHT JUST
WANTED TO FOLLOW UP ON THE
QUESTION RELATED TO THE RATES,
UM, THE OUR UNDERSTANDING, UM,
FROM MY AUTOMATION FOLKS IS THAT
IT DOES DEPEND THAT YOUR
CONVERSATION AROUND NGUYEN CAN
THEY BE MADE PUBLIC SO WE CAN
HAVE THAT CONVERSATION AND THEN
HOPEFULLY FINALIZE THEM IS
REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE WE DO
HAVE TO AUTOMATE THEM. AND SO
BASED ON, UM, ASSUMING THAT THE
RATE STRUCTURE CHANGES IN SOME
WAY IT WOULD TAKE AT LEAST A
YEAR. WE BELIEVE TO GET THAT
AUTOMATED. SO YOU REALLY DO WANT
TO THINK ABOUT HOW TO BACK THAT
UP AND HAVE THAT CONVERSATION IF
YOU WANTED TO GO INTO EFFECT, UM
JANUARY 2025. I JUST WANT TO
POINT POINT THAT OUT BECAUSE I
THINK IT'S AN IMPORTANT
COMPONENT TO THINK THROUGH AS AS
YOU ALL THINK, AND THE
MINISTRATIONS THINKS ABOUT WHEN
THOSE CONVERSATIONS MIGHT ABLE
TO BE HAD EVEN MORE OF A
RATIONALE FOR US TO GET AN
UPDATE ON THAT TIMELINE BY THE
MAIN REVISION. WELL, NOW, UM
HAVE ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S RUBIO ASK
ANY QUESTIONS? THANK YOU
APOLOGIZE. WE BEEN PING PONG ALL
DAY LONG. AND SO IF YOU'VE
ANSWERED THIS QUESTION AGAIN, MY
APOLOGIES, BUT I WAS LOOKING AT
THE, UM ON PAGE 19 THE RESEARCH
FAMILY APPROVAL PROCESSING TIME
IT SAYS TO BECOME ELIGIBLE TO
PROVIDE CARE TO FOSTER YOUTH AND
FOSTER CARE MAINTENANCE
PAYMENTS. HOUSEHOLDS MUST
COMPLETE THERE ARE A PROCESS
THAT TARGET FOR COMPLETING OUR
PHASE 90 DAYS, BUT THE STATE HAS
YET TO REACH THAT TARGET. AS AN
AVERAGE OR MEDIUM PROCESSING
TIME. AS OF NOVEMBER, 2022
MEDIAN APPROVAL TIME WAS 119
DAYS, AND THEN IT SAYS 107 DAYS
FOR FAMILIES WITH PLACEMENT
POWER PRIOR TO APPROVAL. THIS IS
A SLIGHT IMPROVEMENT FROM THIRD
QUARTER UM, WHEN THE MEETING
APPROVAL WAS 120 DAYS, BUT, UM
TO THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON
THIS FOR A WHILE. I AND I WANT
TO, I GUESS, REITERATE THIS WAS
AN ISSUE THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING
ON AGAIN FOR FOUR YEARS OR MORE.
UM WHEN THE PANDEMIC HIT, WE ALL
GOT USED TO BLAMING EVERYTHING
ON THE PANDEMIC. UM WHICH YOU
KNOW, A LOT OF IT WAS TRUE. BUT
WE'RE ON THE THIRD YEAR NOW,
THREE YEARS SINCE WE WERE PUT ON
LOCKDOWN, BUT, UM IS THERE ANY
EFFORT TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE
PROCESSING TIMES ARE. I KNOW
IT'S BEEN REDUCED, BUT IT'S
STILL TOO LONG. SOMETIMES SOME
OF THESE KIDS NEED, YOU KNOW,
ASSISTANCE RIGHT AWAY, AND, UM,
LISTENING TO THE CONVERSATIONS
EARLIER, UH, WE HEAR A LOT OF
WORDS ABOUT, UM AH WRAPAROUND
SERVICES AND PROPER PLACEMENT.
ETCETERA ETCETERA. BUT IF
THERE'S NO PLACEMENT HAPPENING,
THEN NONE OF THE AMAZING
PROGRAMS THAT YOU ALL HAVE ARE
BEING UTILIZED BECAUSE THESE
PROCESSING TIMES ARE TAKING, UH
, SO LONG AND SOME OF OUR KIDS
ARE, YOU KNOW, QUITE FRANKLY
BEING LEFT BEHIND AND OR FALL
THROUGH THE CRACKS OR WHATEVER
YOU MAY HAVE. SO WHAT IS THE
EFFORT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
REDUCE THAT TIME? SO TO CLARIFY
THERE IS FUNDING AVAILABLE TO
SUPPORT CHILDREN EMPLACEMENTS
PRIOR TO THEIR APPROVAL. UM
ALTHOUGH IT'S LIMITED TO THE
BASIC RATE, AND I THINK TYLER
SPOKE TO SOME OF THE SOME OF THE
OTHER ISSUES THAT COME UP IN
TERMS OF BEING ABLE TO SUPPORT
THOSE CHILDREN WITH THE FOSTER
FAMILY AGENCIES, AND THERE'S THE
$50 MILLION INVESTMENT, THAT WAS
WE JUST RELEASED THE CLAIMING AN
ALLOCATION INSTRUCTIONS ON MARCH
3RD COUNTIES. THAT'S 50 MILLION,
ONGOING TO SUPPORT SORT OF THE
WORKFORCE NEEDED TO BRING THOSE
TIMELINES. DOWN EVEN FURTHER AND
YOU'RE RIGHT THAT WE ARE SEEING
THE TIMELINES START TO DECREASE
, AND IT'S AVERAGING AROUND 107
DAYS FOR THE PLACEMENTS PRIOR TO
APPROVAL. SO, UM SO, YES, YOU
KNOW, THANK YOU FOR THAT. BUT UM
, THE I GUESS THE BIGGER ISSUE
HAS BEEN AND MAYBE IN THIS
CONTEXT OR NOT, BUT BUT I THINK
ONE OF THE BIGGEST ISSUES THAT
WE WERE DISCUSSING IS SOME OF
THESE FAMILY MEMBERS ARE NOT
GETTING THE FUNDING ON A TIMELY
BASIS. SO UM, THERE IS A GROUP
OF FAMILIES THAT ARE NOT GETTING
SOME OF THE FUNDING. IT MIGHT
NOT BE SPECIFICALLY WHAT I
POINTED OUT, HOWEVER, UM, ONE OF
THE ISSUES THAT WE'VE BEEN
WORKING ON IS TRYING TO GET THE
PAYMENTS TO THE FAMILIES, SOME
OF THEM ARE HAVING TO FRONT. YOU
KNOW, WHATEVER IT IS EXPENSES
AND YOU KNOW, UH, I ONLY HAVE
TWO KIDS AND MY GOD, THAT JUST
RIGHT THERE, UM, YOU KNOW, IN
TERMS OF FOOD AND CLOTHING AND
ALL OF THE NECESSITIES FOR THOSE
CHILDREN AND YOU KNOW, FOR A
FAMILY THAT RECEIVES A CHILD,
AND IT'S HAVING TO PUT OUT OF
POCKET, UM TO JUST THE BASIC
NECESSITIES LIKE I SAID, IT MAY
NOT BE RELATED TO WHAT I JUST
ASKED, OR THE SECTION THAT I
ASKED ABOUT. THE OVERALL
QUESTION IS, ARE WE MAKING SURE
THAT THOSE FAMILIES THAT ARE
TAKING OUR KIDS ARE RECEIVING
THE SERVICE, THE FINANCIAL
SUPPORT SO THAT THEY CAN PROVIDE
THOSE SERVICES TO THE KIDS AGAIN
. YOU KNOW, WE HAVE AMAZING
PROGRAMS, BUT IF THE FAMILIES
CAN'T GET THEM THERE, FOR
EXAMPLE, IF THEY DON'T HAVE
ENOUGH GAS OR WHATEVER THE ISSUE
MAYBE THAN WE'RE LOSING OUT ON,
YOU KNOW, THESE FAMILIES ARE
WILLING TO SUPPORT THESE
CHILDREN JUST FOR THE FACT THAT
THEY CAN'T AFFORD THEM, RIGHT. I
WOULD JUST ALSO NOTE THAT THE 50
MILLION IN THE FLEXIBLE FAMILY
SUPPORTS THAT WAS PART OF THE
CURRENT YEAR BUDGET. SO THOSE
DOLLARS ARE ALSO NOW AVAILABLE.
THOSE CLAIMING AND ALLOCATION
INSTRUCTIONS HAVE ALSO BEEN
RELEASED, AND THAT'S EXACTLY FOR
SOME OF THE THINGS THAT YOU WERE
JUST SPEAKING TO SOME OF THE
JUST UPFRONT COSTS THAT IT TAKES
WHEN YOU'RE ACCEPTING A CHILD
INTO YOUR HOME, AND YOU MAY HAVE
TO MAKE MODIFICATIONS TO THE
HOME OR NEED SOME ADDITIONAL
COSTS IN ORDER TO STABILIZE OR
FUNDING TO STABILIZE THE CHILD
IN THAT SETTING. IT ALSO
SUPPORTS MAKING SURE THAT YOU
CAN DO REUNIFICATION AND RESPITE
AND YOU KNOW THOSE SORTS OF
THINGS. BUT I WOULD DEFER TO
MISS SANDERLING AND LET ME JUST
ADD TO THAT. SO YOU JUST STATED
THAT THE $50 MILLION WERE JUST
RELEASED. WHEN WAS IT SUPPOSED
TO BE RELEASED. IT WAS DONE ON
TIME, OR WAS IT SUPPOSED TO BE
RELEASED IN JANUARY ON TIME? IT
WAS DONE ON TIME. THE MARCH 3RD
. NO, NO, NO. THE FOCUS FULL
FAMILY SUPPORTS. SO THERE'S TWO
POTS OF 50 MILLION. I THINK WE
JUST GOT CONFUSED ON THEM. SO
FIRST TO JUST THINK THIS
SUBCOMMITTEE, ESPECIALLY DR
ARAMBULA FOR BROKERING A
CONVERSATION LAST YEAR BETWEEN C
W D A. C. D S S IN THE
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE, UM, ALONG
WITH HIS STAFF TO HAVE, UM, A
CONTINUED CONVERSATION AROUND
THE RESOURCE FAMILY APPROVAL
PROCESS. YOU PROBABLY REMEMBER
WE'VE HAD THESE CONVERSATIONS IN
THE PAST RELATED TO WHETHER
COUNTIES ARE FULLY FUNDED FOR
THE R F TO WORK. WHICH IN OUR
BELIEF WAS CREATED ON A
STATEWIDE BASIS BY CCR, AND
THEREFORE IS SUBJECT TO THE
REQUIREMENTS OF PROPOSITION 30
THAT WE SHOULD BE FULLY FUNDED
FOR THAT WORK, AND WE HAVE NOT
BEEN FULLY FUNDED FOR THAT WORK.
AND THERE'S BEEN AN ARGUMENT ON
THAT. SO DOCTOR, WE STILL AREN'T
QUITE THROUGH ALL OF THAT. BUT
DR ARAMBULA HELPED TO CREATE A
CONVERSATION AND A SPACE FOR US.
TO TALK LAST YEAR, THE RESULT OF
THAT BEING THE $50 MILLION
AUGMENTATION IN THE CURRENT YEAR
THAT MISS SCHWARTZ MENTIONED
THAT WAS THE ALLOCATION OF WHICH
WAS JUST SENT OUT A COUPLE WEEKS
AGO, SO I THINK I CAN'T LIE AND
SAY WE WOULDN'T HAVE RATHER HAD
THAT EARLIER. BUT WE HAVE IT NOW
AND SO WE CAN WORK. WE DID WORK
TOGETHER ON A METHODOLOGY. IT
WAS RATHER COMPLEX THAT SOUNDS
LIKE SO THAT TOOK A BIT OF TIME.
SO HERE WE ARE. WE'RE RATED
SPEND THAT FUNDING WE HAVE BEEN
REDUCING THE NUMBERS, THE OTHER
THING, AND WE DID TALK A LITTLE
BIT ABOUT THIS. I THINK IT WAS
BEFORE YOU MIGHT HAVE STEPPED
OUT. UM THE SP 3 54, WHICH
HELPED WITH THE BACKGROUND CHECK
REQUIREMENTS FOR RELATIVES HAS
WE HOPE HELP TO REDUCE SOME OF
THE TIMELINES AND SOME OF THE
BARRIERS BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT
IT'S MUCH QUICKER WHEN THERE'S
NOT SOMETHING IN SOMEONE'S
RECORD. AND IF YOU ARE A PERSON
WHO'S GETTING LICENSED AS A
FOSTER PARENT TO TAKE IN ANY
KID, YOU KNOW, YOU THINK ABOUT
THAT IN ADVANCE. AND IF YOU HAVE
SOMETHING THAT YOU NEED TO KIND
OF GET RIGHT WITH OR FIGURE OUT
IN YOUR HISTORY, YOU CAN GO DEAL
WITH THAT. AND THEN WHEN YOU
COME IN AND YOU GO THROUGH THE
PROCESS, THERE'S PLENTY OF TIME
TO DO THAT. BUT THEN IF YOU HAVE
A RELATIVE AND WE SAY AT
MIDNIGHT, CAN YOU TAKE THIS KID?
BOOM AND YOU? YOU'RE LIKE, WELL
, THERE WAS THAT CONVICTION AND
AS YOU KNOW, OUR REQUIREMENTS
ARE VERY STRINGENT. AND WE HAVE
TO LOOK INTO AND GET REPORTS ON
PRETTY MUCH ANYTHING OTHER THAN
A MISDEMEANOR TRAFFIC VIOLATION
. WE MAY EASILY GIVE SOMEBODY,
UM THE BENEFITS OF A AN
EXEMPTION TO BE ABLE TO STILL
CARE FOR THAT CHILD. BUT WE
STILL HAVE TO GO THROUGH QUITE A
LENGTHY PROCESS. AND SO WE ARE
MAKING SOME IMPROVEMENTS TO THAT
THROUGH SP 3 54, AND THEN WE
HAVE A CLEAN UP, BILL. I GUESS I
WOULDN'T SAY CLEAN UP AS THE 24
THIS YEAR, WHICH WILL EXPAND TO
NON RELATED EXTENT. DID FAMILY
MEMBERS SO BOTH FOR FAMILY
MEMBERS AND FOR THOSE NON
RELATED BUT VERY FAMILY LIKE
AUNTIE, YOU KNOW BY BY NAME, BUT
NOT NECESSARILY BY BLOOD. UM WE
WILL BE HOPEFULLY ABLE TO APPLY
THOSE AS WELL AND THEN GET THOSE
INDIVIDUALS ALSO MORE QUICKLY
APPROVED TO BE ABLE TO BE
FORMALIZED AS THAT CAREGIVER. SO
WE ARE, I THINK, MAKING THOSE
STRIDES AND WE ARE BRINGING
THOSE NUMBERS DOWN, AND IT IS AN
IMPORTANT FOCUS WERE A CO
SPONSOR OF THAT LEGISLATION WITH
A NUMBER OF OTHER ORGANIZATIONS
AND CAREGIVER GROUP. OOPS AND SO
WE'RE REALLY HAPPY TO BE ABLE TO
DO THAT. I THINK WE'RE MOVING TO
THE RIGHT TRACK. THANK YOU. AND
THEN ANOTHER COMMENT. UM, YOU
MENTIONED EARLIER THAT THE
AVERAGE SALARIES $19 AND
WHATEVER IT WAS 50 CENTS. $19 IS
NOT ENOUGH. OBVIOUSLY UM AND, UM
IT'S DIFFICULT AND I KNOW IN A
BUDGET DEFICIT YEAR, BUT WE HAD
THIS CONVERSATION IN A BUDGET
HEALTHY YEAR, AND NOTHING REALLY
CHANGED. AND SO, UM, I JUST
WANTED TO MAKE A COMMENT THAT,
UM YOU KNOW, THE WORK IS
DEPLETED IN ALL KINDS OF AREAS,
NOT JUST HERE. BUT WHEN I CAN GO
TO TARGET, FOR EXAMPLE, PAUL AND
MAKE $22 AN HOUR UM YOU KNOW,
WHY WOULD I? YOU KNOW, HAVE A
BACHELOR'S DEGREE GO THROUGH
SOME PROCESSING AND SOME, YOU
KNOW, I'M IMAGINE LIFE SCAN AND
YOU KNOW ALL OF THOSE THINGS TO
GO MAKE $19 AN HOUR. UM, AT THAT
POINT, UM I GOT. I MEAN,
OBVIOUSLY THEY DO IT LIKE
TEACHERS. I'M A TEACHER. WE DO
IT NOT NECESSARILY FOR THE MONEY
, BUT YOU DO IT BECAUSE OF THE
CHILDREN. BUT AT SOME POINT,
YOUR OWN FAMILY AND YOUR OWN
LIVELIHOOD COMES INTO PLAY AND
YOU HAVE TO MAKE CHOICES. AND IF
THE CHOICE IS I DON'T KNOW. DO I
FEED MY FAMILY OR DO I TAKE CARE
OF OTHER PEOPLE'S KIDS? YOU
KNOW, THE CHOICES ARE CLEAR AND
SO NOT A QUESTION. JUST A
GENERAL COMMENT. YOU KNOW, IN
SUPPORT OF, HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET
THAT SUPPORT AND GET SOME OF
THAT THAT FUNDING. UM IF WE
DON'T MAKE AH! GIVE LIVING
LIVABLE WAGES TO SOME OF THESE
VOTES THAT WERE THAT WERE
DEPENDING ON TO HELP US WITH OUR
FOSTER CURE AIDS, THEN WE'RE
LOSING OUT ON TALENT. UM JUST
FOR THE FACT THAT THEY DON'T
THEY CAN'T LIVE. UM I TEACH. ALL
RIGHT, TODD. UM BUT SOME OF THE
WORK THAT THESE THESE FOSTER
CARE, YOU KNOW, THE COUNSELORS.
THEY DO IS INCREDIBLE. I DON'T
HAVE THAT KIND OF PATIENTS. AS A
TEACHER. I DON'T HAVE THAT KIND
OF PATIENTS. SO WHEN WE FIND
PEOPLE THAT ARE WILLING TO GO
AND DO THIS KIND OF WORK TO HELP
THOSE KIDS, WE NEED TO FIGURE
OUT HOW TO, UM, COMPENSATE THEM
SO THAT AT LEAST THEY CAN LIVE.
I'M NOT EVEN ASKING FOR YOU
KNOW, FOR THESE AMAZING WAGES,
JUST LIVABLE WAGES. AH WE
STRUGGLE WITH THAT THROUGHOUT
EVERY SECTOR, BUT YOU KNOW WE
ARE HERE RIGHT NOW. AND SO I
WANT TO JUST ADVOCATE AND HOPE
THAT THAT, UM YOU KNOW, SOMEBODY
HEARS US. WE KEEP PUSHING AGAIN.
THIS IS A DEFICIT YEAR, BUT WE
WERE PUSHING ON A HEALTHY YEAR
AND WE STILL DIDN'T REALLY GET
MUCH OUT OF IT. SO I JUST WANT
TO, YOU KNOW, KIND OF OFFER THAT
AND YOU KNOW, THANK YOU FOR THE
WORK THAT YOU DO. IT'S REALLY
CRITICAL. THAT'S ALL THESE KIDS
GET THE SUPPORT THAT THEY NEED,
AND I'M ALSO WONDERING IF OUR
NUMBERS ARE GOING DOWN. BECAUSE
YOU KNOW THEY'RE IN HIDING RIGHT
NOW. NOT NECESSARILY BECAUSE
IT'S GOING DOWN. BECAUSE WE'RE
HELPING MORE KIDS. YOU KNOW THE
PANDEMIC DID A NUMBER ON ALL OF
US. AND SOME OF THESE FOLKS ARE
NOT READY TO COME BACK, UM, YOU
KNOW AGAIN. BUT THE LOWERING OF
KIDS THAT WE SERVE. I DON'T KNOW
IF IT'S NECESSARILY A GOOD
THING. I'M WONDERING IF IT'S
JUST THAT THEY'RE NOT COMING OUT
ANYMORE OR THEY'RE STILL WAITING
FOR THIS PANDEMIC TO BE OVER
WHAT, EVEN THE WAY IT IS OVER.
BUT ANYWAY, THAT'S AGAIN JUST
MORE COMMENTARY RATHER THAN A
QUESTION, SO THANK YOU. THANK
YOU. I'LL BRING IT UP TO THE
CHAIR AND JUST MAKE A REQUEST
FROM THE CHAIR. AS WE TRANSITION
TO THE NEXT ITEM. I WOULD LIKE
TO REQUEST THAT DETAILS
REGARDING THE LOC RIGHT PACKAGE
OR SHARED WITH US AS WELL AS THE
TIMELINE ABOUT THE STAKEHOLDER
PROCESS TO BE SHARED BY THE MAY
REVISION, AS WE ASKED, ALSO LIKE
TO ASK THE L A. OH, THAT IF WE
WERE TO IMPLEMENT BY JANUARY 1ST
OF 2025, HOW LONG WOULD IT TAKE
TO CHANGE THE SYSTEM? AND WHAT
WOULD A TIMELINE BE THAT YOU
FELT WAS APPROPRIATE SO WE COULD
BE INVOLVED. WITH THAT WE WILL.
ALL OTHER ISSUES WILL BE HELD
OPEN AND WE WILL MOVE ON TO
ISSUE THREE. ISSUE THREE IS
REGARDING COMPLIANCE WITH THE
FEDERAL FAMILIES FIRST AND
PREVENTION SERVICES ACT TO BE
REFERRED AS FF. P S A. FROM HERE
ON OUT. WE'LL HAVE FOUR
PRESENTERS ON ISSUE THREE,
BEGINNING WITH DEPUTY DIRECTOR
SHORTS WHEN YOU ARE READY. SURE
THANK YOU. CHAIR AND MEMBERS OF
THE COMMITTEE SCHWARTZ, DEPUTY
DIRECTOR OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY
SERVICES. IN TERMS OF THE FIRST
QUESTION IN THE AGENDA, OUR MAIN
GOALS FOR THE FIVE YEAR
PREVENTION PLAN AND HOW THEY
RELATE TO THE ISSUES DISCUSSED
IN THE FIRST PANEL TODAY. OUR
OVERARCHING VISION WITH OUR FIVE
YEAR PREVENTION PLAN, AS WELL AS
THE COMPREHENSIVE PREVENTION
PLANNING THAT ALL OF OUR
COUNTIES ARE DOING IS AN
INTEGRATED STATEWIDE SYSTEM OF
PRIMARY SECONDARY AND TERTIARY
PREVENTION STRATEGIES GROUNDED
IN PRINCIPLES OF FAIRNESS AND
EQUITY THAT SUPPORTS FAMILIES
AND PROVIDING SAFE, STABLE,
NURTURING RELATIONSHIPS AND
ENVIRONMENTS FOR THEIR CHILDREN
IN YOUTH. WE'RE APPLYING A NO
WRONG DOOR POLICY POLICY SO THAT
OUR FAMILIES THAT ARE COMING IN
THROUGH COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS
CAN ALSO RECEIVE THOSE
COMPREHENSIVE PREVENTION
SERVICES, THE PRIMARY SECONDARY
OR TERTIARY PREVENTION SERVICES
THAT THEY NEED, UM, WE'RE
PROMOTING AND SUPPORTING
STRATEGIES THAT INVOLVE LOCAL
PREVENTION PLANNING, INCLUDING
STRENGTHENING AND BUILDING
RELATIONSHIPS AROUND PRIMARY
PREVENTION AND EARLY
INTERVENTIONS AND MAKING THOSE
CONNECTIONS TO OUR OTHER SAFETY
NET PROGRAMS. ASSESSING AND
IDENTIFYING COMMUNITY DRIVEN
NEEDS AND PRACTICES UTILIZING
SERVICE DELIVERY MODELS ROOTED
IN UM EQUITY AND EQUITY AND
FAIRNESS, INCREASING CAPACITY
WITHIN OUR LOCAL LEVEL, AND THAT
GOES TO SOME OF THE INVESTMENTS
THAT HAVE BEEN MADE AND
PROVIDING HOLISTIC MODELS OF
CARE. INTEGRATING WHOLE CHILD
WHOLE FAMILY APPROACHES. AS WE
DEVELOPED OUR FIVE YEAR
PREVENTION PLAN THAT WE WILL BE
SUBMITTING. FOR THE THIRD TIME
TO A CF. AT THE END OF THIS
MONTH, WE WERE GROUNDED IN
FAMILY VOICE CENTERED NOUS.
PRINCIPLES OF RACIAL EQUITY AND
AGAIN GOING BACK TO THE FIRST
PANEL REALLY LOOKING AT? HOW DO
WE ADDRESS DISPARITY AND
DISPROPORTIONALITY THROUGH THESE
INVESTMENTS AND CONNECTIONS TO
OUR OTHER SAFETY NET PROGRAMS,
TRIBAL CONSULTATION AND
COLLABORATION, SO WE ENGAGED IN
MULTIPLE TRIBAL CONSULTATIONS
AND CONTINUING TO DO THOSE
TRIBAL CONSULTATIONS AS WE'RE
DEVELOPING THOSE COMPREHENSIVE
PREVENTION PLANS. STRENGTH
FOCUSED AND TRAUMA INFORMED,
MAKING SURE THAT THERE IS A
COMMUNITY PATHWAY SO THAT WE'RE
ALSO EMPOWERING THE LOCAL
SERVICE PROVIDERS TO ASSIST OUR
FAMILIES, AND THEY DON'T HAVE TO
NECESSARILY BE INTERFACING
DIRECTLY WITH OUR CHILD WELFARE
SYSTEM, WORKFORCE, EXCELLENCE,
INTEGRATION AND COLLABORATION
AND THEN ALSO MAKING SURE WE'RE
DEVELOPING CONTINUOUS QUALITY
IMPROVEMENT STRATEGY SO THAT WE
CAN ASSESS HOW WE'RE DOING AND
MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN MAKE
ADJUSTMENTS AS WE CONTINUE DOWN
IN IMPLEMENTATION. IN IN TERMS
OF THE ROLE OF ANTI POVERTY
SAFETY NET PROGRAMS, INCLUDING
COW WORKS AND HOW THAT CAN BE
STRENGTHENED. WE ARE TRYING TO
INTEGRATE THROUGH THE CALIPH
THROUGH THE FIVE YEAR PREVENTION
PLAN, AND THROUGH THAT
COMPREHENSIVE PREVENTION
PLANNING, LIKE I SAID, WITH
THOSE SAFETY NET PROGRAMS, UM,
THE ALL COUNTY LETTER THAT WAS
RELEASED THAT REQUIRES THE
COMPREHENSIVE PREVENTION PLANS
ALSO REQUIRES COUNTIES TO SORT
OF THINK THROUGH LIKE WHERE
THOSE INTERSECTIONS AND WHAT IS
THAT RELATIONSHIP TO YOUR OTHER
SAFETY NET PROGRAMS IN YOUR
OTHER SERVICE PROVIDERS AND YOUR
OTHER FUNDING STREAMS? RIGHT. SO
NOT JUST TITLE FOR B BUT ALSO
YOUR TAN IF AND SPG AND ALL THE
OTHER SOURCES OF ASSISTANCE THAT
COUNTIES RECEIVE THAT CAN
SUPPORT PRIMARY. SECONDARY AND
TERTIARY PREVENTION STRATEGIES.
UM THE LAST QUESTION ON THE
AGENDA RELATES TO WHEN WE'RE
SUBMITTING THE PLAN, SO I'LL
JUST JUMP TO THAT. AS LONG AS
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PART ONE
HERE FOR A MINUTE. UM SO WE ARE
ON TRACK TO SUBMIT. I THINK I
SAID FOR THE THIRD TIME TASTE CF
. WE SUBMITTED THE FIRST DRAFT
OF THE PREVENTION PLAN IN AUGUST
OF 2020. ONE AND THEN THEY HAD
ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS AND
REVISIONS. WE SUBMITTED OUR
SECOND DRAFT IN NOVEMBER OF 2022
. THEY HAD ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS
AND REVISIONS. AND SO WE ARE ON
TRACK TO SUBMIT WHAT I AM HOPING
IS GOING TO BE OUR APPROVED PLAN
AT THE END OF THIS MONTH ONCE
THE PLAN IS APPROVED, WILL BE
ABLE TO START CLAIMING THOSE
ADMIN DOLLARS FOR THE PREVENTION
SERVICES BACK TO OCTOBER OF 2021
. BUT WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE
TO DO THAT. TITLE 40 PER CHILD
CLAIMING UNTIL WE HAVE A SYSTEM
AND AUTOMATED SYSTEM TO DO THE
PER CHILD CLAIMING AND TRACKING
THAT IS REQUIRED UNDER THE
FEDERAL LAW, BUT IN THE MEANTIME
, WE DO HAVE THE BLOCK GRANT
DOLLARS 222 MILLION IN BLOCK
GRANT FUNDING THAT'S AVAILABLE
TO COUNTIES RIGHT NOW TO SUPPORT
THE DEVELOPMENT OF THEIR PRIMARY
SECONDARY. UM IN TERTIARY
PREVENTION STRATEGIES, SO I
THINK THAT THAT COVERS THE ITEMS
IN THE AGENDA RELATED TO PART
ONE TRANSITIONING OVER TO PART
FOUR HOW IMPLEMENTATION HAS GONE
SO FAR. ALL OF THE REQUIREMENTS
RELATED TO PART FOUR AND PART
FOR WAS THE PART OF THE FAMILY
FIRST PREVENTION SERVICES ACT
THAT HAD US HAVE ADDITIONAL
REQUIREMENTS FOR OUR CONGREGATE
CARE PROVIDERS. WE CALL THEM.
STR TPS THE FEDS CALL THEM QUÊ
OUR TPS. IT REQUIRED US TO
IMPLEMENT QUALIFIED INDIVIDUALS
SO THAT WE HAVE QUALIFIED
INDIVIDUALS MAKING
DETERMINATIONS BASED ON AN
ASSESSMENT OF THE YOUTHS
INDIVIDUAL NEEDS ON WHETHER OR
NOT THEY CAN BE SERVED IN A
FAMILY PLACEMENT AND ALSO HOW
THE STR TP WOULD WOULD MEET THAT
YOUNG PERSONS THERAPEUTIC. NEEDS
IF IT IS ACTUALLY NECESSARY.
THAT'S BEEN IMPLEMENTED IN ALL
OF OUR COUNTIES, AND WE'RE ALSO
WORKING ON A CONTINUOUS QUALITY
IMPROVEMENT SYSTEM FOR THAT. SO
SOME DATA COLLECTION AND HOW WE
CAN ALSO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE
PROVIDING CONTINUOUS QUALITY
IMPROVEMENT WITHIN OUR QUALIFIED
INDIVIDUAL FRAMEWORK. THE
FEDERAL LAW REQUIRED
IMPLEMENTATION OF 24 7 NURSING
SERVICES, WHICH WE DID THROUGH A
STATEWIDE CONTRACT FOR 24 7
NURSE HOTLINE, WHICH HAS BEEN
FULLY IMPLEMENTED BETWEEN
DECEMBER 1 2021 DECEMBER 31 2022
WE RECEIVED 98 CALLS THROUGH THE
HOTLINE. UM. IT ALSO REQUIRED US
TO IMPLEMENT SIX MONTHS OF
AFTERCARE SERVICES. SO THE YOUTH
THAT ARE EXITING THE STR TPS
CONTINUE TO GET AT LEAST SIX
MONTHS OF AFTER CARE SERVICES
WERE IMPLEMENTING THAT IN TWO
PHASES. PHASE ONE IS COMPLETE
AND INCLUDED INITIAL
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE AFTERCARE
SERVICES LEVERAGING OUR EXISTING
WRAPAROUND PROGRAMS FACE TO IS
IMPLEMENTATION OF OUR HIGH
FIDELITY. WRAPAROUND
REQUIREMENTS. UM AND WE'RE IN
THE PROCESS OF DEVELOPING A
CALIFORNIA WRAPAROUND TOOLKIT TO
SUPPORT COUNTIES IN
IMPLEMENTATION OF PHASE TWO.
