GOOD AFTERNOON, THIS IS THE
ASSEMBLY BUDGET SUBCOMMITTEE
NUMBER TWO ON HUMAN SERVICES,
BEFORE WE INVITE OUR FIRST PANEL
TO BEGIN, I'LL JUST MAKE A FEW
INTRODUCTORY COMMENTS. AND IF
ANY OF MY COLLEAGUES ARE HERE AT
THE END OF THE COMICS. WILL
PROVIDE COMMENTS, THEY WILL, BE
PROVIDED AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO
LIKEWISE, TODAY'S HEARING WILL
COVER THE CALIFORNIA CHILD
WELFARE SYSTEM, OR, IN OTHER
WORDS, THE SYSTEM THAT HELPS
SHAPE THE VERY FUTURE OF THIS
STATE. FOR TOO LONG, WE AS A
STATE HAVE FAILED TO GIVE FOSTER
YOUTH, WHICH IS OUR CHILDREN,
THE STATE'S CHILDREN, WHAT THEY
NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL AND TO
MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE
OPPORTUNITIES TO THRIVE
ALONGSIDE OUR MASSIVE SYSTEMS OF
CARE. WE HAVE MASSIVE SILOS THAT
DO EVERYTHING BUT GIVE EFFECTIVE
AND TIMELY SERVICE TO OUR SYSTEM
IMPACTED YOUTH AND FAMILIES. SO
WE MUST BE ABLE TO BREAK DOWN
THESE SILOS AND GET TO WHAT IS
MOST IMPORTANT. THE WELFARE OF
OUR CHILDREN. THAT IS WHY I HAVE
PROPOSED A FOSTER CARE
MULTI-AGENCY OFFICE DEDICATED TO
ENSURING THAT SILOS WILL NO
LONGER GET IN THE WAY OF
SUPPORTING CALIFORNIA'S YOUTH TO
GET THE QUALITY AND TIMELY
SERVICES THAT THEY NEED THAT
MEETS THEIR INDIVIDUAL NEEDS.
WHILE THIS MAY NOT BE A SEASON
OF EXPANSION, AS I'VE SAID
BEFORE, IT IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR
REFORM AND TO MAKE OUR SYSTEMS
AND PROGRAMS MORE EFFICIENT.
THIS COMMITTEE WILL NOT DAMPEN
ITS AMBITIONS IN TERMS OF THESE
GOALS. NOT ALL OF THESE GOALS
REQUIRE MORE MONEY. IT MAY
REQUIRE SHIFTS OF MONEY OR
SHIFTS OF SYSTEMS. IN ORDER FOR
THE MONEY THAT WE DO HAVE TO BE
MORE EFFICIENTLY USED TO SERVE
THE PEOPLE, REGARDLESS OF THE
BUDGET SITUATION WE FIND
OURSELVES IN THE STATUS QUO
CANNOT AND WILL NOT BE
ACCEPTABLE BECAUSE OUR CHILDREN
DESERVE BETTER. ALSO, ONE QUICK
HOUSEHOLD NOTE WE YOU ALL KNOW
THAT YOU'RE IN FOR QUITE AN
EVENING AND SO WE WILL BE TAKING
A RECESS AT 530, BUT WE'LL
RESUME NO LATER THAN 630. AND
AFTER THAT RECESS, WE WILL TAKE
ALL PUBLIC COMMENT AT THAT TIME,
WITH THAT, I'LL OPEN IT, WE WILL
OPEN UP AND CONTINUE ON WITH
THIS, HEARING. WANT TO MAKE SURE
THAT PEOPLE ALSO KNOW THAT
DURING PUBLIC COMMENT, YOU DO
HAVE, TWO MINUTES EACH, FOR YOUR
REMARKS. SO I WILL INVITE UP OUR
FIRST PANEL ON ISSUE NUMBER ONE,
HAVING TO DO WITH THE CHILD
WELFARE COUNCIL, CHILD WELFARE
DISPARITIES AND THE ROLE OF
CALWORKS AND THE CHILD WELFARE
PREVENTION, PATHWAY. I ASK FOR
THE FIRST PANEL TO COME AND TAKE
YOUR SEATS, BUT THEN ALSO AND
MAKE SURE THAT YOU INTRODUCE
YOURSELF BEFORE YOU SPEAK. AND
LET'S TRY TO GO IN THE ORDER
LISTED, IN THE AGENDA. AND WE'LL
PROBABLY GO RATHER QUICKLY AND,
SO YOU ALL DON'T START GETTING
CALLS. WHERE ARE YOU AT? WHEN
ARE YOU GOING TO BE HOME?
WHERE'S THE FOOD AT? YOU MAY
BEGIN WHEN YOU'RE READY. THANK
YOU SO MUCH. GOOD AFTERNOON,
CHAIR JACKSON KIM JOHNSON,
CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL
SERVICES. AND TODAY I'M GOING TO
PROVIDE INFORMATION RELATED TO
THE DISPARITIES AND
DISPROPORTIONALITY IN CHILD
WELFARE. THE CALIFORNIA HEALTH
AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY'S
CHILD WELFARE COUNCIL, AND THE
ROLE OF CALWORKS IN ADDITIONAL
EFFORTS IN THE CHILD WELFARE
PREVENTION PATHWAY. AS OF
OCTOBER OF 2023, THERE ARE
46,078 CHILDREN AND YOUTH IN
FOSTER CARE IN CALIFORNIA.
AMERICAN INDIAN, ALASKA NATIVE
AND BLACK FAMILIES ARE
OVERREPRESENTED AND EXPERIENCED
DISPARITIES ACROSS CALIFORNIA'S
CHILD WELFARE AND FOSTER CARE
CONTINUUM. SPECIFICALLY, BLACK
AND AMERICAN INDIAN ALASKA
NATIVE CHILDREN ARE MORE LIKELY
TO BE THE SUBJECT OF
MALTREATMENT ALLEGATIONS, HAVE
THOSE ALLEGATIONS SUBSTANTIATED,
AND BE PLACED IN FOSTER CARE
THAN THEIR WHITE AND ASIAN
PACIFIC ISLANDER PEERS. THE
CHILD AND FAMILY SERVICES
REVIEWS OFTEN REFERRED TO AS
CFS'S, ARE CONDUCTED BY THE
CHILDREN'S BUREAU IN THE FEDERAL
OFFICE OF THE ADMINISTRATION FOR
CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN FIVE
YEAR CYCLES, CALIFORNIA KFSR
SELF ASSESSMENT, COMPLETED LAST
FALL AND BASED ON CASE REVIEW
DATA, SHOWED THAT CALIFORNIA
MADE MODEST PROGRESS IN REDUCING
RACIAL DISPARITIES ON THE
FOLLOWING MEASURES. REENTRY
RATES TO FOSTER CARE AFTER
REUNIFICATION. GUARDIANSHIP OR
ADOPTION DECLINED FOR BOTH BLACK
AND AMERICAN INDIAN AND ALASKA
NATIVE CHILDREN. REENTRY RATES
DECREASED BY 2% OVER THREE
YEARS. FOR AMERICAN INDIAN
CHILDREN, DECREASE BY ONE
PERCENTAGE POINT FOR BLACK
CHILDREN, AND INTERESTINGLY,
DECREASED THREE PERCENTAGE
POINTS FOR MULTIRACIAL CHILDREN.
PERMANENCY RATES FOR CHILDREN
WHO HAVE BEEN IN CARE FOR OVER
TWO YEARS IMPROVED FOR AMERICAN
INDIAN ALASKA NATIVE CHILDREN,
PERMANENCY IN 12 MONTHS FOR
CHILDREN IN CARE 24 OR MORE
MONTHS. THE IMPROVEMENT WAS FOUR
PERCENTAGE POINTS FOR AMERICAN
INDIAN CHILDREN. AND ON A
QUALITATIVE MEASURE, PRESERVING
CONNECTIONS TO THE CHILD'S
NEIGHBORHOOD COMMUNITY. FAITH
EXTENDED FAMILY, TRIBE, SCHOOL
AND FRIENDS. AMERICAN INDIAN
ALASKA NATIVE CHILDREN HAVE THE
BEST OUTCOMES AMONGST THE RACIAL
ETHNIC GROUPS. CALIFORNIA IS
ACTIVELY IMPLEMENTING SEVERAL
ITEMS TO REDUCE
DISPROPORTIONALITY WITHIN THE
CHILD WELFARE SERVICES SYSTEM,
AND MAKE SURE THAT CHILDREN
REMAIN CONNECTED TO THEIR
COMMUNITIES, CULTURES, AND
FAMILY OF ORIGIN. SOME OF THESE
EXAMPLES INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT
LIMITED TO, ITEMS FOCUSED ON THE
INDIAN CHILD WELFARE ACT. WE
HAVE A STATEWIDE PLAN FOR THE
VERY FIRST TIME NEW INVESTMENTS
IN TRIBAL DEPENDENCY,
REPRESENTATION AND TRIBALLY
APPROVED HOME IMPLEMENTATION OF
THE FEDERAL FAMILY FIRST
PREVENTION SERVICES PROGRAM AND
CALIFORNIA'S PREVENTION SERVICES
BLOCK GRANT, INTENDED TO BE USED
FOR CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE
PROGRAMING THAT WILL REDUCE
MALTREATMENT ENTRIES INTO FOSTER
CARE AND OVERREPRESENTATION OF
BLACK AND AMERICAN INDIAN NATIVE
FAMILIES. LAUNCHING THE CENTER
FOR EXCELLENCE IN FAMILY FINDING
SUPPORT AND ENGAGEMENT IN ORDER
TO DEVELOP PROGRAMS AND SUPPORTS
TO FURTHER SHIFT CALIFORNIA'S
CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM TO A KIN
FIRST CULTURE AND MORE. THE
COMMITTEE ALSO ASKED AROUND THE
CHILD WELFARE COUNCIL
SPECIFICALLY WHAT EFFORTS ARE
HAPPENING, AND I WILL TELL YOU
THAT EQUITY AND ADDRESSING
INEQUITIES ARE A THROUGH LINE OF
THE WORK OF THE COUNCIL. AS YOUR
AGENDA NOTES, THE CHILD WELFARE
COUNCIL IS COMPRISED OF 45
MEMBERS REPRESENTING STATE AND
COUNTY DEPARTMENTS, TRIBAL
NATIONS, COMMUNITY BASED
ORGANIZATIONS, ADVOCATES,
PARENTS, CAREGIVERS AND FORMER
FOSTER YOUTH MEMBERS JOINED
TOGETHER AS AN ADVISORY BODY
RESPONSIBLE FOR IMPROVING THE
COLLABORATION AND PROCESSES OF
THE MULTIPLE AGENCIES AND THE
COURTS THAT SERVE CHILDREN AND
YOUTH IN THE CHILD WELFARE AND
FOSTER CARE SYSTEMS. THE COUNCIL
IS CHAIRED BY THE CALIFORNIA
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY
. SECRETARY GHALY AND JUSTICE
LORI EARL, PRESIDING JUSTICE OF
THE THIRD DISTRICT COURT OF
APPEAL. THE VISION FROM BOTH
CO-CHAIRS AND THE LARGER COUNCIL
IS MAINTAINING A FOCUS ON
KEEPING FAMILIES TOGETHER AND
DELIVERING ON THE GOAL OF A KIN
FIRST AND FAMILY CENTERED
CULTURE OF PRACTICE. THE COUNCIL
DOES NOT HAVE SPECIFIC SOURCE OF
DEDICATED FUNDING, AND INSTEAD
RELIES ON THE STAFF SUPPORT FROM
THE CALIFORNIA HEALTH AND HUMAN
SERVICES AGENCY. THE
SUBCOMMITTEE HAS ALSO ASKED THE
COUNCIL'S PERSPECTIVE ON THE
ROLE OF THE SAFETY NET PROGRAMS
AND CAN THEY IMPROVE THE
PREVENTION AWAY FROM CHILD
WELFARE INVOLVEMENT? THROUGH OUR
WORK WITH FAMILY FIRST
PREVENTION AND THE DEVELOPMENT
OF COMMUNITY PATHWAYS, WE ARE
BUILDING AN INTEGRATED,
STATEWIDE SYSTEM OF CARE THAT
SUPPORTS COMMUNITY PREVENTION
STRATEGIES FOR FAMILIES. THESE
COMMUNITY PATHWAYS WILL CONNECT
FAMILIES TO SAFETY NETWORKS OF
SERVICES THAT INCLUDE CALWORKS
AND OTHER RESOURCES. THE
COUNCIL'S PREVENTION AND EARLY
INTERVENTION COMMITTEE HAS ALSO
ISSUED A SERIES OF
RECOMMENDATIONS IN THIS AREA,
AND LAST YEAR ESTABLISHED A TASK
FORCE NAMED MANDATED REPORTING
TO COMMUNITY SUPPORTING, LARGELY
BUILT ON RECOMMENDATIONS MADE BY
THE CITIZENS REVIEW PANEL REPORT
AND DOCUMENTED IN THE ISSUE
BRIEF FROM SAFE AND SOUND AND
COMMISSIONED BY THE DEPARTMENT
OF SOCIAL SERVICES, OFFICE OF
CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION. THE
COUNCIL HAS ALSO HEARD FROM
PRESENTERS SUCH AS CHAPIN HALL
AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO,
FOCUSED ON ECONOMIC AND CONCRETE
SUPPORTS IN THE PREVENTION AND
THEIR PREVENTION OF CHILD
WELFARE INVOLVEMENT. THEY
HIGHLIGHTED HOW FAMILY, ECONOMIC
STABILITY CAN BE STRENGTHENED
THROUGH PUBLIC BENEFIT
TRANSFORMATION, INCLUDING
COORDINATION OF PROGRAM
REQUIREMENTS AND PROVIDING
AUTOMATED AUTOMATIC REFERRALS
BETWEEN PROGRAMS, DATA
INTEGRATION AND MORE. THE
COMMITTEE ALSO ASKED ABOUT THE
ROLE OF CALWORKS IN PREVENTION
AND AS REFERENCED IN OUR PRIOR
DISCUSSION WITH THE
SUBCOMMITTEE, CALWORKS SERVES AN
AVERAGE OF 340,000 FAMILIES AND
665,000 CHILDREN EVERY MONTH.
THE CALWORKS PROVIDES EDUCATION,
EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING,
SUPPORTIVE SERVICES, AND BARRIER
REMOVAL SERVICES AIMED AT
BUILDING RESILIENCE AND
ACHIEVING ECONOMIC MOBILITY. AS
WE WORK TOWARD BUILDING
COLLABORATION AMONG COMMUNITIES,
CALWORKS AND CHILD WELFARE
AGENCIES IN CALIFORNIA, WE
RECOGNIZE THAT ALTHOUGH THERE IS
NO CAUSAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN
POVERTY AND CHILD MALTREATMENT,
CHILDREN LIVING IN POVERTY
EXPERIENCE MORE CHILD
MALTREATMENT THAN CHILDREN NOT
LIVING IN POVERTY. THERE'S ALSO
EVIDENCE THAT SERVICES INTENDED
TO BOOST PROTECTIVE FACTORS
FACTORS ARE INEFFECTIVE WITHOUT
CONCURRENT PROVISION OF CONCRETE
SUPPORTS TO ADDRESS POVERTY
DIRECTLY PROVIDING INCOME
SUPPORT ALONG WITH CALWORKS
BARRIER REMOVAL SERVICES SUCH AS
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PREVENTION,
MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE
ABUSE TREATMENT SERVICES AND
OTHER SUPPORTIVE SERVICES REDUCE
THE RISK OF MALTREATMENT AND
SIMULTANEOUSLY INCREASE
EFFECTIVENESS OF FAMILY
STRENGTHENING SERVICES. AND
THERE'S A NUMBER OF THINGS THAT
WE'VE INCLUDED IN OUR CALWORKS
ARRAY MORE RECENTLY, SUCH AS
STRENGTH BASED, VOLUNTARY HOME
VISITING. OUR INITIAL EVALUATION
RESULTS SHOW SIGNIFICANT
DECLINES IN CHILD PROTECTIVE
SERVICES REFERRALS FOR FAMILIES
RECEIVING CALWORKS HOME
VISITING, AND WE'VE ALSO
REINVIGORATED WHAT WE REFERENCED
AS LINKAGES 2.0, AN EFFORT TO
STRENGTHEN THE WORKING
PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN CALWORKS AND
CHILD WELFARE LINKAGES. CASE
COORDINATION PRACTICE HAS THE
GOAL OF ASSISTING FAMILIES IN
ACHIEVING FINANCIAL
SELF-SUFFICIENCY, ECONOMIC
MOBILITY WHILE PROMOTING CHILD
SAFETY, PERMANENCY, AND
WELL-BEING. WE TOGETHER, THE
ADMINISTRATION LEGISLATURE, HAVE
ALSO LOOKED AT POLICY CHANGES
WITHIN THE CALWORKS PROGRAM SUCH
AS EXTENDING THE AVAILABILITY OF
CALWORKS ASSISTANCE FOR PARENTS
WHOSE CHILDREN WERE REMOVED FROM
THEM THROUGH THE CHILD WELFARE
SYSTEM TO FURTHER SUPPORT THE
REUNIFICATION PROCESS. FINALLY,
THE COMMITTEE ASKED TO HOW THE
PROPOSED REDUCTIONS IN CHILD
WELFARE AND CALWORKS SQUARE,
WITH THE STATED GOALS IN OUR
PREVENTION PLANS AND RECENT
YEARS, THE DEPARTMENT HAS
SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED THE
VISIBILITY AND URGENCY AROUND
ESTABLISHING A CONTINUUM OF
PREVENTION SERVICES AND SUPPORTS
THROUGHOUT CALIFORNIA. THIS
INTEGRATED SYSTEM'S PRIMARY AIM
IS KEEPING CHILDREN SAFE AT HOME
BY STRENGTHENING FAMILIES
THROUGH PROGRAMS SUCH AS
CALFRESH CALWORKS HOMELESS
ASSISTANCE HOME, VISITING, AND
DIFFERENTIAL RESPONSE.
CALIFORNIA PLANS TO LEVERAGE
THESE EXISTING PREVENTION
PLANNING EFFORTS TO EMBED OUR
PSA FUNDED PREVENTION SERVICES
INTO A COMPREHENSIVE CONTINUUM.
AS I REFERENCED, AND WE REMAIN
CONFIDENT IN OUR ABILITY TO
ACCOMPLISH THE STATED GOALS IN
THE PART ONE PREVENTION PLAN VIA
THE BLOCK GRANT FUNDING AND
OTHER MULTIPLE EFFORTS AS
NEEDED. AND WITH THAT, I'LL STOP
THERE. GOOD AFTERNOON. NOW,
CHAIR JACKSON, MY NAME IS
SHAMIKA GASKINS, AND I'M
PRESIDENT AND CEO OF GRACE IN
CHILD POVERTY, CALIFORNIA. THANK
YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO
TESTIFY TODAY ON HOW REIMAGINING
CALWORKS TO BE AN ANTI-RACIST,
FAMILY CENTERED PROGRAM IS AN
ANTI-POVERTY SOLUTION THAT CAN
ALSO ADDRESS THE RACIAL
DISPARITIES IN THE CHILD WELFARE
SYSTEM, MAKING AN INTERVENTION
TO PREVENT FAMILY SEPARATION IN
THE FIRST PLACE, LIMIT THE
DURATION OF PLACEMENTS AND
SUPPORT FAMILY REUNIFICATION. AS
THE POWERFUL TESTIMONIES AT THE
MARCH 20TH HEARING RECENTLY
HIGHLIGHTED, CALWORKS IS A
BEDROCK SAFETY NET PROGRAM
PROVIDING LIFE SAVING CASH
ASSISTANCE AND SUPPORTIVE
SERVICES TO, AS YOU JUST HEARD
FROM DIRECTOR JOHNSON, ALMOST
340,000 FAMILIES WITH A
SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF CHILDREN
EVERY YEAR. THE ADULT CASELOAD
IS DISPROPORTIONATELY LATINX 60%
AND BLACK 17, AND APPROXIMATELY
90% WOMEN, THE MAJORITY OF WHOM
ARE SINGLE WOMEN OF COLOR, NOT
RECEIVING AN ADULT PORTION OF
THAT GRANT, BUT BUILT ON THE
1996 FEDERAL WELFARE REFORM. IN
1997. CALWORKS IMPLEMENTATION.
THE CURRENT PROGRAM HAS
SIGNIFICANT FLAWS GROUNDED IN
RACIST, SEXIST, AND CLASSIST
NOTIONS THAT PARENTS AND
PARTICULAR BLACK WOMEN WITH LOW
INCOMES ABUSE THE SYSTEM AND
MUST BE COERCED INTO WORK. A
BODY OF RESEARCH HAS DOCUMENTED
BOTH THE HARMFUL ASSOCIATION
BETWEEN OUR CURRENTLY RIGID
PUNITIVE POLICIES THAT
CONTRIBUTE TO CHILD WELFARE
PLACEMENTS AND THE PROTECTIVE
POTENTIAL OF CAL WORKS AS A
PREVENTATIVE INTERVENTION.