THERE WERE ALSO COURT REVIEW IN
CASE PLAN REQUIREMENTS THAT HAVE
ALSO BEEN IMPLEMENTED AND THAT'S
BEEN IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE
JUDICIAL COUNCIL OF CALIFORNIA
WHO HAD TO ISSUE THE COURT RULES
TO ACCOMPANY THOSE NEW, UM COURT
REVIEW. REQUIREMENTS THAT WERE
IN THE LAW. UM AS WITH ANY MAJOR
REFORM EFFORT, THERE HAVE BEEN
IDENTIFIED CHALLENGES SPECIFIC
TO THE QUALIFIED INDIVIDUAL
COUNTIES FACE CHALLENGES
REGARDING INFORMATION SHARING
AND UNDERSTANDING WHAT CAN BE
SHARED BETWEEN A HIPPO COVERED
ENTITY LIKE THE MENTAL HEALTH
PLAN AND A NON HIPAA COVERED
ENTITIES SUCH AS OUR CHILD
WELFARE SERVICES, PROBATION AND
COURTS. THERE ARE SITUATIONS
WHERE THE PARENTS DON'T SIGN THE
RELEASE OF INFORMATION FOR THE Q
. I TO RECEIVE INFORMATION THEY
NEED AND TALK TO THE PEOPLE THAT
THEY NEED TO TALK TO DO THEIR
ASSESSMENT. WE ARE COLLABORATING
WITH THE HCS AND ALSO THE
JUDICIAL COUNCIL OF CALIFORNIA
IN ORDER TO DEVELOP LANGUAGE AND
GUIDANCE AROUND THE SHARING OF
INFORMATION AND THOSE
CONFIDENTIALITY CHALLENGES, SO
THAT'S IN PROCESS RIGHT NOW.
THERE WERE SOME INITIAL ISSUES
WITH THE NURSING SERVICES WHEN
FIRST IMPLEMENTED, SOME OF THE
STR TP STAFF COLLARS DID NOT
HAVE THEIR FACILITY.
ADMINISTRATORS CONTACT
INFORMATION TO ADDRESS THAT THE
CONTRACTOR CREATED A PROCESS TO
REPORT TO CDSS. WHEN THIS
OCCURS, WE HAVEN'T HEARD OF THAT
PROBLEM SINCE THAT SOLUTION WAS
PUT IN PLACE IN TERMS OF THE
AFTERCARE SERVICES. UM, WE KNOW
THAT COUNTIES AND PROVIDERS HAVE
REPORTED CONCERNS AROUND THE
HIGH FIDELITY WRAPAROUND
SERVICES AND AGAIN WE'RE WORKING
IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE HCS IN
U. C. DAVIS TO PROVIDE A TOOLKIT
AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO
COUNTIES TO SUPPORT THE
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE HIGH
FIDELITY WRAPAROUND STANDARDS.
WITH REGARD TO THE COURT
HEARINGS, COURTS HAVE REPORTED
THE NEED TO BE ABLE TO VACATE A
HEARING FOR A CHILD THAT IS NO
LONGER IN THE STR T P AT THE
POINT THAT THE HEARING IS
ACTUALLY SCHEDULED OR TO WAIVE
THE NEED FOR HEARINGS IF THE
YOUTH IS IN THE SAME FACILITY,
BUT THEY'VE JUST MOVED COTTAGES
BECAUSE THE SORT OF STRICT
READING OF THE LAW WOULD HAVE
THEM HAVE TO HAVE A NEW COURT
HEARING FOR EVERY MOVE, EVEN IF
IT'S SORT OF WITHIN THE SAME
FACILITY, SO WE'VE HEARD THOSE
CHALLENGES AS WELL. I THINK WE
TALKED A LITTLE BIT IN THE PRIOR
PANEL ABOUT THE CAPACITY
QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE. AS I
SAID IN THAT PANEL, WE ARE
SEEING THE TWO TRENDS WITH
REGARD TO THE CAPACITY WITHIN
RST RTP SETTINGS, THE LESS FEWER
NUMBER OF YOUTH OVERALL, UM,
THAT ARE IN STR TPS BUT ALSO
FEWER NUMBER OF LICENSED BEDS.
AS A RESULT OF SOME OF THE
CHANGES THAT I WAS JUST
DISCUSSING, AS WELL AS THE
IMPACTS OF THE IMD RULE. LIKE I
SAID, BEFORE, THERE'S STILL MORE
THAN DOUBLE THE NUMBER OF
LICENSED BEDS AS THERE ARE YOUNG
PEOPLE THAT ARE IN THOSE BEDS
CURRENTLY, AND AS I SAID BEFORE,
THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE HAVE
NECESSARILY THE RIGHT CAPACITY
TO SERVE THAT INDIVIDUAL YOUTH,
SO WE'RE CONTINUING TO LOOK AT
HOW TO HAVE A MORE TRAUMA,
INFORMED FRAMEWORK AND UTILIZE
OUR CHILD SPECIFIC DOLLARS IN
OUR CAPACITY BUILDING DOLLARS IN
ORDER TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE
THE RIGHT SUPPORT FOR THAT YOUTH
, NOT JUST ANY BED IN ORDER TO
SERVE THAT YOUNG PERSON. AND I
THINK. THAT'S ALL YOUR QUESTIONS
, NOT ALL, BUT IT'S A GOOD START
. NEXT WE'LL HEAR FROM KATHY
SANDERLING MCDONALD. THERE'S A
LOT IN THIS ONE FOR SURE
THINKING. THANK YOU, MR CHAIRMAN
MEMBERS, KATHY SANDERLING
MCDONALD'S CWD, A EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR, UM I'LL START AND ALSO
TALK A BIT ABOUT PART ONE FIRST
THE PREVENTION PIECE. UM, WE
REALLY SEE THE ABILITY TO NOT
JUST PUT INTO PLACE WHAT IS IN
THE LETTER OF THE FEDERAL LAW
BUT ALSO USING IT AS AN
OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY, REALLY
SPRINGBOARD TO ADDITIONAL
INVESTMENTS, AND WE APPRECIATE
THE LEGISLATURE SUPPORTING THE
ADDITIONAL INCREASE OF $100
MILLION ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO. IN
ORDER TO PROVIDE, UM ARE
ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR SERVICES
. THOSE ARE FUNDS THAT CAN BE
USED FOR FEDERALLY ELIGIBLE TO
MATCH TO TITLE FOUR E. AS MISS
SCHWARTZ TALKED ABOUT OR THEY
COULD BE PROVIDED, UM TO TWO
COUNTIES OR THE COMMUNITY
ORGANIZATIONS TO BE ABLE TO, UM
, YOU UTILIZE AND EXPAND SOME OF
THOSE MORE CULTURALLY RELEVANT
SPECIFIC BUT NOT NECESSARILY
EVIDENCE BASED AS OF YET, AH,
BUT THINGS THAT ARE PROMISING OR
THINGS THAT WE'RE SEEING THAT
YOU KNOW THOSE GOOD EFFECTS OF
AND THEY JUST HAVEN'T REALLY
BEEN EVALUATED. AND SO, UM, THE
FUNDING IS OUT THERE. WE'RE
REALLY PLEASED TO PARTNER WITH
CHILDREN NOW AND ABOUT 80 OTHER
SUPPORTIVE ORGANIZATIONS. UM ON
THAT REQUEST, UM, TWO YEARS AGO
THAT WAS ULTIMATELY ADOPTED. UM
THE FUNDING? UM SO FAR WE'VE
BEEN USING FOR PLANNING EFFORTS
BECAUSE, AS YOU HEARD, THE PLAN
HAS NOT YET BEEN APPROVED, AND
EVERYTHING IS REALLY TIED. TO
THE FEDERAL APPROVAL OF THE PLAN
. AND SO THE TIMELINE IS PRETTY
FRUSTRATING TO HAVE STARTED THAT
WORK BACK IN THE MID 2021 TIME
FRAME AND IS STILL BE TALKING
ABOUT RESUBMITTING ANOTHER
VERSION. NOW, OF COURSE, WE'RE
ALL WE REALLY WANT TO DO THIS
BECAUSE WE THINK IT WILL HELP
WITH THOSE ISSUES THAT WE TALKED
ABOUT ON THE FIRST PANEL RELATED
TO DISPARITIES AND HELPING
SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITIES AND
STRENGTHENING FAMILIES. UM BUT
WE HAVE RECEIVED FUNDING TO
ENGAGE WITH OUR COMMUNITY
STAKEHOLDERS IN THAT PREVENTION
PLANNING WORK, AND THAT HAS BEEN
GOING ON IN 50 COUNTIES. THE
EIGHT COUNTIES THAT HAVEN'T
OPTED INTO THAT ARE MOSTLY SMALL
COUNTIES THEY DON'T HAVE AS MANY
LOCAL RESOURCES NOR AS MANY
CHILDREN IN FOSTER CARE OR
FAMILIES IN GENERAL, BUT WE ARE
CONTINUING TO WORK WITH THE
STATE AND THOSE COUNTIES TO SEE
IF WE COULD MAKE IT WORK FOR
THEM TO BE ABLE TO OPT IN AS
WELL, SINCE IT IS AN OPTIONAL
PROGRAM. UM, WE DO WANT TO NOTE
AND I THINK THERE'S A QUESTION
ABOUT THIS IN THE BUDGET. THE
FUNDING IS ONE TIME FUNDS WE HAD
ASKED US AND CHILDREN NOW FOR IT
TO BE ONGOING. YOU'RE BETTER
ABLE TO BUILD CAPACITY AND THEN
MAINTAIN THAT CAPACITY IF THOSE
ARE ONGOING FUNDS, AND SO THE
QUESTION WAS, UM DO WE THINK
WE'RE GOING TO SPEND IT? I MEAN,
THE FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE THROUGH
JUNE 30TH 2025, WHICH AS WE'RE
TALKING ABOUT WITH THE RATES
SURE SOUNDS LIKE A LONG TIME.
BUT WE DO THINK THAT WE MIGHT
WANT TO START THINKING ABOUT
WHETHER WE WANT TO EXTEND THAT
JUST BECAUSE LIKE IF WE'RE
HAVING THIS CONVERSATION, WE
KNOW THINGS ARE DELAYED QUITE
SUBSTANTIALLY, NOT THROUGH
REALLY ANYONE'S FAULT. MAYBE WE
KICK IT OUT A LITTLE BIT, SO
WE'D BE HAPPY TO ENGAGE IN A
CONVERSATION AROUND THAT, UM, WE
DO THINK THAT FIGURING OUT HOW
WE THINK ABOUT AS PART OF OUR
PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION ONCE
OUR PLAN IS APPROVED BY THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. HOW DO WE
MEET OUR REQUIREMENT? THAT'S IN
THE FEDERAL LAW, WHICH IS ABOUT
TITLE FOUR E BEING THE PAIR OF
LAST RESORT. IT'S REALLY
IMPORTANT THAT WE GET SOME
GUIDANCE ON THAT. I DON'T THINK
WE'RE THERE YET THAT WITH THE
STATE AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS,
BUT I WANT TO KIND OF FLAG THAT
BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S ONE
CHALLENGE THAT WE HAVE TO THINK
ABOUT. I MEAN, A LOT OF OUR ALL
OF OUR CHILDREN, AND MANY OF
THEIR PARENTS ARE ON MEDICAL.
AND SO IF MEDICAL CAN BE
UTILIZED, HOW DO WE DO THAT? HOW
DO WE CONSIDER TITLE FOR YOU TO
BE THE PAIR OF LAST RESORT? WE
WOULD HATE TO START BILLING TO
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. FINALLY
AFTER WE GET THAT I'LL PUT INTO
PLACE AND THEN HAVE IT BE
DISALLOWED IF WE SHOULD HAVE
USED ANOTHER FUNDING SOURCE, AND
SO, ESPECIALLY AS WE THINK ABOUT
SOME OF THOSE LOCAL PROGRAMS
THAT MAYBE UM OVER TIME, WE
MIGHT BE ABLE TO GROW INTO A
TITLE FOUR E PROGRAM. HOW DO WE
THINK ABOUT THOSE AS WELL? I
THINK IS A CRITICAL PIECE.
REGARDING TITLE. SORRY PART PART
FOUR. UM I, YOU KNOW, I KNOW MR
WINDY COVERED THIS TWO ON THE
LAST PANEL, BUT THAT I M D
RULING WAS SIGNIFICANT. WE HAVE
LOST A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF OUR
PROVIDER CAPACITY. SOME OF THE
PROVIDERS DECIDED TO TURN FROM
AN STR TP LICENSE TO JUST A MORE
STANDARD GROUP HOME LICENSE AND
CARE FOR YOUTH FROM THOSE OTHER
TYPES OF PLACE ON SUCH AS
EDUCATION. OR HEALTH CARE OR
PRIVATE PAY. TYPICALLY, MY
UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THOSE PAY
HIGHER RATES ALSO AND SO SOME OF
THE CAPACITY ISSUE UM AND THE
ANALYSIS OF THAT, I THINK HAS TO
TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION AS
WE THINK ABOUT WHAT BEDS ARE
LEFT. UM, WE MAY HAVE LICENSED
CAPACITY. THAT IS TWO TIMES WHAT
WE HAVE. BUT WE ALSO KNOW THAT A
LOT OF THAT IS BEING USED BY
OTHERS. AND SO HOW MANY BEDS
REALLY, OR HOW MANY PLACEMENTS
AND THE ASSOCIATED SERVICES WITH
THOSE REALLY ARE AVAILABLE AT
ANY GIVEN MOMENT, AND IS THAT
ONE OF THE REASONS WHY WE HAVE?
UNFORTUNATELY SO MANY OF OUR
YOUNG PEOPLE IN AN UNLICENSED
FACILITY OR OVER STAYING IN A 14
DAY SHELTER? SO THOSE ARE SOME
OF THE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT
WILL BE WORKING WITH ALL OF YOU
IN THE STATE? OF COURSE, AS
WELL. ONE LAST THING TO MENTION
IS JUST, UM, MINISTER. IT'S
MENTIONED THE QUALIFIED
INDIVIDUAL, WHICH IS A NEW
REQUIREMENT. IT WAS NOT
SOMETHING THAT WAS PART OF OUR
CCR. THOUGH MANY OF THE ASPECTS
OF FAMILIES FIRST DREW FROM THE
WORK THAT WE HAD DONE IN
CALIFORNIA AS A LEADER AND DOING
OUR CCR, THE QUALIFIED
INDIVIDUAL, UM IN OUR CONSTRUCT
IN OUR STATE LAW, IMPLEMENTING
FAMILY FIRST. REQUIRE THAT IT BE
A MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL,
PRIMARILY BEEN WORKING WITH THE
COUNTY MENTAL HEALTH PLANS FOR
THAT, HOWEVER, ALSO, THE STATE
WAS DIRECTED TO SEEK A WAIVER
THAT IT COULD BE POTENTIALLY
SOMEONE WORKING FOR COUNTY CHILD
WELFARE IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO
MAKE THAT CERTIFICATION. WE DID
RECEIVE AN APPROVAL FOR THAT
WAIVER. HOWEVER WE ARE STILL
WAITING FOR DHC S. WE THINK IT'S
LIKELY DHC S THAT NEEDS TO
PROVIDE GUIDANCE ON IMPLEMENTING
THAT SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT
WOULD BE SOME FOLLOW UP WOULD
PROBABLY BE HELPFUL AS WELL.
BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE
LIKE YOU WERE SAYING
COMMUNICATION ISSUES, DATA
PRIVACY ISSUES. WE DON'T WANT TO
GET YOUTH OFF TRACK. AND FOR
WAITING TO TRY TO DO THAT
COMMUNICATION WITH ANOTHER
ENTITY. UM IF WE COULD JUST DO
IT INTERNALLY UNDER THE
CONDITIONS OF THE WAIVER THAT
WOULD HELP WITH THOSE ISSUES, I
THINK IN SOME SOME WAYS, SO
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S REALLY
CRITICAL TO GET IMPLEMENTED.
WE'RE ON THE PATH BUT NOT QUITE
THERE YET, SO I'LL STOP THERE
AND HAPPY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS.
THANK YOU. NEXT, WE WILL HEAR
FROM MS SHORT WITH THE L A. OH,
OKAY? THANK YOU, ANGELA. SHORT
WITH THE L A. OH, UM, AS YOU'VE
HEARD FROM THE DEPARTMENT AND
FROM COUNTIES, YOU KNOW, WE'RE
STILL VERY MUCH IN IN THE EARLY
PHASES OF IMPLEMENTING F F. P S
A, PARTICULARLY WHEN IT COMES TO
PREVENTION, YOU KNOW, STILL
WAITING FOR THAT FEDERAL
APPROVAL OF OUR STATE PLAN. UM
SO WE'RE STILL VERY MUCH IN THE
IN THE EARLY STAGES OF
UNDERSTANDING HOW IMPLEMENTATION
IS GOING AND WHAT CHALLENGES MAY
NEED TO BE ADDRESSED. UM AND
WITH THAT SAID, I WOULD JUST
HIGHLIGHT IN YOUR AGENDA ON
PAGES 25 TO 28. IT'S NOTED THAT
THE LEGISLATURE DID INCLUDE
SUPPLEMENTAL REPORT LANGUAGE
AROUND FF PIZZA AS PART OF THE
22 23 BUDGET. UM, AT THIS POINT
, I BELIEVE WE'RE EXPECTING THAT
FIRST REPORT FROM THE
ADMINISTRATION OVER THE NEXT
MONTH OR SO. UM AND THAT DATA
AND INFORMATION WILL CERTAINLY
PROVIDE A VALUABLE OPPORTUNITY
FOR LEGISLATIVE OVERSIGHT. UM.
AND AGAIN, UM AS AS THE AS THIS
POINT HAS ALREADY BEEN MADE AS
WELL, UH, PREVENTION SERVICES
THROUGH F F. P S A ALSO VERY
MUCH ARE RELATED TO, UM THE
DISPROPORTIONALITY IS THAT WE
DISCUSSED EARLIER DURING TODAY'S
HEARING. UM YOU KNOW, THIS WILL
BE A VALUABLE OPPORTUNITY FOR
OUR STATE TO BE ABLE TO EXPAND
AND DEEPEN PREVENTION SERVICES,
PARTICULARLY CULTURALLY RELEVANT
SERVICES FOR DISPROPORTIONATELY
IMPACTED FAMILIES. SO WITH ALL
THAT, JUST TO SAY, WE CERTAINLY
LOOK FORWARD TO REVIEWING THE
FORTHCOMING SRL REPORT. UM, AND
WE WOULD CONCUR WITH THE STAFF
RECOMMENDATION ON PAGE 28 OF
YOUR AGENDA AROUND CONVENING A
BRIEFING ONCE THAT REPORT IS
AVAILABLE TO REALLY DEEPEN THAT
DISCUSSION. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU. DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE
CARSON DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE.
NOTHING AT THIS TIME. BRING IT
UP TO THE DIASPORA MEMBERS
QUESTIONS. I'LL KEEP IT HERE AT
THE CHAIR. IF I CAN, MISS
SCHWARTZ, I'M GOING TO FOLLOW UP
ON MRS SHORTS. COMMENT REGARDING
THE SUPPLEMENTAL REPORTING
LANGUAGE, AND I'M HOPING YOU CAN
PROVIDE A DATE CERTAIN FOR, UM
THE RELEASE OF THE INFORMATION
THAT WE'VE ASKED FOR WITHIN
THAT, SRL. OUR HOPE IS THAT WE
ARE GOING TO HAVE A VERBAL
PRESENTATION AT THE APRIL 26TH
HEARING. AND SO WE WOULD LIKE TO
BE ABLE TO REVIEW THAT CONTENT
OF THE UPDATE AND PLAN BEFORE
THAT HEARING, AND, UM, I WANT TO
SEE IF THAT'S AMENABLE TO YOU TO
HAVE THAT ASSAULT. R L REPORTED
BACK TO US BEFORE WE ARE
CURRENTLY IT IS CURRENTLY IN THE
REVIEW PROCESS THAT AND
UNDERSTAND THAT YOU WOULD LIKE
THAT BRIEFING ON AT THE APRIL 26
HEARINGS SO THAT WE ARE WORKING
TOWARDS THAT GOAL. GREAT. UM
WITH THAT. I'M GOING TO FOLLOW
UP. I I'D REALLY LIKE TO MAKE
SURE TO DIG IN ABOUT THOSE WHO
ARE EXPERIENCING DISPARITIES
WITH THE SUB POPULATIONS. AND AS
WE'RE LOOKING AT PART ONE FOR
THOSE FUNDS, WE HEARD ABOUT SOME
OF THE CULTURALLY RELEVANT
EXAMPLES BUT HOPING YOU CAN JUST
ELABORATE A LITTLE MORE ON WHAT
TYPES OF STRATEGIES WE'RE
LOOKING AT DOING TO HELP US
ADDRESS THE NATIVE AMERICAN AND
AFRICAN AMERICAN DISPARITIES
PRESENT WITHIN THIS SYSTEM. A
LOT OF THAT WORK IS BEING DONE
THROUGH THE COMPREHENSIVE
PREVENTION PLANS THAT THE
COUNTIES ARE DEVELOPING, AND
WE'VE BEEN PROVIDING A LOT OF
SORT OF TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
THROUGH SOME OF OUR CONTRACTORS
TO REALLY DIG IN AND UNDERSTAND
. LIKE WHAT WITHIN THAT REGION,
SORT OF ARE THE ISSUES THAT THEY
ARE DEALING WITH SPECIFIC TO SUB
POPULATIONS? AND HOW CAN WE
REALLY DEVELOPED THE RIGHT
SERVICE ARRAY AND MAKE SURE THAT
THOSE ARE CULTURALLY APPROPRIATE
SERVICES AND NOT JUST LOOK AT
SORT OF THIS SOURCE OF FUNDING
RIGHT BECAUSE THIS IS KATHY
WORDSMITHS, UNDERLING SAID. YOU
KNOW, WE WANT TO LOOK AT THESE
DOLLARS, BUT WE ALSO WANT TO
LOOK AT SORT OF WHAT ARE THE
OTHER DOLLARS AND HOW CAN WE
BEST LEVERAGE THOSE AND REALLY
UNDERSTAND THE POPULATIONS THAT
WERE TRYING TO SERVE? WE'RE
DOING THAT ALSO THROUGH THE
INTER AGENCY, LEADERSHIP TEAMS,
SO MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE SORT
OF THINKING ABOUT IT THROUGH A
SYSTEM OF CARE APPROACH AS WELL
. SO IT'S AGAIN NOT JUST CHILD
WELFARE, BECAUSE I THINK THAT
ULTIMATELY DOESN'T ADDRESS
REALLY THE TRUE DISPARITIES AND
DISPROPORTIONALITY THAT WE'RE
SEEING OR ALLOW US TO DO, REALLY
THE PRIMARY AND SECONDARY
PREVENTION WORK THAT WE KNOW IS
REALLY CRITICAL TO ULTIMATELY
ADDRESSING THOSE DISPARITIES
AND, YOU KNOW, ULTIMATELY. THE
TITLE FOR YOUR FAMILY SERVICES
DOLLARS ARE LARGELY TERTIARY
PREVENTION STRATEGIES. YOU KNOW,
THEY'RE MUCH MORE FURTHER FOR
FOLKS THAT ARE MORE SYSTEM
INVOLVED, BUT WE REALLY WANT TO
THINK ABOUT HOW CAN WE DEVELOP
AND LEVERAGE MORE PRIMARY AND
SECONDARY PREVENTION STRATEGIES
. AND SO THE COMPREHENSIVE
PREVENTION PLANS REALLY THE
THINKING BEHIND THAT IS LIKE
LET'S HAVE A APPROACH THAT'S
REALLY SPECIFIC TO THAT COUNTY
AND TO THE POPULATIONS THAT THAT
COUNTY IS SERVING, THAT REALLY
HAS SOME WELL THOUGHT OUT
STRATEGIES. WERE THERE ANY
PLEASE MISS SUNDERLAND MCDONALD
NÓI OKAY. I HAVE THOUGHTS,
PLEASE. SORRY THANK YOU, SIR.
KATHY CENTER LINK CDVA, UM, THE
GOOD NEWS IS, UM, JUST VERY
RECENTLY. A COUPLE OF THINGS
THAT I THINK WE WOULD CONSIDER
TO BE IN THIS CATEGORY OF REALLY
, UM, COMMUNITY BASED
CULTURALLY, CULTURALLY RELEVANT
SERVICES HAVE NOW BEEN APPROVED
AS SOMETHING THAT WE COULD
POTENTIALLY DRAW DOWN TITLE 44,
WHICH IS EXCELLENT. A GOOD
EXAMPLE IS IN RICHMOND. I'M
FAMILIAR AS YOU NEED US, WHICH
IS, UM, I THINK A LOT OF THE A
LOT OF THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT
I'VE HEARD ABOUT ARE KIND OF
MULTISERVICE. AND THE IDEA IS TO
HELP WITH NOT JUST HERE. I'M
GOING TO PROVIDE YOU A
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICE. BUT
ALSO I'M GONNA SERVE AS A SORT
OF NAVIGATOR FOR YOU TO THINK
ABOUT HOW TO KIND OF MAKE YOUR
WAY THROUGH WHAT COULD BE A VERY
SCARY AND DIFFICULT SYSTEM. AND
ALSO IN YOU KNOW THE LANGUAGE
THAT YOU'RE SPEAKING AND ALSO
BRINGING IN OTHERS IN THE
COMMUNITY WHO COULD HELP TO
SUPPORT YOU. AND SO IT KIND OF
BECOMES MORE OF A REALLY
COMMUNITY TYPE OF FOCUS RATHER
THAN JUST A KIND OF WONDERFUL
RELATIONSHIP. NOW, GO SEE THIS
PROVIDER. UM THE OTHER EXAMPLE
THAT I'VE HEARD IS, UM CULTURAL
BROKERS. SACRAMENTO DOES THIS I
KNOW THEY PRESENTED AT OUR
CONFERENCE LAST YEAR ABOUT THIS
. WHERE AGAIN IT'S SOMEONE WHO
CAN BE KIND OF AN ADVOCATE. UH
NAVIGATOR, BE THERE TO HELP
SUPPORT YOU AND GET YOU THOSE
CONNECTIONS TO THE SERVICES, SO
IT'S SORT OF UH, I MEAN, I THINK
IT'S IN THE SOCIAL WORK VEIN,
BUT IT'S LIKE ANOTHER PERSON WHO
UNDERSTANDS THE COMMUNITY WHO
UNDERSTAND SOME OF THE SPECIAL
THINGS YOU MIGHT BE GOING
THROUGH AND CAN HELP TO BROKER
SOME OF THAT AND GET THOSE
SERVICES TO YOU. SO THAT'S NOT
ALL THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
BUT I THINK THOSE ARE A COUPLE
OF EXAMPLES YOU MIGHT THINK
ABOUT IS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
THAT TYPE OF SERVICE. THOSE
SOUND VERY EXCITING AND
CULTURALLY RELEVANT. HOW DO WE
ENSURE THAT ALL COUNTIES WHO ARE
SUBMITTING THESE PREVENTION
PLANS ARE BEING AS FORWARD
THINKING AND WERE THERE ANY
PATTERNS WHEN THOSE
COMPREHENSIVE PREVENTION PLANS
WERE SUBMITTED? UM TOWARDS
REGIONS WHO MAY NEED FURTHER
ATTENTION. I BELIEVE THE PLANS
ARE IN THE WORKS. I THINK
THEY'RE DUE AT THE END OF JULY
AND SO THERE AND I CONFESSED TO
NOT BEING PART OF THE
CONVERSATIONS AROUND THE
DIRECTION BUT WHAT YOU'RE
TALKING ABOUT IS VERY MUCH HOW
WE TALKED ABOUT IT. I THINK AS A
GROUP WITH OUR CHILDREN'S
COMMITTEE WITH OUR DIRECTORS, AS
WE WERE PUTTING FORWARD THE
WHOLE PROPOSAL A COUPLE OF YEARS
AGO TO SAY LIKE WE'RE SAYING GO
TO THE COMMUNITY. AND HEAR FROM
THEM WHAT IS WORKING? AND HOW DO
WE THEN DO MORE OF THAT AND
BRING THAT IN, SO IT'S NOT JUST
, YOU KNOW, HERE'S HOW WELFARE
AND THAT'S THE ONLY WAY THAT
YOU'RE GETTING THESE SERVICES.
AND I DO HOPE WE ARE LEARNING
FROM THOSE BEST PRACTICES THAT
ALL COUNTIES CAN PULL DOWN THE
LESSONS LEARNED FROM COUNTIES
THAT ARE MUCH FURTHER AHEAD AND
IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU'RE ALIGNING
AND HAVING THAT TYPE OF
COLLABORATION, BUT JUST WANT TO
ENCOURAGE IT AS SO MANY OF OUR
COUNTIES MAY STRUGGLE. THAT'S
ABSOLUTELY THIS INFORMATION, AND
I THINK IT'S ALSO RELATED TO THE
BUILDING OF THE CENTER FOR
EXCELLENCE AND FAMILY. FINDING
ENGAGEMENT AND SUPPORT WERE VERY
MUCH TRYING TO TAKE SORT OF THE
THINGS THAT ARE WORKING REALLY
WELL WITHIN COUNTIES AND MAKE
SURE THAT WE HAVE THOSE
AVAILABLE TO OTHER COUNTIES IN A
WAY THAT SORT OF SORT OF MAKES
IT EASIER TO REPLICATE AND TO
IMPLEMENT ANOTHER COUNTIES. AND
SO THAT'S A HUGE PART OF THE
STRATEGY WITH THE CENTER FOR
EXCELLENCE AND NOT JUST LOOKING
AT OUR COUNTIES, BUT AS CATHY
JUST SAID, LIKE LOOKING AT OTHER
JURISDICTIONS LIKE HOW ABOUT HOW
WE REALLY BEEN SUCCESSFUL AND
WHAT CAN WE BORROW FROM? AND HOW
CAN WE ADAPT IT FOR CALIFORNIA?
AND HOW CAN WE MAKE IT AS EASY
AS POSSIBLE TO IMPLEMENT THAT IN
COUNTIES THAT HAVE YOU KNOW
DIFFERENT GEOGRAPHY IS DIFFERENT
RESOURCE IS DIFFERENT. YOU KNOW,
WORKFORCE CHALLENGES ALL THOSE
THINGS RIGHT. SO LIKE WE'RE
TRYING TO THROUGH THE CENTER FOR
EXCELLENCE, THINK THROUGH ALL OF
THOSE STRATEGIES AND REALLY MAKE
IT EASIER FOR INDIVIDUAL
COUNTIES TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF
WHAT WE KNOW OUR BEST PRACTICES
AND I WILL JUST FIND REALLY? AND
IF I CAN UM, IT WOULD BEHOOVE US
TO SPEND THESE DOLLARS
EFFECTIVELY AND TO GET US
UPSTREAM AS WE CAN, AND I THINK
THAT'S WHY YOU'RE SEEING US
REALLY WANTING TO FOCUS ON IT
THAT I THINK I'M TRYING TO
UNDERSTAND HOW THE COMPREHENSIVE
PREVENTION PLANS WILL BE ABLE
AND ARE FOCUSING ON THOSE VERY
DISPARITIES AND
DISPROPORTIONALITY IS, BUT WE
SEE THAT DATA AT THE STATE LEVEL
IF IT'S A COUNTY LEVEL PLAN,
THAT'S DOING THE PREVENTION AND
I, UM WOULD LIKE THEM TO SHARE
OUR BELIEFS OF GETTING AS
UPSTREAM TOWARDS THOSE SPECIFIC
POPULATIONS AND HOPING WHILE
YOU'RE LOOKING AT THOSE PLANS
THAT WERE PASSING THAT
INFORMATION THROUGH ABSOLUTELY
AND WE WILL SHARE WHAT WHAT IS
IT WITHIN THOSE PLANS AS WE
START TO RECEIVE THEM? PERFECT.
UM WITH THAT I WILL THANK VERY
MUCH THIS PANEL. I WILL MAKE A
REQUEST. AS I STATED EARLIER. WE
WOULD LIKE THE ADMINISTRATION TO
RETURN AND PRESENT ON THE
SUPPLEMENTAL REPORTING LANGUAGE
INFORMATION AT OUR APRIL 26TH
HEARING. I WOULD LIKE THE
ADMINISTRATION TO CONVENE A
BRIEFING FOR OUR LEGISLATIVE
STAFF, AS WE SPOKE ABOUT ON THE
INFORMATION WHEN IT IS
AVAILABLE. AND WITH THAT ALL
OTHER ISSUES WILL BE HELD OPEN.
WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO PANEL
FOUR. REGARDING UPDATES ON
IMPLEMENTATION FOR VARIOUS
RECENT CHILD WELFARE INVESTMENTS
. WE WILL HAVE SIX PRESENTERS ON
THIS PANEL. WE WILL BEGIN WITH
DEPUTY DIRECTOR SCHWARTZ. OKAY
UM, THANK YOU. CHAIR MEMBERS OF
THE COMMITTEE. THE FIRST
QUESTION POSED WAS EITHER
OVERALL DEPARTMENTAL ISSUES THAT
CAN BE SHARED. THAT COULD HELP
EXPLAIN THE DYNAMICS AROUND
PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION DESCRIBED
IN THE SECTION AND WHAT
CHALLENGES DOES THIS EXPOSED
THAT CAN BE ADDRESSED AS THE
AGENDA AND THE L. A ANALYSIS
BOTH POINT OUT OVER THE LAST TWO
BUDGET YEARS. THERE HAVE BEEN
SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENTS TO
SUPPORT OUR OVERARCHING GOALS
AND ENSURE THAT EVERY CHILD IS
RAISED IN A FAMILY, PREFERABLY
THEIR OWN FAMILY AND TO ADDRESS
THE COMPLEX CARE NEEDS AND THE
TRAUMA THAT OUR YOUTH WITHIN OUR
SYSTEM HAVE EXPERIENCED THE WORK
TO IMPLEMENT ANY ONE OF THESE
NEW PROGRAMS TAKES SIGNIFICANT
TIME AND PREPARATION, AND AS THE
AGENDA POINTS OUT, THERE WERE 16
MAJOR INVESTMENTS OVER THE LAST
YEAR, TWO YEARS TOTALING NEARLY
ONE BILLION IN NEW FUNDING.
THESE INVESTMENTS HAVE REQUIRED
CREATION OF NEW PROGRAMS AND
PILOTS, THE EXPANSION OF
EXISTING PILOTS THE CREATION OF
THE CENTER FOR EXCELLENCE THAT
WE WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT
EXECUTION OF MULTIPLE CONTRACTS
, DEVELOPMENT OF RESORT REQUESTS
FOR PROPOSALS AND REQUESTS FOR
APPLICATIONS. MULTIPLE TRIBAL
CONSULTATIONS, EXTENSIVE
ENGAGEMENT IN NEGOTIATIONS WITH
OUR COUNTY'S PROBATION. TRIBES
ADVOCATES, OTHER DEPARTMENTS AND
PROVIDERS AS WELL AS THE
DEVELOPMENT OF INFRASTRUCTURE,
OPERATIONAL PROCEDURES AND
OVERCOMING THE BARRIERS TO
IMPLEMENTATION THAT COULDN'T BE
ANTICIPATED AT THE POINT THAT WE
PUT THESE THINGS INTO THE LAW
AND FUNDED THEM. STAKEHOLDERS
HAVE ALSO SHARED WITH US AND I
MISSED UNDERLING ALSO SHARED
THIS THAT ONE OF THE CHALLENGES
IN IMPLEMENTING SOME OF THESE
REFORMS IS THAT THEIR ONE TIME
INVESTMENTS WITH LIMITED TERM
FUNDING THE LIMITED TIMELINES
FOR EXPENDING THE DOLLARS
CREATES CHALLENGES. GIVEN THE
LENGTH OF TIME IT ACTUALLY TAKES
TO DEVELOP ALL THE POLICIES AND
INFRASTRUCTURE AND CONTRACTS AND
PROGRAMS THAT I WAS JUST
SPEAKING TO UM, AND IT ALSO IS
CHALLENGING FOR COUNTIES WHO
MUST ENSURE THAT THE ADDITIONAL
CAPACITY THAT THEY'RE DEVELOPING
WITH THOSE ONE TIME DOLLARS CAN
BE SUSTAINED ONCE THOSE ONE TIME
DOLLARS ARE NO LONGER AVAILABLE
. CDSS HAS BEEN PROVIDING
SIGNIFICANT TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
TO OUR COUNTIES ACROSS ALL OF
THOSE DIFFERENT PROGRAMS THAT WE
JUST TALKED ABOUT. SO THE
CAPACITY BUILDING DOLLARS IN THE
CHILD SPECIFIC DOLLARS IN THE
CENTER FOR EXCELLENCE AND THE
FLEXIBLE FAMILY SUPPORT, SO IT'S
NOT JUST PUTTING OUT THE
PROGRAM. INSTRUCTIONS BUT REALLY
FINDING WAYS TO INNOVATE IN
TERMS OF OFFICE HOURS AND TH AND
SYSTEM OF CARE APPROACHES AND
USE OF CONTRACTORS AND
CONSULTANTS TO SUPPORT COUNTIES
AND DEVELOPMENT OF THEIR PLANS
THAT THEY HAVE TO DEVELOP IN
ORDER TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THOSE
DOLLARS. YOU'VE ASKED ABOUT A
COUPLE OF SPECIFIC PROGRAMS
WITHIN THE AGENDA, AND SO I'LL
JUMP TO THOSE BUT HAPPY TO
ANSWER ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS. AND
DURING THE COURSE OF THE
CONVERSATION, WE'VE ACTUALLY
TALKED ABOUT MANY OF THESE
PROGRAMS AS WELL, UM ONE OF THE
QUESTIONS YOU HAD WAS AROUND THE
CHILD SPECIFIC FUNDING
ALLOWANCES, SO THAT'S THE 18.1
MILLION ONGOING FUND. SO THIS IS
ONE OF THE SOURCES OF ONGOING
DOLLARS AVAILABLE TO COUNTIES
WAS FIRST AVAILABLE TO COUNTIES
IN THE 2021 22 FISCAL YEAR, AND
AS I JUST SAID, IT'S ONGOING. UM
THIS IS TO SUPPORT SORT OF THE
COMPLEX CARE NEEDS OF YOUNG
PEOPLE. SO YOUTH WITH IT SORT OF
EXTRAORDINARY NEEDS. THESE
DOLLARS CAN SORT OF SUPPORT
THOSE THE COUNTIES AND IN
INNOVATING IN TERMS OF HOW TO
MEET THE NEEDS OF THAT YOUNG
PERSON FOR FISCAL YEAR 2021 22.
WE RECEIVED 233 REQUESTS FOR THE
USE OF CHILD SPECIFIC DOLLARS
TOTALLING SEVEN MILLION IN
FUNDING. IT MAY END UP BEING
MORE THAN THAT IS COUNTIES CAN
CONTINUE TO CLAIM THROUGH THE
END OF THIS CALENDAR YEAR FOR
INVESTMENTS FOR, UM, THINGS THAT
THEY DID DURING THE 2021 22
FISCAL YEAR TO SUPPORT YOUTH
WITH COMPLEX NEEDS. UM, FOR THE
FOR THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR.
WE'VE RECEIVED 114 REQUESTS SO
FAR TOTALING 6.4 MILLION. SO I
MEAN, IT'S WORTH NOTING AS WE'VE
BEEN TALKING ABOUT, AND AS I WAS
SAYING, IN ANSWER TO THE FIRST
QUESTION, THERE IS SOME NATURAL
RAMP UP TO UTILIZING ANY NEW
SOURCE OF DOLLARS. UM, COUNTIES
HAVE TO DEVELOP THEIR OWN
PROCESS SEASON PROCEDURES IN
ORDER TO BE ABLE TO REQUEST THE
FUNDS. WE DID WORK THROUGH SOME
CHALLENGES, THE FIRST ITERATION
OF THE FORM TO REQUEST CHILD
SPECIFIC DOLLARS. COUNTY IS
FOUND TO BE TOO CUMBERSOME. SO
WE PUT A WORKGROUP TOGETHER WITH
CWD A PROBATION IN ORDER TO
REVISE THAT FORM AND STREAMLINE
IT THAT WAS POSTED IN FEBRUARY.
AND WE HAVE SEEN AN UPTICK IN
THE REQUESTS WERE ALSO MAKING
SURE THAT WE'RE USING THIS AS A
T A STRATEGY. SO WHEN WE HAVE
OUR SYSTEM OF CARE, TECHNICAL
ASSISTANCE CALLS WE'RE TALKING
ABOUT. HOW CAN WE THINK ABOUT
THIS SOURCE OF FUNDING IN ORDER
TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN REALLY
INNOVATE AND MEET THE NEEDS OF
YOUNG PEOPLE. AND THERE HAVE
BEEN EXAMPLES OF REALLY, UM,
INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS. WITH THE
USE OF THIS FUNDING. COUNTIES
ARE GENERALLY REQUESTING THE
DOLLARS FOR THINGS LIKE ONE ON
ONE STAFFING RATIOS. THE HIGH
PLACEMENT COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH
PLACEMENTS LIKE THE REGIONAL
CENTER PLACEMENTS FOR YOUTH WITH
DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES,
EXTRAORDINARY TRAVEL COSTS OR
INTELLECTUAL TESTING AND OTHER
KINDS OF ASSESSMENTS THAT ARE
NOT COVERED BY MEDICARE. AL UM,
ANOTHER SPECIFIC. SOURCE OF
DOLLARS THAT YOU ASKED ABOUT WAS
THE CRISIS CONTINUUM PILOT. SO
THE CRISIS CONTINUUM PILOT WAS
THE 61.3 MILLION OF ONE TIME
FUNDS AVAILABLE OVER FIVE YEARS
IN ORDER TO FUND PILOT SITES
THAT WOULD BE PUTTING TOGETHER
THE CRISIS CONTINUUM, WHICH IS
REALLY THE THEORY OF CHANGE IS
THAT IF YOU SORT OF MAKE SURE
THAT WITHIN ONE SYSTEM ONE
PROVIDER, YOU HAVE EVERYTHING
FROM THE MOST INTENSIVE TYPE OF
PLACEMENT ALL THE WAY DOWN TO
THE INTENSIVE SUPPORTS THAT YOU
WOULD NEED WITHIN THE FAMILY
SETTING. CAN WE BETTER SUPPORT
YOUTH? IF WE SORT OF HAVE IT
CENTRALIZED WITHIN THAT SINGLE,
UM, SYSTEM THAT SINGLE PROVIDER
UM, WE GOT EIGHT PROPOSALS, AND
ALL EIGHT OF THOSE COUNTIES WERE
AWARDED FUNDING AND THEY'VE ALL
ACCEPTED. UM AND IT ACTUALLY
REPRESENTS PARTNERSHIPS OF MORE
THAN EIGHT COUNTIES SO SAN
FRANCISCO WILL BE COLLABORATING
WITH SOLANO, MARIN, CONTRA COSTA
AND SONOMA IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF
THEIR PILOT, FRESNO COUNTY IS
COLLABORATING WITH MADERA
COUNTY. STANDS LAWS IS WITH SAN
JOAQUIN AND MERCED, AND THEN WE
ALSO HAVE SAN DIEGO AND LOS
ANGELES AND MONTEREY, ALL
DEVELOPING THEIR OWN PILOT
SITES, LUIS OBISPO WITH SANTA
BARBARA AND RIVERSIDE IS
COLLABORATING WITH SAN
BERNARDINO. THE KEY OUTCOMES
THAT WILL BE TRACKED WILL BE
WHETHER OR NOT WE'RE REDUCING
RELIANCE ON HOSPITALS, EMERGENCY
DEPARTMENTS BLONDE FORCE MINT,
RESPONDING TO THE ACUTE NEEDS OF
YOUNG PEOPLE WITHIN THESE
SETTINGS. REDUCED ABSENCES FROM
PLACEMENTS. THE REASONS YOUTH
WERE SERVED BY THE PILOT PROGRAM
. THE EXTENT NOT, UM THE EXTENT
OR THE MOST COMMON NEEDS AMONG
THE YOUNG PEOPLE THAT ARE SERVED
WITHIN THE PILOT. THE TYPES OF
SERVICES THAT THEY'RE RECEIVING
. OBVIOUSLY THE OUTCOMES FOR OUR
YOUNG PEOPLE RELATED TO THE
SAFETY WHILE BEING PERMANENCY AT
SIX MONTHS AND 12 MONTHS. UM,
AND THE OTHER IMPACT OF THE
INTERVENTIONS AND SERVICES. UM,
I WILL NOTE THAT WE DO HAVE A
PROPOSAL TO HAVE THE FIVE YEARS
OF EXPENDITURE AUTHORITY. UM GO
FROM THE TIME THAT THE AWARDEES
WERE, UM, NOTIFIED, WHICH WOULD
HAVE BEEN, UM THIS LAST MONTH.
IN TERMS OF THE 50 MILLION FOR
EMERGENCY RESPONSE. THE QUESTION
WAS WHETHER OR NOT IT'S MADE AN
IMPACT ON OUTCOMES FOR CHILDREN.
WE HAVE NOT YET RECEIVED THE
ANNUAL UPDATES FROM COUNTIES
THAT THEY'RE REQUIRED TO SEND TO
US. WE'RE GUARDING THE 50
MILLION IN FUNDING. THOSE AREN'T
DUE UNTIL JUNE. 30TH OF THIS
YEAR WE CAN REPORT THAT THE
COUNTIES UM, ARE UTILIZING THOSE
DOLLARS THEY WERE REQUIRED TO
SUBMIT PLANS TO US ABOUT HOW
THEY INTENDED TO UTILIZE THOSE
DOLLARS. UM WE HAD 52 COUNTIES
THAT OPTED TO RECEIVE THE
FUNDING IN 2021 22. THEY ALL
SUBMITTED PLANS, AND THEN A
HANDFUL OF THOSE COUNTIES
ACTUALLY UPDATED THEIR PLANS FOR
THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR.
INDICATING THAT MAYBE THEY
WANTED TO IDENTIFY NEW
STRATEGIES. BUT THE VAST
MAJORITY OF COUNTIES ARE
STICKING WITH THEIR INITIAL
STRATEGIES, WHICH MAY INDICATE
THAT THEY ARE ACTUALLY HAVING
SOME SUCCESS AND THE USE OF THE
DOLLARS TO PROMOTE THOSE
STRATEGIES. BUT WE'LL KNOW MORE
AFTER JUNE 30TH WHEN THEY
ACTUALLY SUBMIT THOSE REPORTS TO
US. UM YOU ALSO ASKED FOR AN
UPDATE ON THE SHELTER STAYS FOR
YOUTH AND SPECIFIC INFORMATION
ABOUT YOUTH AND SHELTERS THAT
ARE UNDER THE AGE OF SIX. I WILL
POINT AS A THRESHOLD. THE
MAJORITY OF OUR COUNTIES DO NOT
OPERATE SHELTERS FOR YOUTH AND
FOSTER CARE. 47 COUNTIES DO NOT
HAVE ANY SHELTERS AND OF THE 11
COUNTIES THAT DO OPERATE
SHELTERS. MANY HAVE REDUCED
THEIR SHELTER CAPACITY, WHICH IS
CONSISTENT WITH OUR GOALS WITH
CCR TO REDUCE RELIANCE ON
CONGREGATE CARE AND MAKE SURE WE
HAVE A KIN. FIRST CULTURE. FOR
THE LOVE IN COUNTIES THAT
OPERATE SHELTERS. THERE ARE TWO
DIFFERENT TYPES OF SHELLS,
SHELTERS THAT ARE UTILIZED THEIR
TEMPORARY SHELTER FACILITIES.
THOSE HAVE A 10 DAY LIMIT. THOSE
ARE IN PLACE IN COUNTIES THAT
WERE OPERATING SHELTERS PRIOR TO
CCR THAT HAD 30 DAY SHELTERS AND
THEY WERE ALLOWED TO CONVERT TO
10 DAY SHELTERS, BUT WE DON'T
LICENSE NEW, UM, TEMPORARY
SHELTERS, SO THEY BASICALLY GOT
GRANDFATHERED IN AND THEN WE
HAVE TRANSITIONAL SHELTER CARE
FACILITIES THAT ARE ALSO
AVAILABLE AS A LICENSED CATEGORY
UNDER CURRENT LAW. THEY
GENERALLY HAVE A THREE DAY
LIMIT, AND THEY HAVE TO BE SHORT
TERM AND THEN THEY AFTER THE END
OF THAT SET TERM, THEY'RE
REVIEWED EVERY 3 TO 6 MONTHS.
OUR OVERSIGHT OF SHELTERS REALLY
FOCUSES ON THE YOUNG PEOPLE THAT
ARE OVER STAYING THOSE LIMITS
THE 10 DAY OR THE THREE DAY
LIMIT THAT IS IMPOSED WITHIN
THOSE SHELTERS. WE DID IDENTIFY
MANY OF THE TRENDS THAT WE'VE
NOTICED WITHIN THOSE TEMPORARY
SHELTERS IN THE REPORT THAT WAS
SUBMITTED TO THE LEGISLATURE IN
FEBRUARY. 2022 WHAT WE SAW FOR
THE YOUTH AND THE 10 DAY
TEMPORARY SHELTERS WAS THAT THE
LENGTH OF STAY UM FOR YOUTH.
WITHIN THE 25TH TWO 75TH
QUARTILE WAS BETWEEN 1 TO 9 DAYS
. WITHIN THAT HIGHEST COURT
TITLE. THE AVERAGE LENGTH OF
STAY WAS LONGER AT 12 DAYS. FOR
YOUTH WITH AN OVERSTAY. THE
MEDIAN LENGTH OF STAY WAS 42
DAYS, WHICH DOES SUGGEST THAT
THERE IS A SUBSET OF YOUTH BEING
SERVED WITHIN THESE SHELTERS
THAT ARE TAKING LONGER TO PLACE.
APPROXIMATELY 60% OF THE YOUTH
THAT ARE PLACED IN TEMPORARY
SHELTERS ARE THERE AT AT THE
POINT OF INITIAL REMOVAL WHILE
THEY'RE IDENTIFYING FAMILY. 50%
OF YOUTH IN UM THESE PLACEMENTS
WERE FEMALE 49.8% MALE 0.2%
OTHER. GENERALLY SPEAKING, THE
TEMPORARY SHELTERS ARE FOR YOUTH
OVER THE AGE OF SIX, SO SPECIFIC
TO THE QUESTION ABOUT THE UNDER
SIX POPULATION. THE MEDIAN AGE
FOR YOUTH IN THE TEMPORARY
SHELTERS IS 12 YEARS OLD. AND
WITHIN THAT INTER COURT ELIT
RANGES FROM 6 TO 15.5 YEARS OF
AGE. WE ARE WORKING ON A SECOND
REPORT. UM THAT WILL BE
RELEASING IN THE COMING MONTH
WITH THE MOST RECENT DATA
SPECIFIC TO THE TRANSITIONAL
SHELTERS. THE DATA THERE IS LESS
RELIABLE BECAUSE OF THE
DIFFERENT REPORTING REQUIREMENTS
ACROSS THE FACILITIES. UM THE
TRENDS THAT WE'VE OBSERVED OR
THAT YOU 13 TO 18 HAVE THE
HIGHEST AMOUNT OF OVERSTAYS
WITHIN THE TRANSITIONAL SHELTERS
, MEANING MORE THAN THOSE THREE
DAYS DUE THE LACK OF PLACEMENTS
FOR TEENS AND GOING, UM SORT OF
ABSENT FROM PLACEMENT. WE HAVE
HAD A DECREASE IN THE NUMBER OF
CHILDREN UNDER SIX ENTERING OUR
TRANSITIONAL SHELTERS AND WHEN
YOU ARE UNDER SIX IN A
TRANSITIONAL SHELTER, WE ARE
SEEING THAT THE AVERAGE DAY IS
UNDER THREE DAYS SPECIFIC TO THE
UNDER SIX POPULATION WE DID
PUBLISH AND ALL COUNTY
INFORMATION NOTICE IN FEBRUARY,
2022 TO REMIND COUNTIES OF THE
DIFFERENT REQUIREMENTS THAT HAVE
TO BE IN PLACE. IF YOU HAVE A
YOUNG PERSON UNDER SIX WITHIN A
SHELTER, IT HAS TO BE A
DIFFERENT STAFFING MODEL FOR
THOSE YOUNG PEOPLE, AND THEN
WE'VE ALSO BEEN WORKING WITH
EVERY SINGLE COUNTY THAT HAS
YOUTH UNDER THE AGE OF SIX
WITHIN A SHELTER IN ORDER TO
PROVIDE SORT OF TECHNICAL
ASSISTANCE AND MAKE SURE THAT
WE'RE ADOPTING STRATEGIES SO
THAT WE DON'T HAVE THOSE VERY
YOUNG CHILDREN WITHIN THOSE
SETTINGS. AND WITH THAT, I THINK
I'VE ANSWERED THE QUESTIONS.
NEXT. WE WILL HEAR FROM EMERALD
EVANS, WHO WAS A POLICY ADVOCATE
WITH GRACE AND. AND CHILD
POVERTY AS WELL AS A YOUTH
ADVOCATE FOR THE JOHN BURTON
ADVOCATES FOR YOUTH. YES GOOD
AFTERNOON CHAIR AND MEMBERS OF
THE COMMITTEE. MY NAME IS HAROLD
EVANS. AND I'M A POLICY
ASSOCIATE FOR GRACE AND CHILD
POVERTY, CALIFORNIA AND PRIOR TO
THIS WILL I WAS YOUTH ADVOCATE
FOR JOHN BYRNE. ADVOCATES FOR
YOUTH. I SAID BEFORE YOU ALL AS
A PROUD FORMER FOSTER YOUTH WHO
LIVED THROUGH THE FOSTER CARE
SYSTEM FROM THE AGE OF 6 TO 18.
THANK YOU, CHAIR AND MEMBERS FOR
ALLOWING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO
SPEAK TODAY. MY REMARKS TOUCH ON
HOW AS A STATE, WE'VE TAKEN THE
STEPS TO PROTECT OLDER FOSTER
YOUTH FROM OUR STATE'S HOUSING
CRISIS AS THEY ENTER THE HOUSING
MARKET. SINCE 2010. WHEN A B 12
WAS ENACTED, CALIFORNIA HAS
TAKEN SEVERAL STEPS TO
CONTINUOUSLY IMPROVE OUR
EXTENDED FOSTER CARE PROGRAM.
BUT ONE CHALLENGE THAT WASN'T
NECESSARILY ANTICIPATED BACK IN
2010 IS HOW ARE STATES HOUSING
COSTS HAVE SKYROCKETED. THE
HOUSING CRISIS HAS HINDERED THE
PROMISE OF EXTENDED FOSTER CARE
BECAUSE OF THE SIZABLE PORTION
OF NON MINOR DEPENDENTS THAT ARE
IN PLACEMENTS THAT ARE RELIANT
UPON THE PRIVATE PRIVATE RENTAL
MARKET. IN 2020, CHAMPIONED BY
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S FIELDING. THE
LEGISLATOR ESTABLISHED A HOUSING
SUPPLEMENT FOR TRANSITIONAL
HOUSING PLACEMENT FOR NON MINOR
DEPENDENCE, ALSO KNOWN AS T H P.
N. M. D. THIS PLACEMENT IS THE
SECOND MOST UTILIZED PLACEMENT
FOR NON MINOR DEPENDENCE AND HAS
OPERATED BY NONPROFIT PROVIDERS
WHO MOST COMMONLY ANSWER.
PALACES WITH LANDLORDS AND THEN
PLACE YOUTH AND SHARED
APARTMENTS. THIS IS AN IMPORTANT
PLACEMENT BECAUSE THP NMD
PROVIDERS OFFER YOU SUPPORTING
SERVICES LIKE HELP WITH SCHOOL
WORK, CASE MANAGEMENT, CRISIS
INTERVENTION AND INDEPENDENT
LIVING SKILLS. BUT OVER THE
YEARS LACK OF HOUSING
AFFORDABILITY. CREDIT OBSTACLES
ASSESSING ACCESSING. THIS
PLACEMENT PROVIDERS CITED
COMPETITION IN THE HOUSING
MARKET, RISING RENTS AND
HESITATION ON PART OF LANDLORDS
TO RENT TO THESE PROGRAMS WHO
SUBLEASE TO YOUTH. WHEN I WAS IN
FOSTER CARE AGAIN HOUSING FROM
THE THP NON MINOR DEPENDENT
PROGRAM PARTICIPATING IN THE THP
IN THE N M, D, UM THE PROGRAM
ALLOWED ME TO HAVE SECURE
HOUSING WITHOUT HAVING TO WORRY
ABOUT WHAT I WAS CONCERNED WITH
ALL MY LIFE, WHICH IS WHERE I'LL
BE LIVING FROM ONE WEEK TO THE
NEXT. IT ALSO GAVE ME THE
OPPORTUNITY TO FOCUS ON MY
HIGHER EDUCATION WITHOUT THE
PRESSURES OF WORKING FULL TIME
TO PAY FOR MY RENT. I WAS ABLE
TO GRADUATE LAST YEAR FROM
SACRAMENTO STATE BEING THE FIRST
IN MY FAMILY TO GRADUATE FROM
COLLEGE. THANK YOU FOR THIS
PROGRAM WAS CRITICAL TO ENSURE
THAT I RECEIVED THE CARE AND
SUPPORT THAT ALL YOUTH DESERVE
ESPECIALLY FOSTER YOUTH TO
EXPERIENCE HIGH RISK OF
HOMELESSNESS DUE TO THE COLD DUE
TO COMPLEX FAMILY DYNAMICS. CHP
AND MD HOUSING SUPPLEMENT
PROVIDES ADDITIONAL FUNDING ON
TOP OF THE STATEWIDE THP NMD
FOSTER CARE RATES SO THAT THE
MONTHLY AMOUNT UM THAT T H P AND
M D PROVIDERS RECEIVE CORRELATES
WITH THE COST OF HOUSING IN
THEIR COUNTY VERSUS A FLAT STATE
RIGHT RATE. THIS LEGISLATION WAS
IMPLEMENTED ON A PHASE AND BASIS
STARTING IN 2021. AS OF
SEPTEMBER, 1ST 2022, IT WAS
FULLY IMPLEMENTED STATEWIDE AND
ON ANY GIVEN DAY MORE THAN 1200
FOSTER THAN CALIFORNIA BENEFIT
FROM THIS POLICY. PROVIDERS AND
YOUTH REPORT THAT THIS POLICY
MAKES A DIFFERENCE. NOT ONLY
DOES IT GIVE PROVIDERS THE
PURCHASING POWER TO RENT, BUT IT
ENSURES THAT THEY HAVE FUNDING
TO COVER THE COST OF CRITICAL,
SUPPORTIVE SERVICES THAT
CONTRIBUTE TO THE YOUTH, LEAVING
CARE WHO ARE PREPARED TO LIVE
INDEPENDENTLY. WHILE THP AND NMD
PART OF ME IS THE SECOND MOST
UTILIZED FOSTER CARE PLACEMENT
FOR NON MINOR DEPENDENTS. THE
SINGLE MOST UTILIZED PLACEMENT
IS CALLED SUPERVISED INDEPENDENT
LIVING PLACEMENT, ALSO KNOWN AS
SOUP. AS OF LAST OCTOBER, MORE
THAN 3300 NON MINOR DEPENDENTS
IN OUR STATE RESIDED IN A SOAP.
THE SILVER IS THE MOST FLEXIBLE
, INDEPENDENT PLACEMENT OF LAW.
AND IN THIS PLACEMENT, THERE ARE
NO PROVIDERS. THERE ARE NO
SUPPORTIVE SERVICES AND SOCIAL
WORKERS ARE NOT REQUIRED TO HELP
YOU FIND HOUSING. AS YOU CAN
IMAGINE WHAT THEY'RE SO PAYMENT
OF $1129 PER MONTH. YOUTH
STRUGGLING THIS PLACEMENT TO
SECURE AFFORDABLE SAFE HOUSING
IN THE COMMUNITY CLOSE TO THEIR
WORK OR SCHOOL AND SOME
COUNTIES, UM THE INCREASE IN
HOUSING COSTS HAVE SEVERELY
OUTPACED THE INCREASE IN
CELEBRATES BETWEEN 2012 AND WENT
AND EXTENDED FOSTER CARE WAS
FIRST IMPLEMENTED IN 2023. THE
MONTHLY SO GREAT HAS INCREASED
41% DURING THAT SAME TIME PERIOD
IN THE 15 HIGH IN THE 15TH
HIGHEST COST COUNTIES IN
CALIFORNIA, WHERE THE MAJORITY
OF YOUTH LIVE. THE COST OF A TWO
BEDROOM APARTMENT HAS INCREASED
A 4 80% AND IN SOME COUNTIES,
EVEN EVEN 100 AND 13% IT IS
CLEAR THAT WE NEED TO TAKE THE
SAME HOUSING SUPPLEMENT APPROACH
THAT WAS ESTABLISHED FOR THE THP
NMD PROGRAM AND APPLY IT TO
SILKS. THIS WILL GIVE YOU THE
PURCHASING POWER TO SECURE
HOUSING WHERE THEY FEEL SAFE,
ALLOWS THEM TO GAIN HOUSING AND
COMMUNITIES THAT THEY HAVE TIES
TO WHERE THEY'RE GETTING
EDUCATION AND ALSO WHERE THEY
WORK. ADDRESSING THE HOUSING
AFFORDABILITY ISSUE FOR YOUTH
AND SOAPS WOULD DECREASE
INCIDENCES OF HOMELESSNESS
EXPERIENCED BY YOUTH ARE IN
FOSTER CARE AND CONTRIBUTE TO
THE PURSUIT OF STABLE AND
INDEPENDENT ADULTHOOD. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT WE WILL
HEAR FROM KRISTIN POWER VICE
PRESIDENT OF POLICY AND ADVOCACY
WITH THE ALLIANCE FOR CHILDREN'S
RIGHTS. GOOD AFTERNOON KRISTIN
POWER WITH THE ALLIANCE FOR
CHILDREN'S RIGHTS. THE ALLIANCE
FOR CHILDREN'S RIGHTS, IS A VERY
ACTIVE PARTNER WITH THE
CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL
SERVICES AND REGULATORY
IMPLEMENTATION, INCLUDING
PROVIDING SUGGESTED FIRST
DRAFTS, REVIEWING GUIDANCE AND
REGULATORY DRAFTS AND TO
IMPLEMENT OUR LAWS AND, OF
COURSE BUDGET FUNDING. WE NOTED
WITH INTEREST THE
RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE
LEGISLATIVE ANALYST'S OFFICE
CHILD WELFARE BUDGET ANALYST
ANALYSIS RELATED TO CONTINUING
OVERSIGHT AND SEEKING
INFORMATION ABOUT
IMPLEMENTATION. WE APPRECIATE
THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL
SERVICES HAS HAD ENORMOUS TASKS
OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS WITH
SIGNIFICANT RESPONSIBILITIES.