NATIONALLY, MORE THAN 60% OF
UNSUSTAINABLY SUBSTANTIATED CPS
RESPONSES INVOLVE NEGLECT ONLY,
AND CHILDREN IN ECONOMICALLY
INSECURE HOUSEHOLDS ARE SEVEN
TIMES MORE LIKELY TO EXPERIENCE
NEGLECT, STATES THAT IMPLEMENT
FULL, FULL FAMILY TANF SANCTIONS
FOR LACK OF COMPLIANCE WITH WORK
REQUIREMENTS WERE ASSOCIATED
WITH A 12.7 INCREASE IN TOTAL
FOSTER CARE ENTRIES. SPOTLIGHT
THE HARM OF WITHHOLDING VITAL
CASH AID AND DESTABILIZING
FAMILIES. EVERY STUDY COMPARING
THE RACE AND ETHNICITY OF
SANCTIONED TANF RECIPIENTS FINDS
THAT BLACK FAMILIES ARE
SIGNIFICANTLY MORE LIKELY TO BE
SANCTIONED THAN THEIR WHITE
COUNTERPARTS. FROM THE 2021
STUDY BY CHAPMAN HALL THAT WE
HEARD ABOUT, WE KNOW THAT INCOME
STATUS OF FAMILIES IS A
SIGNIFICANT PREDICTOR OF
INVOLVEMENT WITH THE CHILD
WELFARE SYSTEM, AND COUNTY LEVEL
POVERTY RATES ARE ASSOCIATED
WITH FOSTER CARE PLACEMENT RATES
AMONG CHILDREN OF ALL RACES, AND
THE MAJORITY OF CALIFORNIA
FAMILIES INVOLVED WITH THE CHILD
WELFARE SYSTEM ARE EXPERIENCING
POVERTY. FORTUNATELY, RESEARCH
ALSO SHOWS THAT IMPROVING ACCESS
TO AND RAISING LEVELS OF
CALWORKS AND OTHER PUBLIC
BENEFITS MITIGATES POTENTIAL
RISK FACTORS FOR INTERVENTION BY
CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES
SERVICES. WHEN NEGATIVE EARNINGS
, SHOCKS, OR OTHER TOXIC
STRESSORS OCCUR NATIONALLY, THE
PROTECTIVE EFFECT IS ESPECIALLY
STRONG FOR FAMILIES WITH YOUNG
CHILDREN AGES 0 TO 4 AND
DEMONSTRATING A 12% INCREASE IN
RISK FOR CPS INVOLVEMENT AND 50%
DECLINE IN THE RISK OF PHYSICAL
ABUSE. AN INVESTIGATION A 10%
INCREASE IN THE STATE PUBLIC
BENEFIT LEVELS, INCLUDING TANF
FOR A FAMILY OF FOUR, HAS BEEN
SHOWN TO REDUCE FOSTER CARE
PLACEMENTS BY 8% AND
ANECDOTALLY, CHILDREN AND
FAMILIES THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED
THE CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM
HIGHLIGHT THE FACT THAT
RESOURCES DEVOTED TO KEEPING
KIDS IN CARE OFTEN EXCEEDS THE
MONTHLY AMOUNT NEEDED TO
STABILIZE THE FAMILY AND MOVE
THEM OUT OF POVERTY. WE KNOW
THAT CASH ASSISTANCE IS A
PATHWAY TO PREVENT CHILD WELFARE
INVOLVEMENT. WE ALSO KNOW THAT
MORE IS NEEDED TO STRENGTHEN THE
ECONOMIC STABILITY AND MOBILITY
OF OUR FAMILIES. IN THE LAST FEW
YEARS, THE LEGISLATURE AND
ADMINISTRATION HAVE TAKEN STEPS
TO ENSURE THAT NO CHILD ENTERS
THE SYSTEM BASED ON POVERTY
ALONE, NARROWING THE LEGAL
DEFINITION OF NEGLECT, MOVING
FROM MANDATED REPORTING TO
SUPPORTING. BUT THE PROPOSED
CUTS TO CALWORKS WILL HAVE A
DESTABILIZING IMPACT ON
COMMUNITIES BRINGING MORE
CHILDREN AND FAMILIES INTO CHILD
WELFARE ORBIT WITHOUT THE
ABILITY TO OFFER THEM THE SAME
LEVEL OF SERVICES TO PREVENT
REMOVAL OR DEEPER SYSTEM
INVOLVEMENT. THERE IS NO DOUBT
THAT POVERTY IS A DRIVER FOR
CHILD WELFARE INVOLVEMENT, OR
THAT EXPERIENCING POVERTY ALSO
CONTINUES. FOR MANY YOUNG PEOPLE
EXITING THE SYSTEM, WITH DECADES
OF RESEARCH SHOWING THE
DISPROPORTION, NUMBERS OF FOSTER
CARE, ALUMNI EXPERIENCING
POVERTY AND POVERTY RELATED
OUTCOMES IN EARLY ADULTHOOD.
HOWEVER A STRENGTHENED SAFETY
NET CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE. OUR
COALITION HAS PROPOSED
INTERRELATED REFORMS THAT
REIMAGINE CALWORKS AWAY FROM ITS
CURRENT FLAWS AND FULFILL THE
PROGRAM'S POTENTIAL, WHICH WILL
HELP STABILIZE FAMILIES, PREVENT
CHILD WELFARE REFERRALS, AND
SUPPORT FAMILY REUNIFICATION. WE
PROPOSE TO ELIMINATE OR REDUCE
SANCTIONS TO FEDERAL MINIMUMS,
ENSURING PARENTS HAVE THE INCOME
TO AFFORD CRITICAL NECESSITIES
LIKE FOOD, RENT, UTILITIES AND
SCHOOL SUPPLIES. SHIFTING
CALWORKS RIGID WORK FORCE WORK
WORK FIRST FOCUS TO A FAMILY
ASSISTANCE MODEL, ENABLING
COUNTIES TO QUICKLY OFFER
SUPPORTS TAILORED TO PARENTS AND
CHILDREN. MOVING FROM A PENALTY
FOCUSED TO A PARTICIPANT
CENTERED PROGRAMS. EXPANDING THE
DEFINITION OF WORK TO INCLUDE A
VARIETY OF OTHER ACTIVITIES
NECESSARY FOR FAMILIES IN
CRISIS. ELIMINATING THE WORK
PARTICIPATION RATE PASS THROUGH
TO REMOVE THE SPECTER OF
FINANCIAL PENALTY ON COUNTIES,
CENTERING FAMILY WELL-BEING AND
LONG TUM SUCCESS AS THE
PROGRAM'S GUIDING GOALS. THESE
LONG OVERDUE REFORMS CAN END
DEEP CHILD POVERTY, ADDRESS
RACIAL DISPARITIES IN THE CHILD
WELFARE SYSTEM, AND PREVENT THE
TRAUMATIC LONG TERME
CONSEQUENCES OF REMOVAL. THANK
YOU, CHAIR, FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP
ON THESE ISSUES AND FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO TESTIFY AND
HIGHLIGHT THESE IMPORTANT
CONNECTIONS AND OPPORTUNITIES.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. DEPARTMENT
OF FINANCE. GOOD AFTERNOON,
CHAIR JACKSON. MARLON DAVIS,
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE. NO
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS AT THIS
TIME, BUT HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY
QUESTIONS. LEO GOOD AFTERNOON,
CHAIR JACKSON. ANGELA SHORT WITH
THE LEGISLATIVE ANALYST'S
OFFICE, I'LL BE WALKING YOU
THROUGH A HANDOUT FOR THIS
ISSUE. THE SERGEANT SHOULD HAVE
PASSED THAT OUT TO YOU, AND FOR
ANYONE WHO DIDN'T GET ONE, THIS
SHOULD ALSO BE AVAILABLE ON THE
LÀ WEBSITE, AS WELL AS THE
SUBCOMMITTEE WEBSITE. I BELIEVE
AT SOME POINT, AND BEFORE DIVING
IN, I ALSO DID JUST WANT TO
MENTION OUR OFFICE IS WORKING ON
A FULL REPORT EXAMINING THESE
ISSUES THAT WILL BE PUBLISHED IN
THE NEXT WEEK OR TWO. THAT
REPORT WILL INCLUDE A FOCUS ON
SPECIFIC POLICY AREAS AND
OPTIONS FOR THE LEGISLATURE TO
CONSIDER AROUND ADDRESSING FRONT
END DISPROPORTIONALITIES AND
DISPARITIES, BUT WITH THAT,
LET'S JUST JUMP INTO OUR UPDATE
FOR TODAY. SO TURNING TO PAGE
ONE, FOSTER YOUTH IN CALIFORNIA
ARE DISPROPORTIONATELY LOW
INCOME BLACK AND NATIVE
AMERICAN. AS YOU'VE ALSO HEARD
FROM OUR OTHER SPEAKERS ON THIS
PANEL TODAY, IN PARTICULAR, THE
PROPORTIONS OF BLACK AND NATIVE
AMERICAN YOUTH IN FOSTER CARE IN
CALIFORNIA TODAY ARE AROUND FOUR
TIMES LARGER THAN THOSE
CHILDREN'S PROPORTION IN
CALIFORNIA'S CHILD POPULATION.
OVERALL FOR EXAMPLE, BLACK
CHILDREN REPRESENT AROUND 6% OF
OUR STATE'S POPULATION, BUT MORE
THAN 20% OF YOUTH IN FOSTER CARE
IN ADDITION, RECENT RESEARCH HAS
FOUND THAT CUMULATIVE SYSTEM
INVOLVEMENT THAT IS, ANY LEVEL
OF INVOLVEMENT BY THE TIME
CHILDREN TURN 18 YEARS OLD FOR
BLACK AND NATIVE AMERICAN YOUTH,
NEARLY 1 IN 2 OR 50% OF THOSE
YOUTH, EXPERIENCED SOME LEVEL OF
SYSTEM INVOLVEMENT BY THE TIME
THEY TURN 18. RESEARCH ALSO HAS
FOUND THAT CHILDREN IN FAMILIES
WITH PUBLIC HEALTH INSURANCE OR
MEDI-CAL. SO THOSE LOWER INCOME
FAMILIES WITH MEDI-CAL
EXPERIENCED CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM
INVOLVEMENT AT MORE THAN TWICE
THE RATE OF THOSE WITH PRIVATE
HEALTH INSURANCE OR RELATIVELY
HIGHER INCOME FAMILIES. TURNING
TO PAGE THREE, THE DATA ALSO
INDICATES THAT
DISPROPORTIONALITIES AND
DISPARITIES ARE PRESENT FROM THE
VERY INITIAL ENTRY POINT OF THE
SYSTEM, THAT IS, ALLEGATIONS OF
MALTREATMENT AND PERSIST
THROUGHOUT ALL LEVELS OF THE
SYSTEM BECOMING ACTUALLY MORE
PRONOUNCED WHEN WE LOOK AT YOUTH
IN FOSTER CARE. SO THIS FIGURE
HERE IS DEMONSTRATING THE
RELATIVE RATES OF INVOLVEMENT
RELATIVE TO WHITE CHILDREN. SO
BARS EXTENDING TO THE RIGHT
INDICATE HIGHER RATES OF
INVOLVEMENT COMPARED TO WHITE
CHILDREN. WHILE BARS MOVING TO
THE LEFT OF THE FIGURE INDICATE
RELATIVELY LOWER RATES OF
INVOLVEMENT COMPARED TO WHITE
CHILDREN. SO AS YOU CAN SEE,
LOOKING AT THAT TOP SET OF BARS,
BLACK CHILDREN ARE MORE THAN
THREE TIMES MORE LIKELY RELATIVE
TO WHITE CHILDREN TO BE THE
SUBJECT OF A MALTREATMENT
ALLEGATION. AND NEARLY FIVE AND
A HALF TIMES MORE LIKELY
RELATIVE TO WHITE CHILDREN, TO
ACTUALLY BE IN FOSTER CARE,
TURNING TO PAGE FOUR, WHEN WE
ACCOUNT FOR POVERTY, WE SEE THAT
DISPARITIES ARE SIGNIFICANTLY
DIMINISHED. IN OTHER WORDS,
POVERTY DOES ACCOUNT FOR QUITE A
LARGE, TO A LARGE DEGREE CAN
HELP EXPLAIN THE DISPROPORTION,
BANALITIES THAT WE SEE ALONG
RACIAL AND ETHNIC LINES.
HOWEVER, EVEN WHEN ACCOUNTING
FOR POVERTY, WE DO STILL SEE IN
CALIFORNIA THAT BLACK AND NATIVE
AMERICAN YOUTH ARE STILL MORE
LIKELY RELATIVE TO CHILDREN OF
ANY OTHER RACIAL OR ETHNIC
GROUP, TO ACTUALLY BE IN FOSTER
CARE, TURNING TO PAGE FIVE,
HERE, THIS FIGURE IS REALLY
DEMONSTRATING TRENDS OVER TIME,
ILLUSTRATING THAT UNFORTUNATELY,
WE HAVEN'T SEEN TOO MUCH OF A
CHANGE IN TERMS OF THE
DISPROPORTIONATE REPRESENTATION
OF BLACK AND NATIVE AMERICAN
YOUTH OVER THE PAST DECADE OR
SO. ALTHOUGH, AS DIRECTOR
JOHNSON DID INDICATE, THERE ARE
SOME, SOME AREAS OF IMPROVEMENT.
BUT JUST IN TERMS OF INITIAL
ENTRIES INTO CARE, WE'RE NOT
REALLY SEEING TOO MUCH MOVEMENT
OVER TIME. TURNING TO PAGE SIX,
AS HAS BEEN INDICATED EARLIER BY
OTHER SPEAKERS ON THIS PANEL, WE
DO SEE VERY STRONG CORRELATION
BETWEEN POVERTY AND CHILD
WELFARE SYSTEM INVOLVEMENT. FOR
EXAMPLE, LOOKING ACROSS
CALIFORNIA'S COUNTIES, WE SEE
THAT AS THE POVERTY RATE FOR
CHILDREN INCREASES, THE SHARE OF
CHILDREN IN FOSTER CARE ALSO
TEND TO INCREASE. SO THIS FIGURE
HERE, THOSE CIRCLES OR BUBBLES
ARE REPRESENTING INDIVIDUAL
COUNTIES. THE LARGER CIRCLES ARE
REPRESENTING COUNTIES WITH
LARGER CHILD POPULATIONS. AND
YOU CAN SEE AS WE MOVE TO THE
RIGHT ON THE HORIZONTAL AXIS, AS
THE RATE OF POVERTY IS
INCREASING, SO TOO DOES THE RATE
OF FOSTER CARE PLACEMENT TEND TO
INCREASE, DEMONSTRATING THAT
CORRELATION. TURNING TO PAGE
SEVEN IN THE DATA ALSO TELL US
THAT THE VAST MAJORITY OF
FAMILIES INVOLVED WITH THE CHILD
WELFARE SYSTEM ARE EXPERIENCING
POVERTY OR OTHER DEGREES OF
FINANCIAL HARDSHIP, IN
PARTICULAR, MORE THAN HALF OF
CALIFORNIA FAMILIES INVOLVED
WITH THE CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM
ARE ACTUALLY EXPERIENCING DEEP
POVERTY AND HAVE INCOMES OF LESS
THAN 50% OF THE FEDERAL POVERTY
LEVEL, AND NATIONALLY,
RESEARCHERS ESTIMATE AROUND 85%
OF FAMILIES INVOLVED WITH CHILD
WELFARE HAVE INCOMES BELOW 200%
OF THE FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL. IN
IMPORTANTLY, THIS IS NOT TO SAY
THAT THERE'S A CAUSAL
RELATIONSHIP OR THAT THESE
FAMILIES ARE IN ANY WAY LESS
CAPABLE PARENTS, BUT RATHER,
THIS IS REALLY INDICATING THAT
THE STRESSORS ASSOCIATED WITH
EXPERIENCING POVERTY, ARE
INCREASE THE RISKS THAT CHILD
MALTREATMENT MAY OCCUR. AND
FINALLY, I KNOW I'M ABOUT OUT OF
TIME, SO I'LL JUMP TO THE FINAL
PAGE HERE. GIVEN THE STRONG
CORRELATION BETWEEN POVERTY AND
FOSTER CARE OR CHILD WELFARE
SYSTEM INVOLVEMENT, A GROWING
BODY OF RESEARCH FOCUSES ON HOW
PROVIDING CONCRETE AND ECONOMIC
SUPPORTS MAY HELP TO REDUCE
THOSE RISKS AND ULTIMATELY HELP
TO COMBAT CHILD MALTREATMENT,
THE BODY OF RESEARCH HAS LOOKED
AT CASH AID, TAX CREDITS,
SUPPORTIVE HOUSING AND OTHER
TYPES OF PROGRAMS AND HAS FOUND
A POSITIVE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN
THOSE PROVIDING THOSE SUPPORTS
AND REDUCING THE RISK FACTORS OF
CHILD MALTREATMENT, AND IN
PARTICULAR, CHAPIN HALL AT THE
UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO, HAS
REALLY AGGREGATED AND SUMMARIZED
QUITE A LOT OF THIS GROWING BODY
OF RESEARCH FOCUSING ON TANF
BENEFITS AND OTHER TYPES OF
CONCRETE SUPPORTS. AND THEY HAVE
REALLY HIGHLIGHTED HOW
INCREASING TANF BENEFITS AND
ACCESS TO TANF IS ASSOCIATED
WITH REDUCING THE RISKS OF CHILD
MALTREATMENT. SO I'LL STOP
THERE. BUT HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY
QUESTIONS. VERY EXCITED ABOUT
SEEING YOUR THE FULL REPORT WITH
THE RECOMMENDATIONS. I THINK WE
NEED TO CONTINUE TO CHIP AWAY AT
THIS ISSUE, AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE,
AND I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE
ALSO SEEN A, A HUGE SPIKE IN
TERMS OF POVERTY, PARTICULARLY
CHILD POVERTY, GIVEN THE SUNSET
OF THE FEDERAL CHILD TAX CREDIT.
AND SO WE HAVE TO DO EVERYTHING
WE CAN. UNFORTUNATELY AGAIN,
CALIFORNIA HAS TO FILL IN THE
GAP FOR WHAT THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE, SHOULD BE
DOING TO HELP US TAKE CARE OF,
OF OUR POPULATION. I'LL SAVE MY
QUESTIONS FOR THE FOLLOWING
PANELS THAT WILL BE COVERING
MANY OF THESE AREAS, BUT I WANT
TO THANK THIS PANEL FOR OPENING
UP THE DISCUSSION AND STARTING
US OFF, ON FOCUSING ON THIS
POPULATION. THANK YOU ALL VERY
MUCH. AND WE'LL BRING UP THE
NEXT PANEL FOR ISSUE NUMBER TWO.
SURE. GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR KIM
JOHNSON, CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT
OF SOCIAL SERVICES. THE
COMMITTEE HAS ASKED A LITTLE BIT
OF LEARNING ABOUT CONTINUUM OF
CARE EFFORTS AND WHERE WE ARE
AND WHERE WE HAVE WORK TO DO. SO
WE HAVE MADE TRANSFORMATIVE
CHANGES TO THE WAY THE STATE
CARES FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH IN
THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM. THE
CONTINUUM OF CARE REFORM WAS
FOUNDED UPON THE COLLECTIVE
BELIEF THAT ALL CHILDREN SERVED
BY THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM NEED,
DESERVE, AND HAVE AN ABILITY TO
BE PART OF A LOVING FAMILY AND
NOT TO GROW UP IN CONGREGATE
SETTINGS. CCR FOCUSED ON ENDING
LONG TERME CONGREGATE CARE
PLACEMENTS IN CALIFORNIA'S
FOSTER CARE SYSTEM, AND
INCREASINGLY PLACING CHILDREN IN
YOUTH WITH RELATIVES. AS A
RESULT, YOUTH PLACEMENT INTO
CONGREGATE CARE HAS DECREASED BY
ALMOST 60, WHILE PLACEMENTS INTO
HOME BASED SETTINGS HAVE
INCREASED PLACEMENT. STABILITY
INDICATORS FOR CHILDREN
REMAINING IN THEIR FIRST
PLACEMENT PLACEMENT HAVE ALSO
CONTINUED TO GROW. GROW 75% OF
YOUTH THAT HAVE HAD THEIR FIRST
PLACEMENT WITH A RELATIVE AND
ARE STILL IN CARE AT 12 MONTHS
ARE STILL WITH THAT RELATIVE
MORE THAN 87% OF YOUTH IN OUR
SHORT TERME RESIDENTIAL
THERAPEUTIC PROGRAMS RECEIVE
CRITICAL MENTAL HEALTH AND
THERAPEUTIC SERVICES. THERE IS
STILL MORE TO DO TO DEVELOP AND
STRENGTHEN A RESPONSIVE
CONTINUUM THAT KEEPS CHILDREN
AND YOUTH WITH THEIR FAMILIES.
WHENEVER IT IS SAFELY POSSIBLE
TO DO SO. THAT BEGINS WITH OUR
PREVENTION EFFORTS HAPPENING
LARGELY THROUGH THE CALIFORNIA
FAMILY FIRST PREVENTION SERVICES
PROGRAM, WHICH AIMS TO SHIFT THE
WELFARE SYSTEM TO A SYSTEM THAT
PRIORITIZES PREVENTION AND EARLY
INTERVENTION. THIS WORK
CONTINUES VÆ OUR EFFORTS TO
SHIFT TO BE CENTERED IN KIN
FIRST CULTURE, BECAUSE WE KNOW
THAT CHILDREN AND KINSHIP CARE
EXPERIENCE FEWER HEALTH AND
MENTAL HEALTH CONCERNS, BETTER
ACADEMIC OUTCOMES, GREATER
PLACEMENT, STABILITY, AND A
SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER LIKELIHOOD
OF REENTERING CARE WITHIN 12
MONTHS OF EXIT. IN CONNECTION
WITH OUR EFFORTS TO KEEP
CHILDREN AND YOUTH CONNECTED TO
THEIR RELATIVES AND COMMUNITIES
OF ORIGIN, OUR EFFORTS TO ENSURE
ADHERENCE TO THE INDIAN CHILD
WELFARE ACT SO THAT TRIBAL
CHILDREN AND YOUTH CAN REMAIN
CONNECTED TO THEIR TRIBE.