PARTICULARLY AS IT RELATES TO
IMPLEMENTING CONTINUUM OF CARE
REFORM AND PANDEMIC ASSISTANCE.
HOW WILL WE DO THINK THAT THERE
ARE EXAMPLES SHOWING THAT THERE
CAN BE LENGTHY DELAYS AND
RELEASE AND GUIDANCE WHICH
SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACTS EXECUTION
OF LEGISLATIVE POLICY REFORMS
AND FUNDING AS IMPLEMENTATION
FURTHER LAGS WHEN COUNTIES WANT
IMPLEMENT STATUTORY CHANGES?
UNTIL ALL COUNTY LETTERS OR A
CLS OR REGULATIONS ARE RELEASED
THAT EVEN FURTHER DELAY OCCUR AS
COUNTIES DEVELOPED THEIR
POLICIES, INFORMATION SHARING
AND TRAINING PROCESSES FOLLOWING
THE RELEASE OF THE CORRESPONDING
A CL OR REGULATION. Tð. BETTER
DESCRIBE WHAT HAPPENS FROM THE
TIME THE LEGISLATURE PASSES THE
GOVERNOR SIGNS AND THE
DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
ISSUES REGULATORY GUIDANCE. I
JUST HAVE TO BRIEF EXAMPLES. SP
6 12 PASSED IN 2017 AND REQUIRED
PROMULGATION OF NEW REGULATIONS
FOR THE TRANSITIONAL HOUSING
PLACEMENT PROGRAM, TH PP
PLACEMENT OPPORTUNITY FOR YOUTH
AND FOSTER CARE BETWEEN THE AGES
OF 20 OF 16 AND 18. IN 2018, TH
PP RATES WORKGROUPS MET, AND
THAT WAS THE FIRST PART OF THE
STAKEHOLDER PROCESS. AND
NOVEMBER OF 2018. THE FIRST
DRAFT WAS RELEASED FOR COMMENT.
IN SEPTEMBER OF 2019, TH PP
RATES, WORKGROUP AGAIN MET WITH
THEIR STAKEHOLDERS. IN APRIL OF
2019. THE REVISED DRAFT WAS
RELEASED IN SEPTEMBER OF 2021.
SO NOW WE'RE IN 2021. THERE WAS
AN UPDATE MEETING WITH
STAKEHOLDERS. UM THERE WAS A NEW
DRAFT, RELEASED FOR COMMENT IN
MARCH OF THAT YEAR AND
STAKEHOLDERS SUBMITTED THEIR
COMMENTS AND APRIL OF 2022.
YESTERDAY STAKEHOLDERS WERE TOLD
THAT DRAFT REGULATIONS ARE WITH
THE OFFICE OF REGULAR
REGULATIONS. DEVELOPMENT FOR
FINAL CDSS REVIEW EVER APPROVED
, WILL THEN GO TO THE OFFICE OF
ADMINISTRATIVE LAW FOR FORMAL
RULEMAKING JUST TO RECAP. FIVE
YEARS, WE'LL HAVE LAPSED FROM
THE TIME THAT THE STATUTE PASSED
TO THE TIME THAT WE GET TO FINAL
PROMULGATION OF REGULATION. MY
SECOND EXAMPLE. SB 1 29 WAS
SIGNED IN JULY OF 2021. THIS
TRAILER BILL LANGUAGE INCLUDED A
TEMPORARY DIRECT SUPPORT FOR
CHILDREN AND YOUTH AND FOSTER
CARE TO PROMOTE STABILITY AND TO
MEET THEIR NEEDS RELATED TO THE
PANDEMIC. AS YOU KNOW,
CAREGIVERS TOOK ON A VERY
COMPLEX AND CHALLENGING ROLE
FROM THE START OF THE STAY AT
HOME ORDERS WITH THE CHILDREN IN
THEIR CARE. AS CRITICAL
EDUCATION SUPPORTS WERE
DISRUPTED DURING DISTANCE
LEARNING CAREGIVERS STRUGGLED TO
PREVENT THE CHILDREN IN THEIR
CARE FROM FALLING EVEN FURTHER
KIND OF SCHOOL. THEY ALSO HAD TO
NAVIGATE ACCESS TO BEHAVIORAL
HEALTH AND OTHER SUPPORTS
VIRTUALLY KEEP FAMILY AND
COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS INTACT AND
MANAGE NEW HEALTHCARE RELATED
PROTOCOLS. SB 1 29 WAS CHAPTER
TWO, WHICH INCLUDED THE
CAREGIVER PANDEMIC ASSISTANCE
PAYMENT IN JULY OF 2021. IN
JANUARY OF 2022, THE A. C L WAS
RELEASED FOR STAKEHOLDER
COMMENTS. STAKEHOLDERS SUBMITTED
THEIR COMMENTS WITHIN TWO DAYS
AND IN MARCH OF 22 TO THE A. C L
WAS RELEASED, MEANING THAT THE
CAREGIVER PANDEMIC ASSISTANCE
PAYMENT WAS NOT MADE AVAILABLE
FOR EIGHT MONTHS FOLLOWING
CHAPTER AS ALWAYS, WE WILL
CONTINUE TO ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE
IN REGULATORY IMPLEMENTATION
EFFORTS TO SUPPORT YOUTH,
CHILDREN AND OUR CAREGIVERS
IMPACTED BY THE CHILD WELFARE
SYSTEM. AS I MENTIONED THESE
EXAMPLES OF DELAYS AND ISSUING
GUIDANCE AND REGULATION CAN
SIGNIFICANTLY DELAY THE
IMPLEMENTATION OF LEGISLATIVE
INTENT AND PASSING BILLS AND
BUDGETS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
NEXT WE WILL HEAR FROM KATHY
SANDERLING MCDONALD, EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR OF CWD. THANK YOU, MR
MR. CHAIR KATHY SANDERLING CWD.
A UM, JUST A FEW COMMENTS AS I'M
KIND OF WRAPPING UP THIS ONE AND
FOLKS HAVE TALKED ABOUT A LOT.
UM FIRST WE DO WANT TO, UM, JUST
THINK CDSS FOR WORKING WITH US
ON SOME OF THOSE CHANGES THAT
MAKE SCHWARTZ DETAILED RELATED
TO THE CHILD SPECIFIC, COMPLEX
CARE FUNDING. I THINK, UM, EVEN
THOUGH THE YOU KNOW THE FORUM
WAS WAS SIMPLIFIED. IT DOES
STILL REQUIRE A LOT OF
INFORMATION, AND I THINK WHAT
WE'RE HEARING FROM COUNTIES IS
THE STRUCTURE OF THE FUNDING IS
DIFFERENT THAN ANY OTHER PART OF
MONEY THAT WERE AWARE OF THAT
COUNTIES RECEIVE IN THAT THE
INDIVIDUAL EXPENDITURES
ULTIMATELY HAVE TO BE APPROVED
EITHER BEFORE OR AFTER
EXPENDITURE. THE STATE IS
LOOKING AT THE VERY DETAILED
INFORMATION. TYPICALLY WE WOULD
SEE YOU KNOW SOME KIND OF AN
ALLOCATION. GLAD TO COUNTIES
ALONG WITH INSTRUCTIONS FOR WHAT
THOSE COULD BE USED FOR AND HOW
TO CLAIM HIM AND AFTER THE FACT
THEY DO SOME CHECKS, THERE'S YOU
KNOW AUDITS. THERE'S
REQUIREMENTS THAT WHEN WE DO THE
CLAIMING WE SAID THAT UNDER
PENALTY OF PERJURY, AND WE KIND
OF ALL MOVE ON LIKE WE GET THE
GET THE FUNDING OUT THE DOOR AND
THIS ONE. IT JUST WAS STRUCTURED
DIFFERENTLY. YOU KNOW, THERE'S A
LOT OF DETAIL IN THE STATUTE
THAT SAYS SPECIFICALLY WHAT YOU
CAN USE THE MONEY FOR AND THEN
THE AND THEN THAT HAS TO BE KIND
OF, UM UH, KEPT CHILL. AND SO WE
ARE HOPEFUL AS MUCH. SCHWARTZ
NOTED THAT WE'LL SEE ADDITIONAL
CLAIMING NOW HAPPENING SINCE
SOME OF THOSE THINGS HAVE BEEN
ADDRESSED. I DO WANT TO NOTE I
HAD MENTIONED THAT WE ARE ALONG
WITH THE PROBATION CHIEFS, UM,
CO SPONSORING THE PROPOSAL FOR
THAT ENHANCED AS TRG P, AS WELL
AS THE REGIONAL HEALTH HOMES AND
HERE IS THE THIRD COMPONENT THAT
I HAD MENTIONED, WHICH IS WE
WOULD PROPOSE THAT, UM THE
ALLOWABLE USES OF FUNDS SINCE IT
IS SO SPELLED OUT IN THE STATUTE
BE BROADENED A BIT, UM, FOR
EXAMPLE, ALLOWING, UM YOUTH AND
FAMILIES TO ACCESS A BROADER
ARRAY OF SERVICES, AND WE ALSO
WOULD SUGGEST THAT THE APPROVAL
PROCESS BE MORE EXPEDIENT SO
THAT WE CAN ENSURE OUR FAMILIES
ARE GETTING THE SUPPORTS RIGHT
AWAY. AND THERE'S NOT CONFUSION
OR AN UPFRONT KIND OF
REQUIREMENT OF THE WORK, BUT
IT'S ALL MORE AFTER THE FACT
WHICH IS MORE CONSISTENT WITH
THE WAY THAT OUR FUNDS ARE
TYPICALLY FLOWING. I THINK WE
ALL MET WELL WHEN WE WORKED ON
THAT STATUE TOGETHER A COUPLE OF
YEARS AGO, UM AS PART OF THE
BUDGET PROCESS, BUT IN PRACTICE
THAT LEVEL OF DETAIL JUST
DOESN'T WORK AS WELL. UM I ALSO
WANT TO NOTE THAT ON THE
CAPACITY BUILDING FUNDING, WHICH
IS THE $43 MILLION. THESE ARE
ONE TIME FUNDS THAT ARE
AVAILABLE OVER FIVE YEARS. THOSE
ARE AVAILABLE UNTIL 2026.
HOWEVER WE KNOW THAT WHAT
COUNTIES ARE BEING ASKED TO DO
WITH THOSE FUNDS AND AGAIN, THIS
AFFECTS BOTH CHILD WELFARE AND
PROBATION IS TO BUILD CAPACITY
ON ON GOING BASIS, AND YET THE
FUNDS WERE PROVIDED ON A ONE
TIME BASIS. AND SO WE ARE AGAIN
PROPOSING HERE. THAT THEY BE
MADE AN ONGOING FUNDING SOURCE
FOR COUNTIES AND THAT IS
SOMETHING THAT WE'RE WORKING
TOGETHER AGAIN WITH THE
INFORMATION CHIEFS TO BE ABLE TO
REALLY ENABLE US TO BETTER
LEVERAGE THE FEDERAL DOLLARS. WE
THINK WE REALLY NEED TO BE ABLE
TO ENSURE THAT THEIR ONGOING
SUPPORTS AND THAT THE QUEBEC
CAPACITY IS TRULY BUILT. WE
APPRECIATE THE MENTION OF THAT
AND MISS SCHWARTZ'S COMMENTS. UM
WE DO, UH, ON THE LIST OF
INVESTMENTS THAT ARE IN THE
AGENDA, WE'RE REALLY PLEASED TO
HAVE RECEIVED THE FLEXIBLE
FAMILY SUPPORTS. WE MENTIONED
THAT I THINK IN THE PRIOR
CONVERSATION AND ALSO GREATLY
APPRECIATE THE EMERGENCY
RESPONSE AUGMENTATION AS THIS IS
HELPING COUNTY STABILIZE THEIR
WORKFORCES. WE ARE CONTINUING TO
FACE SEVERE WORKER RECRUITMENT
ISSUES AND RETENTION PROBLEMS
JUST ACROSS ALL OF OUR CHILD
WELFARE COMPONENTS, SO THESE
FUNDS REMAIN CRITICALLY NEEDED
FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE. UM
IN ADDITION TO THINGS THAT WE'RE
STILL KIND OF WATCHING OUT FOR
AND WORKING WITH THE DEPARTMENT
THAT WEREN'T ON YOUR LIST, UM
IS, UH, I MENTIONED AND WE
TALKED ABOUT EARLIER. THE COW
WORKS PAYMENTS FOR FAMILIES THAT
ARE IN THE FAMILY REUNIFICATION
AND CONTINUING THOSE PAYMENTS.
THIS WAS ADOPTED IN THE 2021
2022 TRAILER BILL AND HAD BEEN
REQUIRED FOR IMPLEMENTATION JULY
ONE OF LAST YEAR. WE ARE STILL
AWAITING THOSE INSTRUCTIONS.
WE'VE REVIEWED TWO VERSIONS AND
DO THINK THAT IT'S A PAST TIME
TO GET THAT GOING. UM AND REALLY
URGED THE DEPARTMENT TO GET THAT
DONE. WE ALSO KNOW THAT WE'RE
VERY CLOSE TO SEEING THE FINAL
ON THE POLICY OF COLLECTING
CHILD SUPPORT. THIS WAS, UM A B
16 86 THERE, WORK DONE WITH SOME
MEMBER BRIAN AND, UM, WE KNOW
WE'RE CLOSE. I THINK ANGIE HAS
BEEN SHORTS HAS SIGNED OFF ON
THIS ONE. WE'RE HOPEFUL THAT'S
POSTED SOON. SO JUST ANOTHER
THING THAT WAS KIND OF WATCHING
OUT FOR US SO THAT WE CAN
IDEALLY REDUCE THAT. THAT BURDEN
ON OUR FAMILIES AS WELL AS THE
WORKLOAD THAT IT CREATES ON OUR
FOLKS. UM FINALLY, I JUST WANT
TO SAY, UM, ASSOCIATE MY SELF
WITH THE COMMENTS THAT MISS
EVANS MADE AND UM, EXPRESSED CWD
A SUPPORT FOR THE PROPOSAL FOR
THE SOAP HOUSING SUPPLEMENT OUR
YOUTH IN IN EXTENDED FOSTER CARE
JUST CANNOT COMPETE WITH OTHERS
IN THIS HOUSING MARKET. UM THE
HOUSING MARKET IS TERRIBLE FOR
EVERYONE. BUT IF YOUR YOUTH
RECEIVING THESE FUNDS I MEAN,
LANDLORDS ARE NOT TYPICALLY ALL
THAT KEEN ON RENTING TO YOU
ANYWAY. AND SO WE NEED TO DO
WHATEVER WE CAN. I THINK TO HELP
IN THE IN THE SITUATIONS SO WE
SUPPORT THAT. ASK AS WELL. SO
THANK YOU APPRECIATE YOU. NEXT.
WE WILL HEAR FROM ANGELA SHORT
WITH THE L A P O THANK YOU,
ANGELA. SHORT WITH THE L A. OH,
UM, I JUST WANT TO START BY
ACKNOWLEDGING AS OTHERS ON THE
PANEL HAVE THAT DSS TRULY HAS
RECEIVED MANY SIGNIFICANT NEW
INVESTMENTS OVER THE PAST FEW
YEARS, BOTH FOR CHILD WELFARE,
AS WELL AS OTHER AREAS PROGRAM
AREAS, FOR WHICH DSS IS
RESPONSIBLE. IN ADDITION TO
MANAGING THE VARIOUS
PROGRAMMATIC IMPACT THAT THE
PANDEMIC HAS RESULTED IN SO
WITHIN THAT CONTEXT, CERTAINLY
IT'S REASONABLE TO EXPECT SOME
LEAD TIME BETWEEN FUNDS BEING
APPROPRIATED THROUGH THE BUDGET
. UH GUIDANCE COMING GUIDANCE
BEING DELIVERED AND THEN
IMPLEMENTATION ACTUALLY BEING
ABLE TO BEGIN. UM. AS DESCRIBED
IN YOUR AGENDA. ON AVERAGE, IT'S
BEEN TAKING AROUND 6 TO 12
MONTHS FOR THE DEPARTMENT TO
DEVELOP THE INITIAL GUIDANCE.
HOWEVER YOU KNOW THAT THAT, OF
COURSE, VARIES BY THE SIZE, THE
DETAILS OF THE PROGRAM,
ETCETERA. HOWEVER SIMPLY THE
VOLUME OF THE NEW AUGMENTATIONS
BEING UNDERTAKEN SIMULTANEOUSLY
HAS CREATED SOME SIGNIFICANT
OVERSIGHT CHALLENGES. UM AND IT
JUST REALLY COMPLICATES THE
ABILITY TO TRACK EVERYTHING
EFFECTIVELY THAT'S HAPPENING ALL
AT ONCE. SO WITH THIS IN MIND,
WE SUGGEST THE LEGISLATURE COULD
CONSIDER DIRECTING THE
DEPARTMENT. TO REPORT ON JUST
MORE OF THE DETAILS AROUND WHAT
GOES INTO TO DEVELOPING THEIR
GUIDANCE AND WHY IT TAKES THE
AMOUNT OF TIME THAT IT DOES. UM
WHAT CHALLENGES HAVE ARISEN AND
MAY HAVE REQUIRED ADDITIONAL
TIME TO ADDRESS ANY
UNANTICIPATED OBSTACLES HAVE
BEEN UM, AND WITH THIS
INFORMATION, WE THINK THAT COULD
HELP THE LEGISLATURE ASSESSED.
FIRST IF THE DEPARTMENT ACTUALLY
HAS SUFFICIENT RESOURCES TO BE
TAKEN TO BE UNDERTAKING SO MANY
NEW AUGMENTATIONS
SIMULTANEOUSLY. UM AND AGAIN
JUST GENERALLY IMPROVED
OVERSIGHT AND THE LEGISLATURE'S
ABILITY TO UNDERSTAND HOW THESE
NEW PROGRAMS ARE BEING
IMPLEMENTED. AND THEN, FINALLY,
FOR THE NEWLY FUNDED PROGRAM
COMPONENTS THAT HAVE YET TO BE
FULLY IMPLEMENTED. THE
LEGISLATURE FURTHER COULD
REQUEST THAT THE THAT THE
DEPARTMENT PROVIDE ANTICIPATED
TIMELINES FOR WHEN THE
DEPARTMENT DOES BELIEVE THOSE
AUGMENTATIONS CAN REALLY GET OFF
THE GROUND AND BEGIN
IMPLEMENTATION AGAIN JUST TO
FURTHER IMPROVE ABILITY TO
OVERSEE ALL THAT'S HAPPENING.
THANK YOU. DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE
. AARON CARSON DEPARTMENT OF
FINANCE. NOTHING, DAD. THANK
YOU. I WILL BRING IT BACK UP TO
THE DIOCESE FOR DEPUTY DIRECTOR
SCHWARTZ. I'M GOING TO FOLLOW UP
ON WHAT MR SHORT WAS SAYING
THERE. I'VE ALWAYS BEEN UNDER
THE ASSUMPTION THAT IF THE
DEPARTMENT IS IN NEED OF
RESOURCES, YOU DO A BCP. AND SO
I THINK WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO IS
FRAME IT IN THE WAY OF WHETHER
OR NOT IMPLEMENTATION DELAYS OF
6 TO 12 MONTHS IS ACCEPTABLE OR
NORMAL OR. UM WHAT THE
DEPARTMENT IS LOOKING TO DO OR
HOW CAN WE GET FROM.
APPROPRIATION TO IMPLEMENTATION
ON A FASTER TIMELINE. SO ON MANY
OF THESE, WE DID BUILD IN
TIMELINES, AND I THINK ON A LOT
OF THEM OR MEETING SORT OF THE
TARGET IN TERMS OF GETTING THE
ALLOCATION AND CLAIMING
INSTRUCTIONS IN THE INITIAL
POLICY GUIDANCE OUT, WHICH IS
NOT FULL IMPLEMENTATION. I MEAN,
THEN COUNTIES ALSO HAVE TO DO
THEIR WORK TO THEN IMPLEMENT
THOSE THINGS. I DO THINK THAT
THERE IS A NATURAL PERIOD OF
TIME THAT IT TAKES TO DO THE
NEGOTIATIONS WITH COUNTIES AND
PROBATION. THE CONSULTATION WITH
TRIBES, UM IN ORDER TO DEVELOP
THE POLICY, AND THEY HAVE TO GO
OUT TO THE STAKEHOLDER FOR
REVIEW. UM AND GET THAT FEEDBACK
AND THAT'S ALL A REALLY
IMPORTANT PART OF ACTUAL
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE POLICIES
AND THERE'S A YOU KNOW.
SOMETIMES OFTENTIMES, ESPECIALLY
WITH THESE REALLY COMPLEX
PROGRAMS AND WITH MEETING THE
NEEDS OF YOUNG PEOPLE THAT HAVE
REALLY DIFFERENT, YOU KNOW
INDIVIDUAL NEEDS AND COUNTIES
THAT HAVE VERY DIFFERENT, UM,
RESOURCES AND STRUCTURES. YOU
GET A LOT OF FEEDBACK RIGHT? AND
SO THAT ALSO NATURALLY SLOWS THE
PROCESS DOWN, SO I DON'T KNOW
THAT IT'S COMPLETELY UNREALISTIC
TO SAY THAT IT TAKES SIX MONTHS
TO A YEAR, DEPENDING ON THE
COMPLEXITY OF THE PROGRAM. I
MEAN, PARTICULARLY WITH SOME OF
THE PROGRAMS THAT REQUIRE LIKE
AN RFP OR AND RFK, OR THAT
INVOLVED MULTIPLE DEPARTMENTS
THAT ARE PUTTING TOGETHER THESE
THINGS AND TRYING TO SORT OF
SORT OUT BETWEEN THE HCS AND
CDSS. VERY COMPLICATED POLICY.
UM I THINK THAT THERE IS A
NATURAL AMOUNT OF TIME THAT IT
THAT IT TAKES TO DO GOOD POLICY
AND GOOD IMPLEMENTATION. SAME
WITH THAT COUNTY PLANNING. I
MEAN, THE COUNTY PLANS TAKE A
WHILE TO DEVELOP, BUT THEY ALSO
GIVE US REALLY CRITICAL
INFORMATION FOR HOW WE'RE
ACTUALLY THINKING ABOUT LIKE
GOING BACK TO THE COMPREHENSIVE
PREVENTION PLANNING. YOU KNOW,
WITHOUT THOSE PLANS. WE DON'T
HAVE A GOOD SENSE OF HOW WE'RE
ADDRESSING THE DISPARITIES AND
DISPROPORTIONALITY WITHIN OUR
SYSTEM. AND SO EVEN THOUGH IT
TAKES TIME TO DO THAT WORK, IT'S
REALLY IMPORTANT TO DO IN TERMS
OF INFORMING. THE LEGISLATURE
AND INFORMING OUR OWN
IMPLEMENTATION EFFORTS TO MAKE
SURE THAT WE'RE ACTUALLY
ADDRESSING THE DISPARITIES IN
THE DISPROPORTIONALITY SPECIFIC
TO THE 18.1 MILLION OF THE
ONGOING FUNDING. WE'RE APPROVING
THOSE REQUESTS WITHIN A DAY OR
TWO THAT THEY COME TO US, SO
IT'S A REALLY FAST TURNAROUND.
AND REALLY IMPORTANT INFORMATION
THAT WE'RE GETTING AS COUNTIES
ARE MAKING THOSE REQUESTS. WHEN
WE'RE THINKING ABOUT THESE
REALLY COMPLEX NEEDS THAT YOUNG
PEOPLE HAVE AND TRYING TO PUT
TOGETHER NOT JUST AN APPROVAL OF
THE REQUEST, BUT LIKE WHAT'S THE
APPROPRIATE RESPONSE? AND HOW
CAN THE SYSTEM OF CARE TEAM NOW
WRAP THAT CHILD AND THAT COUNTY
WITH ADDITIONAL SUPPORTS AND
SERVICES? SO SOMETIMES THIS
IMPLEMENTATION WORK? IT DOES
TAKE A WHILE TO RAMP UP. BUT IN
THAT IMPLEMENTATION PROCESS,
YOU'RE ACTUALLY GETTING REALLY
CRITICAL INFORMATION THAT'S
ENABLING YOU TO BUILD BETTER
PROGRAMS THAT EFFECTIVELY SERVE
FAMILIES. UM ADDRESSING EARLIER
THE NEED FOR US TO HAVE URGENCY.
I DO BELIEVE IT'S IMPORTANT FOR
US TO SIMULTANEOUSLY BE
IMPLEMENTING MANY OF THESE
PROGRAMS AT THE SAME TIME, BUT
WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM THE C W
D A. IF I CAN. IS THERE A NEED
FOR PRIORITIZATION SO THAT
IMPLEMENTATION IS GOING
SMOOTHER? OR HOW CAN WE
SIMULTANEOUSLY BE WORKING ON
MULTIPLE PROGRAM IMPROVEMENTS.
GREAT QUESTION, DOCTOR ARAMBULA
. I WOULD SAY, I DON'T KNOW THAT
IT'S I MEAN, MAYBE IN SOME
CASES, PRIORITIZATION. I MEAN,
WHAT THE WORD THAT CAME TO MY
MIND IS COMMUNICATION IN THAT
REGARD, I THINK WORKING TOGETHER
TO THINK ABOUT THOSE PRIORITIES
, AND HOW LONG ARE THINGS
REALISTICALLY GOING TO TAKE BOTH
UPFRONT AS THINGS ARE PUT FORTH,
LIKE, FOR EXAMPLE. WE'RE
PROPOSING AN ENTIRELY NEW
LICENSING CATEGORY IF WE GET
FIVE OR SIX OF THOSE FACILITIES
STOOD UP. I THINK WE CONSIDER
THAT A VICTORY TO BE HONEST AND
YET, LIKE WE KNOW THAT DOESN'T
HAPPEN OVERNIGHT. LIKE SAY WE
GET IT APPROVED. EVERYONE GOES
GREAT IDEA. HERE YOU GO. WELL,
WE OBVIOUSLY HAVE TO WORK
TOGETHER WITH THE SS WITH THE
HCS TO FIGURE OUT WHAT ARE THE
LICENSING STANDARDS. AND WHAT
ARE THE STAFFING STANDARDS? AND
THEN HOW DO YOU, YOU KNOW,
FIGURE OUT A RATE FOR THAT, AND
WE KNOW THAT THERE IS ALSO THIS
RATE CONVERSATION. OWING ON FOR
THE STR GPS AT OTHER FACILITIES
IN GENERAL, AND SO HOW DO WE
THINK ABOUT HOW THAT FITS IN AND
PLAYS IT? SO YOU CAN SEE THOSE
THINGS DO TAKE TIME TO PLAY OUT?
I THINK ON THE COMPLEX CARE
FUNDING ISSUE. IT'S UM IT'S A
LOT OF WORK TO PUT THE REQUEST
IN. AND SO I THINK THAT'S ONE
WHERE I WOULD GENTLY PUSH BACK A
LITTLE AND SAY. IF IT WERE MORE
OF A IF IT WAS A QUICKER PROCESS
, WE COULD STILL PROVIDE THE
INFORMATION AFTER THE FACT TO
HELP WITH SOME OF THOSE THINGS.
I FEEL LIKE THERE'S MAYBE A
BALANCE TO STRIKE A BIT MORE
THAN WE'VE GOTTEN, BUT I DON'T
JUST AGREED THAT IN MANY OF THE
CASES IT DOES TAKE A LONG TIME
TO DO THE WORK, RIGHT. UM IT'S
JUST, I THINK, COMMUNICATING AND
THINKING ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS IN
THE MEANTIME, AS THOSE THINGS
ARE BEING WORKED THROUGH THE
PROCESS IS SOMETHING THAT WE
PROBABLY WOULD WANT TO CONTINUE
TO DO. UM ON AN ONGOING BASIS AS
PARTNERS AND YOU KNOW THE ONES
WHO ARE RUNNING IT ON THE
GROUND, SO THINKING LIKE, OKAY,
THEN WHAT CAN WE DO? IN THE
MEANTIME, THAT MIGHT BE A
CONVERSATION THAT WE COULD HAVE,
EVEN IN A IN THIS SETTING OR IN
A DURING THE BUDGET CONVERSATION
SO THAT WE DON'T JUST HAVE THE
MONEY, AND THEN THERE'S NOTHING
FOR THIS LONG PERIOD OF TIME,
AND IT'S NOT LIKE NOTHING IN THE
SENSE THAT NO WORK IS BEING DONE
TO GET IT OUT THE DOOR. BUT YOU
DON'T NECESSARILY SEE THE FRUITS
OF THAT LABOR FOR SOME PERIOD OF
TIME, AND IT CAN BE A LONG TIME,
DEPENDING ON WHAT THE ISSUE IS.
I'LL TAKE A MOMENT TO APPRECIATE
THE ADVOCACY OF MS EMERALD EVANS
. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US
TO HEAR LIVED EXPERIENCES,
PARTICULARLY TO DRIVE THAT
PARODY BETWEEN PROGRAMS. SO TO
GET US FROM THP AND MD TWO SILK
REQUIRES THAT TYPE OF
INFORMATION THAT YOU PROVIDED.
AND SO THAT ADVOCACY IS VERY
IMPORTANT FOR US POLICYMAKERS
AND WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU
HEARD THAT FROM US DIRECTLY. MY
FINAL QUESTION IS GOING TO BE
REGARDING THE PILOT PROJECTS
THAT SUPPORT MINOR VICTIMS OF
COMMERCIAL SEXUAL EXPLOITATION.
THERE WAS A CHILDREN'S LEGACY
CENTER THAT WAS GOING TO RUN THE
RURAL REGIONAL PILOT AND WAS
HOPING YOU COULD EXPLAIN THAT A
BIT FURTHER IN DETAIL. SURE THE
CHILDREN'S LEGACY CENTER IS OUT
OF SHASTA AND IS OPERATING R C
SAC PILOT AND IS ALSO EXPANDING
THAT PILOT BASED ON THE MOST
RECENT, UM APPROPRIATION. IT'S
IMPLEMENTING A LICENSED FOSTER
FAMILY AGENCY. A LICENSED S T
RTP LICENSED EMERGENCY PLACEMENT
MODEL AND A COORDINATED RESPONSE
TEAM. EVALUATION PORTION OF THE
PILOT WILL BE PROVIDING DATA AND
SHOWING OUTCOMES FOR THE
OPERATION OF THE C SEC CONTINUUM
ACROSS THE ENTIRE REGION. UM IT
UTILIZES THE PRINCIPLES OF HARM
REDUCTION, MEETING EACH AND
MEETING THE NEEDS OF EACH
INDIVIDUAL CHILD WERE THERE AT
WHATEVER IT MEANS ARE WITH THE
LONG TERM GOAL OF INCREMENTAL
CHANGE TOWARDS LASTING SAFETY.
AH IT'S DESIGNED TO SERVE A
RANGE OF NEEDS FOR THOSE IN
RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT, AND IT
NEEDS A PLACEMENT RESOURCES. WE
ACTUALLY WENT ON A SITE VISIT,
UM, UP TO AND VISITED THERE
SEVERAL OF THEIR SITES AND YOU
KNOW, ARE LOOKING AT SORT OF THE
DIFFERENT WAYS THAT THEY'RE
INNOVATING WITH THE FOSTER
FAMILY AGENCY WITH THEIR
DIFFERENT APPROACHES TO HOW
THEY'RE INTERACTING WITH THE
CHILDREN AND THE YOUTH AND THE
HARM REDUCTION MODEL. UM AND
OBVIOUSLY WORKING CLOSELY WITH
THEM TO COLLECT THE DATA AND
IDENTIFY WHAT OUTCOMES WE'RE
SEEING THROUGH THOSE PILOTS, BUT
WE DON'T HAVE THAT THAT DATA AT
THIS POINT. I ALWAYS FEEL
OBLIGATED REPRESENTING THE
CENTRAL VALLEY TO MAKE SURE THAT
RURAL INCORPORATES COMMUNITIES
LIKE MINE AS WELL. WE HAVE A
MAJOR ISSUE WITH SEX TRAFFICKING
UP AND DOWN. THE 99 NEED SOME
SPECIFIC STRATEGIES THAT ARE
HELPING US AND SO, UM, SEEING
THAT WE HAVE A BAY AREA PILOT, A
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA PILOT AND A
PILOT OUT OF SHAFT. I'M TRYING
TO FIGURE OUT WHERE OUR NEEDS
AND CONCERNS WILL BE ADDRESSED
AND SO LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING
WITH THE ADMINISTRATION ON THAT.
THAT WITH THAT I DO WANT TO
APPRECIATE THE ALEJO'S REPORT
THAT I BELIEVE IS ON PAGE 30. I
FOUND THAT SUMMARY INCREDIBLY
INSIGHTFUL. FOR US TO BE ABLE TO
GET THAT INFORMATION, AND I'M
WONDERING IF WE'RE ABLE TO GET
THAT ON A MORE REGULAR UPDATE IN
WRITING, AS I'D LIKE TO GET THAT
HIGHER LEVEL VIEW OF WHERE WE
ARE IN IMPLEMENTATION STATUS
GOING FORWARD. IS THAT. IT MAY
BE FROM THE DEPARTMENT. ACTUALLY
INSTEAD OF THE L A S SO FOR THE
DEPARTMENT, SURE, THANK YOU.
WITH THAT. WE WILL HOLD THIS
ISSUE OPEN AND MOVE ON TO ISSUE
FIVE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH TO
THIS PANEL. YOU'RE LEAVING? YEAH
I KNOW. YEAH ISSUE FIVE IS
REGARDING THE GOVERNOR'S
PROPOSAL ON CHILD AND FAMILY
TRAINING FOR FAMILIES AT RISK OF
CHILD REMOVAL. WE WILL HAVE
THREE PRESENTERS ON THIS PANEL
FOR ISSUE FIVE AND WE WILL BEGIN
WITH DEPUTY DIRECTOR SCHWARTZ.
GOOD AFTERNOON. UM SO THE FIRST
QUESTION WAS WHETHER OR NOT WE
CAN PROVIDE AN OVERVIEW OF HOW
FAMILIES WILL BE SERVED THROUGH
THE CHILD AND FAMILY TEAMING FOR
FAMILIES AT RISK OF REMOVAL, THE
CHILD AND FAMILY TEAMING FOR
FAMILIES AT RISK OF REMOVAL
CORRESPONDS TO D. H. C S S CAL
BH CBC MEDICAID WAIVER.
SPECIFICALLY THE JOINT HOME
VISIT COMPONENT IN WHICH A
SPECIALTY MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDER
WILL ACCOMPANY CHILD WELFARE
WORKERS DURING HOME VISITS
OCCURRING AFTER A SUBSTANTIATED
ALLEGATION OF ABUSE OR NEGLECT,
BUT BEFORE THE CHILD IS REMOVED
OR TO SUPPORT THE CHILD AND THE
FAMILY AFTER THE CHILD IS
RETURNED TO THE HOME, THE
PURPOSE OF THESE JOINT VISITS IS
TO COORDINATE AND DEVELOP
INTERVENTION PLANS THAT WILL
PREVENT ENTRY. OR RE ENTRY WITH
THE CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM. IT
WILL REQUIRE CHILD AND FAMILY
TEAMS TO BE AVAILABLE IN FAMILY
MAINTENANCE CASES, WHICH IS
CURRENTLY NOT FUNDED. RIGHT NOW
SEE, FTS ARE ONLY FUNDED FOR
CHILDREN AFTER THE CHILD HAS
BEEN REMOVED WHEN THEY'RE IN
FAMILY REUNIFICATION STATUS, BUT
THAT'S WHEN THEY'RE STILL WITHIN
THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM WITH THE
CASE PLAN GOAL OF BEING
REUNIFIED THAT LIMITS OUR
ABILITY TO DO THE EFFECTIVE
COORDINATION OF CARE AND SUPPORT
IN ORDER TO PREVENT THE REMOVAL
OR TO, UM, SUPPORT THE CHILD
ONCE THEY'VE BEEN RETURNED HOME
AND PREVENT THE REENTRY. UM IN
TERMS OF THE TIMELINES THAT YOU
ASKED ABOUT THE C F T. THE
FUNDING FOR THE CFT FOR THE FM
CASES WOULD NOT BE AVAILABLE
UNTIL THE WAIVER REQUEST IS
APPROVED BY CMS. WHILE WE'RE
WAITING FOR THAT APPROVAL, WE
CAN BEGIN DEVELOPING GUIDANCE
FOR THE COUNTY'S, UM WE WERE
JUST TALKING ABOUT THE
IMPLEMENTATION PROCESS FOR THE
ONCOMING LETTER IN THE COUNTY
FISCAL LETTERS. UM WE WOULD
DEFER TO THE D. H. C. S UM WITH
REGARD TO YOUR QUESTION ON
WHETHER OR NOT IT'S LIKELY THAT
THE WAIVER WILL BE APPROVED BY
JANUARY. 1 2020 FOR BOTH
DEPARTMENTS ARE OPERATING UNDER
THAT ASSUMPTION. UM AND WE ARE
WE ANTICIPATE THAT THERE WILL BE
SOME RAMP UP TIME ONCE THE
WAIVER IS ACTUALLY APPROVED. IN
TERMS OF THE SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES
AND OUTCOME TARGETS. IT WILL
ALLOW FOR EARLIER CARE
COORDINATION BETWEEN PROVIDERS
AND CHILD WELFARE AGENCIES AGAIN
TO SUPPORT UM, PREVENTION OF
ENTRY INTO FOSTER CARE AND TO
SUPPORT PREVENTION OF REENTRY,
AND WE DO NOT HAVE TRAILER BILL
PROPOSED AT THIS TIME. ELIO UH,
THANK YOU. NOT TOO MUCH TO
ADHERE JUST TO NOTE THAT WE
WOULD AGREE WITH THE STAFF
RECOMMENDATION ON PAGE 40 OF
YEAR AGENDA SPECIFIC TO TRAILER
BILL DETAILING MORE MORE
SPECIFIC TIMELINES,
IMPLEMENTATION, DETAILS AND
MEASURABLE OUTCOMES. WE THINK
THIS WOULD CERTAINLY HELP TO
IMPROVE, LEGISLATE LEGISLATIVE
OVERSIGHT, AS WELL AS BETTER
INFORMED EXPECTATIONS FOR THIS
SPECIFIC PROPOSAL. THANK YOU.
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE CARSON
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE THE ADVERT
HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS ON
THIS PROPOSAL? I'LL BRING IT UP
AND TO THE DIOCESE KEEP IT HERE
AT THE CHAIR. UM MAYBE A BETTER
QUESTION FOR DHC US. BUT AT THE
BOTTOM OF PAGE 39, THERE'S A
NEED FOR US TO IMPROVE STATEWIDE
COUNTY ACCOUNTABILITY FOR
MEDICAL SERVICES. AND THERE
HERE'S A COMMENT THAT THE
ADMINISTRATION HAS WORKING TO
AMEND THE COUNTY MANAGED HEALTH
PLAN CONTRACTS INSIDE LIKE TO
KNOW. HAVE WE AMENDED THOSE? ARE
WE DOING THAT THROUGH THE
REPROOF? CURE MINT PROCESS. HOW
ARE WE ABLE TO. I THINK I WOULD
HAVE TO REFER TO COLLEAGUES AT
DHC S ON THAT WITH THAT I WILL.
UM. LET ME THEN FRAME THE
QUESTION SLIGHTLY DIFFERENTLY IF
I CAN SOUNDED AS IF THERE WASN'T
GOING TO BE TRAILER BILL
LANGUAGE SUBMITTED ON THIS
PROPOSAL THAT I'D LIKE TO
UNDERSTAND HOW WE CAN HAVE A
LEVEL OF ACCOUNTABILITY
REGARDING THIS. GOING FORWARD.
HOW IS THE LEGISLATURE GOING TO
BE INVOLVED AS THERE ARE
APPROPRIATIONS OF SIGNIFICANT
FUNDS? IT'S 314 MILLION GENERAL
FUND. BUT AT 6.1 BILLION TOTAL
FUNDS THAT WERE DISCUSSING HOW
CAN WE HAVE MEANINGFUL AND INPUT
IF WE DON'T HAVE TBL BEFORE US?
AARON CARSON DEPARTMENT OF
FINANCE, UM, ON THE ISSUE OF TBL
, UM, THERE, THERE'S NO TBL
PROPOSED FOR 23 GOVERNOR'S
BUDGET. UM THE ADMINISTRATION IS
MONITORING WHETHER STATUTORY
CHANGES ARE NEEDED, BUT NO IT IT
MAY BE PREMATURE AT THIS TIME
BECAUSE THE WAIVER HAS NOT YET
BEEN SUBMITTED AND APPROVED BY
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. SO, UM,
WE WOULD JUST NEED TO SEE THE
FINAL TERMS OF THE FINAL WAIVER
BEFORE GREATLY INCREASE YOUR
CHANCE AND LIKELIHOOD IF THERE
WAS TBL SUBMITTED THAT THE
LEGISLATURE COULD EVALUATE AND
DETERMINE WHETHER IT WAS
APPROPRIATE. AND SO WHILE I
UNDERSTAND YOUR AWAITING THE
FEDERAL APPROVAL, I WOULD JUST.
ENCOURAGE THAT COMMUNICATION
BETWEEN CO EQUAL BRANCHES OF
GOVERNMENT AS WELL. AND I WILL
JUST ADD TBL CAN BE CONTINGENT
UPON THE PASSAGE OF THE WAIVER.
AND SO WHILE IT'S NOT BEING
DISCUSSED NOW, WOULD THAT BE
SOMETHING THE ADMINISTRATION
WOULD BE AMENABLE TO IF YOU WERE
TO RECEIVE THE WAIVER. WOULD YOU
THEN BE SUBMITTING TBL TO THE
LEGISLATURE AGAIN? WE WOULD, WE
WOULD HAVE TO WAIT TO SEE THE
FINAL TERMS OF THE, UM THE
APPROVED WAIVER AS I GO THROUGH
THE CMS APPROVAL PROCESS. BUT WE
WOULD ALSO NOTE THAT THIS
COMPONENT IS JUST ONE COMPONENT
OF A LARGER WAIVER DEMONSTRATION
PROGRAM ON BEING LED BY THE DHC
S SIDE. UM SO WE WOULD ALSO HAVE
TO WORK WITH OUR COLLEAGUES WITH
THEM BECAUSE THEY ARE THE LEAD
DEPARTMENT ON THIS. THIS WHOLE
WAIVER DEMONSTRATION. WITH THAT
WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THAT
PROPOSED TBL WHEN IT IS
AVAILABLE, INCLUDING THE DETAILS
ON THE PROPOSAL THAT WE HEARD
OTHERWISE ALL ISSUES WILL BE
HELD OPEN ON THIS ITEM. WE WILL
NOW MOVE ON TO ISSUE SIX.
REGARDING THE ADOPTION
FACILITATOR PROGRAM, UNIT B. C P
AND TRAILER BILL LANGUAGE. WE
WILL HAVE THREE PRESENTERS,
BEGINNING WITH DEPUTY DIRECTOR
SCHWARTZ. THANK YOU. SO THE
FIRST, UM QUESTION WAS TO
EXPLAIN THE TYPES OF COMPLAINTS
AGAINST ADOPTION FACILITATORS
THAT NECESSITATED THIS PROPOSAL
. THE IMPETUS FOR THE PROPOSAL
WAS PARTLY FROM ADVOCATES AND
STAKEHOLDERS WHO APPROACHED CDSS
WITH CONCERNS. ABOUT ADOPTION
FACILITATORS OPERATING WITHIN
CALIFORNIA. WE'VE RECEIVED
COMPLAINTS REPORTING INSTANCES
OF FALSE IN THE SLEEPING
ADVERTISING BY ADOPTION
FACILITATORS DEFRAUDED
PERSPECTIVE, ADOPTIVE PARENTS OR
ADOPTIVE FAMILIES, UM,
DEFRAUDING THEM OUT OF TENS OF
THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS VIOLATIONS
OF STATE LAW SOLICITING CHILDREN
FOR ADOPTION, FALSE AND
MISLEADING STATEMENTS FROM
FACILITATORS TO MATCH THEM WITH
A BABY OF A SPECIFIED RACE.
FACILITATORS WHO MATCHED
ADOPTIVE PARENTS WITH A BIRTH
PARENT WHO WAS NOT FULLY
ASSESSED. AND WE'RE
MISREPRESENTATION. AS A LICENSED
ADOPTION AGENCY. THERE'S BEEN AN
INCREASE IN COMPLAINTS SINCE
2020. IN TERMS OF WHETHER OR NOT
IT'S CORRECT THAT THAT THAT, UM
THE PROGRAM HAS EXISTED WITHOUT
A COMPLAINT PROCESS. WE'VE BEEN
ABLE TO RECEIVE COMPLAINTS AND
COMPLETE PRELIMINARY REVIEWS OF
THESE COMPLAINTS, WHICH WE DO,
BUT WE DON'T CURRENTLY HAVE THE
FUNDING OR STAFFING NECESSARY TO
FULLY INVESTIGATE THOSE
COMPLAINTS. OFFER THE SORTS OF
DUE PROCESS AND LEVY FINES AND
ASSESSMENTS AGAINST INDIVIDUALS
FOUND IN VIOLATION OF THE LAW.
THIS IS THE FIRST YEAR THAT
WE'VE REQUESTED STATE OPS
RESOURCES FOR THESE ADDITIONAL
FUNCTIONS. AND IN ADDITION, WE
THINK THAT WE ALSO NEED TO
STRENGTHEN THE STATUTE ITSELF,
IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO DO, UM,
THE KINDS OF OVERSIGHT THAT'S
ENVISIONED, AS WELL AS TO LEVY
THE FINES AS AS HAS BEEN
PROPOSED IN THE TRAILER BILL IN
TERMS OF THE TIMELINE FOR
ESTABLISHING THE PROCEDURES. UM
. WE'VE CURRENTLY POSTED
GUIDELINES FOR SUBMISSION OF
ADOPTION FACILITATOR
APPLICATIONS AGAIN WITH OUR
EXISTING RESOURCES. WE CAN
RECEIVE THOSE APPLICATIONS AND
PROCESS THEM AND POST THOSE
FOLKS ON OUR WEBSITE. BUT THE
TRAILER BILL ENHANCES OUR
ABILITY TO HAVE THOSE STRICTER
REQUIREMENTS. UM REVISING THE
INFORMATION FACILITATORS WOULD
NEED TO GIVE US IN ORDER TO BE
ON THE REGISTRY. GIVE THEM THE
RIGHT TO SUBMIT COMPLAINTS.
ALLOW US TO FULLY INVESTIGATE
THOSE COMPLAINTS AND ACTUALLY
HAVE A PROCESS BY WHICH WE CAN
LOVE YOU. THOSE FINES IT WILL BE
IMPLEMENTED IF APPROVED IN PAST
. OUR GOAL IS BY JULY, UM OF
2023. HELLO. THANK YOU JUST VERY
BRIEFLY, UM, NOTING THIS IS
NEWLY RELEASED TRAILER BILL
LANGUAGE. AND SO AT THIS POINT,
WE'RE STILL VERY MUCH IN THE
PROCESS OF WORKING TO ENSURE
WE'RE FULLY UNDERSTANDING ALL OF
THE CHALLENGES AND THE PROPOSED
SOLUTION. AND FURTHERMORE, HOW
THAT FITS WITH THE BUDGET CHANGE
PROPOSAL THAT WAS INCLUDED AS
PART OF THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET.
SO NO ADDITIONAL COMMENTS AT
THIS POINT, BUT WE CAN CERTAINLY
FOLLOW UP IF THERE ARE ANY
CONCERNS TO RAISE AS WE CONTINUE
OUR ANALYSIS. THANK YOU.
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AARON
CARSON DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE
NOTHING TO ADD THE SAME. BRING
IT UP TO THE DIOCESE. IF THERE
ARE ANY MEMBERS, QUESTIONS, I
WILL JUST URGED THE
ADMINISTRATION TO CONSULT WITH
THE INTERESTED STAKEHOLDERS AS
WE HAVE JUST RELEASED THAT TBL
SO WE CAN MAKE THE APPROPRIATE
DECISIONS THROUGH THIS BUDGET
YEAR. WE WILL ALSO LOOK CLOSELY
AT THAT RECENTLY RELEASED TBL
WITH THE BCP, OTHERWISE ALL
OTHER ISSUES WILL BE HELD OPEN
AND WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO ISSUE
SEVEN. REGARDING THE BRINGING
FAMILIES, HOME IMPLEMENTATION
UPDATE AND PROPOSED TRAILER BILL
PROPOSAL. WE'LL HAVE THREE
PRESENTERS ON THIS PANEL FOR
ISSUE SEVEN. WE WILL BEGIN WITH
DIRECTOR JOHNSON WHEN YOU ARE
READY. THANK YOU. CHAIR AND
MEMBERS. KIM JOHNSON, CALIFORNIA
DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES.
YOUR AGENDA DOES A GREAT JOB
OUTLINING THE BRINGING FAMILIES
HOME PROGRAM. ONE OF THOSE
COMPONENTS I REFERENCED EARLIER
. THAT'S JUST A KEY COMPONENT OF
HELPING KEEP FAMILIES TOGETHER
AND PROVIDE SUPPORTS. OUR, UH,
ANSWER THE QUESTIONS OUTLINED IN
THE AGENDA. THIS IS ONE OF THE
SEVEN HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS
PROGRAMS THAT WE ARE HAVE THE
PRIVILEGE TO SUPPORT. AND AS YOU
KNOW, FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN
REPRESENT 35% OF CALIFORNIA'S
HOMELESS POPULATION, SUPPORTING
FAMILIES AND OBTAINING AND
RETAINING STABLE HOUSING LEADS
TO BETTER OUTCOMES FOR PARENTS
AS WELL AS THEIR CHILDREN ACROSS
MULTIPLE OTHER SYSTEMS,
INCLUDING EDUCATION, WORKFORCE,
CHILD WELFARE AND HEALTH.
THEY'RE BRINGING FAMILIES HOME
PROGRAM PROVIDES RESOURCES TO
SOME OF THE MOST VULNERABLE
FAMILIES IN CALIFORNIA, THOSE
EXPERIENCING OR AT RISK OF
HOMELESSNESS WHO ARE ALSO
INVOLVED WITH THE CHILD WELFARE
SYSTEM. THE GOAL IS TWOFOLD. TO
KEEP FAMILIES TOGETHER AS WELL
AS SUPPORT THEM AND REMAINING OR
BECOMING STABLE, HOUSED. THE
BUDGET ACTS OF 2021 2022 EACH
VALLAPUDUA APPROPRIATED 92.5
MILLION IN ONE TIME FUNDS FOR A
TOTAL OF $185 MILLION FOR
BRINGING FAMILIES HOME AVAILABLE
OVER MULTIPLE YEARS OF THESE
FUNDS. THE DEPARTMENT HAS
ALLOCATED 165.75. COUNTIES AND
TRIBES AND HAS ESTABLISHED A $10
MILLION TRIBAL SET ASIDE. AS OF
22 23 CURRENT YEAR, THERE ARE 53
COUNTIES AND ONE TRIBE OPERATING
A BRINGING FAMILIES HOME PROGRAM
, WITH EACH PROGRAM TAILORED TO
MEET THE NEEDS OF THEIR LOCAL
COMMUNITY. 25 TRIBES AND TRIBAL
ENTITIES HAVE REQUESTED FUNDING
THROUGH THE TRIBAL SET ASIDE TO
ESTABLISH A NEW PROGRAMS, AND WE
EXPECT TO FINALIZE THOSE AWARDS
THIS SPRING. SINCE ITS LAUNCH IN
2016 THROUGH NOVEMBER OF 2022.
THIS PROGRAM HAS SERVED OVER
4700 FAMILIES IN PERMANENTLY
HOUSED 2200 FAMILIES. IN FACT,
THE MAJORITY OF FAMILIES SERVED
THROUGH THIS PROGRAM EXIT THE
PROGRAM INTO PERMANENT HOUSING,
THE LARGEST PROPORTION OF
FAMILIES PARTICIPATING IN THE
PROGRAM ARE FEMALE CARETAKERS
AND CAREGIVERS WITH CHILDREN
AGES FIVE AND YOUNGER. OVER HALF
OF THE CHILDREN SERVED BY THE
PROGRAM IDENTIFY AS HISPANIC OR
LATINO AND RACIALLY. OVER HALF
OF THE CHILDREN IDENTIFY AS
WHITE AND NEARLY ONE QUARTER
IDENTIFY AS BLACK OR AFRICAN
AMERICAN. PROGRAM OPERATORS HAVE
ATTRIBUTED SPECIFIC SYSTEM
IMPROVEMENTS TO THIS PROGRAM,
INCLUDING IMPROVED LEVERAGING,
AS WAS REFERENCED EARLIER IN THE
COMMITTEE OF FEDERAL, STATE AND
LOCAL RESOURCES FOR MORE
INTEGRATED AND COST EFFECTIVE
SERVICES, INCLUDING GREATER
UTILIZATION OF FEDERALLY FUNDED
FAMILY UNIFICATION PROGRAM
VOUCHERS. ALSO THEY HAVE
IDENTIFIED INCREASED
COORDINATION BETWEEN THE CHILD
WELFARE SERVICES SYSTEMS AND
HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS
PROGRAMS. AS REFERENCED ON PAGE
45 OF YOUR AGENDA. THE
DEPARTMENT RECENTLY COLLECTED
PROGRAM UPDATES FROM GRANTEES
OPERATING THE PROGRAM LAST YEAR
AND, ACCORDING TO THOSE UPDATES,
GRANTEES ARE PROVIDING
INDIVIDUALIZED AND INTENSIVE
CASE MANAGEMENT AND HOUSING
NAVIGATION SERVICES WHILE
BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS AND
CREATING PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN
CHILD WELFARE AND LOCAL HOUSING
AUTHORITIES. GRANTEES REPORTED
THAT THESE ACTIONS HAVE
CONTRIBUTED TO FAMILY SUCCESS
AND FINDING AND MAINTAINING
STABLE HOUSING AND INCREASING
FAMILY REUNIFICATION. GRANTEES
PLAN TO USE THE MAJORITY OF
FUNDS AWARDED TO SERVE FAMILIES
EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS WHILE
ABOUT 30% TO SUPPORT FAMILIES
FACING HOUSING INSTABILITY. THE
MOST COMMON CHALLENGE AMONG
GRANTEES CONTINUES TO BE THE
LACK OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING. IN
FISCAL YEAR, 21 22 AT THE
DEPARTMENT HAS CONTINUED ITS
PARTNERSHIP WITH THE UNIVERSITY
OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
CHILDREN'S DATA NETWORK AND U C
. BERKELEY CALIFORNIA POLICY LAB
TO EVALUATE THE IMPACT OF THIS
PROGRAM, AND WE ANTICIPATE FINAL
EVALUATION FINDINGS TO BE
AVAILABLE THIS SPRING. WHY WE
BELIEVE IN THE IMPORTANCE OF
QUANTITATIVE DATA. I ALSO WANTED
TO HIGHLIGHT THE STORY OF ONE
FAMILY, A COUPLE WITH A CHILD
THAT HAD BEEN PLACED IN FOSTER
CARE WERE REFERRED TO THE
PROGRAM. THE PARENTS FACE
SEVERAL CHALLENGES, INCLUDING
SUBSTANCE USE, MENTAL HEALTH
ISSUES AND UNEMPLOYMENT. THE
MOTHER WAS TEMPORARILY HOUSED IN
A SOBER LIVING FACILITY WHILE
THEY'RE BRINGING FAMILIES HOME
PROGRAM, ASSISTED WITH THE
FATHER WITH A VOUCHER AND
SECTION EIGHT AS WELL. WITH
THEY'RE BRINGING FAMILY HOME
SUPPORT THE FATHER'S SECURED
HOUSING THAT MET THE SECTION
EIGHT GUIDELINES AND THE PROGRAM
PAID FOR HIS RENT AND SECURITY
DEPOSIT FOR SEVEN MONTHS UNTIL
THE VOUCHER WAS APPROVED. AFTER
THE MOTHER EXITED THE SOBER
LIVING FACILITY, SHE FOUND AN
APARTMENT WITH A FAMILY MEMBER,
AND BOTH PARENTS ARE NOW LIVING
CLOSE TO EACH OTHER. THE MOTHER
HAS REMAINED STABLE. THE HOUSE
SINCE MAY OF 2022 HAS NOW BEEN
APPROVED FOR S S I WITH THE HELP
OF CASE MANAGEMENT. THE CHILD
WELFARE CASE WAS CLOSED AND THE
CHILD WAS REUNITED WITH THE
FATHER. THE MOTHER CONTINUES TO
HAVE REGULAR VISITS WITH THE
CHILD, SO BOTH PARENTS ARE SET
TO COMPLETE SUPPORT. THE PROGRAM
IS STILL REGULARLY CHECKING IN
WITH THE FAMILY AND ENSURING
THAT THEY ARE DOING WELL. AS IT
RELATES TO THE PROPOSED TRAILER
BILL. LANGUAGE PAGE 44 OF THE
AGENDA PROVIDES AGAIN A ROBUST
OVERVIEW OF WHAT WE ARE TRYING
TO ACCOMPLISH AND SOME EARLY IN
SUMMARY. THIS MAKES TECHNICAL
STATUTORY CHANGES TO OUR STATUTE
TO SUPPORT EQUITY, TRIBAL
ENGAGEMENT AND IMPACT OF STATE
INVESTMENTS TOWARDS ENDING
HOMELESSNESS. THERE ARE NO NO NO
KNOWN CONCERNS THAT WE'RE AWARE
OF SPECIFICALLY AGAIN. THERE ARE
FOUR COMPONENTS IT'S CLARIFYING
PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY. TO INCLUDE
A TRIBE OR TRIBAL ENTITY OR
AGENCY. UNDER THE DEFINITION OF
HOMELESSNESS, INDIVIDUALS
FLEEING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE,
DATING VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT
, STACKING OR OTHER DANGEROUS OR
LIFE THREATENING CONDITIONS THAT
RELATE TO VIOLENCE AGAINST THE
INDIVIDUAL OR FAMILY MEMBER,
INCLUDING A CHILD. IT ALSO
UPDATES THE OUTDATED DEFINITION
OF PERMANENT HOUSING IN THE
STATUTE TO ALIGN WITH HOUSING
BEST PRACTICES. THIRD. IT
EXTENDS THE SENSITIVE SENSE SET
DATE FOR THE GRAND TEAM MATCH
EXEMPTION RELATED TO ONE TIME
FRIENDS FROM JUNE 30TH 2024 TO
JUNE 30TH 2025 TO ALIGN WITH
EXPENDITURE TIMELINES, AND
FINALLY, IT REQUIRES THE
DEPARTMENT TO DEVELOP
REGULATIONS TO IMPLEMENT THE
CHANGES BY JULY. ONE OF 2024
CLARIFIES THE SCOPE OF OUR
AUTHORITY TO DO SO. THANK YOU.
MISS SHORT WITH THE L E O THANK
YOU REGARDING THE TRAILER BILL
LANGUAGE. WE HAVE REVIEWED THE
PROPOSAL AND HAVE NO CONCERNS TO
RAISE AT THIS TIME DEPARTMENT OF
FINANCE EMILY MARSHALL
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE NO
ADDITIONAL COMMENT AT THIS TIME
BUT HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY
QUESTIONS. THE DIASPORA MEMBERS
QUESTIONS. I'LL KEEP IT HERE AT
THE CHAIR IF I CAN AND FOR THE
ADMINISTRATION I'M FOLLOWING UP
ON OUR COMMENTS FROM OUR MARCH
8TH HEARING. WHERE WE WANTED TO
RECEIVE A COMPREHENSIVE
ASSESSMENT OF THE IMPLEMENTATION
OF THE HOUSING PROGRAMS, WHICH
ARE ADMINISTERED THROUGH DSS. UM
YOU MENTIONED SEVEN PROGRAMS. WE
TALKED ABOUT SEVERAL OF THEM ON
MARCH 8TH. I'D LIKE TO BE
INCLUSIVE OF THE BRINGING FAMILY
HOMES TO BE REPORTED BACK TO THE
LEGISLATURE ON FEBRUARY 1ST.
WHEN YOU WILL BE REPORTING ON
THE OTHER PROGRAMS, AND OUR
EXPECTATION WOULD BE TO FOLLOW
THE QUESTIONS WE HAD HERE REALLY
TRYING TO ADDRESS THE UNMET NEED
AND OUTCOMES OF THE HOUSING
AVAILABILITY OR NOT. AND ALSO
JUST THE YEAR OVER YEAR TRENDS
AND UTILIZATION THAT'S HELPFUL
FOR US TO ANALYZE AND BOTH HOLD
BE TRANSPARENT, BUT ALSO TO HAVE
ACCOUNTABILITY FOR OUR HOUSING
PROGRAMS AND WOULD LIKE TO ASK
IF YOU WOULD BE A MINIMAL TO
THAT, YES. WITH THAT. ALL OTHER
ISSUES WILL BE HELD OPEN AND WE
WILL MOVE ON TO ISSUE A. ISSUE
EIGHT IS REGARDING THE
CALIFORNIA STATEWIDE AUTOMATED
WELFARE SYSTEM. CAL SAWS,
ONGOING SUPPORT BCP AND
STAKEHOLDER PRIORITIES FOR CAL
SAUCE. WE WILL HAVE SIX
PERCENTERS ON THIS PANEL FOR
ISSUE EIGHT. WE WILL BEGIN WITH
DEPUTY DIRECTOR BRANDON ANSWERED
WHEN YOU ARE READY. THANK YOU.
CHAIR THANK YOU. COMMITTEE
MEMBERS. MY NAME IS BRANDON
HANSARD I'M DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF
THE OFFICE OF SYSTEMS
INTEGRATION. I'M GOING TO
BRIEFLY REVIEW THE BUDGET
REQUEST BEFORE YOU AND ANSWER
QUESTION ONE BEFORE HANDING OFF
TO MY FELLOW PANELISTS. TO
HIGHLIGHT THE MANY PROJECTS
SUCCESSES OVER THE PAST 12
MONTHS THE CURRENT STATUS OF
STAKEHOLDER PRIORITIES AND THE
REMAINING QUESTIONS. FIRST OF
ALL, I DO WANT TO THANK YOUR
STAFF FOR THE DETAILED RIGHT UP
ON THIS PROPOSAL, SO I'LL JUST
BRIEFLY HIGHLIGHT THE REQUEST.
FOR THE SPECIFIC STATE
ADMINISTRATION BUDGET PROPOSAL.