LASTLY, THE ONGOING WORK TO
EXPAND OUR CONTINUUM, DEVELOP
INNOVATIVE APPROACHES AND INVEST
IN COLLABORATION ACROSS SYSTEMS
TO BETTER SERVE YOUTH WITH
HIGHER ACUITY NEEDS. WE ALSO
HAVE WORK TO DO TO ENSURE THAT
THE SHORT TERME RESIDENTIAL
THERAPEUTIC PROGRAMS, REFERRED
TO AS STPS WHEN NEEDED, ARE
SHORT TERME PLACEMENTS AND THAT
YOUTH RESIDING WITHIN THOSE
SETTINGS HAVE INTENSIVE CASE
PLANNING AND FAMILY
REUNIFICATION EFFORTS OCCURRING
THROUGHOUT THE DURATION OF THEIR
STAY. AS MENTIONED IN THE
PREVIOUS ISSUE, THERE IS STILL
WORK TO ALSO DO TO DO TO ADDRESS
THE DISPROPORTIONALITIES IN THE
CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM. I ALSO
JUST WOULD WANT TO NOTE FOR THE
FOR OUR WORK AT THE DEPARTMENT,
WE CONTINUE TO GROW AND EXPAND
OUR OFFICE OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS,
WHOSE PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY IS
IMPLEMENTING THE INDIAN CHILD
WELFARE ACT TO FIDELITY. AND
WE'VE ALSO CREATED A LEADERSHIP
POSITION, POSITION AND ASSISTANT
DIRECTOR OF EQUITY INCLUSION
SPECIFIC TO CHILD WELFARE TO
ADDRESS THESE DISPARITIES,
YOU'VE ALSO ASKED IN TERMS OF
KIND OF TRANSPARENCY AND
CONVERSATION WITH LEGISLATORS,
WITH THE LEGISLATURE AND
LEGISLATIVE STAFF, HOW WE CAN
CONTINUE TO ENSURE THAT THAT
TRANSPARENCY AND REPORTING AND
ENGAGEMENT IS OCCURRING. WE ARE
COMMITTED TO DOING SO. AND THE
LATEST CCR REPORT WAS ISSUED
YESTERDAY. WE ARE WORKING TO
SCHEDULE A MEETING TO WALK
THROUGH THE FINDINGS WITH
LEGISLATIVE STAFF. WE'VE ALSO
PROVIDED LEGISLATIVE BRIEFINGS
IN THE INTERIM, FOCUSED ON
STRATEGIES TO ADDRESS GAPS FOR
YOUTH WITH HIGHER ACUITY NEEDS
RELATED TO Ã AND OTHER TOPICS.
WE ARE ALSO DEVELOPING,
DEVELOPING AND LOOK FORWARD TO
SHARING THE FIRST ITERATION OF A
NEW DATA DASHBOARD, WHICH WILL
BE RESPONSIVE TO MUCH OF THE
ORIGINAL DATA REPORTING
REQUIREMENTS. IT WILL CONTAIN A
STRIP SECTION, INCLUDING, BUT
NOT LIMITED TO, PLACEMENTS AND
LENGTH OF STAY. SUBSEQUENT
PLACEMENTS OUT OF COUNTY
PLACEMENTS, AND MORE DATA ON
PLACEMENT AND EXITS FROM FOSTER
CARE AND RESOURCE FAMILY
APPROVAL SECTIONS THAT WILL HAVE
APPLICATION APPROVAL.
TIMELINESS. HOMES WITH RELATIVES
VERSUS NON RELATIVES, ETC. THE
COMMITTEES ALSO ASKED ABOUT THE
PRIORITIES FOR OUR CHILD WELFARE
SYSTEM AND HOW WE GO FORWARD,
AND HOW WE ACTUALLY ENGAGE YOUTH
IN, IN THE, IN THE PROPOSALS
THAT WE HAVE. WE HAVE
INTENTIONALLY CREATED NUMEROUS
OPPORTUNITIES TO HEAR FROM
CURRENT AND FORMER FOSTER YOUTH.
THAT INCLUDES, AS I REFERENCED,
THE CHILD WELFARE COUNCIL. WE
ALSO HAVE THE COMPLEX CARE
STEERING COMMITTEE WHERE THE
CALIFORNIA YOUTH CONNECTION IS,
IS REPRESENTED, THE DIRECTORATE
WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT MYSELF, WE
HAVE REGULARLY QUARTERLY CHECK
INS WITH THE CALIFORNIA YOUTH
CONNECTION TO HEAR DIRECTLY FROM
YOUNG PEOPLE AND JUST COMPLETE
APPRECIATION FOR THE PREPARATION
THEY HAVE, GIVING US
RECOMMENDATIONS SPECIFIC TO MANY
AREAS OF POLICY AND BUDGET. WE
ALSO HAVE QUARTERLY MEETINGS
WITH ADVOCATES AND YOUTH WITH
LIVED EXPERIENCE. REGIONAL PEER
PARTNER HUBS, AND OF COURSE THE
CALIFORNIA CITIZEN REVIEW PANEL.
WHAT WE'VE HEARD IN THOSE
CONVERSATIONS FROM YOUTH IS THAT
THE BIGGEST PRIORITIES FROM THEM
ARE TIMELY CHILD AND FAMILY
TEAMING, WHERE THE YOUTH'S VOICE
AND CHOICE IS AT THE CENTER OF
THE DISCUSSION, CONNECTION TO
THEIR COMMUNITIES OF ORIGIN,
SCHOOL AND RELATIVES. ACCESS TO
ENRICHMENT, ENRICHMENT
ACTIVITIES, HOUSING SERVICES FOR
OLDER FOSTER YOUTH, A NEED FOR
PEER SUPPORTS, STABILITY AND
CONSISTENT ACCESS TO SERVICES
AND CONTINUOUS SUPPORTS ACROSS
ALL AREAS OF CARE, EDUCATION AND
EMPLOYMENT. SUPPORT AND MORE.
PREPARATION FOR THE TRANSITION
INTO ADULTHOOD. AND FINALLY,
YOU'VE ASKED US, AS YOU
REFERENCED IN YOUR OPENING
COMMENTS, ABOUT THE PROPOSAL FOR
THE FOSTER CARE MULTI-AGENCY
OFFICE, WE SHARE THE PERSPECTIVE
THAT CROSS-AGENCY COORDINATION
IS ESSENTIAL TO THE SUCCESS OF
OUR EFFORTS TO IMPROVE CHILD
WELFARE SERVICES IN FOSTER CARE.
WE RECOMMEND CONTINUING TO
UTILIZE THE CHILD WELFARE
COUNCIL AND AS WELL AS THE
MULTI-AGENCY WHAT WE REFERENCE
AS THE ASSEMBLY BILL 2083 SYSTEM
OF CARE TEAM TO BENEFIT CHILDREN
AND FAMILIES. AB 2083, WHICH WAS
CHAPTERED IN 2018, REQUIRED EACH
COUNTY TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT
A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
OUTLINING THE ROLES AND
RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE VARIOUS
LOCAL ENTITIES THAT SERVE
CHILDREN AND YOUTH IN FOSTER
CARE. THE LEGISLATION ALSO
MANDATED MANDATED THAT THE
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH CARE
SERVICES, THE DEPARTMENT OF
SOCIAL SERVICES, THE DEPARTMENT
OF EDUCATION, AND THE DEPARTMENT
OF DISABILITY SERVICES ESTABLISH
A JOINT RESOLUTION TEAM AT THE
STATE LEVEL, PROVIDE TECHNICAL
ASSISTANCE IN PRODUCE MULTIPLE
REPORTS WHICH WE HAVE DONE AND
CONTINUE TO DO SO. AGAIN, WE ARE
COMMITTED TO THE SUCCESS OF
CROSS-AGENCY EFFORTS AND LOOK
FORWARD TO HAVING ADDITIONAL
CONVERSATION ABOUT ADDITIONAL
IDEAS. THANK YOU. OKAY. GOOD
AFTERNOON. COMMITTEE CHAIR
MEMBERS AND STAFF. MY NAME IS
SIMONE TURECK LEE. I'M HERE WITH
JOHN BURTON ADVOCATES FOR YOUTH,
AND I'M HERE TO PROVIDE REMARKS
RELATED TO THE PROPOSED
ESTABLISHMENT OF A FOSTER CARE
MULTI-AGENCY OFFICE. CALIFORNIA
HAS NO SHORTAGE OF STRONG LAWS
ON THE BOOKS RELATED TO CHILD
WELFARE. IT'S CLEAR WHAT OUR
STATE'S VISION IS FOR CHILDREN
AND YOUTH WHO ARE BROUGHT INTO
OUR FOSTER CARE SYSTEM. HOWEVER,
WITH A COUNTY BASED CHILD
WELFARE SYSTEM IN A STATE WITH
58 DIFFERENT COUNTIES, STATE
GUIDANCE AND COORDINATION IS
CRITICAL. IF WE WANT OUR STATE'S
LAWS TO BE IMPLEMENTED
CONSISTENTLY STATEWIDE IN LINE
WITH THEIR INTENT. THIS IS
PARTICULARLY TRUE WHEN THESE
LAWS NECESSITATE COLLABORATION
ACROSS DIFFERENT PUBLIC AGENCIES
IN EXTENDED FOSTER CARE.
PROVIDES GREAT CONTEXT FOR THIS.
WHEN CALIFORNIA EXTENDED FOSTER
CARE TO AGE 21, IT UNKNOWINGLY
OPENED PANDORA'S BOX TO ADULT
SYSTEMS AND ADULT ACTIVITIES. WE
NOW HAVE LEGAL ADULTS IN FOSTER
CARE WHO ARE PURSUING
POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION, FILING
THEIR TAXES, NAVIGATING THE
HOUSING MARKET, BECOMING PARENTS
AT A HIGHER RATE THAN THEY WERE
WHEN THEY WERE MINORS. ALL OF
THESE ACTIVITIES REQUIRE EFFORT
THAT GOES BEYOND THE CHILD
WELFARE SYSTEM. Ã, A FOSTER
CARE MULTI-AGENCY OFFICE, WOULD
HAVE THE ABILITY AND AUTHORITY
TO DIRECT PUBLIC AGENCIES BEYOND
THE SCOPE OF THE FOSTER CARE
SYSTEM TO PLAY THEIR ROLE AS IT
RELATES TO THE NEEDS OF FOSTER
YOUTH AND RELATED MANDATES. ONE
SPECIFIC EXAMPLE I'LL SHARE IS
THAT IN THE AREA OF REPRODUCTIVE
AND SEXUAL HEALTH IN 2017,
SEVERAL PROVISIONS WERE INCLUDED
IN SB 89 AS THE CALIFORNIA
FOSTER YOUTH SEXUAL HEALTH
EDUCATION ACT. ONE PROVISION
REQUIRED CHILD WELFARE WORKERS
TO VERIFY THAT FOSTER YOUTH IN
MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL
HAD RECEIVED COMPREHENSIVE
SEXUAL HEALTH EDUCATION THAN IF
THEY HADN'T. THE COUNTY HAS TO
ARRANGE FOR THEM TO RECEIVE
THIS, EITHER BY WORKING THROUGH
A SCHOOL OR A CBO IMPLEMENTATION
OF THIS PROVISION WAS EXTREMELY
CHALLENGING FOR COUNTY CHILD
WELFARE AGENCIES BECAUSE IT
REQUIRED LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS
WHOM THEY HAVE NO AUTHORITY OVER
, TO ESSENTIALLY ESTABLISH SOME
STANDARDIZED PROTOCOLS FOR HOW
THEIR SCHOOL WOULD VERIFY THIS
FOR COUNTY CHILD WELFARE
AGENCIES. SO THIS IS JUST ONE
VERY SPECIFIC EXAMPLE OF THE
COLLABORATION THAT'S REQUIRED.
AND OFTEN OUT OF THE CONTROL OF
COUNTY CHILD WELFARE OR
SOMETIMES OF STATE OFFICES WHERE
WE NEED THAT COLLABORATION.
ANOTHER EXAMPLE IS THE MENTAL
HEALTH SYSTEM. MANY FOSTER YOUTH
WE KNOW STILL DON'T GET THE
MENTAL HEALTH CARE. THEY'RE
FEDERALLY ENTITLED TO, AND
THAT'S WHEN THEY'RE STILL
ELIGIBLE FOR CHILDREN'S MENTAL
HEALTH. WE COULD ALSO TALK ABOUT
WHEN THEY'RE PREPARING TO LEAVE
THE SYSTEM. WE HAVE YOUNG PEOPLE
IN OUR SYSTEM THAT DO HAVE ACUTE
MENTAL ILLNESS AND THAT DO NEED
CONNECTION TO THE ADULT MENTAL
HEALTH SYSTEM OF CARE WHEN THEY
EXIT. AND SO THAT'S A WHOLE
SEPARATE SYSTEM, AGAIN, THAT WE
HAVE TO NAVIGATE IN ORDER TO,
YOU KNOW, ENSURE A STABLE
TRANSITION. AND THE SAME THING
COULD BE SAID ABOUT HOUSING FOR
THESE LARGE SYSTEMS. FOSTER
YOUTH ARE A VERY SMALL
POPULATION. SO IT'S REALLY SEEN
AS A VERY NICHE ISSUE IN THESE
LARGER PUBLIC AGENCIES. AND SO
IT'S NOT SURPRISING THAT THEY
WOULDN'T BE PRIORITIZED OR THAT
THERE WOULD BE A LACK OF
KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THE NEEDS OF
FOSTER YOUTH AMONG THESE OTHER
LARGE AGENCIES IS TO DRILL DOWN
EVEN FURTHER. ONE LAST EXAMPLE
IS CONSIDERING THE POPULATION OF
EXPECTANT AND PARENTING YOUTH.
THERE ARE ONLY 746 OF PARENTING
FOSTER YOUTH IN OUR WHOLE STATE.
HOW DO WE MAKE SURE THESE YOUTH
ARE PRIORITIZED FOR HOME
VISITING PROGRAMS LIKE NURSE
FAMILY PARTNERSHIP? THESE ARE
ALL JUST EXAMPLES OF THINGS THAT
WE COULD STRENGTHEN. I THINK IF
WE HAD STRONGER VEHICLES FOR
COLLABORATION. THÀNH WITH THE
FOSTER CARE MULTI-AGENCY OFFICE,
THESE NICHE ISSUES THAT ARE BIG
FOR US IN CHILD WELFARE, BUT
SMALL FOR SECTORS LIKE
EDUCATION, MENTAL HEALTH, PUBLIC
HEALTH, HOUSING AND
HOMELESSNESS. A MULTI-AGENCY
OFFICE COULD PLAY AN INCREDIBLY
IMPORTANT ROLE BY CENTRALIZING
EFFORTS AND COORDINATING ACROSS
MULTIPLE MULTIPLE AGENCIES, THIS
OFFICE COULD ENSURE THE NEEDS OF
FOSTER YOUTH RECEIVE THE
ATTENTION THEY DESERVE WITHIN
BROADER SYSTEMS. IN TIMES TO
BUILD ON YOUR COMMENTS CHAIR IN
TIMES OF BUDGET DEFICITS, I
REALLY THINK MAXIMIZING EXISTING
INVESTMENTS AND POLICIES BECOMES
CRUCIAL AND Ã AND Ã FOSTER
CARE MULTI-AGENCY OFFICE HAS THE
POTENTIAL TO STREAMLINE
SERVICES, TO IMPROVE
COORDINATION AND ULTIMATELY
ENHANCE OUTCOMES FOR FOSTER
YOUTH WHILE LEVERAGING EXISTING
RESOURCES MORE EFFECTIVELY.
THANK YOU. DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE
MARLON DAVIS DEPARTMENT OF
FINANCE AS I BELIEVE IT'S BEEN
INDICATED PREVIOUSLY, THIS
PROPOSAL IS NOT PART OF THE
GOVERNOR'S BUDGET, AND WE HAVE
NO FURTHER COMMENTS. THANK YOU,
LEO. YES AGAIN, ANGELA SHORT
WITH THE LEGISLATIVE ANALYST'S
OFFICE, FOR THIS ITEM, WE WOULD
JUST NOTE THAT YOUR AGENDA
PROVIDES US AN OVERVIEW OF THE
OVERALL CHANGES TO THE PROPOSED
BUDGET FOR CHILD WELFARE IN 24,
25 AS OF THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET,
THIS INCLUDES, A DECREASE IN
GENERAL FUND RESOURCES FOR CHILD
WELFARE PROGRAMS UNDER THE
DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES OF
AROUND $66 MILLION, RELATIVE TO
REVISED ESTIMATES FOR THE
CURRENT YEAR 20 2324. THIS
DECREASE IS DRIVEN BY A NUMBER
OF FACTORS, INCLUDING THE
EXPECTED EXPIRATION OF SOME
TEMPORARY AND ONE TIME FUNDING
PROVIDED IN PRIOR YEARS, AS WELL
AS A NUMBER OF PROPOSED
REDUCTIONS INCLUDED IN THE
GOVERNOR'S BUDGET, WHICH I KNOW
WILL BE WALKING THROUGH IN MORE
DETAIL, SO JUST TO NOTE THAT
WE'LL SPEAK TO THOSE AS THOSE
ARISE IN THE AGENDA, BUT HAPPY
TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT
THE OVERALL STRUCTURE OF THE
BUDGET FOR THIS ITEM. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I WANTED TO
MAKE SURE THAT THIS ITEM WAS,
AGENDIZED JUST TO MAKE ASSURE
THE PUBLIC IS AWARE OF WHAT WE
ARE TRYING TO, ACCOMPLISH HERE
AS A COMMITTEE, OBVIOUSLY, WHEN
YOU READ WHETHER IT'S THE
ASSEMBLY'S BLUE RIBBON REPORT IN
TERMS OF, CHILDREN, WHEN YOU
LOOK AT, EVEN CDS'S CDS'S REPORT
ON THE CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM AND
THE GROUP THAT CAME UP WITH THAT
MASSIVE REPORT, THERE WAS A FEW
THINGS THAT REALLY STOOD OUT TO
ME, NUMBER ONE, OUR CHILDREN
WITHIN, THE SYSTEM, ARE MOVED
AROUND WAY TOO MUCH, IN WHICH
THEY ARE UNABLE TO FEEL LIKE
THEY HAVE A PLACE CALLED HOME,
WHICH IS PREVENTING THEM FROM
EVEN WANTING TO ESTABLISH
HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS. WHY
ESTABLISH A HEALTHY RELATIONSHIP
WHEN YOU'RE GOING TO BE MOVED
ANYWAY? MANY OF YOU ALREADY KNOW
THAT I WORKED AT A LEVEL 12
GROUP HOME BACK IN THE DAY, AND
I WILL NEVER FORGET THE MOMENT
THAT ONE OF MY YOUNG PEOPLE GAVE
ME A LITTLE WOLVERINE FIGURINE,
AND HE SAID TO ME, I WANT YOU TO
HAVE THIS BECAUSE ONE DAY WHEN
YOU COME TO WORK, I WON'T BE
HERE, AND I WANT YOU TO REMEMBER
ME RIGHT? AND OF COURSE, SIR,
SURELY ENOUGH IT HAPPENED. BUT I
ALWAYS HAVE THAT FIGURINE. AND
SO WE HAVE GOT TO FIND A WAY TO
DO A BETTER JOB OF MAKING SURE
THAT YOUNG PEOPLE ARE STABLE. I
KNOW WE'RE WORKING TOWARDS THAT
IN TERMS OF MAKING SURE THAT
THEY'RE WITH RELATIVES AND THEY
HAVE MORE STABLE PLACES AND
THOSE TYPE OF THINGS, BUT WE
CAN'T FORGET THE LEVEL, OF
TRAUMA THAT IS CREATING, WE'RE
GOING TO BE TALKING A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT THE RATE REFORM TO MAKING
SURE THAT WHERE THEY ARE, THEY
HAVE THE RESOURCES THAT THEY
NEED, BUT THERE WAS CLEAR OVER
AND OVER AGAIN, THE IDEA THAT
DEPARTMENTS AREN'T TALKING TO
EACH OTHER AND THESE SILOS EXIST
, AND IT IS PREVENTING YOUNG
PEOPLE FROM GETTING QUALITY AND
TIMELY SERVICES. IS THAT MEET
THEIR INDIVIDUAL NEEDS. AND OVER
AND OVER AGAIN, I HAVE ALWAYS IS
MY PET PEEVE AND BUT WHAT IS A
REALITY IS SYSTEMS ARE
PROTECTING THEMSELVES AND THEY
WOULD RATHER DO WHAT SYSTEMS ARE
MORE FAMILIAR WITH DOING THAN TO
CHANGE ON THE BEHALF OF THE
PEOPLE THAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO
SERVE. THAT'S NOT A CRITICISM IN
TERMS OF INDIVIDUAL GOALS.
THAT'S WHAT SYSTEMS DO. THAT'S
WHAT BUREAUCRACIES DO THERE TO
ESTABLISH CONSISTENCY. VÆ
THERE'S ESTABLISHED STABILITY,
BUT IT ALSO HAS UNINTENDED
CONSEQUENCES AS WELL. SO WE HAVE
GOT TO BUILD INTO THE SYSTEM. A
PLACE THAT ONLY IS LOOKING OUT
FOR THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE
YOUNG PEOPLE AND NOT THE SYSTEM,
SO THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT,
NUMBER ONE, THE LEGISLATURE
CONTINUES TO GET, REGULAR
RECOMMENDATIONS TO IMPROVE THE
EXPERIENCE OF YOUNG PEOPLE,
THAT, THERE'S AN, A SYSTEM IN
PLACE TO KNOCK ON THE DOORS OF
OTHER SYSTEMS AND SAY, HEY, PAY
ATTENTION. THIS YOUNG PERSON
NEEDS SOMETHING, BUT THEN TO
ALSO MAKING SURE THAT WE REALLY
HAVE INTERNAL ADVOCACY. THERE'S
JUST SO MUCH GOING ON. THESE
SYSTEMS ARE MASSIVE AND IN MANY
CASES, MANY OF YOU ARE BEING,
BLAMED FROM THINGS THAT YOU
CAN'T EVEN CONTROL YOURSELF.
RIGHT AND SO THE IDEA IS, AND
WHAT I'M MY GOAL IS TO WORK WITH
ALL OF YOU, MY JOB, WHAT I SEE
AS MY JOB, YOU KNOW, I SOMETIMES
I WRITE MY OWN JOB DESCRIPTIONS,
WHAT I SEE, MY JOB IS TO PUT
SOMETHING ON THE TABLE AND MAYBE
THE END RESULT IS NOT EXACTLY
WHAT I'VE PROPOSED. BUT THIS
YEAR, WE HAVE GOT TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE'RE NOT LEAVING WITH THE
STATUS QUO. BEING IN PLACE WHEN
IT COMES TO BREAKING DOWN SILOS.
AND SO I'M ASKING YOU ALL TO
COMMIT TO WORK WITH ME, TO
FIGURING THIS OUT, TO MOVING US
FORWARD. AND I BELIEVE THAT IF
EVERY YEAR WE MOVE FORWARD, AT
LEAST ONE MORE KID WILL BE
BETTER OFF IN CALIFORNIA. RIGHT.
AND SO I WANT TO THANK YOU VERY,
ALL VERY MUCH FOR YOUR, YOUR
COMMENTS AND YOUR INFORMATION,
WE ARE GOING TO DEFINITELY, AND
ALSO LÀ WE'RE GOING TO ACTUALLY
ASK YOU FOR A REQUEST OR
ESTIMATE AND SOME TECHNICAL
ASSISTANCE WITH FIRST STARTING
OFF WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING,
SAYING, YOU KNOW, WHAT MIGHT
COST MIGHT BE ASSOCIATED WITH
IT, BUT THEN ALSO IN TERMS OF
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, BOTH
DIRECTOR AND LAO WOULD LOVE TO
BEGIN TO I THINK WE'VE ALREADY
BEGUN TO DO THIS ANYWAY, BUT
JUST MAKING SURE THAT THE PUBLIC
ALSO KNOWS THAT THIS IS
SOMETHING WE'VE GOT TO WORK AT,
YOU KNOW, I'VE HAD MY OWN
LISTENING SESSIONS WHEN I WAS
CHAIR OF THE POLICY HUMAN
SERVICES, AND THIS DIRECTLY CAME
OUT OF THOSE DISCUSSIONS. AND SO
AND I KNOW IT'S HARD, BUT I
DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY MORE
EASY STUFF TO DO ANYMORE.
THERE'S NOTHING BUT THE HARD
STUFF, SO, LET'S ROLL OUR
SLEEVES UP TOGETHER AND, AND GET
SOMETHING DONE THAT WE CAN ALL
BE PROUD OF. THANK YOU ALL VERY
MUCH FOR PARTICIPATING IN ISSUE
NUMBER THREE. FOLKS, COME ON UP
WHO ARE PART OF ISSUE NUMBER
THREE. AND THIS ALWAYS JUST
INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND THEN, GO
IN. WE WILL GO IN THE ORDER AS
IT IS SEEN ON THE AGENDA. THANK
YOU
.
GOOD AFTERNOON, DOCTOR JACKSON
AND STAFF. MY NAME IS JENNIFER
TROIA, AND I AM THE CHIEF DEPUTY
DIRECTOR OF THE CALIFORNIA
DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES.
THE THIRD ISSUE BEFORE YOU
RELATES TO THE FAMILY URGENT
RESPONSE SYSTEM, WHICH WE CALL
FERS. IT WAS ESTABLISHED BY THE
LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR IN
2019. IT WAS DESIGNED BY YOUTH
IN FOSTER CARE AND CAREGIVERS TO
PROVIDE CRISIS SUPPORT AND
PRESERVE FAMILY PLACEMENTS IN
HOMES. FERS INCLUDES A 24 OVER
SEVEN STATEWIDE HOTLINE, AS WELL
AS IN-PERSON COUNTY MOBILE
RESPONSE UNITS ANNUALLY, THE
FERS HOTLINE RECEIVES
APPROXIMATELY 5000 CALLS FROM
CURRENT AND FORMER FOSTER YOUTH
CAREGIVERS AND OTHER COMMUNITY
SUPPORTERS. YOU ASKED ABOUT THE
GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURE TRENDS
FOR THIS PROGRAM IN FISCAL YEAR
20 2021, THE EXPENDITURES WERE
$2.9 MILLION. THEY GREW TO 8.4
MILLION IN 2122 AND 13.3 MILLION
IN 2223. YOU ALSO ASKED ABOUT
THE IMPLICATIONS OF THE
GOVERNOR'S PROPOSAL RELATED TO
THE SOLUTION RELATED TO FERS
FUNDING. IN THE ABSENCE OF FERS
CURRENT AND FORMER FOSTER YOUTH
AND CAREGIVERS WOULD NEED TO
UTILIZE OTHER RESOURCES, SUCH AS
THOSE PROVIDED BY HEALTH PLANS
OR THAT ARE PUBLICLY AVAILABLE
WHILE WE ACKNOWLEDGE THESE
RESOURCES ARE NOT SPECIFIC TO
FOSTER YOUTH AND THEIR
CAREGIVERS, I JUST WANT TO POINT
OUT THAT THEY MIGHT INCLUDE
PROGRAMS OPERATED BY THE
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH CARE
SERVICES LIKE CAL HOPE, WHICH
PROVIDES FREE SUPPORTS TO
INDIVIDUALS IN CRISIS, AND A
HOTLINE, BRIGHT LIFE KIDS AT CAL
HOPE PROGRAM BY OPERATED BY
BRIGHT LINE, WHICH PROVIDES
MENTAL HEALTH COACHING AND
RESOURCES FOR PARENTS AND
CHILDREN AGES 0 TO 12, OR
SOLUNA, WHICH IS CONFIDENTIAL
SUPPORT LIKE COACHING AND
RESOURCES FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH
AGES 13 TO 25. THERE'S ALSO A
LARGER CONTEXT, AS WE'VE BEEN
DISCUSSING ALREADY IN THESE
PANELS, AND WILL FURTHER IN THE
REST OF THE HEARING TODAY
RELATED TO THE EFFORTS BEING
IMPLEMENTED ACROSS CALIFORNIA'S
CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM TO INCREASE
RELATIVE PLACEMENTS, TO
ESTABLISH PERMANENCY, AND TO
REDUCE DISPROPORTION REALITIES.
WE REMAIN DEDICATED THROUGH
THESE BROADER ENDEAVORS AND THE
ALTERNATIVE RESOURCES PREVIOUSLY
MENTIONED TO PROVIDING WHAT
FAMILIES NEED TO THRIVE AND TO
SUPPORTING PLACEMENTS WITH
RELATIVES AND PERMANENCY AND
ENHANCED EQUITY. I'M HAPPY TO
ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS AT THE
APPROPRIATE TIME. GOOD AFTERNOON
CHAIR. IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU. AND
I THINK GIVEN WHAT YOU JUST SAID
AFTER THE LAST PANEL, FURS IS A
PERFECT SORT OF ANSWER TO SOME
OF THE THINGS THAT YOU PUT
FORWARD. SO IT WAS A GOOD SEGUE.
I'M SUSANNA KNIFFEN, DIRECTOR OF
CHILD WELFARE POLICY AT CHILDREN
NOW, LET ME START BY SAYING THAT
EVEN IN DIFFICULT BUDGET YEARS,
CHILDREN AND YOUTH MUST BE
PROTECTED, PARTICULARLY THOSE
THE STATE IS LEGALLY RESPONSIBLE
FOR. CHILDREN AND YOUTH. THE
STATE HAS REMOVED FROM THEIR
FAMILIES, PLACED IN FOSTER CARE,
AND THEN PROMISED TO TAKE CARE
OF CALIFORNIA'S FAMILY. URGENT
RESPONSE SYSTEM REFERS WAS
DESIGNED BY YOUTH AND CAREGIVERS
TO MEET THEIR UNIQUE NEEDS. IT
WAS CAREFULLY CRAFTED BY
COUNTIES, PROVIDERS AND
ADVOCATES, AND IT WAS CHAMPIONED
BY LEGISLATORS WHO REALIZED THAT
OUR CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM NEEDED
TO BE MORE RESPONSIVE IN ORDER
TO HELP FAMILIES BUILD HEALTHY
RELATIONSHIPS AND NAVIGATE A
COMPLICATED AND OFTEN
CHALLENGING SYSTEM. A VARIETY OF
DIFFICULT SITUATIONS CAN
NATURALLY ARISE AS CHILDREN AND
YOUTH IN FOSTER CARE AND THEIR
CAREGIVERS SEEK TO BUILD
RELATIONSHIPS AND LEARN TO LIVE
TOGETHER. THESE SITUATIONS OCCUR
ANY TIME, DAY OR NIGHT, AND HAVE
THE POTENTIAL TO DISRUPT
STABILITY, WHICH IS CRITICALLY
IMPORTANT TO THE HEALTHY GROWTH
AND WELL-BEING OF YOUNG PEOPLE.
AS YOU NOTED, FIRST IS A 24 OVER
SEVEN CHILD WELFARE SPECIFIC
SUPPORT SYSTEM, AND IT CONSISTS
OF A STATEWIDE HELPLINE AND
MOBILE RESPONSE TEAMS IN ALL 58
COUNTIES. IT IS AVAILABLE ON
DEMAND WHENEVER YOUTH AND
CAREGIVERS FEEL THE NEED FOR
EXTRA SUPPORT, INCLUDING
IN-PERSON SUPPORT, WHENEVER AND
WHEREVER THEY WANT IT, TYPICALLY
WITHIN ONE HOUR, ANYWHERE IN
CALIFORNIA FIRST IS UNIQUE
BECAUSE IT BECAUSE IT IS DRIVEN
BY YOUTH AND CAREGIVERS. THEY
MAKE THE CALLS, THEY DETERMINE
WHAT SUPPORT THEY RECEIVE AND
THEY DETERMINE WHEN THEY RECEIVE
IT. FIRST IS ONE OF THE ONLY
SERVICES AVAILABLE THAT THEY CAN
CONTROL WITH NO ELIGIBILITY
REQUIREMENTS OTHER THAN TIME IN
FOSTER CARE. THIS INCLUDES YOUNG
PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN REUNIFIED
WITH THEIR FAMILIES, WHO ARE OR
WHO HAVE BEEN ADOPTED, AND OFTEN
HAVE FEWER SUPPORTS AND SERVICES
AVAILABLE. FIRS IS VERY
FLEXIBLE. IT NEEDS A BROAD
SPECTRUM OF NEEDS TO HELP
PRESERVE STABILITY FOR CHILDREN
AND YOUTH IN FOSTER CARE, SUCH
AS RELATIONSHIP BUILDING, MENTAL
HEALTH SUPPORT, WHICH OUR NEXT
PANELISTS WILL TALK TO A LITTLE
BIT MORE, AND EVEN CONNECTIONS
TO COMMUNITY BASED SUPPORT SUCH
AS HOUSING FOR OLDER YOUTH WHO
ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS
VERSUS STAFFED BY DEDICATED,
SPECIALLY TRAINED STAFF WHO
UNDERSTAND THE UNIQUE NEEDS,
RIGHTS AND LEGAL CIRCUMSTANCES
OF CHILDREN AND YOUTH IN FOSTER
CARE AND THEIR FAMILIES VERSUS
HAVING A POSITIVE IMPACT RIGHT
NOW FOR YOUTH AND CAREGIVERS
ACROSS CALIFORNIA. AND THERE ARE
NOT OTHER SERVICES AVAILABLE
THAT CAN MEET THIS NEED. WE KNOW
WHAT THE DEPARTMENT HAS SAID,
BUT THERE'S NO ONE ELSE WHO
TRULY UNDERSTANDS THIS
POPULATION AND CAN HANDLE THESE
SITUATIONS. IN THE SAME WAY.
ELIMINATING FIRS JUST A COUPLE
OF YEARS AFTER LAUNCHING THE
PROGRAM AS YOUTH AND CAREGIVERS
ARE BEGINNING TO TRUST, RELY ON
AND USE IT MORE AND MORE WILL BE
DEVASTATING. PUTTING CHILDREN
AND YOUTH AT GREATER RISK OF
INSTABILITY, DISRUPTED
RELATIONSHIPS, LOSS
RETRAUMATIZATION UNNECESSARY
CONTACT WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT,
WHICH IS OFTEN THE ALTERNATIVE
AND PLACEMENT IN CONGREGATE
CARE, WHICH IS EXACTLY WHAT
WE'RE TRYING TO UNDO WITH CCR.
ELIMINATING FIRS ALSO DOESN'T
MAKE FISCAL SENSE, AS IT WOULD
RESULT IN INCREASED COST TO THE
SYSTEM, INCLUDING AN INCREASE IN
PLACEMENT CHANGES, HIGHER LEVELS
OF CARE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE, AND
MORE ENGAGEMENT WITH LAW
ENFORCEMENT. MORE THAN 600
ORGANIZATIONS ARE FIGHTING FOR
THIS PROGRAM BECAUSE EVERY YOUNG
PERSON IN FOSTER CARE SHOULD BE
ABLE TO MAKE A CALL FOR SUPPORT
WHENEVER THEY NEED IT, AND THEY
SHOULD ALWAYS RECEIVE A CARING
AND TRAUMA INFORMED RESPONSE
THAT IS TAILORED TO THEIR UNIQUE
NEEDS. THESE YOUTH HAVE BEEN
THROUGH ENOUGH AND NEED OUR
SUPPORT TO HEAL AND THRIVE.
PLEASE SHOW WE CARE BY
PROTECTING THEM EVEN WHEN OUR
STATE FACES DIFFICULT BUDGET
CHOICES. PLEASE PRESERVE THE
FAMILY URGENT RESPONSE SYSTEM.
THANK YOU. HI. EXCUSE ME, MY
NAME IS ED CENTER, SIR, I WAS
REALLY TOUCHED BY YOUR WOLVERINE
FIGURINE STORY, AND WHAT I
STARTED THINKING ABOUT WAS, HOW
MY KIDS HAVE BEEN FORTUNATE
BECAUSE WE ADOPTED THEM AS
BABIES FROM THE FOSTER CARE
SYSTEM, AND THEY'VE ONLY KNOWN
ONE HOME. AND YET A COUPLE OF
YEARS AGO, WE WERE PUSHED TO OUR
BREAKING POINT. AND IT WAS FURS
THAT SAVED MY FAMILY. AND SO
THAT'S THE STORY I WANT TO TELL
TODAY. I DON'T HAVE ANY STATS,
SO YOU CAN REST THAT PART OF
YOUR BRAIN FOR A COUPLE OF
MINUTES. MY HUSBAND AND I
ADOPTED TWO KIDS THROUGH THE
FOSTER CARE SYSTEM, AND WE LED A
HAPPY ISH LIFE UNTIL MY OLDER
SON'S MENTAL HEALTH CRUMBLED
DURING THE PANDEMIC, I'LL USE
HIS MIDDLE NAME, HOKU, IN
JANUARY OF 2021. HE WAS TEN
YEARS OLD AND NOTHING LIKE THE
CREATIVE, MISCHIEVOUS KID HE HAD
BEEN A YEAR BEFORE. HE WOULDN'T
GO TO SCHOOL. HE STAYED INSIDE
FOR DAYS, SULLEN, ADDICTED TO
YOUTUBE. IF WE ASKED HIM TO DO
ANYTHING INCONVENIENT LIKE GET
OFF THE IPAD OR TAKE A BATH, HE
WOULD DEVOLVE INTO A FIT OF RAGE
THAT COULD LAST HOURS. BEHAVIORS
INCLUDED SCREAMING AND BREAKING
THINGS AND PAINTING. I HATE YOU,
DAD ON THE WALLS, THE ONE THAT
GOT ME THE MOST WAS WHEN HE TOOK
A SHARPIE AND BLACKED OUT HIS
FACE ON EVERY FAMILY PORTRAIT IN
OUR HOUSE. FINALLY, WE WERE
CONNECTED TO SUPPORT FROM THE
FAMILY URGENT RESPONSE SYSTEM.
OPERATED BY SENECA CENTER IN SAN
FRANCISCO. THIS CHANGED
EVERYTHING FOR US. THE FIRST
COUNSELORS WOULD COME TO OUR
HOUSE WHEN WE NEEDED SUPPORT,
OFTEN AT NINE, TEN, 11 AT NIGHT.
THESE CRISES NEVER HAPPEN. AT 12
NOON, THEY WOULD HELP HOKU
REGULATE AND MAKE A SAFETY PLAN
WITH HIM. ONE NIGHT I TOLD HOKU
THAT HE NEEDED TO BRUSH HIS
TEETH BEFORE HE WATCHED MORE TV.
THIS STARTED A TWO HOUR VIOLENT
TANTRUM. WHEN THE FIRST
COUNSELOR ARRIVED, SHE PULLED
OUT HER TOOTHBRUSH AND SAID,
I'LL RACE YOU. THEY BRUSHED
THEIR TEETH. SHE HELPED HIM CALM
DOWN AND GET TO BED. ANOTHER
NIGHT. WHEN I WAS REALLY AT MY
BREAKING POINT, I CALLED THE
FIRST LINE FROM MY CAR. I HAD
BEEN DRIVING FOR ABOUT THREE
HOURS. I ASKED THE COUNSELOR A
SIMPLE QUESTION WHY SHOULD I GO
BACK? AND I'LL NEVER FORGET WHAT
THE COUNSELOR SAID. HE SAID, I
CAN'T TELL YOU NOT TO LEAVE.
WHAT I CAN TELL YOU IS THAT WE
ALL HAVE SO MUCH RESPECT FOR
YOU. OUR TEAM TALKS ABOUT HOW
AMAZING YOU AND YOUR HUSBAND
ARE, YOU MATTER SO MUCH TO HOKU.
EVEN IF YOU CAN'T SHOW YOU THAT
RIGHT NOW. I BOUGHT SOME BAD GAS
STATION COFFEE AND DROVE HOME.
WE HEALED SLOWLY THE EVENING
EPISODES LESSENED AND THEN THEY
STOPPED. HOKU WENT BACK TO
SCHOOL. THINGS STILL AREN'T
EASY. HOKU IS 13 AND HE'S VERY
13, BUT WE'RE STABLE. AND MOST
IMPORTANTLY, WE'RE HOPEFUL THE
COST TO MY FAMILY AND TO THE
STATE WOULD BE EGREGIOUS IF WE
HAD TO TERMINATE THE ADOPTION,
INSTITUTIONALIZE OUR SON, OR IF
I HAD KEPT DRIVING AWAY.
THOUSANDS OF CALIFORNIA FAMILIES
CURRENTLY BATTLE FOR THE
EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING OF THEIR
CHILDREN. WE MUST PROTECT FIRST
TO HELP FAMILIES HEAL FROM
CRISES AND STAY TOGETHER. THANK
YOU. I THINK WE NEED TO HAVE
SOMEBODY WATCH THE DOOR BECAUSE
THEY LET THE ONION NINJAS IN
RIGHT NOW, THANK YOU FOR THAT.
GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS
GABRIEL SKYDANCER. I'M A FIRST
COORDINATOR AND SUPERVISOR IN
LOS ANGELES COUNTY. DCFS AND A
MEMBER OF SEIU. 721 I REALIZE
THAT'S A LOT OF ACRONYMS, AND ON
PAPER, IT CAN SEEM LIKE VERSUS
JUST ANOTHER HOTLINE, JUST A
CALL CENTER THAT CAN EASILY BE
TRIMMED WHEN THE BUDGET GETS
TIGHT. BUT I'M HERE TO HELP YOU
TO UNDERSTAND THE OUTSTANDING
AND LIFE SAVING, LIFE SAVING
WORK OUR AMAZING TEAM PROVIDES
TO THE COMMUNITY. AND TEAMS LIKE
US EXIST ALL OVER CALIFORNIA,
AND WE'RE DOING THIS IN KIDS
MOST CRUCIAL TIME WITH THEIR
FAMILIES NEEDING ASSISTANCE.
FIRST, TO ANSWER FAMILY URGENT
RESPONSE SYSTEM. AS YOU'VE
HEARD, WE ARE A UNIQUE ENTITY
THAT PROVIDES 24 OVER SEVEN
SUPPORT, AND I STRESS 24 OVER
SEVEN, TO FOSTER KIDS AND
NON-MINOR DEPENDENTS UP TO THE
AGE OF 21, AS WELL AS THEIR
CAREGIVERS. FIRS IS ALSO
AVAILABLE TO FOSTER KIDS WHO ARE
OUT OF THE SYSTEM FOR ANY
REASON, EVEN IF THEY'VE ALREADY
BEEN ADOPTED, FIRST IS A PROGRAM
THAT SIMPLY DOES NOT EXIST
ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE CARE
SYSTEM. WHEN A KID OR CAREGIVER
CALLS US, THEY ARE UNDER
PRESSING NEED AND THEY NEED IT
RIGHT AWAY. THEY MAY HAVE AN
URGENT, IMMEDIATE NEED FOR
RESOURCES RELATED TO ANYTHING
FROM STRESS MANAGEMENT TO JOB
INTERVIEWS AND PREPARATION FOR
JOB INTERVIEWS, TO ANY THOUGHTS
OF SUICIDE AND HOMELESSNESS
PREVENTION. AND WE'RE THERE TO
ANSWER THE CALL. IN L.A. COUNTY,
I AM FREQUENTLY THE PERSON ON
THE OTHER END OF THE CALLS, SO
LET ME TELL YOU WHAT HAPPENS
NEXT. NO MATTER. NO MATTER WHAT
TIME OF DAY IT IS OR NIGHT THE
CALL IS MADE, FIRST RESPONSE
IMMEDIATELY. USUALLY WITHIN
UNDER AN HOUR. AND BY RESPOND I
MEAN HEADING OUT TO MEET THE
FAMILY IN PERSON TO OFFER
SUPPORT, STABILIZATION, CONFLICT
MANAGEMENT AND MORE. YOU CAN
IMAGINE HOW CHALLENGING THAT IS
IN L.A. COUNTY, BUT IT DOESN'T
STOP THERE. WE ALSO HAVE
MANDATORY FOLLOW UP ITS CASE
CARE FOR DAYS, WEEKS, SOMETIMES
EVEN LONGER, TO ENSURE THAT OUR
KIDS AND FAMILIES ARE RECEIVING
THE HELP THAT THEY NEED. AT
FIRST, WE ARE CONSIDERED
SECONDARY WORKERS, BUT IT'S MUCH
MORE ACCURATE TO SAY THAT WE ARE
PARAMOUNT STOPGAP TO PREVENT
KIDS FROM HAVING TO LEAVE THEIR
LIVING SITUATION AND REENTER THE
FOSTER CARE SYSTEM, OR WORSE, IF
WE IF WE WEREN'T THERE, THESE
CALLS WOULD BE GOING 911 LAW
ENFORCEMENT FIRE, CREATING MUCH
MORE HAVOC FOR THE FOSTER KIDS
AND FAMILIES WHO ARE ALREADY
DEALING WITH INSTABILITY AND
TRAUMA. FOR EVERY CALL THAT
COMES IN, THERE ARE 1 TO 2 FIRST
EMPLOYEES COMING OUT TO HELP
THESE FAMILIES, INSTEAD OF 2 TO
4 POLICE OFFICERS OR 4 TO 6
EMERGENCY RESPONDERS.
ADDITIONALLY, MANY OF OUR
FAMILIES ARE FROM THE
COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE BEEN
UNFORTUNATELY FORMED A BIAS
AGAINST AUTHORITY FIGURES. SO
WITHOUT FIRST, THEY WOULDN'T
WANT TO CALL ANY OF THE OTHER
ENTITIES TO ENGAGE WITH THEM.