WE ARE ASKING TO MAKE PERMANENT
FIVE EXISTING POSITIONS WHO'S
FUNDING EXPIRED JUNE 30TH OF
THIS YEAR. THESE POSITIONS THREE
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH CARE
SERVICES, ONE OF THE DEPARTMENT
OF SOCIAL SERVICES. AND ONE AT
THE OFFICE OF SYSTEM INTEGRATION
ARE A VITAL PART OF THE STATE'S
ABILITY TO CONTINUE TO ENGAGE ON
THE COUNCIL'S PROJECT. THROUGH
COWEN MIGRATION AND POST
MIGRATION ENHANCEMENT
ACTIVITIES. THE OFFICE OF SYSTEM
INTEGRATION STAFF WILL
COORDINATE WITH KEY STATE
PROGRAM SPONSORS TO PLAN DEVELOP
MANAGE A PRIORITIZATION PROCESS
THAT MAY INCLUDE FACILITATING
MEETINGS, PRESENTATIONS
INVOLVING PROBLEMS AND ISSUES
CONSIDERABLE CONSEQUENCE AND
IMPORTANCE AND COLLABORATE WITH
OUR SPONSORS. TO RESOLVE
CRITICAL COMPLEX AND SENSITIVE,
UM, CONSORTIUM MANAGEMENT
ISSUES. FOR THE D. H C S
RESOURCES. THEY WILL CONTINUE TO
PROVIDE THE OVERSIGHT OF THE
MEDICAL ELIGIBILITY POLICY
FUNCTIONALITY IN CAL PSAS, WHICH
INCLUDES SERVING AS THE STATE
SPONSOR REPRESENTATIVES FOR THE
MEDICAL PROGRAM, PROVIDING
NECESSARY POLICY GUIDANCE AND
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE DURING THE
SAWS, ACTIVITIES RELATED TO
MIGRATION, ANCILLARY SYSTEMS,
AND THEN AGAIN, THE ONGOING
SYSTEM ENHANCEMENTS. THE C D S S
RESOURCE WILL BE PROVIDING
TECHNICAL KNOWLEDGE AND IS
RESPONSIBLE FOR PROVIDING
TECHNICAL PLANNING PREPARATION,
REVIEW DOCUMENTATION AND SUPPORT
ON THE PROJECT AS IT RELATES TO
VARIOUS CDSS PROGRAMS AND
APPLICATIONS. BY MAKING THESE
POSITIONS PERMANENT WILL BE MORE
CAPABLY POSITION TO MAKE THE
MOST PRUDENT AND TIMELY POLICY
IMPLEMENTATION DECISIONS BOTH
DURING THIS COUNCIL'S MIGRATION
, BUT EVEN MORE IMPORTANTLY,
THROUGHOUT MAINTENANCE AND
ENHANCEMENT, SO TO CONTINUE THE
SUPPORT, UM, WITH THE POSITION
SECURELY IN PLACE, THE STATE
WILL BE EQUIPPED TO MONITOR
FUTURE CALCIO'S RISKS AND ISSUES
AND BE ABLE TO RESPOND PROMPTLY
TO MITIGATE ANY POTENTIAL
IMPACTS TO PROGRAMS OR OR TWO
PARTICIPANTS. SO IN RESPONSE TO
YOUR FIRST QUESTION, THE
SPECIFIC POSITIONS ARE PART OF
OUR LARGER STATE ENGAGEMENT ON
THE COUNCIL'S PROJECT, AND
TOGETHER, THE REQUESTED
POSITIONS WILL PROVIDE STATE
OVERSIGHT FOR TIMELY
IMPLEMENTATION OF POLICY AND
PROGRAMMATIC CHANGES, INCLUDING
HOW THE FUNCTIONALITY SUPPORTS
CLIENT ACCESS AND THE EASE OF
USE. AS THIS PROJECT MOVES
FORWARD, THE STAFF WILL BE
FOCUSED ON ASSESSING AND
IDENTIFYING SYSTEM GAPS AND POST
IMPLEMENTATION PHASES OF CAL
SAUCE TO CONFIRM THAT ALIGNMENT.
AND MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE MEETING
POLICY OBJECTIVES AND OUTCOMES.
DELAY THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF
CAL SAWS TO HIGHLIGHT YOU KNOW
THE LAST 12 MONTHS OF SUCCESSES
AND DANCERS, SOME OF THE
SUBSEQUENT QUESTIONS MR. CHAIR
MANY MEMBERS. MY NAME IS JOHN
BULLIT. I'M THE EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR OF CAL SAUCE, WHICH IS
A JOINT POWERS AUTHORITY THAT
HAS MEMBERSHIP OF ALL 58
COUNTIES THAT IS OVERSEEING THE
IMPLEMENTATION FOR THE COUNTY
USERS OF THE COW SAUCE SYSTEM.
I'M HAPPY TO BE HERE. YEAH YOU
KNOW, OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS
I'VE BEEN BEFORE THIS COMMITTEE
. WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THE
CHALLENGES OF GETTING TO A
SINGLE STATEWIDE INTEGRATED
WELFARE SYSTEM IN CALIFORNIA AND
ONCE IT'S COMPLETE, WILL BE THE
LARGEST INTEGRATED ELIGIBILITY
SYSTEM AND THE COUNTRY AND QUITE
POSSIBLY THE WORLD AS WE GO
FORWARD, AND WE KNOW THAT IT HAS
TO MEET THE NEEDS OF VULNERABLE
CALIFORNIANS. LAST YEAR, I
TALKED ABOUT CHALLENGES THAT WE
HAVE AS WE MOVE FORWARD. AND I'M
HAPPY TO REPORT. WE'VE HAD A LOT
OF SUCCESS THIS YEAR. AND THAT
WE WERE ON TRACK WITHIN THE NEXT
EIGHT MONTHS TO BE ABLE TO
ACHIEVE THAT GOAL OF AN
INTEGRATED ELIGIBILITY SYSTEM,
JUST ONE OF THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA FOR THE FIRST TIME
AND ITS HISTORY. I LOOK AT THE
AGENDA. THE FIRST QUESTION POSED
WAS CALCIO'S BE ABLE TO PROVIDE
LANGUAGE ACCESS AND ALL 19
THRESHOLD LANGUAGES. CURRENTLY
CAL SAUCE PROVIDES LANGUAGE
ACCESS AND ALL 19 THRESHOLD
LANGUAGES IN OUR PUBLIC FACING
PORTAL BENEFITS COW AND WE DID
THIS THROUGH WORKING WITH OUR
STAKEHOLDERS AND OUR COUNTIES ON
THE REQUIREMENTS FOR BENEFITS.
CALLOWAY INCLUDED THAT AS PART
OF OUR RFP AND HAD OUR VENDOR.
ACTUALLY BE ABLE TO PROVIDE
THAT. SO THAT WAS PART OF THE
BASELINE REQUIREMENTS AS WE
ROLLED OUT BENEFITS COW. WE WENT
LIVE IN SEPTEMBER OF 2021 WITH
12 LANGUAGES AND SINCE APRIL OF
2022, WE'VE HAD ALL 20 LANE ALL
20 LANGUAGES AVAILABLE TO THE
PUBLIC, SO WHEN THEY GO OUT TO
THE PUBLIC ORDER, THEY CAN
CHOOSE THEIR LANGUAGE OUT OF 20
LANGUAGES AND THAT IS IN THEIR
NATIVE LANGUAGE AS THEY CAN GO
THROUGH THE ONLINE PROCESS. WELL
THE CAL SAW SYSTEM CAN PRODUCE
NOTICES AND FORMS AND ALL 19
LANGUAGES FOR THESE. WE ARE
DEPENDENT UPON THE TRANSLATION
RECEIVED FROM C. D. S S AND D.
H. C S. SO ONCE THEY MODIFY THE
FORM CHANGED THE FORM UPDATE THE
FORM. IT HAS TO BE TRANSLATED
INTO THE 19 THRESHOLD LANGUAGES
AND ONCE THAT TRANSLATIONS ARE
PROVIDED THEY PROVIDE THAT OVER
TO CAL SAUCE, AND WE HAVE TO
PRIORITIZE THAT WITH ALL OF THE
OTHER CHANGES, THE MIGRATION
WORK THAT WE HAVE THE
ENHANCEMENTS WITH POLICIES AND
THOSE OTHER ITEMS. WE LOOK AT
THE CAPACITY AND WE REALLY LOOK
AT WHAT IS THE FREQUENCY OF THE
FORM? HOW OFTEN IS IT USED? HOW
OFTEN IS IT GENERATED AND THOSE
TYPES OF THINGS TO BE ABLE TO
ROLL THOSE THINGS IN WITHIN THE
EXISTING BUDGET? AS I LOOK AT
YOUR NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA,
WHAT ARE THE CLIENT FACING
ISSUES STILL UNDER DEVELOPMENT,
UNDERGOING PROBLEM SOLVING
ATTENTION AS WE NEAR COMPLETION.
OF CAL SAWS. FIRST OF ALL THE
ADOPTION OF BENEFITS. CALOR
PUBLIC FACING PORTAL HAS BEEN
FANTASTIC EACH AND EVERY DAY. WE
HAVE 100,000 CALIFORNIANS THAT
ARE LOGGING ONTO BENEFITS.
CALIFORNIA JUST HAVE 45
COUNTIES. WE HAVE STILL HAVE 13
VERY LARGE COUNTIES TO BE ABLE
TO GO AND IMPLEMENT THE BENEFITS
. CAL AND CAL SAW SYSTEM WE HAVE
OVER 500 CBOS EVERY SINGLE DAY.
THERE ARE SIX SUCCESSFULLY
TRANSACTING. BUSINESS WITH OUR
45 PRODUCTION COUNTIES ONLINE,
SO THE PUBLIC RESPONSE HAS BEEN
FANTASTIC. UM WE THINK THAT THIS
CAN BE AND IS STARTING TO BE THE
TRANSFORMATIONAL, UH, PORTAL
THAT WE ALL ENVISIONED AS WE
WENT INTO THIS NOW WE'RE
CONTINUING TO BUILD OUT.
ADDITIONAL FUNCTIONALITY FOR
LARGE ITEMS THAT DIDN'T EXIST IN
OUR PRIOR PORTALS, SUCH AS THE
ABILITIES FOR CUSTOMERS TO SEE
THEIR TIME ON AIDS FOR CAL WORKS
PROGRAMS. OR TO APPLY FOR CAL
WORKS HOMELESSNESS ASSISTANCE
ONLINE. UM AS WE BUILD THIS NEW
FUNCTIONALITY AND BENEFITS, CAL,
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT
FRONT END TRANSACT WITH THE BACK
END, WHICH IS CAL SAWS, AND THAT
THE WORKERS HAVE THE DATA AND
THE INFORMATION THAT THEY NEED
IN ORDER TO TAKE ACTION ON THOSE
THINGS TIMELY AND WE NEED TO
HAVE FULL AND COMPLETE POLICY ON
THOSE ITEMS. WE'VE HAD TO DEFER
SOME OF THOSE ENHANCEMENTS UNTIL
AFTER WE'RE DONE WITH THE
MIGRATION OF ALL 58 COUNTIES. TO
THAT PLATFORM. UM AND TO BE ABLE
TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE TAKING
CARE OF ALL OF THOSE ITEMS AS WE
AS WE MOVE FORWARD NOW ADVOCATES
ALSO HAVE RAISED SOME CONCERNS
ABOUT THE REQUIREMENTS TO
PROVIDE AN EMAIL ADDRESS WHEN
SIGNING UP FOR AN ACCOUNT ON
BENEFITS, CAL NOW, THIS ISN'T
UNIQUE TO BENEFITS, CAL
WHATSOEVER, UH, IT ALSO IT'S
ALSO REQUIRED FOR THE SYSTEM, SO
SECURITY SYSTEM UNEMPLOYMENT,
DISABILITY INSURANCE PROGRAMS
AND MANY OTHER PROGRAMS, BUT
WE'VE HEARD THE VOICES OF OUR
ADVOCATES AND THEIR CONCERNS AND
WE'RE EXPLORING OTHER OPTIONS
SUCH AS VOICE BIOMETRICS. WHERE
AN INDIVIDUAL COULD USE THEIR
VOICE AS THEIR PASSWORD. NOW
THERE'S SOME LIMITATIONS TO
THAT. AND THERE'S SOME
COMPLEXITIES WITH THAT. BUT
WE'VE HEARD SOME OF THE CONCERNS
OVER ADVOCATES AND WE'RE
STARTING TO VET THROUGH THAT AND
SEE IF THAT IS A POTENTIAL
OPTION. NOW MANY COMMUNITY BASED
ORGANIZATIONS ARE LOOKING
FORWARD TO NEW FUNCTIONALITY
COMING IN MAY OF THIS YEAR THAT
WILL ALLOW CUSTOMERS TO RELEASE
INFORMATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH
STATE POLICY TO UNDER TO
AUTHORIZED COMMUNITY BASED
ORGANIZATIONS TO SUPPORT
CUSTOMERS ACCESSING AH AND
MAINTAINING BENEFITS ONLINE.
IT'S A RELEASE OF INFORMATION
ARE OI! SO MAY WILL BE THE FIRST
RELEASE OF THIS FUNCTIONALITY.
WE ANTICIPATE IT WILL BE THE
FIRST RELEASE. WE ANTICIPATE
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO
RELEASES AFTER THAT. BECAUSE THE
ADMINISTRATION CONTINUES TO
EXPLORE POLICY WITH THE COUNTIES
AND WITH STAKEHOLDERS AND WE
EXPECT THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE
CHANGES AS THEY GO THROUGH THAT
ENGAGEMENT, AND WE HAVE YET TO
HAVE FINAL POLICY GUIDANCE ON
THAT, UM SO WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO
BE NIMBLE AND REACT AS THE
POLICY CHANGES BECAUSE THAT
IMPACTS UH, THE AUTOMATION. OKAY
THANK YOU. NEXT WE WILL HEAR
FROM JENNIFER TRACY, WHO IS A CO
LEAD FOR THE COUNCIL CAUSE
ADVOCATES GROUP I BELIEVE THEY
ARE JOINING US VIA WEBEX. MR
TRACY. MY NAME IS JENNIFER TRACY
. I'M THE KHALID FOR THE CALCIUM
ADVOCATES GROUP. THANK YOU, MR
CHAIR AND THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS
FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK
TODAY. FIRST YOU WANT TO THANK
THE COUNCIL'S PROJECT AND THE
COUNTIES FOR LEADING THE
COUNCIL'S MIGRATIONS AND
LAUNCHING BENEFITS COW THE
PUBLIC FACING WEBSITE FOR
CONSUMERS TO APPLY FOR AND
MANAGE THEIR BENEFITS. WE'RE
ALSO GRATEFUL TO SEE THE S S AND
THE D H D S STAFF FOR THEIR WORK
AND SUPPORTING THE DEVELOPMENT
OF BENEFITS CAL AND STAKEHOLDER
ENGAGEMENT. IN 2018 AND 2020.
THE LEGISLATURE ESTABLISHED THAT
STAKEHOLDERS MUST HAVE A PROCESS
TO PROVIDE INPUT INTO NEW OR
CHANGING PUBLIC FACING ELEMENTS.
OF THE CALCIUM SYSTEM, AND WE
CONTINUE TO BE GRATEFUL FOR
THESE REQUIREMENTS AND FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY THEY PRESENT FOR
INNOVATIONS AND TECHNOLOGY THAT
REFLECT THE NEEDS OF ALL USERS.
IN ALIGNMENT WITH THESE
LEGISLATIVE REQUIREMENTS, AND
BASED ON OUR EXPERIENCE IN FIVE
YEARS OF ADVOCATING FOR
CONSUMERS IN AUTOMATION, WE'RE
LIFTING UP FOUR GOALS FOR THE
CALCIO'S SYSTEM. NUMBER ONE TO
DEVELOP A STRATEGIC APPROACH TO
PROCESS THE HUNDREDS OF BACKLOG
CHANGES TO BENEFITS CAL AND
EMERGED DURING THE DESIGN AND
DEVELOPMENT PHASES OF THE
WEBSITE. MANY RECOMMENDATIONS
THAT ADVOCATES AND APPLICATION
OF SISTERS HAVE MADE FOR
CRITICALLY NEEDED FEATURES. HAVE
BEEN SENT TO THE BACKLOG LIST,
AND THEY NOW MUST BE REASSESSED
AND RE BUDGETED BECAUSE WE
WEREN'T THEY WERE NOT INCLUDED
IN THE ORIGINAL DESIGN. WE'RE
GRATEFUL THAT THE CALCIO'S
PROJECT CREATED THE ENHANCEMENTS
TEAM ABOUT A YEAR AGO TO
PRIORITIZE THESE PLUNDERERS
BACKLOG ITEMS. HOWEVER THE GROUP
STILL LACKS A STRATEGIC AND
TRANSPARENT APPROACH FOR HOW
BENEFITS COW WILL BE IMPROVED
OVER TIME. WE'RE RECOMMENDING
THAT THE GROUP YOU REORGANIZED
AROUND BEST PRACTICES FOR
PRODUCT MANAGEMENT AND
TRANSPARENCY WITH ALL OF THE
BENEFITS, CAL PRIORITIES AND THE
COLLAPSE AND WITH COLLABORATIVE
ENGAGEMENT WITH STAKEHOLDERS.
OUR SECOND RECOMMENDATION. THANK
YOU. JOHN FOR TOUCHING ON THE
MAY RELEASE OF INFORMATION
INTEGRATION THAT'S COMING UP AND
WE DO NEED TO HAVE DEVELOPED AN
IMPROVED PROCESS FOR CONSUMERS
TO SHARE THEIR INFORMATION. THE
STATE HAS INVESTED MILLIONS OF
DOLLARS IN COMMUNITY BASED
ORGANIZATIONS, OR CBOS AS AN
IMPORTANT PART OF THE BENEFITS
ECOSYSTEM. CBO SERVE CONSUMERS
WHO HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO NAVIGATE
THE BENEFITS SYSTEM ON THEIR OWN
, INCLUDING PEOPLE WHO ARE
ELDERLY, NON ENGLISH SPEAKING
IMMIGRANTS, DISABILITIES COLLEGE
STUDENTS WITH COMPLEX
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS AND
PEOPLE WHO JUST AREN'T REALLY
VERY GOOD AT TECHNOLOGY.
BENEFITS CALIF AS DEVELOPED A
UNIQUE PORTAL FOR CBOS SISTERS,
WHICH IS GREAT. WE REALLY
APPRECIATE THAT. BUT THE PORTALS
CAPABILITIES DO NOT FULLY
REFLECT THE NEEDS THAT CONSUMERS
BRING TO A SISTERS. WE NEED
IMPROVED FUNCTIONALITY FOR CBOS
TO SUPPORT PEOPLE AND DELIVER ON
THE STATE'S INVESTMENTS IN THESE
AREAS. UM THE THIRD ISSUE IS
REGARDING, UM CONSUMER NEEDS,
AND JOHN ALSO TOUCHED ON THIS IN
TERMS OF THE NEED TO HAVE A WAY
TO CREATE AN ACCOUNT IN
BENEFITS. CAL WITHOUT AN EMAIL
ADDRESS. UM IT WAS SURPRISING TO
ME THAT THIS WAS AN ISSUE THAT
SOME PEOPLE JUST DON'T USE.
EMAIL. BUT WE KNOW THAT THERE
ARE PROTECTED CLASSES WHO ARE
STRUGGLING TO MAINTAIN THEIR
BENEFITS BECAUSE THEY CAN'T
ACCESS THESE KEY FEATURES AND
BENEFITS COW. SO WE WOULD LIKE
TO SEE AN ALTERNATIVE METHOD
THAT IS EASY FOR PEOPLE TO USE
FOR LOW TECH SAVVY CUSTOMERS.
AND THEN OUR LAST RECOMMENDATION
IS REGARDING THE DEVELOPMENT OF
A DATA DASHBOARD THAT HAS
MEANINGFUL DATA POINT. WE'VE
BEEN ASKING FOR THIS FOR QUITE
SOME TIME. THE DASHBOARD SHOULD
HAVE INTERACTIVE DATA POINTS
SUCH AS THE NUMBER OF
APPLICATIONS AND RENEW ALS
OUTCOMES, DENIAL REASONS AND THE
INFORMATION SHOULD BE SORT OF BY
THE COUNTY LANGUAGE POPULATION
TYPE AND MONTH. THE DASHBOARD
SHOULD BE UPDATED QUARTERLY AT
MINIMUM, AND THIS WILL HELP US
TO CONTINUOUSLY IDENTIFY THEIR
SUCCESSES OF BENEFITS COUNT AND
MAKE DATA DRIVEN IMPROVEMENTS TO
ADDRESS PAIN POINTS. THE
LEGISLATURE HAS REGULARLY
DEMONSTRATED THEIR SUPPORT FOR
ACCESS TO PUBLIC BENEFITS. AND
THERE'S SUPPORT FOR INNOVATIVE
PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN THE STEAK
COUNTIES AND THE NONPROFIT
SECTOR. THERE ARE MILLIONS OF
DOLLARS AT STAKE, BOTH IN TERMS
OF THE STATE'S INVESTMENTS AND
WITH CONSUMER ACCESS TO
RESOURCES. WE BELIEVE THAT IF WE
CAN CENTER THE NEEDS OF
CONSUMERS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
THE COUNTIES, WE CAN DEVELOP
SYSTEMS THAT WORK FOR PEOPLE AND
SUPPORT THEIR ACCESS TO
SERVICES. PART OF DOING THAT
MEANS HAVING TECHNOLOGY THAT'S
BUILT TOWARD SUCCESSFUL
OUTCOMES. NOT JUST MEETING A
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS. THE
CURRENT STRUCTURE OF STAKEHOLDER
ENGAGEMENT NEEDS TO BE REVISITED
. WE REQUEST SUPPORT FROM THE
SUBCOMMITTEE TO NAVIGATE A
PROCESS THAT ALIGNS WITH THE
LEGISLATIVE INTENT. WE
APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT OF THESE
EFFORTS AND LOOK FORWARD TO SUB
CELEBRATING OUR SHARED SUCCESSES
IN FUTURE SESSIONS. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. NEXT WE WILL HEAR
FROM KATHY SANDERLING MACDONALD
. GREAT THANK YOU, MR CHAIR
MEMBERS. KATHY CENTER LINKS TWD
A, UM, SO I WAS ASKED TO KIND OF
COME AT THIS FROM THE COUNTY
PERSPECTIVE. SO THE FIRST
QUESTION IS HOW WE THINK THAT
CAL SARS STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT
PROCESSES GOING AND ALSO TALKED
ABOUT SOME SUCCESSES AND AREAS
FOR IMPROVEMENT. SO I WOULD SAY
, UM AND I THINK OTHERS AND THE
COUNTY AT WORLD ESPECIALLY THOSE
WHO'VE SEEN MULTIPLE
IMPLEMENTATIONS OF VARIOUS TYPES
OF IT SYSTEMS WOULD SAY THAT THE
LEVEL OF ENGAGEMENT WITH OUR
COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATION
PARTNERS AND USERS OF THE SYSTEM
HAS BEEN TREMENDOUS. IT'S MORE
THAN I'VE SEEN IN THE PAST FAR
BEYOND. THE QUARTERLY SESSIONS
THAT WERE INITIALLY ENVISIONED,
AND I THINK VERY RESPONSIVE TO
THE CONVERSATIONS THAT WE'VE HAD
IN RECENT YEARS. IT'S REALLY
BEEN GREAT TO SEE BENEFITS CAL
GET DEVELOPED WITH THE INPUT OF
, UH AND FEEDBACK FROM ACTUAL
CUSTOMERS, POTENTIAL CUSTOMERS
AS WELL AS THE CBOS WHO WORK
WITH THOSE INDIVIDUALS. UM AS
FAR AS IMPROVEMENTS. UM I THINK
IT SEEMS LIKE OUR COLLECTIVE
APPETITE FOR CHANGE HAS OUTPACED
THE RESOURCES THAT ARE AVAILABLE
IN WHICH TO MAKE THOSE CHANGES.
ALSO NOTE THAT WE I THINK AT HOW
SIZE DEVELOPED AN INSTANT
BACKLOG, BECAUSE REMEMBER THIS
FEDERALLY MANDATED DEVELOPMENT
AND MIGRATION IS STILL GOING ON
AND SO IN ORDER TO MEET THOSE
FEDERAL REQUIREMENTS, WHERE THEY
THREATENED TO PULL FUNDING IF WE
DIDN'T MEET THESE REQUIREMENTS
AND MEET THEM ON THE TIME FRAME
THAT THEY SPECIFIED WE, UH, SAW
A BACKLOG ALMOST INSTANTLY GET
CREATED BECAUSE THE OTHER WORK
HAD TO BE DONE FIRST, SO WE'RE
STILL IN THE PROCESS OF THAT
WORK AND THE QUESTION THEN
BECOMES, WE KNOW WE WANT
CHANGES. UM THERE'S CHANGES THAT
ARE BEING PRIORITIZED THE
LEGISLATURE PUT IN, UM AND THAT
THE ADMINISTRATION PUT IN THAT
CBOS PUT IT. THE COUNTIES ARE
PUT IN. UM AND WHAT THE THERE'S
A GROUP. IT'S CALLED THE
COLLABORATION MODEL, AND IT
INCLUDES COUNTIES. CBOS R I T
REPRESENTATIVES, BOTH FROM CAL
SAUCE AND THE STATE. THE VENDOR
CWD, A STAFFER ON IT,
INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE ACTUALLY
USERS OF THE SYSTEM ARE ON IT.
AND SO I KNOW. UM OUR RECENT
MEETING THERE WERE SOME
DECISIONS MADE THAT I THINK MISS
TRACY MIGHT HAVE REFERENCED
RELATED TO PRIORITIZING PAIN
POINTS IN PARTICULAR. I THINK
THE DISCUSSION THERE ENDED UP
WITH THINGS THAT ARE REALLY TIED
TO THE UNWINDING OF THE
CONTINUOUS COVERAGE REQUIREMENT
FOR MEDICAL BEING KIND OF POPPED
UP. TO THE TOP BECAUSE WE KNOW
THAT'S GOING TO BE A SIGNIFICANT
AMOUNT OF WORK AND PEOPLE STAND
TO LOSE THEIR BENEFITS IF WE
CAN'T DIAL IN THEIR ABILITY TO
DO THINGS, AND SO THOSE ARE KIND
OF NUMBER ONE ON THE LIST IT, UM
MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THERE
WAS A CONSENSUS DRIVEN PROCESS
THAT THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE IN
THE GROUP OF AGREED WITH THAT
MODEL AND APPROACH AND NOT
EVERYONE DID AND SO I ASSUME
IT'S GOING TO BE AN ONGOING
ENGAGEMENT. HOWEVER FOR NOW,
THERE WAS A PRIORITIZATION FOR
THOSE PAIN POINTS AND
SPECIFICALLY THOSE ONES THAT
SEEMS REASONABLE IN LIGHT OF THE
EXTREMELY HIGH STAKES FOR 15
MILLION OF OUR, YOU KNOW
CALIFORNIANS, NEIGHBORS, FRIENDS
AND RECIPIENTS, SO I THINK WE'RE
GOING TO BE CONTINUING TO MAKE
SURE THAT WE'RE PLANNING
EFFECTIVELY FOR ALL OF THAT NEW
FUNCTIONALITY TO GO IN. IT ISN'T
ALL GOING TO BE ABLE TO GO IN AT
ONCE. WE KNOW THAT AND SO JUST
GET KIND OF MAKING THE
PRIORITIES BE THOSE THINGS THAT
ARE THE MOST URGENT. UM AND SORT
OF THE RUBRIC THAT HAS BEEN USED
SEEMS TO BE THE WAY TO GO SO
THAT CHANGES ON THE FRONT END IN
THE BENEFITS. CAL PORTAL ALSO
TRACK TO CHANGES IN CAL SAWS.
THE BACK END THAT ARE WORKERS
USED TO BE ABLE TO MAKE SURE
THAT EVERYTHING TALKS THEY'VE
GOTTA. YOU CAN'T JUST MAKE A
CHANGE AT THE FRONT END. IF YOU
DON'T THINK ABOUT HOW THAT
AFFECTS THE BACK END, AND SO
IT'S MORE WORK THAN FOLKS MIGHT
THINK. UM ANOTHER EXAMPLE IS WE
ARE EXCITED. I THINK MR BLAINE
MIGHT HAVE MENTIONED THE IDEA OF
ADDING THE ABILITY TO APPLY FOR
HOUSING ASSISTANCE TO HELP CAL
WORKS AT THE FRONT END THROUGH
BENEFITS CAL THAT'S GOING TO BE
REALLY EXCITING, BUT WE ALSO
KNOW IT'S GOTTA CARRY THROUGH
ALL THE WAY TO CAL SAUCE SO THAT
OUR COW WORKS WORKER SEES THAT
REQUEST COMING IN AND CAN
ACTUALLY RESPOND TO IT AND GET
THAT AUTHORIZED AND THEN TAKE
THE NECESSARY STEPS TO GET THAT
ASSISTANCE TO THE PERSON. SO
THAT'S JUST ONE EXAMPLE OF HOW
THE ENTIRE PROCESS REALLY HAS TO
WORK. THE OTHER QUESTION WAS, UM
HOW IS THE OVERALL MIGRATION TO
A SINGLE SYSTEM GOING AND I'LL
SAY OVERALL, IT IS GOING WELL.
THERE WERE A LOT OF FEARS US
COUNTIES. PROBABLY EVERYONE
ABOUT HOW THIS WOULD GO,
ESPECIALLY IN THE MIDDLE OF A
PANDEMIC FOR SO MUCH OF THE
DEVELOPMENT, BUT FOR IT TO HAVE
MAINTAINED AN ON TIME MIGRATION
FOR IT TO BE WORKING WELL,
100,000 UNIQUE USERS A DAY
ACCESSING THE SYSTEM FROM
WHEREVER THEY MIGHT BE, UM,
DON'T TELL THEIR EMPLOYERS OR
MAYBE IN THEIR BATHROOM. AT HOME
. WE ARE, I THINK AGAIN, PROVING
THAT A COUNTY LED SYSTEM WITH
SUPPORT FROM OUR STATE PARTNERS
IS ABLE TO BE STOOD UP ON TIME.
AND EFFECTIVELY AND YES, YOU
KNOW, AS WE WORK KIND OF MOVING
FORWARD, NOTHING'S PERFECT.
THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME
GLITCHES, BUT SO FAR, UM, I
THINK, UH, YOU KNOW, MR BALLET,
HIS TEAM AND THE VENDORS HAVE
REALLY BEEN ABLE TO ROLL WITH
THINGS THAT HAVE COME THEIR WAY
. AND WE'VE BEEN REALLY
IMPRESSED. WE'VE STILL GOT AS HE
NOTED 13 COUNTIES OVER THE NEXT
SEVERAL MONTHS. UM BY JANUARY OF
2024. THE GOAL IS EVERYBODY IN
ONE SYSTEM FOR THE FIRST TIME
EVER. UM I'VE WORKED AT CW TO AS
YOU KNOW, NOW, ALMOST 23 YEARS.
WE WERE ENFORCED SYSTEMS WHEN I
STARTED AT THE SENATE BUDGET
COMMITTEE FOR US TO GET TO ONE.
I TRULY NEVER THOUGHT IT WOULD
HAPPEN. BUT KUDOS WERE CLOSE.
AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE
TO JUST, YOU KNOW, GET IT
STABILIZED AND THEN START TO
IMPROVE IT THROUGH THOSE
DIFFERENT PROCESSES THAT YOU'RE
HEARING ABOUT, AND THEN I'M SURE
WE'LL CONTINUE TO TALK ABOUT FOR
SOME TIME TO COME. BUT OVERALL,
UM THINKING ABOUT HOW WE BEST
SUPPORT. OUR CUSTOMERS ARE
WORKERS AND GET THEM THE
BENEFITS. UM WE'RE REALLY
PLEASED WITH WHAT WE'RE SEEING.