IT'S LIFE CHANGING FOR THEM TO
KNOW THAT THEY CAN CALL FIRST
ANY TIME, AND THERE WILL ALWAYS
BE SOMEONE THERE THERE TO BE
OFFER TRAUMA INFORMED JUDGMENT
FREE HELP WITHOUT BIAS AND WITH
AN OPEN HEART. I'M PROUD AND
HUMBLED TO INFORM YOU THAT LA
COUNTY FIRS HAS AN UNPARALLELED
SUCCESS RATE. WE COUNT FOR 25%
OF MOBILE RESPONSES ACROSS THE
ENTIRE STATE, AND WE HAVE OVER
87% SUCCESS RATE OF KEEPING KIDS
IN THEIR HOMES WITHOUT HAVING TO
GO BACK INTO THE SYSTEM FIRST IS
SO MUCH MORE THAN A HOTLINE. IT
SAVES THE STATE FROM THE STRAIN
THAT WOULD BE PLACED ON POLICE,
FIRE AND OTHER NON FOSTER
RELATED RESOURCES IF WE WEREN'T
THERE. MORE IMPORTANTLY, FIRST
PROTECTS KIDS FROM THE
COMPOUNDING TRAUMA OF MOVING IN
AND OUT OF FOSTER SYSTEM SAFELY,
KEEPING THEM OUT OF SHELTERS AND
THE STREETS AND GIVING THEM THE
STABILITY THAT THEY NEED AND
TRULY DESERVE ON BEHALF OF THE
KIDS AND THE CAREGIVERS WE ARE
PROUD TO SERVE EVERY DAY. I'M
ASKING YOU TO REJECT THE BUDGET
REDUCTION THAT WOULD ELIMINATE.
FIRST, PLEASE CONSIDER SOLUTIONS
AND, LOOK OUT FOR OUR VULNERABLE
KIDS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE CGRTS
MARLON DAVIS, DEPARTMENT OF
FINANCE I LIKE ATTEMPT TO ANSWER
A QUESTION FOR FROM THE PANEL.
COULD THERE BE A POTENTIAL
SOURCE OF FUNDS FOR FIRS AND THE
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AREA, OR
TEMPORARILY AS PART OF CONNECT
THAT COULD ALLOW FOR THE SHORT
TUM OR LONG TERME SCORING OF THE
GOVERNOR'S BUDGET? PROPOSED
GENERAL FUND SAVINGS. THE 2425
GOVERNOR BUDGET DOES NOT INCLUDE
ANY FUNDING FOR THE FIRST
PROGRAM WITHIN THE BEHAVIORAL
HEALTH AREA. BROADLY OR WITHIN
THE PROPOSED VH CONNECT WAIVER,
AND WE DON'T EXPECT THAT EITHER
AREA COULD ABSORB THE COST OF
THE PROGRAM, EVEN ON A TEMPORARY
BASIS. WE ALSO NOTE THAT FIRS IS
NOT A MEDI-CAL SERVICE OR A
SERVICE FOR WHICH THE DEPARTMENT
OF HEALTH CARE SERVICES HAS
WAIVER AUTHORITY. THEREFORE, WE
DON'T BELIEVE THERE IS A
NON-GENERAL FUND FUNDING SOURCE
TO COVER THIS COST. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH, ELIO. YES. THANK YOU,
AS WE BEGIN, THE PORTION OF OUR
AGENDA TODAY THAT'S, EXAMINING
THE PROPOSED REDUCTIONS, I DID
JUST WANT TO START WITH A
GENERAL COMMENT, WHICH IS THE
LEGISLATURE FACES VERY DIFFICULT
BUDGET DECISIONS THIS YEAR, AS
WELL AS LIKELY INTO FUTURE
YEARS, GIVEN THE CURRENT YEAR,
BUDGET YEAR AND PROJECTED
OUTYEAR DEFICITS, THE GOVERNOR'S
BUDGET PRESENTS ONE COMBINATION
OF SOLUTIONS, BUT ULTIMATELY,
THE LEGISLATURE MAY HAVE
DIFFERENT PRIORITIES IN TERMS OF
SELECTING A COMBINATION OF
SOLUTIONS, INCLUDING REDUCTIONS,
COST SHIFTS, BORROWING, USING
RESERVES, AND TAKING OTHER
ACTIONS TO ULTIMATELY SOLVE THE
BUDGET PROBLEM. NOTABLY ACROSS
THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET. THERE ARE
FEW PROGRAM AREAS WHERE THE
GOVERNOR HAS PROPOSED ONGOING
PROGRAMMATIC CUTS TO ESTABLISHED
PROGRAMS AND THE PROPOSED
REDUCTIONS THAT WE SEE PROPOSED
FOR CHILD WELFARE, AS WELL AS
CALWORKS, ARE ACTUALLY UNIQUE IN
THAT WAY, AT THE SAME TIME,
GIVEN THE SIGNIFICANT BUDGET
PROBLEM FACING THE STATE,
ONGOING PROGRAMMATIC CUTS TO
SOME AREA OF THE BUDGET ARE
ULTIMATELY GOING TO BE
NECESSARY, AND IN ADDITION, FOR
ANY OF THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSED
BUDGET SOLUTIONS THAT THE
LEGISLATURE DOES CHOOSE TO
REJECT, IT WILL NEED TO IDENTIFY
A LIKE SOLUTION IN ANOTHER AREA
OF THE BUDGET. SO I JUST WANTED
TO START WITH THAT GENERAL
CONTEXT, IN TERMS OF COMMENTS
SPECIFIC TO FIRST, OUR COMMENTS
AND QUESTIONS ARE INCLUDED IN
YOUR AGENDA ON PAGES 25 AND 26.
SO I'LL JUST QUICKLY SUMMARIZE A
FEW, FIRST, IN TERMS OF FIRST
FUNDING, WE DO NOTE THAT NOT ALL
COUNTIES HAVE BEEN FULLY
EXPENDING THEIR FIRST
ALLOCATIONS IN THE PAST SEVERAL
YEARS, IN PART THIS COULD BE
BECAUSE FIRST REALLY ONLY BEGAN
IMPLEMENTATION IN 2019. IT MAY
BE SLOW TO START UP. HOWEVER,
GIVEN THESE EXPENDITURE TRENDS
TO DATE. ONE QUESTION WE HAVE IS
RATHER THAN FULLY ELIMINATING
FUNDING FOR THE PROGRAM, WOULD
IT BE POSSIBLE TO REDUCE FUNDING
BY SOME DEGREE WITHOUT ANY
NEGATIVE IMPACT FOR INTENDED
BENEFICIARIES? THE ANSWER MAY BE
NO, BUT IT COULD BE SOMETHING TO
LOOK INTO, ANOTHER QUESTION THAT
WE HAVE IS FOR THOSE COUNTIES
THAT HAVE NOT BEEN FULLY
EXPENDING THEIR ALLOCATIONS, WHY
IS THAT THE CASE? ARE THERE
IMPLEMENTATION CHALLENGES THAT
THEY MAY BE FACING, AND THEN
FINALLY, A QUESTION WE HAD IS,
ARE THERE OTHER POTENTIAL
FUNDING SOURCES SUCH AS
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH FUNDING THAT
COULD BE USED TO OFFSET SOME
GENERAL FUND COSTS, ALTHOUGH I
KNOW MY COLLEAGUE FROM
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE JUST
INDICATED THAT THAT SEEMS
UNLIKELY, BUT IT COULD STILL BE
AN AREA TO EXPLORE. THANK YOU,
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I WILL
JUST, REMIND, EVERYBODY, AS WELL
AS THE ADMINISTRATION, THAT THIS
COMMITTEE BELIEVES THAT THE
NUMBER ONE PRIORITY OF THIS
STATE RIGHT NOW DURING TOUGH
BUDGET TIMES, IS TO KEEP OUR
POPULATION STABLE, AND TO BRING
AS MANY CONTINUED TO BRING
PEOPLE OUT OF A STATE OF CRISIS,
THEREFORE, WE WILL BE OPPOSING
ANY CUTS THAT WILL, WE BELIEVE,
WILL LEAVE PEOPLE IN CRISIS OR
WILL NOT KEEP THEM STABLE, SO WE
AS, SO THIS COMMITTEE IS
OPPOSING THIS FIRS ELIMINATION
THÀNH, HOWEVER, AS WE CONTINUE
TO WORK THROUGH OTHER, OTHER
CUTS AND OTHER PLACES, WE
CONTINUE TO, I CONTINUE TO LEAN
ON LÀ Þ, WHOSE OWES ME A WHOLE
LIST OF STUFF, TO BE ABLE TO
IDENTIFY OTHER PLACES, WITHIN
OUR WITHIN THE BUDGET THAT DOES
NOT, RISK DESTABILIZING PEOPLE
OR LEAVING THEM IN A STATE OF
CRISIS, AND SO WE ARE OPPOSING
THIS, BUT WE LOOK FORWARD TO
CONTINUING TO WORK WITH THE
ADMINISTRATION THÀNH, TO FIND
OTHER WAYS TO MAKE SURE THERE IS
NO DOUBT IN MY MIND CUTS HAVE TO
BE MADE. LET ME JUST MAKE THAT
CLEAR TO, BUT THIS YEAR AND ANY
AS WELL, AT LEAST AS LONG AS I'M
CHAIR, WE ARE NOT GOING TO
REPEAT THE MISTAKES THAT WE DID
IN THE GREAT RECESSION. WE ARE
GOING TO DO THIS THOUGHTFULLY.
THE PROCESS WILL BE ROOTED IN
JUSTICE, AND WE WILL MAKE SURE
THAT PEOPLE ARE NOT HURT, THAT
DON'T NEED TO BE HURT, AND SO WE
ARE GOING TO DO EVERYTHING THAT
WE CAN TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
PROTECT OUR MOST MARGINALIZED
AND VULNERABLE POPULATIONS. SO
WITH THAT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH
TO THIS PANEL. AND WE WILL BRING
UP ISSUE NUMBER FOUR. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR
.
PEOPLE COMING. FROM A DINER.
THIS IS ISSUE NUMBER FOUR. IS
THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSAL, TO
ELIMINATE THE HOUSING SUPPLEMENT
FOR FOSTER YOUTH AND SUPERVISE
INDEPENDENT LIVING PLACEMENTS,
YOU MAY BEGIN WHEN YOU'RE READY.
GOOD AFTERNOON AGAIN, DOCTOR
JACKSON AND STAFF CHEN TROYA, ON
BEHALF OF THE DEPARTMENT OF
SOCIAL SERVICES, THE SUPERVISED
INDEPENDENT LIVING PROGRAM, OR
SLP, PROVIDES OPTIONS FOR
NON-MINOR DEPENDENTS BETWEEN THE
AGES OF 18 AND 21 TO HAVE
FLEXIBLE NON-LICENSED FOSTER
CARE PLACEMENTS. THESE
PLACEMENTS ARE INTENDED TO BE
UTILIZED WHEN YOUTH ARE READY TO
LIVE MORE INDEPENDENTLY. IT CAN
INCLUDE SETTINGS LIKE A SOLO OR
SHARED APARTMENT, A RENTED ROOM
IN THE HOME OF SOMEONE ELSE, OR
A COLLEGE DORM. THE INTENDED
GOAL OF THE SLP SUPPLEMENT,
WHICH WAS ADOPTED IN 2023, IS TO
BETTER ALIGN SLP RATES WITH
COUNTIES FAIR MARKET RENTS. IT'S
IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THE
SUPPLEMENT HAS NOT YET TAKEN
EFFECT, AND IT WILL REQUIRE
AUTOMATION TO OCCUR BEFORE IT
DOES TAKE EFFECT. SO PRESENTLY,
YOUTH AND SLPS CONTINUE TO
RECEIVE FUNDING THAT IS EQUAL TO
THE LEVEL OF CARE BASIC RATE
UNDER THE CURRENT REIMBURSEMENT
RATE STRUCTURE. IN CURRENT LAW,
THAT EQUATES TO $1,129 PER
MONTH. THE SUPPLEMENT WAS
BUDGETED TO COST AROUND $19
MILLION. IN GENERAL FUND
RESOURCES ANNUALLY. WHILE THE
GOVERNOR'S BUDGET IS NO LONGER
PROPOSING TO FUND THE SLP
SUPPLEMENT IN THE OUT YEARS,
IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THE
GOVERNOR'S BUDGET DOES PROPOSE
SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENTS IN SLP
RATES, ALONG WITH OTHER RATES IN
THE PERMANENT FOSTER CARE RATE
STRUCTURE PROPOSAL, WHICH YOU'LL
BE DISCUSSING IN GREATER DETAIL
SOON. THE PROPOSED SLP RATES
UNDER THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET IN
THE OUT YEARS WOULD BECOME
$1,788 FOR CARE AND SUPERVISION
AND ANOTHER $500 FOR STRENGTHS
BUILDING FOR A TOTAL OF $2,288
PER MONTH. AGAIN, THE COMPARISON
IS TO EXISTING SLP RATES IS
$1,129 PER MONTH. THIS PROPOSED
SIGNIFICANT ADDITIONAL
INVESTMENT IN SLPS UNDER THE
GOVERNOR'S BUDGET INCLUDES
APPROXIMATELY 33 MILLION GENERAL
FUND ANNUALLY AT FULL
IMPLEMENTATION. FINALLY, IN
RESPONSE TO QUESTIONS IN THE
AGENDA, I WOULD NOTE THAT WHILE
THE COUNTIES ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR
PROVIDING CASE MANAGEMENT,
FOSTER CARE, PAYMENTS AND
SUPPORTIVE SERVICES THAT WE
OVERSEE TO NON-MINOR DEPENDENTS,
OUR PRIMARY CHILD WELFARE CASE
MANAGEMENT SYSTEM DOES NOT TRACK
DATA IN A WAY THAT ALLOWS US TO
KNOW HOW FREQUENTLY THESE YOUTH
EXPERIENCE HOMELESSNESS OR
HOUSING INSECURITY. IN TERMS OF
THE DATA YOU ASKED FOR REGARDING
THE USE OF TEMPORARY SHELTER
CARE FACILITIES AMONG FOSTER
YOUTH WITH RESPECT TO THAT USAGE
AMONG CHILDREN OF ALL AGES. IN
2023, THERE WERE APPROXIMATELY
2555 YOUTH WHO HAD AT LEAST ONE
ENTRY INTO A TEMPORARY SHELTER
CARE FACILITY. BY COMPARISON TO
2022 DATA, THAT WAS A 17%
DECREASE IN THE UNIQUE NUMBERS
OF YOUTH ENTERING AND STAYING
TEMPORARY. SHELTER CARE
FACILITIES AND AN 11% DECREASE
IN THE OVERALL TOTAL NUMBER OF
ENTRIES. SO, IN CLOSING, WE LOOK
FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THE
SUBCOMMITTEE AND ALL OF OUR
PARTNERS ON THE PROPOSED CHANGES
TO FOSTER CARE REIMBURSEMENT
RATES AND TO ADDRESSING ANY
FURTHER QUESTIONS YOU HAVE
RELATED TO THE FUNDING
ASSOCIATED WITH SLPS. THANK YOU.
GOOD AFTERNOON. COMMITTEE CHAIR
MEMBERS AND STAFF. MY NAME IS
SIMONE TURECK LEE WITH JOHN
BURTON ADVOCATES FOR YOUTH. AND
I'M HERE TO ASK YOU TO PRESERVE
THE SUPERVISED INDEPENDENT
LIVING PLACEMENT, OR SLP HOUSING
SUPPLEMENT IN THE STATE BUDGET,
WHICH WOULD INCREASE THE MONTHLY
PAYMENT FOR FOSTER YOUTH IN SLPS
RECEIVE BASED ON THE LOCAL COST
OF HOUSING. THE SLPS HOUSING
SUPPLEMENT WAS ESTABLISHED LAST
YEAR AND IS DUE TO TAKE EFFECT
IN 2025, PENDING AUTOMATION
CHANGES. I'D LIKE TO START WITH
SOME BACKGROUND ON THE SLP AND
THE HOUSING SUPPLEMENT, AND THEN
I'LL SHARE THE IMPACT OF
ELIMINATING THE SLP HOUSING
SUPPLEMENT. AND I'LL END WITH
HOW THE SLP HOUSING SUPPLEMENT
RELATES TO THE CURRENT RATES
REFORM EFFORT. AS BACKGROUND,
THE SLP IS THE SINGLE MOST
UTILIZED FOSTER CARE PLACEMENT
FOR 18 TO 20 YEAR OLDS OR
NON-MINOR DEPENDENTS IN
CALIFORNIA. NHÀ WITH 3152 YOUTH,
OR 43% OF THEM IN THIS
PLACEMENT. THE SLP IS THE ONLY
PLACEMENT WHERE YOUTH IDENTIFY
AND SECURE THEIR OWN HOUSING.
THEY RECEIVE THEIR MONTHLY
FOSTER CARE PAYMENT DIRECTLY,
WHICH IN THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR
IS $1,206 PER MONTH, AND THIS
RATE IS INTENDED TO COVER FOOD,
CLOTHING, SHELTER, DAILY
SUPERVISION, SCHOOL SUPPLIES,
PERSONAL INCIDENTALS, AND
REASONABLE TRAVEL. AS YOU CAN
IMAGINE, THIS $1,206 A MONTH
DOES NOT CUT IT. MOST OF OUR
STATE, THESE YOUTH ARE OFTEN
HEAD OF THEIR OWN HOUSEHOLD.
THEY AREN'T JOINING AN EXISTING
CAREGIVERS HOME, LEVERAGING THE
EXISTING UTILITY BILL, MEALS,
TRANSPORTATION. THEY'RE COVERING
THEIR COSTS, ALL ON THEIR OWN.
FOR THIS REASON, CALIFORNIA'S
HOUSING CRISIS HAS HAD A UNIQUE
IMPACT ON THESE YOUNG PEOPLE IN
THE GENERAL POPULATION. A FULL
81% OF 18 AND 19 YEAR OLDS LIVE
WITH THEIR PARENTS, AND OVER 61%
OF 20 TO 24 YEAR OLDS DO. BUT
FOSTER YOUTH DON'T HAVE THIS
OPTION. AND IN FACT, NON-MINOR
DEPENDENTS CAN BE PARTICULARLY
UNDER-RESOURCED THAT, YOU SEE
THEY DID NOT REACH LEGAL
PERMANENCY WHILE THEY WERE IN
OUR SYSTEM, MEANING THEY WERE
NOT REUNIFIED, ADOPTED, OR TAKEN
INTO GUARDIANSHIP. AND IN THESE
LAST THREE YEARS, WE HAVE WITH
THEM UNTIL THEY TURN 21, WE HAVE
THIS OPPORTUNITY TO HELP THEM
PREPARE FOR SUCCESSFUL
ADULTHOOD. THE MOST BASIC STEP
TOWARD THIS IS STABLE HOUSING.
THE SLP HOUSING SUPPLEMENT WAS
ADOPTED LAST YEAR FOR THREE KEY
REASONS. FIRST, 1200 IS NOT
ENOUGH TO ACHIEVE STABLE HOUSING
AT THIS RATE, FOSTER YOUTH ARE
LIVING IN DEEP POVERTY ON AN
ANNUAL INCOME OF LESS THAN
15,000 A YEAR. SECOND, IT'S NOT
AN EQUITABLE APPROACH TO HAVE A
STATEWIDE UNIFORM RATE FOR A
PLACEMENT WHERE YOUTH ARE
NAVIGATING THE RENTAL MARKET. AS
HEAD OF THEIR OWN HOUSEHOLD.
WITH THE VAST RANGE OF RENTAL
PRICES ACROSS CALIFORNIA'S 58
COUNTIES. BY PROVIDING COUNTY
SPECIFIC RATES, WE'RE NOT UNDER
OR OVER COMPENSATING, WHICH IS A
SMART USE OF STATE AND FEDERAL
FUNDING. THIRD, THESE ARE YOUTH
THAT WE HAVE A CURRENT LEGAL
OBLIGATION TO, NO DIFFERENT THAN
MINOR FOSTER YOUTH. SO WHAT
WOULD HAPPEN IF WE DON'T FOLLOW
THROUGH ON THE COMMITMENT THAT
WAS MADE IN THE STATE BUDGET
WHEN IT ESTABLISHED THE SOLE
HOUSING SUPPLEMENT? WELL, WE'RE
WATCHING THOSE CONSEQUENCES
RIGHT NOW BECAUSE IT HAS NOT YET
TAKEN EFFECT. THE CONSEQUENCE IS
ARE HOMELESSNESS LITIGATION AND
INCREASED STATE GENERAL FUND
COSTS. RESEARCH SHOWS THAT 1 IN
5 YOUTH IN CALIFORNIA EXPERIENCE
HOMELESSNESS BETWEEN 18 TO 20
WHILE IN FOSTER CARE. CURRENTLY
THE STATE AND THE COUNTY OF LÀ
ARE BEING SUED IN PART FOR NOT
PROVIDING ADEQUATE PLACEMENT
RESEARCH ALSO SHOWS THAT THE
SINGLE MOST COMMON PATHWAY TO
CHRONIC ADULT HOMELESSNESS IS
HAVING FIRST EXPERIENCED IT AS
YOUTH. THE STATE GENERAL FUND
COST OF THE HOUSING SUPPLEMENT
IS ON AVERAGE LESS THAN $6,000
PER PERSON ANNUALLY, AND THAT'S
WITHOUT THE RATE INCREASE THAT
MISS TROYER REFERENCED. THAT IS
SEVEN TIMES LESS THAN THE
$42,000 THAT CALIFORNIA SPENT
LAST YEAR PER PERSON ON
HOMELESSNESS. ONE OF THE
QUESTIONS RAISED BY THE
ADMINISTRATION AND PROPOSING TO
ELIMINATE THE SOCIAL HOUSING
SUPPLEMENT WAS, IS THIS STILL
NEEDED? AS WAS JUST DISCUSSED
WITH CDS'S PROPOSED FOSTER CARE
RATE REFORM? THE ANSWER TO THAT
QUESTION IS YES. WHILE THE
PROPOSED FOSTER CARE RATE REFORM
WOULD RAISE THE CARE AND
SUPERVISION RATE PAID DIRECTLY
TO YOUTH AND SLOPES FROM 1206 TO
$1788 PER MONTH, STARTING IN
2627. THAT IS NOT ADEQUATE IN 50
COUNTIES IN CALIFORNIA, WHERE
99.7% OF THE YOUTH IN SOAPS ARE
PLACED ACCORDING TO FAIR MARKET
RENT AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING
STANDARDS. THE CURRENT TRAILER
BILL LANGUAGE MAKES THE
ADDITIONAL $500 AVAILABLE FOR
EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES BY
WAY OF A THIRD PARTY. IN THE
CURRENT TRAILER, BILL LANGUAGE,
IT IS NOT PROVIDED DIRECTLY TO
YOUNG PEOPLE. IF THAT SHOULD
CHANGE, WE'D LOVE TO REVISIT
THIS DISCUSSION. WE ARE, I
THINK, LIKE EVERYONE IS. WE WANT
TO SEE YOUTH BE RESOURCED IN
WHATEVER STRATEGY THAT TAKES, SO
WE'D LOVE TO CONTINUE THAT
CONVERSATION. WE ALSO WANT TO
NOTE THAT ADDITIONAL 500 IS
SUPPOSED TO BE FOR
EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES, NOT
FOR HOUSING, THE METHODOLOGY FOR
THE SOCIAL HOUSING SUPPLEMENT
WAS WRITTEN IN A MANNER THAT
WOULD ENSURE ITS COMPATIBILITY
WITH ANY VARIATION IN THE SOAP
RATE, AND UNDER THIS RATE
REFORM. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
HELLO, MY NAME IS WEDNESDAY
POPE, AND I'M A FORMER FOSTER
YOUTH. AND TODAY IS WEDNESDAY.
THANK YOU. I'M CURRENTLY A
STUDENT AT FOLSOM LAKE COLLEGE.
AND IN CASE YOU MISSED IT, I AM
A FORMER FOSTER YOUTH, WHEN I
WAS IN EXTENDED FOSTER CARE, I
EXPERIENCED HOMELESSNESS FOR A
YEAR WHILE PLACED IN A
SUPERVISED INDEPENDENT LIVING
PLACEMENT, OR SLP. WHEN I FIRST
TURNED 18, IN 2018, A SLP WAS MY
ONLY OPTION. THERE WERE WAITING
LISTS FOR TRANSITIONAL HOUSING
PLACEMENTS AND NO FOSTER FAMILY
OPTIONS AVAILABLE. WHEN YOU'RE
PLACED IN A SLP, YOU WERE
REQUIRED TO FIND YOUR OWN
HOUSING. SO I FIRST TRIED
FINDING PEOPLE I KNEW THAT I MAY
BE ABLE TO LIVE WITH AS MY SOAP.
WHAT I FOUND IS THAT THERE WAS
NO ONE IN MY CIRCLE THAT I COULD
TRUST TO OBTAIN SAFE AND STABLE
HOUSING WITH AT THAT TIME. BACK
IN 2018, THE MONTHLY FOSTER CARE
PAYMENT FOR YOUTH IN SLPS WAS
$960. GIVEN THE COST OF
APARTMENTS, I FIRST LOOKED FOR
ROOM RENTALS, BUT FOUND THAT I
DIDN'T FEEL SAFE IN ANY OF THOSE
ARRANGEMENTS. I TRIED APARTMENT
RENTALS AND FOUND THAT I DIDN'T
MEET THE INCOME REQUIREMENTS FOR
THEM. DESPITE BOTH WORKING AND
RECEIVING MY SALE PAYMENT. I
THEN SEARCHED FOR APARTMENTS
THAT DIDN'T HAVE INCOME
REQUIREMENTS, BUT FOUND THAT
THEY WERE REQUESTING A 700 OR
BETTER CREDIT SCORE PLUS RENTAL
HISTORY BETWEEN INCOME AND OTHER
REQUIREMENTS. I LIKE MOST OTHER
FOSTER YOUTH, AND FRANKLY, MOST
18 YEAR OLDS COULD NOT QUALIFY
MY SAVING GRACE WAS THAT I WAS
LUCKY ENOUGH TO OWN A CAR. I
FIGURED LIVING IN MY CAR WOULD
BE SAFER THAN LIVING IN SOME OF
THE ARRANGEMENTS I MAY HAVE BEEN
ABLE TO AFFORD, SUCH AS RENTING
A ROOM FROM A GROWN MAN WHO HAD
PLACED AN AD FOR AN 18 TO 25
YEAR OLD ROOMMATE, AND THEN SAID
TO ME THAT HE DIDN'T, LIKE,
CLOSED DOORS IN HIS HOUSE. I
WOULD LIKE TO EMPHASIZE THIS
POINT. AFTER BEING REMOVED FROM
MY HOME DUE TO SAFETY CONCERNS
AND THE SUBSEQUENT LIFETIME OF
UNSAFE LIVING SITUATIONS, I
SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN FACED WITH
A CHOICE TO BE HOMELESS OR LIVE
IN UNSAFE PLACES OUT OF
DESPERATION. SO I LIVED IN MY
CAR FOR A WHOLE YEAR WHILE IN
FOSTER CARE. LIVING IN RURAL
COMMUNITIES, WE DON'T HAVE
ACCESS OR WE DON'T HAVE
ACCESSIBLE HOMELESS SHELTERS, SO
AT LEAST OWNING A CAR, YOU'RE
NOT FREEZING AT NIGHT. YOU CAN
STILL GET TO WORK OR SCHOOL.
MAYBE YOU CAN GET TO A FRIEND'S
HOUSE WHO WILL LET YOU STAY FOR
A NIGHT OR SHOWER. MY SOCIAL
WORKER DIDN'T KNOW I WAS
HOMELESS. I FEARED THAT IF I
TOLD HER I DIDN'T HAVE HOUSING,
I MIGHT LOSE MY SILT PAYMENT AND
THEN I WOULD HAVE BEEN SORRY. I
WOULD HAVE BEEN IN AN EVEN WORSE
SITUATION. I WISH I COULD SAY
THIS WAS A RARE OCCURRENCE, BUT
MANY OF THE OTHER FOSTER YOUTH I
KNEW WERE ALSO FACING THIS
REALITY. WE SIMPLY CANNOT
CONTINUE TO OFFER THE PROMISE OF
FOSTER CARE TO PROVIDE SAFETY
AND A BETTER HOME FROM WHICH WE
WERE REMOVED, AND THEN
INADEQUATELY FUND THAT PROMISE.
IT'S SIMPLY NOT REASONABLE TO
SAY THAT THE AVERAGE 18 YEAR OLD
CAN NAVIGATE CALIFORNIA'S
ECONOMY, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU'RE
SAYING THIS TO A PERSON WHO HAS
ALREADY EXPERIENCED SIGNIFICANT
TRAUMA OR, IN MY CASE, HAD
ALREADY EXPERIENCED HOMELESSNESS
WITH MY FAMILY BEFORE BEING
PLACED IN FOSTER CARE, THE
EXPERIENCE OF HOMELESSNESS AGAIN
AFTER BEING PLACED IN CARE WAS
RETRAUMATIZING. I FELT LOST AND
ALONE, BUT I WAS SUPPOSED TO
HAVE ALL OF THIS SUPPORT. IT HAS
BECOME COMMONPLACE FOR PEOPLE TO
EXPECT HOUSING INSTABILITY FOR
YOUTH IN SOAPS. I HAD PEOPLE SAY
TO ME AS I APPROACHED 18, THE
ODDS ARE LOW YOU'LL FIND AN
APARTMENT AT 18. THEY WERE
MENTALLY PREPARING ME FOR THE
REALITY THAT I WOULD BE
HOMELESS. IT WAS CONFUSING, EVEN
THOUGH I DID EVERYTHING I WAS
SUPPOSED TO BE DOING. I WAS
WORKING A PART TIME JOB. I WAS
EVEN IN SCHOOL, BUT I WAS STILL
HOMELESS WHILE IN FOSTER CARE.
IF THIS HOUSING SUPPLEMENT WAS
IN PLACE WHEN I WAS IN FOSTER
CARE, I WOULD HAVE HAD A HIGHER
MONTHLY PAYMENT THAT WOULD HAVE
ENABLED ME TO SECURE SAFE,
STABLE HOUSING. I COULD HAVE
AVOIDED RETRAUMATIZATION. I
COULD HAVE STAYED IN COLLEGE
FULL TIME TO ENSURE MY FUTURE
FINANCIAL SECURITY AND
TRANSITION INTO ADULTHOOD
SUCCESSFULLY. I WOULD BE FURTHER
ALONG IN MY PURSUIT OF A CAREER.
THE SOAP SUPPLEMENT WOULD WILL
GIVE FOSTER YOUTH THE CHANCE TO
NOT ONLY SURVIVE, BUT TO THRIVE
IN ALL OF THEIR PERSONAL,
EDUCATIONAL, AND PROFESSIONAL
ENDEAVORS. I'M ENCOURAGED BY THE
POSSIBILITY THAT THE SOAP RATE
WILL INCREASE FROM THE $1,206 IT
IS NOW TO THE 1788 PROPOSED IN
RATES REFORM. BUT UNFORTUNATELY,
THIS DOES NOT ADDRESS THE RANGE
OF HOUSING COSTS ACROSS OUR
STATE'S 58 COUNTIES. AS A FORMER
FOSTER YOUTH WHO EXPERIENCED THE
IMPACT OF AN INADEQUATE MONTHLY
PAYMENT TO COVER SHELTER, I
STRONGLY RECOMMEND THAT THE
LEGISLATURE PRESERVE THE SAFE
HOUSING SUPPLEMENT. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. DEPARTMENT
OF FINANCE. THANK YOU, MR.
CHAIR. MARLON DAVIS, DEPARTMENT
OF FINANCE. NO ADDITIONAL
COMMENTS AT THIS TIME, BUT HAPPY
TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. LAO
YES. THANK YOU. WE DID WANT TO
REALLY JUST KIND OF UNDERSCORE
ONE COMMENT REGARDING THE
ADMINISTRATION'S PROPOSAL FOR
THE NEW RATE STRUCTURE, WHICH I
KNOW WE'LL BE TALKING ABOUT IN
MORE DETAIL LATER IN THE AGENDA,
OUR UNDERSTANDING IS THAT
REGIONAL VARIATION TO REFLECT
LOCAL RENTAL MARKETS IS NOT
INCLUDED AS PART OF THE NEW RATE
STRUCTURE PROPOSAL. HOWEVER, AS
WE HEARD FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF
SOCIAL SERVICES, THE NEW
PROPOSED RATE, THAT WOULD BE
THAT CHILDREN OR EXCUSE ME, THAT
NON-MINOR DEPENDENTS PLACED IN
SLPS WOULD RECEIVE IS SOMEWHAT
HIGHER THAN THE RATE THAT THEY
CURRENTLY RECEIVE. HOWEVER, IN
SOME COUNTIES IT WOULD NOT BE AS
HIGH AS THE RATE THEY WOULD
RECEIVE SHOULD THE SOAP RENTAL
SUPPLEMENT IMPLEMENT. SO
OVERALL, WE JUST WANTED TO MAKE
THAT COMMENT THAT THE PROPOSED
NEW RATE STRUCTURE WOULD BENEFIT
SOME YOUTH RELATIVE TO CURRENT
RATES. BUT NOT ALL YOUTH WOULD
BE MADE BETTER OFF RELATIVE TO
WHAT THEY WOULD RECEIVE UNDER
THE RENTAL SUPPLEMENT. SO I KNOW
THAT'S A BIT TECHNICAL AND HAPPY
TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. THANK
YOU, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, AGAIN,
THIS GIVEN THIS COMMITTEE'S
GOALS, WE ARE ALSO, REJECTING
THIS PROPOSED ELIMINATION, WE
BELIEVE THAT THE SOAPS ACTUALLY
SHOULD ACTUALLY BE EXPANDED, WE
NEED MORE ELIGIBLE, EXPANDED
ELIGIBILITY, WE NEED LESS
GUIDELINES TO BE ABLE TO EVEN
GET GET INTO SOAPS AND SO, WE'LL
BE REJECTING THIS ITEM AS WELL.
BUT AGAIN, WE DON'T BELIEVE IN
JUST REJECTING WE WANT TO BE
HELPFUL IN, SOLVING OUR BUDGET
SOLUTIONS AS WELL. BUT WE WILL
BE IN CONTINUED COMMUNICATION,
WEDNESDAY. WELL DONE TODAY.
THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. ISSUE
NUMBER FIVE.
GOOD AFTERNOON ONCE AGAIN,
DOCTOR JACKSON, JENNIFER TROIA,
ON BEHALF OF THE DEPARTMENT OF
SOCIAL SERVICES, ISSUE NUMBER
FIVE, BEFORE YOU RELATES TO THE
LA COUNTY CHILD WELFARE
SERVICES, PUBLIC HEALTH NURSING
PROGRAM. THIS PROGRAM WAS
CREATED AS AN EARLY INTERVENTION
PROGRAM BY SB 80. IN 2019. THE
PURPOSE OF THE PROGRAM IS TO
IMPROVE OUTCOMES FOR YOUTH AT
RISK OF ENTERING THE FOSTER CARE
SYSTEM BY MAXIMIZING ACCESS TO
HEALTH CARE, HEALTH EDUCATION,
AND CONNECTING YOUTH AND
FAMILIES TO SAFETY. NET
SERVICES. SB 80 IDENTIFIED CDSS
AS THE STATE AGENCY RESPONSIBLE
FOR PASSING THROUGH GENERAL
FUNDS TO LA COUNTY DPH IN ORDER
TO CREATE THIS PROGRAM, WHILE
CDSS DOESN'T HAVE MORE ACTIVE
INVOLVEMENT IN OR OVERSIGHT OF
THE PROGRAM, THE STATUTE DOES
SPECIFY HOW THE FUNDING IS TO BE
USED, INCLUDING SPECIFIC FOR
HIRING PUBLIC HEALTH NURSES,
SUPERVISORS, AND SUPPORT STAFF.
YOU ASKED ABOUT THE CAUSES OF
DELAYS IN IMPLEMENTATION BETWEEN
2019 AND WHEN IMPLEMENTATION
BEGAN IN THE FIRST YEAR OF THE
ALLOCATION, THE STATUTE REQUIRED
THAT THE PUBLIC HEALTH
DEPARTMENT IN LA WORK WITH THE
STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH CARE
SERVICES ON TWO THINGS
DEVELOPING A PLAN FOR
IMPLEMENTATION AND WITH RESPECT
TO HOW THEY WOULD CLAIM FEDERAL
FUNDS. THE COUNTY BEGAN
DEVELOPING THE PLAN, BUT IT WAS
NOT YET COMPLETE. WHEN THE COVID
19 PANDEMIC BEGAN AND THAT
CAUSED DELAYS AS CHANGES WERE
MADE IN 2122 TO ALLOW LA TO
CLAIM THE STATE DOLLARS WITHOUT
REQUIRING THE SECURING OF THE
FEDERAL MATCH. THE
IMPLEMENTATION PLAN WAS
ULTIMATELY COMPLETED BY THE END
OF 2022 CALENDAR YEAR, AND WE
SUBSEQUENTLY DEVELOPED A
CLAIMING PROCESS FOR THE
FUNDING. IN JANUARY 2023, WE
SENT THE COUNTY DEPARTMENT AN
ALLOCATION LETTER DETAILING HOW
THE FUNDS COULD BE SPENT AND THE
PROCESS FOR REIMBURSEMENT. IN
OCTOBER OF 2023, WE RECEIVED THE
FIRST INVOICE FROM LA COUNTY FOR
THE SERVICE PERIOD OF JULY
THROUGH SEPTEMBER 2023. TO DATE,
WE'VE RECEIVED FIVE INVOICES FOR
A TOTAL OF AROUND 500,000 OUT OF
THE $8.3 MILLION ANNUAL
ALLOCATION. THIS INCLUDES
EMPLOYEE BENEFITS, SALARIES, AS
WELL AS SERVICES AND SUPPLIES.
YOU ALSO ASKED ABOUT THE
IMPLICATION OF THE GOVERNOR'S
BUDGET PROPOSAL ON THE GROUND.
LA COUNTY WOULD NEED TO IDENTIFY
ALTERNATIVE FUNDING SOURCES TO
SUPPORT THE WORK THAT THEY'VE
BEGUN IN 2023 THROUGH THIS
FUNDING, OR TO REDUCE THE
SERVICES BEING PROVIDED. HAPPY
TO ANSWER QUESTIONS AT THE
APPROPRIATE TIME. THANK YOU.
GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS
DEBORAH STEWART AND I AM A
PUBLIC HEALTH NURSE SUPERVISOR
FOR THE VERMONT CORRIDOR
REGIONAL OFFICE IN LA COUNTY OF
DCFS. AND I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT
WHY WE DESPERATELY NEED THE
PUBLIC HEALTH PILOT THAT WE WERE
WORKING ON, THE EARLY
INTERVENTION PROGRAM, AND THE
THREAT OF IT BEING ELIMINATED
DUE TO THE BUDGET DEFICIT, THAT
WE PLAY A VERY CRUCIAL WORLD
ROLE IN DCFS WORKING DIRECTLY
WITH OUR SOCIAL WORKERS TO HELP
KEEP CHILDREN FROM ENTERING THE
FOSTER CARE SYSTEM BY THAT, I
MEAN, WE PUT IN INTERVENTIONS
AND WE WORK WITH OUR FAMILIES AS
THEY ARE IN THE BEGINNING
PROCESS OF THE REFERRALS THAT WE
RECEIVE IN OUR REGION ALONE.
THERE ARE TEN EMERGENCY RESPONSE
SUPERVISORS WHO OVERSEE 6 TO 8
SOCIAL WORKERS IN EACH, FOR EACH
SUPERVISOR. NOW, EACH ONE OF
THOSE SOCIAL WORKERS HANDLES
ABOUT 40 CASES, SO THAT'S AROUND
3000 CASES AT ALL TIMES. WHEN A
SOCIAL WORKER VISITS A FAMILY
FOR AN EMERGENCY RESPONSE, THEY
NEED A NURSE WITH THEM TO
PERFORM A MEDICAL ASSESSMENT.
THAT ASSESSMENT IS COMMON.
INTERVENTIONS THAT WE DO BECAUSE
THEIR PARENTS GENERALLY HAVE NOT
RECEIVED THE ASSISTANCE FROM OUR
COMMUNITY PARTNERS. THEY MAY NOT
UNDERSTAND OUR NURSES GO OUT AND
PROVIDE A VERY CRITICAL ROLE IN
ASSESSING AND PLACING THOSE
INTERVENTIONS, SUCH AS,
CONNECTING PARENTS BACK TO THEIR
MEDICAL PROVIDERS, PROVIDING ON
HAND EDUCATION IN THE HOME,
WORKING WITH THE FAMILIES TO
CONNECT THEM TO THE RIGHT
SERVICES THAT ARE DESPERATELY
NEEDED. FOR EXAMPLE, IN MY
PARTICULAR OFFICE, I'D LIKE TO
SAY THAT THERE ARE ONLY TWO
NURSES ON MY TEAM WHO COVER THAT
WHOLE REGION. BECAUSE OF THE
SHORTAGES, PUBLIC HEALTH NURSES.
WE DON'T HAVE A CASE LIMIT ON
DCFS, WANTS TO HIRE MORE NURSES,
BUT WE JUST DON'T HAVE THE
FUNDING. AND SOMETIMES OTHER
OFFICES DO HELP SUPPORT MY TEAM.
BUT THEY REALLY CAN'T SPARE
THEMSELVES EITHER. MY NURSES DO
EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO GET THE
JOB DONE EVERY DAY. THEY ARE
ABSOLUTELY FEARLESS AND ALWAYS
GO ABOVE AND BEYOND TO MAKE SURE
THAT EVERY SINGLE CHILD THEY SEE
RECEIVES THOROUGH LOVING CARE
FOR. BUT THERE ARE SO MANY
CHILDREN AND JUST SO MANY HOURS
IN A DAY, EVERY DAY IS
EXCRUCIATING. PAINFUL BECAUSE
YOU KNOW THERE ARE CHILDREN WE
WON'T BE ABLE TO GET TO WHO WILL
BE TAKEN FROM THEIR HOMES. WHEN
A SIMPLE MEDICAL INTERVENTION
COULD HAVE KEPT THEM THERE AND
KEPT THEM SAFE. IT'S SOMETHING
THAT I HAVE TO CARRY HOME EVERY
NIGHT, AND WHEN YOU FIND OUT
THAT A CHILD HAS DIED, YOU CRY
BECAUSE. BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, IF
THAT CHILD WOULD HAVE RECEIVED
THE PROPER INTERVENTIONS, THE
THINGS THAT WE DO ON A DAILY
BASIS, MAYBE IT PERHAPS WOULD
NOT HAVE HAPPENED. WHEN I HEARD
THAT WE WERE FINALLY GETTING THE
FUNDING FOR THE EARLY
INTERVENTION PROGRAM, THE PILOT
WE HAD BEEN BEGGING FOR SO MANY
YEARS, I CAN'T EVEN TELL YOU THE
EXCITEMENT THAT I FELT. I WAS
OVERWHELMED WITH THE EXCITEMENT.
I KNEW AT THAT POINT WE WOULD BE
ABLE TO DO MUCH MORE FOR OUR
COMMUNITY AND REALLY HELP OUR
SOCIAL WORKERS IN HEALING THESE
FAMILIES INSTEAD OF JUST PUTTING
ON A LITTLE BAND-AID TO COVER UP
A BIGGER PROBLEM, WE COULD
FINALLY HELP THOSE PARENTS
NAVIGATE THEIR ISSUES AND PUT A
STOP TO THE MULTIPLE REFERRALS
THAT ARE COMING IN AND OUT. WE
GET SO MANY OF THESE KIDS BACK
INTO OUR SYSTEM BECAUSE THEY ARE
SICK, AND THESE PARENTS SO
DESPERATELY NEED OUR HELP, SO
CAN YOU JUST IMAGINE HOW
DEVASTATING IT IT WAS TO HEAR
THAT OUR LIFELINE WAS BEING
PULLED BEFORE WE EVEN GOT THE
CHANCE TO GET IT UP AND RUNNING
IN THE FASHION THAT IT SHOULD.