SO THANKS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO
COMMENT. NEXT WE WILL HEAR FROM
BRIAN METZGER WITH THE L E O
BRIEN MET SCARAMELLA. OH WE'VE
REVIEWED THE BUDGET PROPOSAL AND
HAVE NO HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY
QUESTIONS. NEXT WE WILL HEAR
FROM MS DOCTOR WITH THE
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE. HI JANINE
. DOCTOR DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE.
UM NO ADDITIONAL COMMENTS. BUT
HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
THANK YOU. I'LL BRING IT UP TO
THE DIOCESE. IF I CAN. I'D LIKE
TO FOLLOW UP ON MS TRACY'S
COMMENTS, AND I'M HOPING FOR A
RESPONSE IF I CAN, EITHER FROM
MR BULLET OR FROM KATHY WELL
FROM BOTH OF YOU, KATHY
SANDERLING MCDONALD AS WELL. WE
HEARD YOUR OVERVIEWS, BUT HOW
CAN WE INCORPORATE AND
MEANINGFUL E UM, UM, UTILIZE THE
INFORMATION BEING PROVIDED
THROUGH THESE TELL SAUCE TEAMS,
UM, THAT SHE IS A CO LEAD OF
THROUGH THEIR ADVOCATE GROUP,
HOPING YOU CAN RESPOND TO THE
FOUR CONCERNS THAT SHE RAISED.
YOU TOUCHED ON A FEW OF THEM IN
YOUR OPENING COMMENTS, BUT
WANTED TO SEE IF YOU HAD ANY
OTHER FURTHER COMMENTS. YEAH MR
CHAIRED AS I HAVE STATED, AND
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR CENTRALLY,
MCDONALD STATED, THIS IS BETTER
BALANCING ACT. I'LL ADMIT THIS
MIGRATION THE BUILD OUT OF
BENEFITS COW AS WE'VE GONE
FORWARD THE TRAINING AND WORKING
WITH THE COUNTIES TO GET THEM
READY DURING THE PANDEMIC, IT'S
BEEN CHALLENGING AND IT'S BEEN A
BALANCING ACT. OUR PROCESSES ARE
NEW PROCESSES THAT MISS TRACY
TALKED ABOUT. YEAH THEY NEED TO
MATURE AND WE NEED TO CONTINUE
TO WORK TOGETHER. WE'RE SPENDING
A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF TIME
TOGETHER. WORKING THROUGH THAT.
JUST A MONTH AGO. UM PROBABLY A
MONTH, AND A DAY AGO. I GOT A
LIST OF RECOMMENDATIONS. I'M
WORKING WITH MY TEAM. AH! TWICE
A WEEK BECAUSE IT'S THE SAME
TEAM THAT'S WORKING ON ALL OF
THESE ROLLOUTS AND PREPARING THE
COUNTIES FOR THESE ROLLOUTS TO
BE ABLE TO, UH, WORK THROUGH
THESE ITEMS, MAKE SURE THAT WE
HAVE RESPONSES SO THAT WE CAN GO
TOGETHER. THE CONSORTIUM'S
COMMITTED TO CONTINUE TO WORK
THROUGH THESE PROCESSES AND
MATURE THESE PROCESSES. BUT IT'S
GOING TO TAKE SOME TIME. TO BE
ABLE TO DO THAT, AS WE WORK
TOGETHER. ONE OF THE THINGS
THAT'S BEEN BROUGHT UP HERE WAS
WE KNOW THAT OUR ADVOCATE,
COMMUNITY OR STAKEHOLDER
COMMUNITIES. BIGGEST CONCERN, AS
WE WENT IN WAS WE CAN'T REPEAT
THE SAME ITEMS THAT WE'VE HAD ON
PAST MIGRATIONS. THEY'VE BEEN
CHALLENGING. THEY'VE IMPACTED
CLIENTS AND CUSTOMERS AND THINGS
LIKE THAT. WE NEED TO HAVE A
BETTER WAY TO PREPARE OUR
COUNTIES AND OUR SYSTEMS TO
SCALE. AND WE'VE BEEN PRETTY
DARN SUCCESSFUL AND DOING THAT,
BUT WE HAVE TO BE DILIGENT. AS
WE MOVE FORWARD, I THINK FOR THE
FOUR ITEMS THAT WE'VE TALKED
ABOUT ON THE BENEFITS COW. SIGN
ON AND BE ABLE TO USE THAT FOR
FOLKS I'VE TALKED ABOUT
EXPLORING VOICE BIOMETRICS TO
SEE IF THAT IS A REASONABLE ITEM
. THE OTHER THING IS WE WANT TO
ACTUALLY GET SOME LISTS FROM OUR
ADVOCATE PARTNERS OF SOME PEOPLE
IN THIS POPULATION SO WE COULD
SEND OUT SOME PEOPLE TO DO SOME
USER CENTERED DESIGN. WITH THEM
BECAUSE THIS IS ONLINE. AND IT'S
A VERY COMPLEX APPLICATION
PROCESS THAT THEY MUST GO
THROUGH. AND IF THEY CAN'T GET A
FREE EMAIL ADDRESS WERE
CONCERNED THAT THEY WILL BE ABLE
TO MAKE IT THROUGH THE
APPLICATION PROCESS AS WE GO
FORWARD. THAT'S WHY THE COUNTIES
HAVE OTHER ACCESS CHANNELS
AVAILABLE TO THESE POPULATIONS
TO GO THROUGH, BUT WE WANT TO
CONTINUE TO WORK AND PARTNER TO
SEE IF WE CAN MAKE BENEFITS CAL
ONE OF THOSE APPLICATION
CHANNELS THAT CAN STREAMLINE
THOSE ITEMS. ON DATA AND DATA
DASHBOARDS WE DON'T WANNA
REPLICATE AND HAVE DUELING DATA
. THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS
THROUGH OPEN DATA BORDER PORTALS
THAT CHH JUST PROVIDES. A DHC S
PROVIDES THAT THAT CDSS PROVIDES
. WE NEED TO LOOK AT THOSE ITEMS
SEE WHERE THE DATA RESIDES AND
DO THAT. WE'VE JUST STARTED
PUBLISHING ON OUR CAL SIZE, DIED
OF WORK. JUST SOME USAGE,
STATISTICS AND THINGS LIKE THAT
, AND WE NEED TO EXPLORE THAT AS
WE GO FORWARD WITH THE PARTNERS
TO SAY, WHERE IS AND WHAT IS THE
RIGHT DATA AS WE GO FORWARD, SO
WE'RE NOT REPLICATING THOSE
ITEMS GOING FORWARD. WE'RE
COMMITTED TO WORKING THROUGH
THAT. UM SO WE NEED TO MATURE
THESE PROCESSES AND WORK THROUGH
THAT, BUT WE CAN'T HAVE THEM. UM
CONSUME ALL THE TIME AND
JEOPARDIZE OUR COMMITMENTS TO
THE LEGISLATURE TO OUR STATE
PARTNERS TO OUR COUNTY PARTNERS
AND CONTINUING TO DELIVER. IT'S
GOING TO TAKE A LITTLE BIT OF
TIME. UM BUT I KNOW TOGETHER
WILL WILL WILL WORK THROUGH THAT
WE'RE COMMITTED TO DO THAT MISS
UNDERLING MCDONALD FURTHER SURE,
I THINK MR BILLY, OF COURSE, HAS
HAS REALLY UM, HIS ANSWERS ARE
EXCELLENT. I WILL SHARE UM AND
THINKING THROUGH THE EMAIL
ADDRESS I HEARD AND WE'VE
DISCUSSED INTERNALLY. UM A BIT
IN OUR OFFICE ABOUT THAT ISSUE,
UM, KNOWING I MEAN, I HAVE A LOT
OF ONLINE ACCOUNTS, AND THEY ALL
REQUIRE AN EMAIL ADDRESS. BUT I
UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE GOING
TO BE INDIVIDUALS IN OUR LARGE
STATE WHO MAY NOT FEEL
COMFORTABLE OR FOR WHATEVER
REASON, OR MAY NOT REMEMBER
THEIR EMAIL ADDRESS, AND SO I DO
THINK IT, IT MAKES SENSE TO
EXPLORE. JUST I THINK WE NEED TO
REMEMBER THAT THERE'S GOING TO
BE A TENSION BETWEEN ACCESS AND
SECURITY. AND SO ONE OF THE
REASONS FOR THE EMAIL ADDRESS IS
TO DO THAT ADDED LAYER OF
SECURITY IN ORDER TO ENSURE THAT
SOMEONE REALLY IS WHO THEY SAY
THEY ARE AND SO THINKING THROUGH
IF WE'RE GOING TO CREATE A
STRUCTURE IN WHICH IN ORDER TO
ACCESS ONLINE, YOU DO NOT HAVE
TO PROVIDE THAT EMAIL ADDRESS.
ARE WE REPLACING IT WITH
SOMETHING THAT WILL BE SECURE AS
WELL? AND WHAT WILL THAT BE? SO
UM, THAT I MEAN, WE CERTAINLY
LOOK FORWARD TO JOHN AND HIS
TEAM MAKING THOSE
RECOMMENDATIONS. AND UM, AT THIS
POINT, THOUGH, JUST ABANDONING
THAT REQUIREMENT SEEMS LIKE
WITHOUT A GOOD ALTERNATIVE IN
PLACE WOULD NOT BE A GOOD IDEA.
WE SEE, FOR EXAMPLE, I MEAN,
LOOK AT HOW MANY SEE, I MEAN,
IT'S A DIFFERENT ISSUE, BUT LIKE
HOW MANY MILLIONS OF DOLLARS ARE
OUR CUSTOMERS LOSING TBT
SKIMMING EVERY MONTH AND
SCAMMING AND ANYTHING THAT YOU
DO THAT COULD MAKE IT
POTENTIALLY EASIER FOR SOMEONE
TO ACCESS ERRONEOUSLY AND
INAPPROPRIATELY THAT INFORMATION
WHETHER THEY BE A WELL MEANING
CBO OR A PERSON WHO'S OUT TO
REALLY DO WRONG. THAT
INFORMATION GETS OUT THERE AND
THEN YOU CAN'T PUT THAT GENIE
BACK IN THE BOTTLE. THAT IS A
BIG DEAL, AND SO WE WOULD
RECOMMEND THAT WE ERR ON THE
SIDE OF SECURITY, KNOWING THAT
IF AN INDIVIDUAL IS
UNCOMFORTABLE GOING ONLINE, THEY
DO NOT HAVE TO THEY CAN SEND
THINGS IN MY MAIL. THEY CAN CALL
US THEY CAN COME IN PERSON. THEY
CAN WORK WITH THE CBO, WHO DOES
FEEL COMFORTABLE HAVING A CBO
ACCOUNT AND WORKING WITH THEM.
AND SO WE DO THINK THAT THERE
ARE OPTIONS AND YOU CAN YOU CAN
SUBMIT. I BELIEVE AN APPLICATION
WITHOUT HAVING TO USE AN EMAIL
ADDRESS. YOU AT LEAST CAN GET
THE PROCESS GOING. PROTECT YOUR
APPLICATION DATE, WHICH IS
NUMBER ONE IN OUR WORLD, SO THAT
YOUR BENEFITS GO BACK TO THAT
DATE. ONCE WE GET YOU APPROVED,
SO WE'VE TRIED TO MAKE
ACCOMMODATIONS WHERE WE CAN BUT
I DO THINK THAT THAT THAT
SECURITY ESPECIALLY IN THIS DAY
AND AGE AND WHAT WE'RE SEEING
ELSEWHERE IN OUR SYSTEM, UM YES
, WE'RE A LITTLE TOUCHY ABOUT
IT, BUT BUT I THINK YOU PROBABLY
UNDERSTAND WHY THANK YOU WITH
THAT. I'M GOING TO TURN TO THE
LAO IF I CAN LIKE TO ASK FOR
YOUR ASSISTANCE AND BEING
INVOLVED AND WHAT I HOPE WILL BE
A NEW ONGOING DIALOGUE. BETWEEN
THE STAKEHOLDER COALITION WHO
SPOKE SO ELOQUENTLY HERE TODAY.
THE OFFICE OF SYSTEMS
INTEGRATION, WHICH MAY HAVE A
NEW NAME SOON. DSS AND CWD A
REGARDING THE STAKEHOLDER
CONCERNS, I'M APPRECIATIVE OF
WHAT WAS BROUGHT FORWARD TODAY,
BUT I'M HOPING TO GET A REPORT
BACK TO US AT THE APRIL 26TH
HEARING AND THEN ON AN ONGOING
BASIS FOR US TO MAKE HEADWAY. ON
THE PROBLEMS, WHICH WERE
IDENTIFIED TODAY. ABLE TO ASSIST
US WITH THAT. YES, HAPPY TO
HELP. THANK YOU WITH THAT. WE
WILL HOLD THIS ITEM OPEN AND
MOVE ON TO ISSUE. NINE.
ISSUE NINE IS THE TBL REGARDING
THE O S NAME CHANGED THE OFFICE
OF TECHNOLOGY AND SOLUTIONS
INTEGRATION. WE WILL HAVE THREE
PRESENTERS ON DIRECTOR DONDERO
BEGIN WHEN YOU ARE READY. THANK
YOU VERY MUCH. MR CHAIR. I
APPRECIATE IT. I'LL BE RATHER
BRIEF. IT'S A PRETTY
STRAIGHTFORWARD PROPOSAL. UM IN
TERMS OF CHANGING THE NAME
CURRENTLY OFFICE OF SYSTEMS
INTEGRATION, PROPOSING CHANGING
TO OFFICE OF TECHNOLOGY AND
SOLUTIONS INTEGRATION. UM, ON
THE SURFACE, IT SEEMS RATHER
SMALL. BUT FOR US SYSTEMS
INTEGRATION IS VERY MUCH A TERM
OF ART WHEN IT COMES TO
TECHNOLOGY, AND IT'S VERY
LIMITED IN SCOPE. AND IN FACT,
IT DOESN'T EVEN ACCURATELY
DESCRIBE WHAT WE HISTORICALLY
HAVE DONE RIGHT, WHICH IS LARGE
SCALE COMPLEX I T PROJECTS ON
BEHALF OF THE HEALTH AND HUMAN
SERVICES AGENCY AND OUR
DEPARTMENTS. NOW AS WE LOOK
FORWARD, I AM NOW THE AI OH FOR
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY
OVERSEEING ALL RIGHTY STRATEGY,
ENVISIONING AS WELL AS THE
DIRECTOR FOR THE OFFICE OF
SYSTEMS INTEGRATION FOR THOSE
PARTICULAR PROJECTS AND THE GOAL
THERE AND COMBINING THOSE
POSITIONS AND THUS COMBINING THE
OFFICES IS TO BE ABLE TO TAKE
THE EXPERTISE WE HAVE, WHICH,
BASED ON THE NAME PEOPLE ASSUME
IS STRICTLY PROJECT MANAGEMENT.
WHEN IN FACT, WE COVER THE
ENTIRE LIFE CYCLE. WE DEAL WITH
THE GOVERNANCE RELATED TO THE
PREVIOUS CONVERSATION. THAT
GOVERNANCE IS KEY THAT PLANNING
UP FRONT IS KEY, AND THAT'S NOT
THE SYSTEM INTEGRATION, RIGHT?
WE HAVE PROCUREMENT EXPERTS. WE
HAVE LEGAL EXPERTS ALL IN THE
AREAS OF IT THAT ARE UNIQUE
BECAUSE OF THE STRUCTURE OF OUR
OFFICE, AND SO IN COMBINING
THOSE WERE LOOKING TO CONTINUE
TO PROVIDE THE EXCELLENT SERVICE
THAT WE HAVE AROUND PROJECT
MANAGEMENT. BUT EXPAND THAT AND
BETTER UTILIZE THOSE OF
EXPERTISE ACROSS THE AGENCY. AND
SO THAT'S THE RATIONALE AND THE
AGENDA. ASKED PARTICULARLY ABOUT
THE BENEFITS THAT WE'RE GOING TO
ACHIEVE FROM THAT. DIRECTLY IT'S
BEEN MORE CLEAR ABOUT WHAT WE DO
SO THEN PEOPLE THINK ABOUT OUR
OFFICE. THEY BETTER UNDERSTAND
THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE THERE
ACROSS THE AGENCY SO THAT WE CAN
BETTER FACILITATE PROVIDING
THOSE EXPERTISE. BE A CENTER OF
EXCELLENCE, SO TO SPEAK. FROM
THAT THOSE CHANGES THAT WE
INTEND TO MAKE AND PROVIDING
THOSE EXPERTISE MORE BROADLY IN
PROVIDING THOSE SERVICES. THOSE
ARE WELL. WE'LL SEE THE DIRECT
BENEFITS IN TERMS OF
ACCELERATING OUR PROJECTS,
HAVING BETTER PLANNING UPFRONT,
HAVING BETTER RESOURCES WITHIN
THE STATE. WE'VE ALREADY SEEN
OPPORTUNITIES WHERE WE HAVE
EXPERTISE THAT WE CAN PROVIDE.
THE DEPARTMENT'S PREVIOUSLY
WOULD HAVE CONTRACTED OUT FOR
AND THAT WAS A GREAT SERVICE TO
GET. BUT IF WE CAN DO IT WITH
STATE STAFF, LET'S DO IT WITH
STATE STAFF. THOSE ARE THE KINDS
OF THINGS THAT WILL BE ABLE TO
SEE THE BENEFITS FROM JULIO.
BRIAN MASSE, CALAIO. WE HAVE NO
CONCERNS WITH THIS TRAILER BILL
LANGUAGE. DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE.
YOU KNOW THE DEPARTMENT OF
FINANCE NO CONCERNS. I'LL BRING
IT UP TO THE DIETS. KEEP IT HERE
AT THE CHAIR. I'LL BEGIN BY
APPLAUDING THE EFFORTS TO FIND
THE NAME THAT IS MORE CLEAR
ABOUT WHAT IT IS. YOU DO? UM AS
MANY OF YOU ARE AWARE, I'M
SIMILARLY TRYING TO DO THIS
WITHIN CAL WORKS AND FOCUSING ON
CALLE FAMILIES. SO WE ARE UM,
ABLE TO SPEED THE NEEDED CULTURE
CHANGE, AND SO I GET IT AND I'M
SUPPORTIVE OF IT AND JUST WANT
TO SAY WE WILL HOLD ALL ISSUES
OPEN ON THIS ITEM AND MOVE ON TO
ISSUE 10. THANK YOU. ISSUE 10 IS
REGARDING THE DEPARTMENT OF
COMMUNITY SERVICES AND
DEVELOPMENT OVERVIEW AND THE
GOVERNOR'S PROPOSAL TO REVERT
UNSPENT UTILITY ARREARAGES
FUNDS. WE HAVE THREE PRESENTERS
ON THIS ISSUE. WE WILL BEGIN
WITH DIRECTOR SCRIPTURE WHEN YOU
ARE READY.
THANK YOU, MR CHAIR. LET ME SEE
IF I CAN BRING THIS HOME FOR US
THIS EVENING. APPRECIATE THAT.
IT'S BEEN A LONG AFTERNOON FOR
EVERYBODY. I DID WANT TO SAY I
APPRECIATE KIM GOING. I
APOLOGIZE THAT I HAD TO DRAW THE
SHORTS. DRAFT OF SOCIAL. SO
THANK YOU. KIM APPRECIATE YOU.
AS YOU SAID I AM DIRECTOR DAVID
SCRIVENER FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF
COMMUNITY SERVICES AND
DEVELOPMENT AND GOOD EVENING.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME HERE
THIS EVENING. THE PRIMARY FOCUS
OF CS DS, THE ADMINISTRATION AND
DEVELOPMENT OF PROGRAMS THAT
SERVE AND LIFT UP LOW INCOME
CALIFORNIANS. PROGRAMS ALMOST
EXCLUSIVELY SERVE LOW INCOME
INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES ARE
ORIENTED TOWARDS ASSISTING THOSE
CONSIDERED MULTIPLE, HONORABLE,
ACHIEVE AND MAINTAIN ECONOMIC
SECURITY. HISTORICALLY THE
DEPARTMENT HAS ALMOST BEEN 100%
FEDERALLY FUNDED, WITH THE
MAJORITY OF FUNDING COMING FROM
TO ANNUAL FEDERAL GRANTS.
THEY'RE FOCUSED ON ANTI POVERTY
SERVICES. FIRST THE COMMUNITY
SERVICES BLOCK GRANT OR C S, P G
AND THE LOW INCOME HOME ENERGY
ASSISTANCE PROGRAM OR LIKE HEAP.
IN ADDITION TO DO TO THESE TWO
CORE PROGRAMS, CSD ADMINISTERS
ENERGY EFFICIENCY PROGRAMS
FUNDED WITH BOTH FEDERAL AND
STATE DOLLARS INCLUDE THE
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY'S
WEATHERIZATION ASSISTANCE
PROGRAM IN CALIFORNIA'S LOW
INCOME WEATHERIZATION PROGRAMS,
WHICH REDUCES GREENHOUSE GAS
EMISSIONS THROUGH THE
INSTALLATION OF SOLAR PV SYSTEMS
AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY UPGRADES
FOR FARMWORKER HOUSEHOLDS. AND
RESIDENTS OF MULTI FAMILY
AFFORDABLE HOUSING. CST ALSO
LAUNCHED LAST YEAR. THE LOW
INCOME HOUSEHOLD WATER
ASSISTANCE PROGRAM OR LIVE UP
AND A NEW LIMIT THAT WAS A NEW
LIMITED TERM FEDERAL PROGRAM
THAT PROVIDES FINANCIAL
ASSISTANCE TO LOW INCOME
CALIFORNIANS TO HELP MANAGE
THEIR RESIDENTIAL WATER UTILITY
COSTS. BEYONCE CS DS EXISTING
PROGRAMS THAT HELP LOW INCOME
CALIFORNIANS WITH ENERGY AND
WATER AFFORDABILITY. THE
DEPARTMENT HAS RECENTLY HAD THE
OPPORTUNITY TO ADMINISTER TWO
ROUNDS OF FUNDING TO ADDRESS
ENERGY BILL ARREARAGES. ACCRUED
DURING THE COVID 19 PANDEMIC.
UNDER THE CALIFORNIA REARS
PAYMENT PROGRAM OR CAP. CSD HAS
DISTRIBUTED OVER $1.6 BILLION IN
STATE FUNDS TO ASSIST OVER THREE
MILLION CALIFORNIANS. THAT HAD
STRUGGLED WITH ENERGY COSTS
DURING THE PANDEMIC. THERE HAVE
BEEN TWO PHASES OF CAP. THE
FIRST PHASE WAS ESTABLISHED
THROUGH THE 2021 STATE BUDGET.
AND WE WERE ABLE TO DISTRIBUTE
989.5 MILLION DOLLARS IN FEDERAL
AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT FUNDING
TO CUSTOMERS THROUGH JANUARY,
2022 IN THE FORM OF BILL
CREDITS. THIS PHASE, REDUCED OR
ELIMINATED RESIDENTIAL AND
COMMERCIAL ENERGY CUSTOMER
ARREARAGES OCCURRED DURING THE
PROGRAM'S COVID 19 PANDEMIC BILL
RELIEF PERIOD, WHICH COVERED A
REAR JUST INCURRED FROM MARCH
4TH 2020 THROUGH JUNE 15TH 2021.
AS A RESULT OF THIS FIRST PHASE
CAP, ASSISTED IN PAYING DOWN
APPROXIMATELY 50% OF ELIGIBLE
CUSTOMER REAR JUST REPORTED BY
PARTICIPATING UTILITIES. THE
SECOND PHASE OF CAP WAS
IMPLEMENTED LAST YEAR AND
ADDRESSED 100% OF ELIGIBLE
RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMER REAR JUST
REPORTED BY PARTICIPATING
UTILITIES. FUNDING FOR THIS
PHASE OF CAT WAS BASED ON A
SPRING 2022 SURVEY OF ENERGY
UTILITIES. AND THOSE IN THAT
SURVEY, THE ARREARAGES REPORTED
WAS A LITTLE OVER $1.2 BILLION.
AND THAT WAS RESIDENTIAL
CUSTOMER CRUDE UTILITIES BETWEEN
MARCH 4TH OF 2020. TO DECEMBER
31ST OF 2021. THE 2022 STATE
BUDGET APPROPRIATED 1.2 BILLION
TO ADDRESS THESE ARREARAGES AND
IN NOVEMBER OF 2022 CSD
DISTRIBUTED $647 MILLION IN CAP
FUNDS TO ENERGY UTILITIES. I
MADE LIKE TO ADDRESS THE ISSUES
THAT WERE RAISED RAISED IN THE
AGENDA. RELATED TO THE CAP
REVERSION. FROM THE POINT IN
TIME. THE SPRING SURVEY WAS
CONDUCTED TO THE FALL OF
APPLICATIONS FOR 2022 CAP
FUNDING. ENERGY UTILITIES
REPORTED SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION
IN THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF ELIGIBLE
CUSTOMER ARREARAGES 1.2 BILLION
WAS APPROPRIATED. ENERGY
UTILITIES IDENTIFIED 647 MILLION
QUALIFIED ARREARAGES WHEN THEY
APPLIED ON BEHALF OF THEIR
CUSTOMER. HE DOES NOT HAVE
SPECIFIC DATA ON WHY THE THERE
WAS A DECREASE IN TOTAL REAR
JUST FOR THE PANDEMIC BILL
REALLY PERIOD COVERED BY 2022
GAP. HOWEVER SOME FACTORS THAT
MAY HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE
LOWER REACHES LEVELS INCLUDE
CUSTOMER PAYMENTS BETWEEN THE
POINT AND TIME SURVEY. AND THE
TIME IT WHICH UTILITY SUPPLIED
FOR CAP ASSISTANCE. AS WELL AS
THE DISCONTENT, THE
DISCONNECTION MORATORIUMS BEING
LIFTED. AVAILABILITY OF ARREARS
PAYMENT PLANS CHANGING ECONOMIC
CONDITIONS WITHIN THE STATE. AND
THE AVAILABILITY OF OTHER
ASSISTANTS, INCLUDING LAUP.
BECAUSE THE AVAILABLE FUNDING
EXCEEDED QUALIFIED CUSTOMER
REACHES THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSED
BUDGET IDENTIFIED 400 MILLION
FOR REVERSION. THIS WAS A
CONSERVATIVE POINT IN TIME
ESTIMATE PRIOR TO FUNDS BEING
DISPERSED TO UTILITIES AND
PROVIDED FLEXIBILITY IN THE
EVENT, THERE WERE ADJUSTMENTS.
THE ADMINISTRATION WILL PROVIDE
AN UPDATE AT THE MAY REVISE ON
THE REMAINING FUNDING, TAKING
INTO CONSIDERATION UPDATED
REVENUE PROJECTIONS. REGARDING
CURRENT CAREER JUST CSD HAS
COMPLETE, INCOMPLETE DATA. BUT
BASED ON REPORTING SUBMITTED TO
THE CPUC BY THE INVESTOR OWNED
UTILITIES. AS OF FEBRUARY OF
2023 HOUSEHOLDS ENROLLED AND IOU
LOW INCOME RATE PROGRAMS
REPRESENT ROUGHLY $770 MILLION
IN ARREARAGES. THIS IS ENERGY
DEBT HELD BY OVER 1.5 MILLION
LOW INCOME CALIFORNIANS. AND I
SHOULD NOTE THAT THIS IS NOT A
COMPLETE PICTURE OF ARREARS OR
CUSTOMER NUMBERS, AS THIS DOES
NOT INCLUDE THOSE FIGURES THAT
WOULD BE ADDED BY PUBLIC
PUBLICLY OWNED UTILITY AT RIDGES
AND UTILITIES. MOREOVER THE
DEPARTMENT CANNOT SPEAK TO HOW
THIS LEVEL OF ENERGY THAT
COMPARES TO THE HISTORICAL NORMS
THAT WOULD BE COVERED OR CARRIED
BY OUR USE OR THE P. O. U. S.
DUE TO RECENT INCREASES IN THE
PRICE OF NATURAL GAS, WHICH WILL
LIKELY IMPACT ELECTRICITY RATES
IN THE FUTURE AS WELL. THE
DEPARTMENT DOES ANTICIPATE THAT
ENERGY DEBT WILL INCREASE IN THE
COMING MONTHS AND DEMAND FOR
ENERGY BILL ASSISTANCE. THROUGH
OUR LADY PROGRAM WILL INCREASE
WITH IT. CSD IS WORKING CLOSELY
WITH THIS NETWORK OF LOCAL
SERVICE PROVIDERS TO SUPPORT
THEIR EFFORTS TO PREPARE FOR THE
INCREASED DEMAND IN UTILITY BILL
ASSISTANCE. CSD IS ALSO
COORDINATING WITH ENERGY
UTILITIES TO ENSURE DEPARTMENT.
THE DEPARTMENT CONTINUES TO
REACH HOUSEHOLDS ELIGIBLE FOR
ASSISTANCE. WHILE THE CAUSES OF
HIGHER ENERGY COSTS ARE COMPLEX
AND LIKE HEAP IS JUST ONE OF THE
STATE'S TOOLS FOR HELPING
FAMILIES KEEP THE LIGHTS ON.
THERE ARE ALSO ADDITIONAL
PROGRAMS AVAILABLE FOR ELIGIBLE
CUSTOMERS THAT INCLUDE ENERGY
UTILITIES, LOW INCOME RATE
DISCOUNT PROGRAMS, ENERGY
EFFICIENCY PROGRAMS AND PAYMENT
PLANS TO ADDRESS ENERGY DEBTS.
PROGRAM. COORDINATION IS
CRITICAL. AND CSD WILL CONTINUE
TO PROVIDE THE MOST COMPLETE AND
HOLISTIC SERVICES TO ADDRESS THE
ENERGY NEEDS OF LOW INCOME
CALIFORNIANS. REGARDING FEEDBACK
ABOUT CAP PAYMENTS THROUGH THE
SUCCESSFUL DEVELOPMENT AND
IMPLEMENTATION OF BOTH PHASES OF
CAP THE STATE WAS ABLE TO
SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE AND IN MANY
CASES ELIMINATE THE ARREARAGES
OF EVERY RESIDENTIAL UTILITY
CUSTOMER THAT QUALIFIED THIS
MADE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON THE
LIVES OF MILLIONS OF HOUSEHOLDS
STRUGGLING TO AFFORD THE COST OF
ENERGY, ADDRESSED UNPRECEDENTED
LEVELS OF ENERGY DEBT AND HELP
TO MITIGATE THE RISK OF
DISCONNECTION FOR MANY
VULNERABLE HOUSEHOLDS. IN MY
OPINION CAP FULFILLED ITS
SUBSTANTIATES ITS STATUTORY
PURPOSE, WHICH WAS TO HELP
CALIFORNIANS ECONOMICALLY
IMPACTED BY THE PANDEMIC, AFFORD
THE COST OF ENERGY AND CSD MET
THE STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS AND
TIMEFRAMES RECAP ADMINISTRATION
, THEREBY ENSURING THE TIMELY
AND EQUITABLE DELIVERY OF CAP
ASSISTANCE TO ELIGIBLE
CUSTOMERS. RELATED TO THE COW
WORKS IN COW FRESH COMMENT. THE
COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS
AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS THAT
DELIVER SERVICES UNDER CS DS
PROGRAMS AT THE LOCAL LEVEL
PLAYING IMPORTANT ROLE IN
CONNECTING THEIR CLIENTS TO
OTHER PUBLIC ASSISTANCE, SUCH AS
COW WORKS, AND CAL FRESH
REGULARLY MAKE REFERRALS TO
OTHER PROGRAMS AND SERVICES AS
PART OF THEIR CORE COURSE. THE
BUSINESS, INCLUDING THE
COUNTIES. FOR CAL WORKS AND CAL
FRESH. MANY OF CSD SEE SPG
AGENCIES ALSO INCORPORATE CAL
FOR A SCREENING AND THEIR CLIENT
INTAKE PROCESS AND ARE ENGAGED
WITH OTHER COMMUNITY PROPERTY OR
EXCUSE ME, ANOTHER COMMUNITY
PARTNERS IN INTAKE PROCESSES AND
DEVISING EXECUTING STRATEGIES TO
INCREASE CAL FRESH
PARTICIPATION. THE AGENCIES THAT
OPERATE FOOD. BANKS ALSO ARE
LOOKING AT MANY COMPREHENSIVE
WAYS TO SUPPORT FAMILIES
STRUGGLING WITH THE COST OF
FOOD, AND WE'LL WORK AND
CONTINUE TO REACH OUT TO COW
WORKS AND CAL FRESH ENTITIES. AS
FAR AS THE PERSPECTIVES THAT
DISCUSSED IN ISSUE ONE SUGGESTED
FIRST TO HIS SISTER DEPARTMENT
CDSS ON SPECIFICS RELATED TO THE
CHILD WELFARE SERVICES SYSTEM.