SO THERE'S JUST HAS TO BE A WAY
TO FIX THE BUDGET WITHOUT
PUTTING OUR CHILDREN AND OUR
COMMUNITIES AT RISK SO THEY CAN
HAVE A CHANCE AT THRIVING IN
HOME AND NOT THRIVING IN FOSTER
CARE. I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT I
HAVE FAITH IN YOU, THAT YOU WILL
NOT LET THESE KIDS GO INTO THE
SYSTEM IF THEY REALLY DON'T HAVE
TO. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK
YOU, DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE.
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. MARLENE
DAVIS, DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE. WE
HAVE NO ADDITIONAL COMMENTS AT
THIS TIME. LEO THANK YOU, OUR
COMMENTS RELATED TO THIS ISSUE
ARE INCLUDED IN YOUR AGENDA ON
PAGE 32. BUT ONE QUESTION I DID
WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT WE HAVE
REGARDING THIS PROGRAM IS ARE
THERE POTENTIALLY ANY OTHER
FUNDING SOURCES THAT COULD
OFFSET GENERAL FUND DOLLARS FOR
THIS PROGRAM? FOR EXAMPLE, GIVEN
THAT THIS IS SPECIFICALLY AN
EARLY INTERVENTION PROGRAM,
WOULD IT BE POSSIBLE FOR LOS
ANGELES COUNTY TO UTILIZE ANY OF
THEIR FAMILY FIRST PREVENTION
SERVICES? STATE BLOCK GRANT
DOLLARS FOR THIS PROGRAM, OR ARE
THERE ANY FEDERAL FUNDING
SOURCES THAT COULD HELP TO
OFFSET THE GENERAL FUND COSTS,
RATHER THAN ELIMINATING THE
PROGRAM, FINDING THOSE
ALTERNATIVE FUNDING SOURCES?
THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I JUST HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS,
FOR, LA COUNTY, OBVIOUSLY THERE
HAS BEEN SOME, HICCUPS,
INCLUDING THE PANDEMIC AND OTHER
THINGS, BUT THERE JUST SEEM TO
BE AN ISSUE WITH THE RATE IN
WHICH YOU'RE DRAWING DOWN FUNDS,
TO BE ABLE TO DO THE PROGRAM.
AND I THINK THAT'S PART OF WHAT
THE ADMINISTRATION IS SAYING, AS
WELL. AM I CORRECT IN THAT
ASSESSMENT IN TERMS OF JUST THE
RATE IN WHICH THEY ARE NOT
SPENDING THE FUNDS THAT HAVE
BEEN ALLOCATED? YOU ARE CORRECT
THAT I DID OBSERVE WHAT THE
CURRENT EXPENDITURES ARE AND
THAT THEY ARE SIGNIFICANTLY
LOWER THAN WHAT THE ALLOCATED
FUNDING IS. SO LA COUNTY, ARE
YOU SUSPECTING THAT YOU WOULD BE
ABLE TO DRAW DOWN ALL THOSE
DOLLARS, IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO
I MEAN, DO YOU ACTUALLY NEED IT
ALL? ABSOLUTELY, SIR. THE REASON
WE NEED IT, YOU KNOW, AS YOU
MAY, MAY OR MAY NOT KNOW,
NURSING, YOU KNOW, IT COMES AT A
COST, YOU KNOW, AND WE IN, IN MY
PARTICULAR REGION, I CAN SPEAK
FOR THIS WE WOULD SAY WOULD NEED
AT LEAST 5 TO 6 NURSES TO REALLY
ADEQUATELY JUST TOUCH THE
SURFACE OF ALL THE CHILDREN.
THOSE REFERRALS, WE'RE NOT EVEN
COUNTING THE OTHER THINGS THAT
WE DO THIS IS JUST ONE SNIPPET.
WHEN YOU TALK OF EARLY
INTERVENTION IN THAT EARLY
INTERVENTION, IT MEANS THAT WE
ARE ABLE TO RAPIDLY GO OUT
WITHIN THE 30 DAY ALLOTMENT TIME
TO ASSESS AND REACT AND PUT
THOSE INTERVENTIONS IN. IF WE
HAD THE STAFFING, WE WOULD BE
ABLE TO DO THAT IN A MORE RAPID
FASHION. THAT IS WHAT'S ONE OF
THE THINGS THAT SLOWS THINGS
DOWN IS THAT BECAUSE OF THE
SHORTAGES, WE'RE NOT ABLE TO
RESPOND IN A QUICK MANNER AND WE
HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO REALLY
WE JUST BEGUN THE HIRING PROCESS
FOR THIS PROGRAM. OKAY. SO
BASICALLY YOU HAVE TWO NURSES
RIGHT NOW, BUT YOU KNOW, YOU
NEED 5 TO 6. YES. RIGHT. AND I'M
JUST GOING TO, BE HONEST WITH
YOU, THIS IS MEANT TO BE A PILOT
PROGRAM. YES. RIGHT. AND SO IS
MY HOPE THAT THE COUNTY IS DOING
WHAT IT NEEDS TO DO TO CONTINUE
THIS, THIS THIS IS ONE OF THOSE
THINGS WHERE LA COUNTY IS
GETTING. I UNDERSTAND IS DOING
WHAT LA COUNTY DOES. AND WE NEED
TO MAKE SURE, THAT, THAT, WE ARE
NOT TREATING THIS PILOT AS
SOMETHING THAT IS GOING TO
EXPECT THAT IT'S GOING TO BE
ONGOING. IF THE COUNTY IS NOT
SPENDING DOWN THE FUNDS AND IN A
MANNER IN WHICH WE THINK THAT IT
NEEDS TO, MEANING IF THERE'S A
NEED, BUT YET THERE'S NOT THE
SPENDING BEING BROUGHT DOWN,
THEN, I WOULD JUST URGE THAT
THERE'S MORE OF A SENSE OF
URGENCY TO HIRE WHO NEEDS TO BE
HIRED TO SERVE, WHO NEEDS TO BE
SERVED, AND THOSE THINGS,
BECAUSE AT THIS RATE, I CAN'T
FULLY AGREE THAT I WOULD OPPOSE
THIS CUT RIGHT NOW. I THINK
THERE'S SOME WORK THAT NEEDS TO
BE DONE AND JUST SAY, THIS IS
THIS IS A TOUGH YEAR FOR AND,
YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE ARE DOING EVERYTHING WE
CAN AND THAT WE'RE BEING
RESPONSIBLE WITH THE MONIES THAT
WE'RE BEING GIVEN AS WELL. SO I
JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT
THAT IS SAID, I TOTALLY BELIEVE
IN EARLY INTERVENTION. I THINK
IT SAVES MONEY A WHOLE LOT MONEY
IN THE IN THE BACK END, BUT
AGAIN, SYSTEMS HAVE GOT TO MOVE
FASTER. RIGHT? AND WHEN SYSTEMS
DON'T MOVE FAST, THEN WE'RE IN
BAD BUDGET TROUBLE AND YOU END
UP ON MY AGENDA. RIGHT. SO,
WE'LL CONTINUE THIS ITEM, AND
WE'LL CONTINUE SOME TALKS,
BETWEEN THE ADMINISTRATION,
BETWEEN LA Ó AND, BETWEEN LA
COUNTY, BUT WE NEED TO SEE
BETTER PROGRESS. THANK YOU.
OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK
YOU. WE'LL HOLD THIS ITEM OPEN
AND WE'LL BRING UP THE NEXT
PANEL. ISSUE NUMBER SIX.
GOOD AFTERNOON. CHAIR, KIM
JOHNSON, CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT
OF SOCIAL SERVICES ON THE
BRINGING FAMILIES HOME PROGRAM,
WHICH PROVIDE PROVIDES RESOURCES
TO CHILDREN AND FAMILIES
EXPERIENCING OR AT RISK OF
HOMELESSNESS WHO ARE ALSO
INVOLVED WITHIN THE CHILD
WELFARE SYSTEM. THE GOAL OF THE
PROGRAM IS TWOFOLD TO KEEP
FAMILIES TOGETHER, WHICH YOU
CONTINUE TO HEAR, AS WELL AS TO
SUPPORT THEM IN REMAINING OR
BECOMING STABLY HOUSED, BRINGING
FAMILIES HOME HAS GREATLY
EXPANDED ACROSS THE STATE SINCE
ITS INCEPTION IN 2016, WHEN ONLY
12 COUNTIES OPERATED THE PROGRAM
. AS OF 2223, 53 COUNTIES
ADMINISTERED, BRINGING FAMILIES
HOME. ADDITIONALLY, 25
ADDITIONAL TRIBE TRIBAL ENTITIES
ARE IN THE PROCESS OF OPERATING
OR ESTABLISHING NEW BRINGING
FAMILIES HOME PROGRAMS ACROSS
THE STATE. THE RESOURCES THAT
THE PROGRAM OFFERS FAMILIES
INCLUDES HOUSING RELATED
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AND
WRAPAROUND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES.
THIS COULD INCLUDE, BUT NOT BE
LIMITED TO, RENTAL ASSISTANCE,
HOUSING NAVIGATION, CASE
MANAGEMENT, SECURITY DEPOSITS,
UTILITY PAYMENTS, MOVING COSTS,
LEGAL SERVICES, AND CREDIT
REPAIR. ACCORDING TO PROGRAM
UPDATES COLLECTED FROM GRANTEES,
GRANTEES ARE PROVIDING
INDIVIDUALIZED AND INTENSIVE
CASE MANAGEMENT AND HOUSING
NAVIGATION SERVICES, WHILE
BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS AND
CREATING PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN
CHILD WELFARE AGENCIES AND LOCAL
HOUSING AUTHORITIES. BRINGING
FAMILIES. BRINGING FAMILIES HOME
PROVIDES FLEXIBLE HOUSING
ASSISTANCE TO MEET THE NEEDS OF
EACH FAMILY, INCLUDING THOSE
AGAIN AT RISK OR OF OR
EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, THE
IN TERMS OF THE PROPOSAL AND THE
GOVERNOR'S BUDGET, IT IS
INTENDED TO SMOOTH OUT FUNDING
INTO 20 2526 BASED ON HOW
EXPENDITURES HAVE BEEN TRENDING
AND PROVIDE GRANTEES AN
ADDITIONAL YEAR FOR THE
EXPENDITURE TO IMPLEMENT THE
PROPOSED DELAYS, WE ARE
EXTENDING THE TIMELINES FOR
SPENDING THE FISCAL YEAR 2223
FUNDS FOR AN ADDITIONAL YEAR,
SUCH THAT THEY WILL NOT NEED TO
BE EXPENDED BY JUNE 30TH, 2026,
INSTEAD OF JUNE 30TH, 2025. THIS
PROPOSAL DOES NOT REDUCE FUNDING
FROM THESE PROGRAMS, IS NOT
INTENDED TO HAVE AN IMPACT ON
SERVICE DELIVERY FOR FAMILIES
SERVED BY THE PROGRAM, THE DATA
USED FOR THE PROPOSAL WAS POINT
IN TIME, AND WE RECOGNIZED THE
NEED TO REVIEW UPDATED DATA AT
THE MAY REVISION. WE DO NOT
ANTICIPATE THIS PROPOSAL WILL
IMPACT TRIBES AND TRIBAL
ENTITIES IMPLEMENTING THE
PROGRAM ON A COUNTY LEVEL. THE
DEPARTMENT WILL CONTINUE TO WORK
WITH KDA AND COUNTIES ON HOW TO
MITIGATE LOCAL IMPACTS AND
MAXIMIZE THE USE OF FUNDS ON A
STATEWIDE LEVEL, THE COMMITTEE
ALSO ASKED ABOUT SERVICE AND
OUTCOMES. IN FISCAL YEAR 2223,
THE PROGRAM SERVED NEARLY 2000
FAMILIES. AS OF DECEMBER OF
2023, THERE ARE 2855 ACTIVE
FAMILIES PARTICIPATING IN THE
PROGRAM, BRINGING FAMILIES HOME,
FAMILIES WITH A CHILD IN FOSTER
CARE AND RECEIVING FAMILY
REUNIFICATION SERVICES WERE 68%
MORE LIKELY TO HAVE A FAMILY
REUNIFICATION AT THE 180 DAY
MARK THAN THOSE NOT IN THE
PROGRAM. ADDITIONALLY, ANOTHER
RECENT STUDY FROM THE CHAPIN
HALL AT THE UNIVERSITY OF
CHICAGO EVALUATING SAN
FRANCISCO'S PROGRAM AS IT
PERTAINS TO THE RATES OF
REUNIFICATION, FOUND THAT 86% OF
THE 145 CHILDREN AND FAMILIES
REFERRED WITH A FAMILY
REUNIFICATION CASE HAD EXITED
OUT OF HOME CARE BY DECEMBER OF
2022. A MAJORITY OF THESE
CHILDREN WERE REUNIFIED WITH
FAMILY. MOST OTHER CHILDREN
EXITED VIA ADOPTION OR LEGAL
GUARDIANSHIP. ADDITIONALLY, A
FAMILIES WHO EXITED THE BRINGING
FAMILY'S HOME PROGRAM, THE
REENTRY TO OUT OF HOME CARE RATE
AMONG CHILDREN WHO ARE REUNIFIED
WITH FAMILY WAS VERY LOW. ONLY
6% OF THE CHILDREN WHO WERE
REUNIFIED REENTERED OUT OF HOME
CARE WITHIN ONE YEAR OF
REUNIFICATION, AND ONLY 9% HAD
REENTERED OUT OF HOME CARE. AT
THE FINAL OBSERVATION DATE OF
THE STUDY. PRELIMINARY VIEW OF
THE PROGRAM DATA CONDUCTED BY
THE DEPARTMENT HAS ALSO FOUND
SIMILAR TRENDS OF IMPROVED
REUNIFICATION AMONGST FAMILIES
ENROLLED IN THE PROGRAM. AGAIN,
IT IS WORKING, RELATED TO THE
EVALUATION. WE ARE WORKING WITH
THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA,
BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA POLICY LAB
AND THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN
CALIFORNIA CHILDREN'S DATA
NETWORK. THE EVALUATION COMPARES
OUTCOMES OF FAMILIES SERVED BY
THIS PROGRAM TO OUTCOMES OF
COMPARABLE FAMILIES WHO DID NOT
RECEIVE THE PROGRAM SERVICES AND
LEVERAGING ADMINISTRATIVE DATA
FROM BOTH THE CHILD WELFARE AND
HOMELESS SYSTEMS. THIS PROJECT
EXAMINED PATTERNS OF FAMILY
REUNIFICATION, CHILD WELFARE,
REFERRALS, HOMELESSNESS, AND
HOUSING ASSISTANCE OVER A TWO
YEAR PERIOD. THE LATEST UPDATE
FROM RESEARCH PARTNERS ON THE
EVALUATION HAS BEEN AT THE FINAL
EVALUATION. RESULTS MAY BE
EXPECTED TO BE RELEASED IN THE
NEXT 2 TO 3 MONTHS AT Kò.
PRELIMINARY FINDINGS ON HOUSING
OUTCOMES ENROLLMENT IN THIS
PROGRAM REDUCED THE USE OF
EMERGENCY SHELTER AND
TRANSITIONAL HOUSING BY 50, AND
DOUBLED THE USE OF RAPID
REHOUSING SERVICES IN THE SIX
MONTHS FOLLOWING PROGRAM ENTRY.
MOST FAMILIES THAT EXITED THE
PROGRAM BY THE END OF THE
PROGRAM SECOND YEAR LEFT TO
PERMANENT HOUSING AND ONLY 3%
REPORTED EXITING TO
HOMELESSNESS. AND WITH THAT, I'M
HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
GOOD AFTERNOON, EILEEN KUBINSKI
WITH THE COUNTY WELFARE
DIRECTORS ASSOCIATION. I
APOLOGIZE. WE HAD INTENDED TO
HAVE A COUNTY, INDIVIDUAL HERE
TO SHARE THEIR DIRECT
EXPERIENCE, AND THAT FELL
THROUGH AT THE LAST MINUTE. SO
YOU ARE STUCK WITH ME AND I WILL
INSTEAD SHARE A STATEWIDE
PERSPECTIVE, WHICH IS INFORMED
BY OUR IMPLEMENTING COUNTY CHILD
WELFARE AGENCIES. THE BRINGING
FAMILY HOME PROGRAM IS BASED
UPON RESEARCH THAT SHOWS THAT
THE RISK FOR CHILD WELFARE
SYSTEM INVOLVEMENT IS HIGHER
AMONG FAMILIES EXPERIENCING
HOMELESSNESS THAN AMONG SIMILAR
LOW INCOME, BUT STABLY HOUSED
FAMILIES AND THAT HOUSING
SUPPORTS AND GETTING FAMILIES
WHO ARE HOMELESS OR UNSTABLY
HOUSED INTO STABLE, SAFE,
PERMANENT HOUSING PREVENTS
FOSTER CARE PLACEMENT AND
FURTHERS REUNIFICATION WITH
BIRTH FAMILIES. AND YOU'VE HEARD
DIRECTOR JOHNSON HIGHLIGHT ALL
OF THE VARIOUS PROGRAM
SUCCESSES. I WILL ENDEAVOR NOT
TO REPEAT THOSE, BUT I DO THINK
THAT THE OUTCOMES SO FAR ARE
BEARING OUT, WHAT THE RESEARCH
HAS SHOWN, IS THE GOALS OF THE
PROGRAM HOUSING IS JUST ONE OF
THE MANY SERVICES THAT FAMILIES
RECEIVE WHO ARE INVOLVED IN
CHILD WELFARE, FAMILY
REUNIFICATION, AND FAMILY
MAINTENANCE PROGRAMS, IT'S ONE
OF MANY, BUT IT'S OFTEN THE MOST
CRITICAL SERVICE THAT THEY
RECEIVE. THE BF PROGRAM ALLOWS
COUNTIES TO PROVIDE TRAUMA
INFORMED HOUSING SERVICES
FOLLOWING A HOUSING FIRST MODEL
THAT COMBINES CONCRETE SUPPORTS
AND WRAPAROUND SERVICES WITH
MORE INTENSIVE CASE MANAGEMENT
THAT CAN BE OFFERED ALONE BY OUR
CHILD WELFARE SOCIAL WORKERS.
DIRECTOR JOHNSON DESCRIBED THE
TYPES OF SUPPORTS AND SERVICES
THAT ARE OFFERED, I WON'T GO
BACK INTO ALL OF THOSE JUST TO
SAY THEY ARE BOTH KIND OF
TANGIBLE SUPPORTS AS WELL AS
HOUSING CASE MANAGEMENT AND
NAVIGATION, ANOTHER THOUGH KEY
THING IS THAT IT ALLOWS OUR
COUNTIES TO BUILD STRONGER
PARTNERSHIPS WITH LOCAL HOUSING
AUTHORITIES, AND WE ARE ABLE
THEN TO LEVERAGE THOSE
RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHER HOUSING
ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS, TO PROVIDE
REALLY A MORE SEAMLESS AND
CRITICAL RESOURCES TO PIECE THEM
TOGETHER LOCALLY, TO PROVIDE
PERMANENT, ONGOING HOUSING FOR
FAMILIES, WHICH IS A DIFFICULT
RESOURCE OCCASIONALLY TO PULL
TOGETHER, THE ADDITIONAL RECENT
SIGNIFICANT ONE TIME INVESTMENTS
AS DIRECTOR, JOHNSON NOTED, DID
ALLOW US TO SIGNIFICANTLY EXPAND
THE PROGRAM, WE HAD 31 COUNTIES
JOIN IN ADDITION TO NUMBER OF
TRIBAL ENTITIES, IN ADDITION TO
THAT NEW FUNDING, I'D SAY THE
ELIMINATION OF THE MATCHING
REQUIREMENT WAS REALLY KEY HERE.
IT ENABLED MORE COUNTIES IN
PARTICULARLY OUR SMALLER, LESS
RESOURCE ONES, TO SERVE MORE
FAMILIES IN NEED, EXPAND
EXISTING CONTRACTS, PROVIDE MORE
COMPREHENSIVE SERVICES, HIRE
ADDITIONAL STAFF TO SUPPORT THE
OPERATIONS, AND INCREASE OUR
COLLABORATION WITH OTHER LOCAL
ENTITIES, I WILL SAY THAT THE
EXPERIENCE HAS BEEN
OVERWHELMINGLY POSITIVE, AS
REFLECTED BY OUR COUNTY'S MANY
FAMILIES. AS DIRECTOR JOHNSON
NOTED, SECURE PERMANENT HOUSING
AND A FOSTER CARE PROGRAM TO
REUNIFICATION. IT'S ALSO KEPT
MANY FAMILIES TOGETHER. WE'VE
HAD CHALLENGES IN IMPLEMENTING
THE EXPANSION, IT REQUIRED MANY
COUNTIES TO START FROM SCRATCH
TO STAFF UP, EXECUTE CONTRACTS,
DEVELOP PROGRAM SERVICE
OFFERINGS, ESTABLISH REFERRAL
PROCESSES, IDENTIFY LEVERAGING
OPPORTUNITIES, AND SO FORTH. AND
OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS EXISTED
THESE SAME START UP CHALLENGES.
I WILL SAY AT THIS POINT,
THOUGH, WE'VE OVERCOME A LOT OF
THOSE CHALLENGES. AND SO
SPENDING IS PICKING UP IN THE
PROGRAM. AND SO I APPRECIATE
DIRECTOR JOHNSON'S REFLECTION
THAT HER ESTIMATES, THEIR
ESTIMATES WERE POINT IN TIME,
AND SO WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH
THE DEPARTMENT AROUND THE
GOVERNOR'S PROPOSAL TO DEFER $80
MILLION, FROM NEXT FISCAL YEAR
INTO THE FOLLOWING FISCAL YEAR.