THAT SAID, WHEN THERE ARE
OPPORTUNITIES FOR CSD AND ITS
LOCAL PARTNERS TO COLLABORATE ON
ISSUES OF CHILD WELL BEING. WE
DO. SUCH AS THROUGH THE
DEPARTMENT'S PARTICIPATION IN
THE ESSENTIALS FOR CHILDHOOD
INITIATIVE SHARING RESOURCES
WITH OUR NETWORK AGENCIES AND
LEVERAGING THE CSP G NETWORK TO
ACT AS KEY INFORMANTS AND
STUDIES CONDUCTED IN THE AGES OF
THE INITIATIVE. AND FINALLY WITH
REGARDS TO WHAT WE'RE HEARING
THE FIELD ABOUT FOOD AND
HOUSING. JUST CLEAR THE LOW
INCOME FAMILIES CONTINUE TO FEEL
THE NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF
INFLATION AND FACE DIFFICULTY
COPING WITH THE HIGHER COSTS FOR
THE NECESSITIES SUCH AS FOOD,
UTILITIES AND HOUSING. IT WON'T
BE A SURPRISE FOR YOU TO HEAR.
THAT THE NEED FOR AFFORDABLE
HOUSING CONTINUES TO BE
SOMETHING CSD CONSTANTLY HEARS
ABOUT FROM ITS AGENCIES. THE
HIGHER COST OF LIVING ACROSS THE
BOARD ONLY ASKED THE NEED FOR
AFFORDABLE, STABLE HOUSING.
MEANWHILE IN THE ENERGY SIDE, AS
I NOTED EARLIER WE KNOW THE
STATE'S SEVERE WINTER SEASON AND
THE DRAMATIC INCREASE TO NATURAL
GAS PRICES OVER RECENT MONTHS
WILL SIGNIFICANTLY RAISE HOME
HEATING COSTS FOR MANY
CALIFORNIANS, ESPECIALLY THOSE
LOW INCOME FAMILIES. SO YOU
STILL WILL CONTINUE ITS ONGOING
COLLABORATION WITH THE CPUC AND
STATE ENERGY UTILITY COMPANIES
AND HAS PLACED ORGANIZATIONAL
FOCUS ON A STRING LIE HEAP'S
POSITION TO MEET THE NEEDS OF
LOW INCOME CALIFORNIANS. THANK
YOU AND I'M HERE FOR ANY FUTURE
COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS. ELIO.
THANK YOU, ANGELA. SHORT WITH
THE L A. OH, UM FIRST, JUST A
QUICK NOTE THAT WE APPRECIATE
THE QUESTIONS IN THE AGENDA AND
THE CONVERSATION IN TERMS OF THE
CONNECTION BETWEEN CSD PROGRAM
PARTICIPANTS AND OTHER PUBLIC
SAFETY NET PROGRAMS, INCLUDING
THE CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM. AND
THEN JUST ONE BRIEF COMMENT
REGARDING THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET
PROPOSAL TO REVERT THE UNSPENT
FUNDS. THE GENERAL FUND WE HAVE
REVIEWED, UM THAT PROPOSAL AND
IT SEEMS REASONABLE AND, AS
NOTED BY THE DEPARTMENT, WE WILL
ALSO BE ANTICIPATING AND AN
UPDATE TO THIS SPECIFIC
REVERSION AMOUNT AT THE TIME OF
MY REVISION. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU. DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE.
SANCHEZ WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF
FINANCE NOTHING FURTHER TO ADD.
BRING IT UP TO THE DIESS. UM WE
WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THIS
PROPOSAL AS IT GOES FORWARD AND
SEE HOW IT CHANGES WITH THE MAID
REVISION. ALL OTHER ISSUES WILL
BE HELD OPEN. THIS WILL END THE
DISCUSSION PORTION OF OUR AGENDA
FOR THIS EVENING. I AM NOT AWARE
OF ANY ISSUES ABOUT THE NON
DISCUSSION AGENDA THAT MEMBERS
WANT TO MOVE TO THE DISCUSSION
SECTION SO WE WILL MOVE ON TO
THE PUBLIC PORTION. PUBLIC
COMMENT PORTION OF THE HEARING.
I'D FIRST LIKE TO THANK VERY
MUCH ALL OF OUR PANELISTS. AND
WE WILL START WITH ANY IN
PERSON. PUBLIC COMMENT THAT'S
HERE IN THE HEARING ROOM. PLEASE
COME FORWARD TO THE MICROPHONE.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A
COMMENT. THANK YOU, MR CHAIR,
KATHY CENTRALLY MCDONALD ON
BEHALF OF THE COUNTY WELFARE
DIRECTORS, UM ON ISSUE NUMBER
SEVEN, BRINGING FAMILIES HOME
CWD A SUPPORTS THE PROPOSED
CLARIFICATIONS TO TRAILER BILL
TO ENSURE THAT TRIBES AND TRIBAL
AGENCIES ARE ELIGIBLE FOR
FUNDING AND THAT INDIVIDUALS
LEAVING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
SITUATIONS CAN ACCESS THESE
HOUSING RESOURCES. INITIALLY CWD
WOULD LIKE TO WORK WITH THE
LEGISLATURE AND ADMINISTRATION
TO CLARIFY THAT FOSTER YOUTH WHO
ARE PREGNANT OR PARENTING CAN
ALSO ACCESS THESE SUPPORTS AND
SERVICES AS THEY ARE EXITING
CARE IN ORDER TO ENSURE THEY
HAVE ACCESS TO STABLE AND SAFE
HOUSING FOR THEIR OWN FAMILIES.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. GOOD
EVENING, ANNA JOHNSON WITH JOHN
BURTON ADVOCATES FOR YOUTH HERE
FOR ISSUE NUMBER FOUR RELATING
TO THE 16.5 MILLION BUDGET
REQUESTS TO ENSURE THAT FOSTER
USED DO HAVE HOUSING STABILITY
AND CAN PURCHASE HOUSING AT A
FAIR MARKET RENT IN OUR SYSTEM
SO THEY CAN WE CAN REALLY
ACTUALLY CHANGED THOSE ODDS
INSTEAD OF EXPECTING THEM TO
BEAT THE ODDS. UNLIKE ALL OF
THEIR OTHER PEERS AT THAT AGE OF
18. WE ALSO WANT TO MAKE A
COMMENT IN SUPPORT OF THE
REIMAGINED COW WORKS ISSUE
NUMBER ONE, AND THOSE CHANGES
THERE AND ON ISSUE NUMBER THREE
IN TERMS OF FAMILIES, FIRST
PREVENTION SERVICES ACT. WE DID
WANT TO POINT OUT THAT COUNTIES
CAN INCLUDE IN THEIR PLANS, UH,
SERVICES THAT WOULD SUPPORT
PARENTING, FOSTER USE THEIR
CATEGORICALLY ELIGIBLE AND WE
WOULD LIKE A WAY TO ENSURE THAT
EVERY COUNTY THAT DOES HAVE
PARENTING YOUTH IS PUTTING US
SUPPORT OF AN EVIDENCE BASED
SERVICE INTO THEIR PLAN. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU. HI MICHAEL
WILLIAMS, POLICY DIRECTOR AT THE
CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION CENTER,
SPEAKING OF ON BEHALF OF THE
CALIFORNIA FAMILY RESOURCE
ASSOCIATION. EXCUSE ME. THANK
YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO
SPEAK. I WAS HAPPENED HERE, MISS
CENTRALLY. MCDONALD MENTIONED ON
THIS REGARDING ISSUE ONE IN
TERMS OF EQUITY AND COW WORKS
AND CHILD WELFARE AS WELL AS
ISSUE THREE. FAMILY FIRST
PREVENTION SERVICE ACT. I WAS
HAPPY TO HEAR MISS CENTRALLY,
MCDONALD HIGHLIGHT FAMILY
RESOURCE CENTERS AS CRITICAL
PARTNERS IN EQUITY AND IN FAMILY
FIRST, AND I WANT TO CALL TO
YOUR ATTENTION, WHICH I THINK
YOU KNOW THAT THE CALIFORNIA
FAMILY RESOURCE ASSOCIATION,
ALONG WITH THE ALLIANCE FOR
CHILD AND FAMILY SERVICES, HAS A
PROPOSAL FOR $75 MILLION.01 TIME
FOR FAMILY RESOURCE CENTERS. AND
WHICH IS NOW CHAMPIONED BY
ASSEMBLY MAJORITY LEADER REYES.
AND, OF COURSE, DR ARAMBULA.
YOU'VE BEEN A SUPPORTER AS WELL.
UM AND I JUST WANT TO NOTE THAT
SO MUCH OF WHAT'S BEEN BEFORE
THE COMMITTEE IS DEPENDENT ON
THAT COMMUNITY PATHWAY
INFRASTRUCTURE OF WHICH FAMILY
RESOURCE CENTERS ARE SO CRITICAL
HELPING FAMILIES NOT ONLY IN
CRISIS BUT ALSO UPSTREAM. I'M
REMINDED THAT YOU KNOW, GETTING
INTO KELL WORKS AND SOME OF THE
UTILITIES SUPPORT OFTEN IT'S THE
FAMILY RESOURCE CENTER HOLDING
THE FAMILY'S HAND GOING TO THAT.
BUT THEY DON'T HAVE ANY STABLE
SOURCES SUPPORT. SO I THANK YOU
AGAIN FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND FOR
YOUR ATTENTION, AND JUST COMMEND
THAT PROPOSAL TO YOUR TO YOUR
ATTENTION. THANK YOU, SIR. GOOD
EVENING, KIM LEWIS, REPRESENTING
A SPIRIT NET. I'M SPEAKING ON
ISSUE TWO. WE ARE A FOSTER
FAMILY AGENCY, AND WE ALSO RUN
AN STR TP AND REALLY WANT TO
ELEVATE THAT WE SUPPORT THE
CALIFORNIA ALLIANCES, PROPOSALS
TO INCREASE RESOURCES BRIDGE
BASIS FOR OUR NONPROFITS WHO ARE
DOING CRITICAL WORK SUPPORTING
OUR YOUNG PEOPLE EVERY DAY DOING
THIS WORK. 24 7 365. AND THE
COST OF DOING BUSINESS IN THE
STATE HAS NOT ONLY GONE UP
INFLATION, WE'RE IMPROVING OUR
PRACTICES, IMPLEMENTING EVIDENCE
BASED PRACTICES ALL THESE THINGS
AND NOT HAVE SEEN INCREASE IN
RATES. AND SO WE REALLY
APPRECIATE THE WORK GROUP THAT'S
HAPPENING, BUT I DON'T THINK WE
CAN REALLY WAIT 23 YEARS FOR
THIS TO REALLY HIT THE GROUND
AND SUPPORT OUR FOLKS THAT WE
CAN PAY FOLKS LIVING WAGES AND
WE DO, BUT WE WERE JUST LEAVING
OUT SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS
THAT WE COULD BE DOING BETTER TO
REALLY SUPPORT OUR FOSTER YOUTH.
SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING, MR
CHAIR MEMBERS BECAUSE FOR
SANCHEZ POLICY HAD TO GET THE
WESTERN CENTER IN LA AND POVERTY
ON ISSUE ONE JUST WANT TO ECHO
THE COMMENTS OF MY COLLEAGUES
RELATED TO THE REIMAGINED CALL
WORKS COALITION AND THE
PROPOSALS THAT YOU PUT FORWARD.
ADDITIONALLY WE WANT ALSO
DISCUSS THAT WE BELIEVE FAMILIES
THAT ARE BEING REFERRED TO THE
CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM SHOULD HAVE
PRE PETITION LEGAL SERVICES.
THAT IS LEGAL SYSTEM THAT DOES
NOT THAT IS HAS CRITICAL
OUTCOMES FOR THOSE FAMILIES, AND
THEY SHOULDN'T BE NAVIGATING.
BOTH SYSTEMS ALONE, GIVEN THE
OUTCOMES THAT THAT WILL HAPPEN
AFTER THOSE PROCEEDINGS
ADDITIONAL. WE ALSO BELIEVE THAT
THERE ARE SOME FAMILIES BEING
REFERRED TO CHILD WELFARE SOLELY
FOR REASONS RELATED TO POVERTY
THAT ARE FIRST THAT AND WE
BELIEVE THAT THEY SHOULD BE
FIRST CONNECTED WITH SOCIAL
SERVICES. IN MANY CASES, THAT IS
THE PRACTICE RIGHT NOW, BUT
THERE ARE STILL LOOPHOLES FOR
CERTAIN FAMILIES THAT ARE THAT,
MAYBE ON PUBLIC BENEFITS THAT
ARE NOT BEING ABLE TAXES. SO
THERE BEING REFERRED FIRST ON
SOCIAL SERVICES, AND WE THINK
THAT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED AS
WELL. THANK YOU, MR CHAIR. THANK
YOU, SIR. WITH THAT WE WILL NOW
GO TO THE PHONE LINE FOR PUBLIC
COMMENT AS A REMINDER THE PHONE
NUMBER TO CONNECT IS ON THE
COMMITTEE WEBSITE AND SHOULD BE
ON THE SCREEN. IF YOU ARE
WATCHING OVER THE INTERNET, THE
NUMBER AGAIN IS 1877692. AND THE
PUBLIC ACCESS CODE IS 131544.
OPERATOR WE ARE READY TO BEGIN
PUBLIC COMMENT. CUTE YOU'RE IN
PUBLIC COMMENT. YOU MAY PRESS
ONE AND THEN ZERO. AGAIN THAT IS
ONE IN THE ZERO FOR PUBLIC
COMMENT. AND WE WILL GO TO LINE
25. YOUR LINE IS OPEN. THANK YOU
. GOOD AFTERNOON, MR CHAIR AND
MEMBERS GRACE SEIKO HERE ON
BEHALF OF THE CALIFORNIA
ALTERNATIVE PAYMENT PROGRAM
ASSOCIATION, OR CAPA. MANY OF
OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS ARE ALSO
DESIGNATED AS FAMILY RESOURCE
CENTERS. WE ECHO WHAT HAS BEEN
SHARED TODAY IN STRENGTHENING
THE CONTINUUM OF COMMUNITY BASED
SERVICES AND CARE. SPECIFICALLY
OUR AGENCIES WORKED TIRELESSLY
TO SUPPORT THE EMERGENCY CHILD
CARE BRIDGE PROGRAM. WE STRONGLY
SUPPORT THE FUNDING OF THIS
PROGRAM AND FURTHER LOOK TO SEE
HOW TO GET CHILDREN AND FAMILIES
THAT COME THROUGH THE EMERGENCY
BRIDGE PROGRAM IMMEDIATELY
LINKED TO INCOME ELIGIBLE,
LONGER TERM 24 MONTHS. CHILDCARE
VOUCHERS IN CLOSING AS A PARTNER
WITH ANY CHILD POVERTY AND
OTHERS. WE SUPPORT ANDREW
SHANE'S EARLIER REMARKS AND
LOOKED TO IMAGINE A WORLD WHERE
WE ADDRESSED IN THE FRAGILE
FAMILIES AND REALIZED BETTER
FEATURES FOR ALL. THANK YOU SO
MUCH. THANK YOU. NEXT CALLER,
PLEASE. THANK YOU. LINE 10. YOUR
LINE IS OPEN. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY
NAME IS CODY VANCE. ALBIN I AM A
FORMER FOSTER YOUTH FROM
SACRAMENTO COUNTY CALLING AND
SUPPORTIVE ISSUE FOR THE 16.5
MILLION BUDGET. ASKED TO
ESTABLISH HELP HELPING
SUPPLEMENT FOR YOUTH AND
EXTENDED FOSTER CARE. I AM ALSO
IN SUPPORT OF ISSUE ONE REALLY
IMAGINED. HOW WORKS. THANK YOU
FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. NEXT
CALLER, PLEASE. YOU WILL GO TO
LINE 30. YOUR LINE IS OPEN. HI
MY NAME IS ASIAN ECONOMY. I'M A
FORMER FOSTER YOUTH FROM
SACRAMENTO COUNTY CALLING AND
SUPPORT OF ISSUE NUMBER FOUR AND
THEN 16.5 MILLION BUDGET ACTIVE
. ESTABLISH THE FILTER HOUSING
SUPPLEMENT FOR YOUTH AND
EXTENDED HOSPITAL CARE TO HAVE
THOUSANDS AFFORDABILITY AND
STABILITY. WE CAN PREVENT AN
INFRASTRUCTURE. AFTER YOUTH
HOMELESSNESS. I'M ALSO IN
SUPPORT OF THE DAMAGE YOUR CAR
WORKS CAMPAIGN IN ISSUE NUMBER
ONE THANK YOU. NEXT CALLER,
PLEASE. THANK YOU, LINA 41. YOUR
LINE IS OPEN. AFTERNOON. HI. MY
NAME IS CRISTINA TORRES, AND I'M
A FORMER FOR SHOOT FROM BIG
YOURSELF, UM, CALIFORNIA AND IN
SUPPORT OF ISSUE NUMBER FOUR AND
16.5 MILLION BUDGET ASKED TO
ESTABLISH THE HOUSING SUPPLEMENT
FOR YOU AND EXTENDED PLASTIC
HOUSING, AFFORDABILITY AND
STABILITY WE CAN PREVENT AND
BUSH'S HOMELESSNESS. I AM ALSO
IN SUPPORT OF THE IMAGINE
COWARDS. CAMPAIGN ISSUE NUMBER
ONE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT
CALLER, PLEASE. THANK YOU. NEXT
GO TO LINE 45. YOUR LINE IS
OPEN. GOOD AFTERNOON TERROR
MEMBERS. MY NAME IS ALEXIS.
FORMER FROSTIES FROM CEMETERY
COUNTY IS CALLING THE ECHO THE
NEED FOR SUPPORT ON ISSUE FOUR
AND 16.5 MILLION BUDGET APPS TO
ESTABLISH THE SOAP HOUSING
SUPPLEMENT FOR YOUTH AND
EXTENDED FOSTER CARE.
ADDITIONALLY I SEE HIM IN
SUPPORT OF THE SHOE NUMBER IF
YOU WANT THE IMAGING COW WORK,
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR
CONSIDERATION. THANK YOU. NEXT
CALLER, PLEASE. THANK YOU. LINE
46 YEAR LINE IS OPEN. GOOD
AFTERNOON JURY MEMBERS. MY NAME
IS ROSE. JONATHAN I'M, A FORMER
FOSTER YOUTH FROM HUMBOLDT
COUNTY. AND I AM ALSO CALLING IN
SUPPORT OF ISSUE FOR AND 16.5
MILLION BUDGET. ASKED TO
ESTABLISH THE SOAP HOUSING
SUPPLEMENT FOR YOUTH AND
EXTENDED FOSTER CARE TO HAVE
HOUSING, AFFORDABILITY AND
STABILITY, WE CAN PREVENT AN END
FOSTER YOUTH HOMELESSNESS.
SPEAKING AS A PERSON WHO'S
EXPERIENCED FOSTER CARE AND
YOUTH, HOMELESSNESS, UM AND
DIFFICULTY MAINTAINING HOUSING.
THIS WOULD BE A MONUMENTAL FOR
FOSTER YOUTH, AND I ALSO WANTED
TO SAY THAT I AM IN SUPPORT OF
THE REIMAGINED COWARDS. CAMPAIGN
IN ISSUE ONE. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU. NEXT CALLER, PLEASE. THANK
YOU. LINE 48 AIRLINE IS OPEN.
THANK YOU SHARE. REMEMBER THIS
IS ON A HASSELBLAD WITH UNITED
WAYS OF CALIFORNIA AND CALLING
IN STRONG SUPPORT OF THE
REIMAGINED COW WORKS CAMPAIGN
UNDER ISSUE ONE. WE MUST
REIMAGINE HOW WORKS TO CENTER
FAMILIES AND THEIR WELL BEING.
I'M ALSO CALLING IN SUPPORT OF
THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE HOUSING
SUPPLEMENT FOR YOUTH AND
EXTENDED FOSTER AIR UNDER ISSUE
FOR AND WE SUPPORT CALCIO'S
ADVOCATE PROPOSAL TO ENSURE THAT
CONSUMER NEEDS FOR CENTERED IN
THE DEVELOPMENT AND DESIGN OF
THE BENEFITS PORTAL, INCLUDING
ALLOWING THE CREATION OF
ACCOUNTS WITHOUT EMAIL ADDRESSES
AND THE CREATION OF A DATA DATA.
SPORT. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION.
THANK YOU. NEXT CALLER, PLEASE.
THANK YOU AND 36. YOUR LINE IS
OPEN. THANK YOU. CHAIR AND
MEMBERS. MY NAME IS CRISTINA
JIMENEZ FROM GRACE AND CHILD
POVERTY IN CALIFORNIA AND
INCLUDING THE NATIONAL COUNCIL
OF JEWISH WOMEN, CALIFORNIA
CHAPTER IN THE CHILD RESEARCH
CENTER IN MY COMMENT IN SUPPORT
OF THE REIMAGINE POWERS CAMPAIGN
UNDER ISSUE ONE, AS EMPHASIZED
IN THIS COMMITTEE, WE MUST
REIMAGINE COWARD CENTER FAMILY
AND THEIR WELL BEING. THIS IS
CRUCIAL TO HELP FAMILIES EXIT
POVERTY AND PREVENT THE
TRAUMATIC. COSTLY CONSEQUENCES,
THE FAMILY SEPARATION AND CHILD
WELFARE PLACEMENT. WE ALSO WANT
TO SHARE OUR SUPPORT OF
ESTABLISHING THE SELF HOW THEY
SUPPLEMENT FOR YOUTH AND
EXTENDED FOSTER CARE UNDER ISSUE
FOUR AND WE'RE SO PROUD OF OUR
COLLEAGUE, M. O EVANS, WHO DID
INCREDIBLE AND SHARING HER
PERSONAL TESTIMONY TODAY, UM,
SUPPORT ADVOCATE PROPOSALS TO
ENSURE THAT CONSUMER NEEDS ARE
CENTERED IN THE DEVELOPMENT AND
DESIGN OF THE BENEFITS TOP
PORTAL, INCLUDING ALLOWING THE
CREATION OF A COUNSELOR ABOUT
EMAIL ADDRESSES AND THE CREATION
OF DATA DASHBOARD. UM
REIMAGINING REIMAGINE IN
CALIFORNIA SYSTEMS OF INTENDED
CARE IS NECESSARY TO ENSURE WE
ARE NOT CREATING UNINTENDED
HARMS, ESPECIALLY FOR BLACK
BROWN IN ADDITIONAL CHILDREN AND
FAMILIES, EXPERIENCING POVERTY
AND JUST WANT TO THANK YOU AGAIN
CHAIR FOR CONTINUOUSLY CENTERING
THE VOICES OF ADVOCATES WITH LIZ
EXPERIENCE. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU. NEXT CALLER, PLEASE. THANK
YOU. I'M 24. YOUR LINE IS OPEN.
HELLO THIS IS JORDAN'S SOSA,
LEGISLATIVE MANAGER WITH
CALIFORNIA YOUTH CONNECTION, AND
I'M HERE CALLING IN SUPPORT OF
THE REIMAGINED COW WORKS
CAMPAIGN AND ISSUE ONE AND IN
SUPPORT OF ISSUE NUMBER FOUR ON
HAVING AFFORDABILITY FOR YOUTH
AND EXTENDED FOSTER CARE AND
FUNDING FOR EXTRACURRICULAR
ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES FOR YOUTH
IN FOSTER CARE. WE MUST
REIMAGINE COW WORKS TO CENTER,
YOUTH AND THEIR WELL BEING AND
THAT CREATE UNINTENDED HARM FOR
BLACK BROWN, INDIGENOUS CHILDREN
AND FAMILIES IMPACTED BY THE
FOSTER CARE SYSTEM. ALL YOUTH
IMPACTED BY STATE SYSTEMS
DESERVE TO BE TREATED WITH
DIGNITY, WORDS AND COMPASSION.
WE EXPECT THE STATE WHICH IS
SUPPOSED TO BE THE ACTING
GUARDIAN OF YOUTH PLACED IN
FOSTER CARE TO BE ACCOUNTABLE
FOR HOUSING, STABILITY FOR ALL
YOU'VE PLAYED IN CALIFORNIA
SPOTS, YOU CARE SYSTEM AND THE
SILK HOUSING SUPPLEMENT BUDGET
INCREASE WILL MOVE THE STATE
WANTED TO CLOSER TO THIS VISION.
WE ARE ALSO PROUD SPONSORS OF
ASSEMBLY BILL 16 75, WHICH WOULD
PROMOTE ACCESS AND PARTICIPATION
IN ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES FOR
YOUTH AND FOSTER CARE BY
LEVERAGING ALL, UM ALL AVAILABLE
FUNDS. ELIZABETH ON ISSUES THOR
FOR THIS PURPOSE AND INCREASING
ACCOUNTABILITY UNDER EXISTING
LAW. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT
CALLER, PLEASE. THANK YOU. LINE
15. YOUR LINE IS OPEN. THANK
YOU. CHAIR MEMBERS AND PANELISTS
AND ESPECIALLY THE YOUTH WITH
SYSTEMS EXPERIENCE FOR SHARING
YOUR EXPERTISE WITH US TODAY. MY
NAME IS JOHN DEERE EVINGER,
SENIOR ADVOCATE WITH TB, AJ TO
CALIFORNIA COUNCIL OF COMMUNITY
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AGENCIES. WE
REPRESENT MENTAL HEALTH AND
SUBSTANCE IS COMMUNITY BASED
ORDERS ACROSS THE STATE SERVING
OVER ONE MILLION CALIFORNIANS,
INCLUDING ORGANIZATIONS THAT
SERVE CHILDREN, YOUTH AND THEIR
FAMILIES. WE REALLY APPRECIATE
THE AGENDA OF THIS HEARING,
ESPECIALLY DISCUSSIONS AROUND
PREVENTION AND EARLY
INTERVENTION AND YOUTH SERVICES
. PBJ MEMBERS WORK ALONGSIDE
COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND COUNTIES
TO KEEP FAMILIES TOGETHER
THROUGH SUPPORTING BEHAVIORAL,
HEALTH, PARENTING AND
PREVENTATIVE PROGRAMS. THANK YOU
TO THE PANELISTS AND ADVOCATES
TODAY FOR YOUR TESTIMONY, WHICH
HIGHLIGHTED THE NEED TO CONTINUE
EXPANDING CRITICAL HOUSING AND
FAMILY RESOURCE SUPPORTS. FIRST
SYSTEM IMPACTED CHILDREN AND
FAMILIES ACROSS THE STATE. WE
AND OUR MEMBERS STAND READY TO
SUPPORT AND PARTNER WITH THE
LEGISLATURE IN ITS WORK TO HELP
CALIFORNIA AS POSSIBLE WITH
COMPLEX NEEDS WHILE ADDRESSING
THE RACIAL AND ETHNIC
DISPROPORTIONALITY THAT EXIST IN
CHILD REMOVAL IN CALIFORNIA.
THANK YOU ALL. THANK YOU. NEXT
CALLER, PLEASE. THANK YOU. LINE
42. YOUR LINE IS OPEN. THANK
YOU, CHAIR AND MEMBERS. MY NAME
IS THAT HE SOLD OFF FROM THE
CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF FOOD
BANKS AND I'M CALLING IN STRONG
SUPPORT OF THE REIMAGINED COW
WORKS CAMPAIGN UNDER ISSUE ONE
AND TWO CENTRAL FAMILIES AND
THEIR WELL BEING SO THAT THEY
CAN EXIT POVERTY AND PREVENT THE
TRAUMATIC, COSTLY CONSEQUENCES
THAT FAMILY SEPARATION AND CHILD
WELFARE PLACEMENT WERE ALSO IN
SUPPORT OF ESTABLISHING THAT
BUILT HOUSING SUPPLEMENT FOR
YOUTH AND EXTENDED FOSTER CARE
UNDER ISSUE FOR ADDITIONALLY, WE
SUPPORT CALPHALON ADVOCATE
PROPOSALS TO ENSURE THAT
CONSUMER NEEDS ARE CENTERED IN
THE DEVELOPMENT AND DESIGN OF
THE BENEFITS CALIFORNIA TAL,
INCLUDING ALLOWING THE CREATION
OF ACCOUNTS WITHOUT EMAIL
ADDRESSES AND THE CREATION OF
THE DATA. DASHBOARD. THANK YOU
SO MUCH. THANK YOU. NEXT CALLER,
PLEASE. THANK YOU. LINE 44. YOUR
LINE IS OPEN. TIFFANY RIGHT NOW
WITH THE FBI, YOU CALIFORNIA
THANK YOU. SO MUCH FOR THE
INFORMATION PROVIDED FOR THE
UPDATES ON INVESTMENTS MADE LAST
YEAR AND HOW THOSE DOLLARS ARE
SENT JUST WANTED TO UPLOAD AND
CAN, UM CONTINUED ADEQUATE
FUNDING FOR THE COUNTIES IN THE
WORKFORCE TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE
THE NECESSARY SERVICES IN
VARIOUS PROGRAMS ACROSS THE
BOARD IN ORDER TO SUPPORT
CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, AND WE'LL
JUST ENCOURAGE CONTINUED FUNDING
, AND WE ARE EXPERIENCING BUDGET
CHALLENGES AND OFFER BETTER
DOLLARS BETTER TO MAKE CONTINUED
INVESTMENTS ON THE FRONT END SO
THAT WE ARE NOT IN MORE
FINANCIAL CONSTRAINTS IN THE OUT
YEARS. THANK YOU SO MUCH AND
AGAIN APPRECIATE ALL OF THE
INFORMATION SHIP. THANK YOU,
MA'AM. NEXT CALLER, PLEASE.
THANK YOU AND WE HAVE NO FURTHER
PUBLIC COMMENT. QUÊ. THANK YOU.
OPERATOR I WILL TAKE THAT AS THE
CONCLUSION OF PUBLIC COMMENT FOR
TODAY. AS WE CLOSE OUT. I DO
WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT AND
APPRECIATE ALL OF OUR PANELISTS
AND THE ADMINISTRATION AND
PARTICULAR THE DIRECTORS WHO
CONTINUED TO STAY AROUND TODAY.
DIRECTOR JOHNSON AND DIRECTOR
SCRIBNER AS WELL AS THE L A. L
MISS SHORT FOR BEING HERE. THE
ENTIRE HEARING LIKE TO THANK THE
SERGEANT'S THE TECH THE
COLLEAGUES WHO JOINED US EARLIER
TODAY, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, I
WANT TO THANK THE PUBLIC FOR
PARTICIPATING AND MAKING OUR
PROCESS BETTER AND MAKING THIS
THE PEOPLE'S HOUSE. WE ARE
ADJOURNED FOR THE NIGHT. HAVE A
GOOD NIGHT.