I THINK WE'RE FEELING AT THIS
MOMENT THAT THAT AMOUNT IS
PROBABLY TOO MUCH TO DEFER
WITHOUT HAVING ACTUAL,
PROGRAMMATIC IMPACTS THAT WOULD
RESULT IN THE CURTAILING OF
ACTUAL SERVICE LEVELS AND
LIMITING THOSE THAT WERE ABLE TO
SERVE. WE KNOW SOME COUNTIES IN
PARTICULAR ARE CUTTING OFF THEIR
PROGRAMS NOW, BUT I DO THINK
THAT WE CAN DO SOME WORK TO,
SMOOTH OUT THE IMPACTS ON A
COUNTY BY COUNTY BASIS, MAKE IT
WORK ON A STATEWIDE BASIS AND
ULTIMATELY SOME DEFERRAL OF
FUNDING, DELAY OF FUNDING. I
THINK WE CAN MAKE WORK. I DON'T
KNOW, THOUGH, THAT THE $80
MILLION IS THE RIGHT AMOUNT THAT
MAY BE TOO HIGH AND ARE
CONTINUING TO ENGAGE IN THOSE
CONVERSATIONS WITH THE
ADMINISTRATION AND APPRECIATE
THEIR WILLINGNESS TO ENGAGE IN
THOSE. WITH THAT, I'M HAPPY TO
TAKE ANY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH. DEPARTMENT OF
FINANCE. MARLENE DAVIS,
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE NO FURTHER
COMMENTS. LEO YES, FIRST, JUST A
QUICK COMMENT, TO TIE BACK TO
THE FIRST ISSUE THAT WE
DISCUSSED TODAY, RACIAL AND
ETHNIC DISPROPORTIONALITIES AND
DISPARITIES, AS WELL AS ECONOMIC
DISPROPORTIONALITIES AND
DISPARITIES, AS WE DISCUSSED
EARLIER, SUPPORTIVE HOUSING IS
ONE OF THOSE TYPES OF CONCRETE
SUPPORTS THAT THE RESEARCH DOES
FIND CAN HAVE A POSITIVE
RELATIONSHIP IN TERMS OF
REDUCING THE RISK FACTORS FOR
CHILD MALTREATMENT. AND SO JUST
MAKING THAT CONNECTION, THAT
BRINGING FAMILIES HOME IS, IS
ONE OF THOSE PROGRAMS THAT, THE
RESEARCH DOES SUPPORT CAN HAVE
THAT POSITIVE RELATIONSHIP IN
TERMS OF MALTREATMENT, WE ALSO
DID JUST WANT TO NOTE, REALLY,
UNDERSCORING THE COMMENTS MADE
BY THE DEPARTMENT AS WELL AS
IDA, THE INTENTION OF THIS
DELAY, AS WE UNDERSTAND IT, IS
TO REALLY SMOOTH THE SPENDING,
NOT ACTUALLY REDUCE THE OVERALL
SPENDING. THEREFORE, THE
PROPOSAL TO US SEEMS TO MAKE
SENSE, AS WELL AS THE APPROACH
TO REVISIT AT MAY REVISION AND
CONSIDER THOSE COUNTY BY COUNTY
SPENDING TRENDS, ALL OF THAT
SEEMS TO MAKE SENSE TO US, AND
I'M HAPPY TO ASSIST AND ANSWER
ANY QUESTIONS, THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. I WAS JUST CHECKING MY
LIST, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT MY,
AS WE WERE BRIEFING THE REST OF
OUR COLLEAGUES IN THE ASSEMBLY
ON THE BUDGET, ONE OF THE THINGS
THAT THEY WANTED TO MAKE SURE
AND GAVE US CLEAR DIRECTION,
THOSE OF US WHO ARE BUDGET
SUBCOMMITTEE CHAIRS IS TO REALLY
UNDERSTAND, BEFORE WE AGREE TO
ANYTHING, WHAT ARE THE IMPACT ON
THE PEOPLE WHO IS MEANT TO SERVE
, AND I'M SURE YOU'VE BEGUN TO
NOTICE THAT IF WE'VE ASKED
QUESTIONS IN REGARDS TO HOW THIS
WOULD IMPACT AND WE WERE NOT
PROVIDED WITH ADEQUATE
INFORMATION ON HOW IT WAS IMPACT
, IT AUTOMATICALLY MAKES US
OPPOSE IT RIGHT? WE ARE GOING TO
MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS THIS
YEAR. AND SO I AM HAPPY.
DIRECTOR JOHNSON, THAT WE CAN
CONTINUE TO LOOK INTO IT, TO
MAKING SURE IT SEEMS LIKE THERE
MIGHT BE SOME WIGGLE ROOM HERE,
SO I DON'T AT THIS POINT, I
WON'T HAVE AN OFFICIAL POSITION
IN TERMS OF WHAT THAT NUMBER
SHOULD BE, BUT IT SHOULD BE A
NUMBER THAT DOES NOT AFFECT THE
PEOPLE THAT WE'RE CURRENTLY
SERVING. RIGHT? WE HAVE HOUSING
IS THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE IN
CALIFORNIA, AND OUR BUDGET
SHOULD REFLECT THAT, AND SO
LOOKING FORWARD TO THE CONTINUED
CONVERSATIONS, OF COURSE, WE
KNOW WHERE THERE'S STILL SOME
DATA AND SOME INFORMATION WE
NEED TO STILL COME INTO IN TERMS
OF THE MAY REVISE AS WELL. AND
SO I LOOK FORWARD TO LOOKING AT
THAT INFORMATION, LOOKING AT THE
POSITION THAT WE'RE IN. AND
HOPEFULLY WE, WE CAN FIND SOME
ROOM TO BE ABLE TO ADD TO THE
BUDGET SOLUTION, BUT IT WON'T BE
AT THE EXPENSE OF PEOPLE FOR
BEING HOUSED. OKAY THANK YOU
VERY MUCH. FROM, FOR, FOR THAT
INFORMATION, WE'LL HOLD THIS,
ITEM OPEN AND WE'LL MOVE ON TO
ISSUE SEVEN. WE'RE ROLLING Y'ALL
ARE. EVERY TIME I GO TO ANOTHER
ISSUE, I JUST GET ALL MORE
HAPPIER. YEAH, WE'RE WE'RE
ROLLING. GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR
KIM JOHNSON, CALIFORNIA
DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES.
AND THIS ITEM IN PARTICULAR, WE
ARE JUST GRATEFUL TO HAVE TO PUT
IN FRONT OF THE COMMITTEE THIS
AFTERNOON, CONSISTENT WITH
EARLIER COMMENTS MADE TODAY,
THIS PROPOSAL IS FOCUSED ON
KEEPING FAMILIES TOGETHER,
ASSESSING AND MEETING THE
INDIVIDUAL NEEDS OF EACH YOUTH
AND ADVANCING EQUITY. THE
PROPOSED PERMANENT RATE
STRUCTURE INVESTS IN STRENGTH
BUILDING AND ADDRESSING THE
IMMEDIATE NEEDS OF CHILDREN AND
YOUTH, ALLOWING US TO GREATLY
INCREASE THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN
LIVING WITH THEIR OWN FAMILY
MEMBERS AND TRIBES WITH THE
SUPPORT NECESSARY TO ENSURE THE
SUCCESS OF THESE PLACEMENTS. THE
POSITIVE EXPERIENCES THAT YOUTH
ARE MORE LIKELY TO HAVE WHEN
CARED FOR BY THEIR OWN FAMILY,
AND WHEN THEY HAVE CONNECTIONS
TO ENRICHMENT AND CULTURAL
ACTIVITIES, HAVE BEEN PROVEN TO
HELP MITIGATE THE MENTAL HEALTH
DAMAGE CAUSED BY ADVERSE
CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES, AND TO
HELP YOUTH HEAL. WE WANT
REIMBURSEMENT RATES TO BE
RESPONSIVE TO WHAT YOUTH AND
FAMILIES NEED TO THRIVE, SO THE
PROPOSED RATE STRUCTURE SUPPORTS
SERVICES IN PLACE BASED ON THE
CHILD'S ASSESSMENT AND
IDENTIFIED NEEDS. IF ADOPTED,
CALIFORNIA WILL BE THE FIRST
STATE IN THE NATION TO TAKE THIS
APPROACH. THE PROPOSAL ALSO
INVESTS IN NEW APPROACHES TO
RATES. UNTIL NOW, THE RATE
STRUCTURE HAS ONLY PAID FOR CARE
AND SUPERVISION, AND AGAIN, THE
PROPOSAL ADDS INVESTMENTS IN
STRENGTH BUILDING AND ADDRESSING
A CHILD'S IMMEDIATE NEEDS.
PARTICIPATION IN ENRICHMENT
ACTIVITIES HAS BEEN PROVEN TO
HELP YOUNG PEOPLE HEAL. AS I
REFERENCED, PROMOTING SUPPORTIVE
SOCIAL CONNECTIONS AND PROVIDING
OPPORTUNITIES TO DEVELOP
VALUABLE SKILLS AND IS
CONSISTENT WITH WHAT WE'VE HEARD
FROM YOUTH ASKING THAT THEY NEED
TO BE SUPPORTED. THIS PROPOSAL
DOES MAKE SIGNIFICANT CHANGES TO
THE RATE STRUCTURE AS IT STANDS
TODAY. AS SUCH, WE LOOK FORWARD
TO NOT ONLY ENGAGING WITH
INTERESTED PARTIES IN THE SHORT
TERME, BUT ALSO TO HAVING
FOCUSED EFFORTS ON CAPACITY
BUILDING AND OTHER DETAILS TO
OPERATIONALIZE THE SUCCESS OF
THIS PROPOSAL OVER THE NEXT TWO
YEARS. AS FULL IMPLEMENTATION IS
PROPOSED TO BEGIN IN 20 2627.
AND I'LL TURN IT OVER TO MY
COLLEAGUE, DEPUTY DIRECTOR ANGIE
SCHWARTZ. GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR
JACKSON. THANK YOU FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY. AS
DIRECTOR JOHNSON SAID, MY NAME
IS ANGIE SCHWARTZ. I'M THE
DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF THE CHILDREN
AND FAMILY SERVICES DIVISION.
I'M EXCITED TO BE PRESENTING
THIS PROPOSAL TO YOU TODAY,
WHICH HAS BEEN IN THE WORKS FOR
MANY YEARS AND IS A KEY
COMPONENT OF THE CONTINUUM OF
CARE REFORM, WHICH IS CENTERED
AROUND ENSURING THAT ALL
CHILDREN CAN BE SUPPORTED WITHIN
FAMILIES. IN RESPONSE TO A
QUESTION IN THE AGENDA AT FULL
IMPLEMENTATION ATION. THIS
REPRESENTS A $1.1 BILLION
INVESTMENT IN OUR CHILDREN'S
STRENGTHS, IN SUPPORTING THEIR
IMMEDIATE NEEDS AND IN ENSURING
THERE'S APPROPRIATE SUPPORT IN
HOMES WHERE CHILDREN DO BEST AND
THE HOMES OF THEIR RELATIVES AND
EXTENDED FAMILY MEMBERS. AND
THIS PROPOSAL WAS NOT DESIGNED
IN ISOLATION. IT IS SINCERELY
RESPONSIVE TO THE STAKEHOLDER
FEEDBACK THAT WE SOUGHT AND
RECEIVED THROUGH 24 WORK GROUP
MEETINGS THAT WERE HELD IN THE
FALL OF 2022, THE CONSENSUS
COMING OUT OF THOSE WORK GROUPS
WAS THAT OUR RATES SHOULD BE
BASED ON THE ASSESSED NEEDS OF
THE CHILD, NOT WHERE THEY'RE
PLACED, AND THAT ASSESSMENT
SHOULD COME FROM A VALIDATED
TOOL. WE ALSO HEARD CLEARLY THAT
THERE NEEDS TO BE FUNDING FOR
SERVICES AND SUPPORTS, WHICH HAS
NEVER, AS DIRECTOR JOHNSON SAID,
BEEN A PART OF OUR RATE SYSTEM,
AND WE HEARD DIRECTLY FROM YOUNG
PEOPLE THAT WE MUST INVEST IN
THEIR STRENGTHS AND MAINTAINING
THEIR STRENGTHS WHEN THEY COME
INTO OUR FOSTER CARE SYSTEM, AS
DIRECTOR DIRECTOR JOHNSON NOTED,
THERE ARE THREE KEY INNOVATIONS
CENTRAL TO THIS PROPOSAL THAT
ARE ALSO VERY RESPONSIVE TO THAT
FEEDBACK. FIRST, THE RATES WILL
BE BASED ON THE CANS, WHICH IS A
VALIDATED FUNCTIONAL ASSESSMENT
TOOL THAT'S BEEN THAT'S BEEN
IMPLEMENTED WITHIN OUR COUNTIES
AND REQUIRED SINCE 2018. SECOND,
THERE ARE TWO NEW INVESTMENTS.
FIRST, THE STRENGTH BUILDING
COMPONENT, SO THAT INVESTMENT IN
YOUNG PEOPLE'S STRENGTHS AND
MAINTAINING THEIR STRENGTHS, AND
SECOND, THE INVESTMENT IN
IMMEDIATE NEEDS FOR THOSE
CHILDREN THAT ARE WITHIN TIERS
WHERE THEIR CANS HAS IDENTIFIED
AN URGENT NEED. AND FINALLY, THE
FUNDING SHIFTS AWAY FROM BEING
BASED ON WHERE THE CHILD IS
PLACED AND IS TIED AND CONNECTED
TO THE CHILD, MEANING THAT ALL
CHILDREN, EVEN THOSE WITH THE
HIGHEST ACUITY OF NEEDS, CAN BE
SUPPORTED WITHIN THE FAMILIES
WHERE THEY DO BEST. SINCE THE
RELEASE OF THE TRAILER BILL ON
MARCH 7TH, WE'VE BEEN ENGAGED IN
EXTENSIVE STAKEHOLDER FEEDBACK
SESSIONS WITH MORE TO COME. THE
TRAILER BILL IS LENGTHY AND
COMPLEX, AND AS EXPECTED, WITH
SUCH COMPREHENSIVE REFORM,
THERE'S A LOT OF FEEDBACK THAT
WE'RE RECEIVING AND OUR
STAKEHOLDER WORKGROUP. SO FAR,
THERE HAS BEEN NO OPPOSITION AND
ONLY SUPPORT FOR THE INVESTMENTS
IN STRENGTH BUILDING AND THE
IMMEDIATE NEEDS OF THE YOUNG
PEOPLE. THERE IS ALSO BROAD
SUPPORT FOR HAVING THE FUNDING
BASED ON THE CHILD AND NOT ON
THE PLACEMENT, SO THAT ALL
CHILDREN CAN BE SUPPORTED IN
FAMILY HOMES, PARTICULARLY THE
HOMES OF THEIR RELATIVES. IN
TERMS OF PAIN POINTS, WE
ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE ARE MANY
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE
ADMINISTRATIVE PROCESSES TO
UTILIZE THE FUNDING AND THE NEED
TO STRUCTURE THE FUNDING IN A
WAY THAT IS EFFICIENT. WE ARE
COMMITTED TO WORKING THROUGH
IMPLEMENTATION TO ENSURE THAT WE
DON'T INCREASE ADMINISTRATIVE
BURDENS ON COUNTIES OR
PROVIDERS. WITH REGARD TO THE
IMMEDIATE NEEDS FUNDING, WE'VE
RECEIVED QUESTIONS ABOUT WHETHER
AND HOW PROVIDERS WILL RECEIVE
THAT FUNDING, AS WELL AS HOW TO
BEST ENABLE COUNTIES TO SET UP
THEIR NETWORKS AND THEIR
CONTRACTS. FINALLY, THERE ARE
QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW THE RATES
WILL BE PAID TO HTTPS AND FOSTER
FAMILY AGENCIES. UNDER THE
PROPOSAL PHASE, AND HTTPS WILL
CONTINUE TO RECEIVE FUNDING TO
SUPPORT THEIR ADMINISTRATIVE
EXPENSES, WHICH THEY DO RIGHT
NOW. UNDER EXISTING LAW,
HOWEVER, THE ADMINISTRATIVE
COMPONENT OF THE RATE IS BEING
RESTRUCTURED FOR YOUTH WITHIN
TIER TWO AND TIER THREE AND
THREE PLUS, IN ORDER TO ENSURE
THAT THERE IS DEDICATED FUNDING
TO SUPPORT THE CHILD'S IMMEDIATE
NEEDS. INSTEAD OF BUNDLING ALL
THOSE DOLLARS TOGETHER WITHIN
THE ADMIN RATE STRUCTURE. THE
IMMEDIATE NEEDS DOLLARS THIS WAY
ENSURES THAT THE IMMEDIATE NEEDS
FUNDING TRAVELS WITH THE YOUNG
PERSON. IT ENABLES US TO MAKE
SURE THAT THE IMMEDIATE NEEDS
WILL BE MET, EVEN WHEN CHILDREN
ARE IN SETTINGS THAT ARE NOT
ASSOCIATED WITH THE FOSTER
FAMILY AGENCY OR AN STREEP LIKE
THE HOME OF THEIR RELATIVES. IN
THIS WAY, IT'S AN INVESTMENT IN
COMMUNITY SERVICES AND SUPPORTS,
AND IT FACILITATES PROVIDERS
CREATING NEW MODELS IN ORDER TO
SERVE CHILDREN IN COMMUNITY
SETTINGS AND FAMILY SETTINGS,
NOT JUST WHEN THEY'RE PLACED
WITHIN THEIR OWN FACILITIES.
FINALLY, HAVING DEDICATED
FUNDING FOR IMMEDIATE NEEDS ALSO
MEANS THERE WILL BE MORE STATE
WIDE NESS AND CONTINUITY OF
SERVICES. FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN A
CHILD IS BEING STEPPED DOWN FROM
AN STP, THE IMMEDIATE NEEDS
FUNDING STAYS WITH THE YOUNG
PERSON MEETING THE SERVICES AND
THE TREATMENT TEAM AND THOSE
SUPPORTS THAT THEY WERE
RECEIVING WITHIN THE STP CAN
CONTINUE TO BE PROVIDED TO THAT
CHILD WITHIN THAT FAMILY
SETTING. WE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT
THIS IS A BIG SHIFT WITH LEVELS
OF COMPLEXITY, BUT IT TAKES A
BIG SHIFT TO ACCOMPLISH THE GOAL
OF HAVING A RATE THAT FOLLOWS
THE CHILD ENSURES THAT THE CHILD
CAN REMAIN AND BE CONNECTED WITH
THEIR OWN FAMILIES, AND THAT
INVESTS IN STRENGTHS AND NEEDS.
MANY ADDITIONAL DETAILS CAN BE
WORKED THROUGH IMPLEMENTATION,
AND WE'RE COMMITTED TO DOING
THAT IN PARTNERSHIP WITH TRIBES
AND STAKEHOLDERS. HAVING SAID
THAT, THE ADMINISTRATION, WHAT
THE ADMINISTRATION HAS PROPOSED
IN THE TRAILER BILL, IS WHAT WE
BELIEVE TO BE ESSENTIAL TO HAVE
COMPLETED AS PART OF THIS YEAR'S
BUDGET PROCESS IN ORDER FOR THE
RATES TO BE IMPLEMENTED IN 2026.
WE'RE VERY MUCH LOOKING FORWARD
TO CONTINUING DISCUSSIONS WITH
THE LEGISLATURE AND ALL OF OUR
PARTNERS ABOUT THE ABOUT THIS
HISTORIC PROPOSED INVESTMENT.
HAPPY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS. THANK
YOU, MISS POWER. THANK YOU FOR
THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE
IN THIS DISCUSSION OF THE
PROPOSED PERMANENT FOSTER CARE
RATE STRUCTURE. I'M KRISTEN
POWER WITH THE ALLIANCE FOR
CHILDREN'S RIGHTS. IT'S VERY
CLEAR THE DEPARTMENT HAS SPENT
SIGNIFICANT TIME DEVELOPING THE
PROPOSAL, AND WE VERY MUCH
APPRECIATE THE INVESTMENT IN OUR
CHILDREN AND YOUTH IN FOSTER
CARE AND THEIR CAREGIVERS. THE
PROPOSAL IS AN IMPROVEMENT OVER
THE CURRENT INTERIM RATE
STRUCTURE IN SEVERAL KEY AREAS,
INCLUDING. IT IS A MUCH MORE
REALISTIC APPROACH TO RATES,
ENGAGEMENT AND INVOLVEMENT IN
YOUTH AND CAREGIVER, AND THE
STRENGTH BUILDING AND
MAINTENANCE FUNDS AND INVESTMENT
IN THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF
OUR CHILDREN AND FOSTER CARE.
WITH THE IMMEDIATE NEEDS
FUNDING, WE APPRECIATE THE
ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF THE ROLE AND
NEEDS RELATED TO EMERGENCY
PLACEMENTS BY PROVIDING A TIER
TWO PLACEMENT FOR EMERGENCY
CAREGIVERS. THIS SUBSTANTIAL
SHIFT IN THE MANNER AND METHOD
OF PAYMENT WILL REQUIRE A
SIGNIFICANT IMPLEMENTATION
INVESTMENT ACROSS THE SYSTEM
FROM THE COUNTY TO THE STATE, TO
CAREGIVERS AND TO YOUTH. WE'VE
IDENTIFIED CONCERNS RELATED TO
ACCOUNTABILITY AND TECHNOLOGY,
WHICH WILL REQUIRE ANALYSIS AND
TIME TO SUCCESSFULLY IMPLEMENT
THE PROPOSAL AND ENCOURAGE THE
LEGISLATURE TO ENGAGE
PROACTIVELY THROUGHOUT THE RATE
STRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT AND
IMPLEMENTATION. FOR THE PURPOSES
OF TODAY'S DISCUSSION, I'VE
BROKEN OUR HIGH LEVEL CONCERNS
INTO THREE AREAS FUNDING SOURCES
AND ALLOCATIONS. ASSESSMENT AND
TRANSITIONS. IN THE AREA OF
FUNDING SOURCES AND ALLOCATIONS.
QUESTIONS FOR CONSIDERATIONS AND
RESPONSE. TO YOUR QUESTION ABOUT
PAIN POINTS, WHAT ARE THE
FUNDING SOURCES FOR CARE AND
SUPERVISION, STRENGTH, BUILDING
AND MAINTENANCE, AND IMMEDIATE
NEEDS ALLOCATIONS? AND ARE THEY
SUSTAINABLE? WHAT ARE THE CDSS
ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLEMENTATION
COSTS? ARE THEY ABSORBED IN
CURRENT FUNDING AND IS THERE
ADDITIONAL COST THAT MUST BE
BUDGETED? DOES THE CDSS
ADMINISTRATIVE COST INCORPORATE
THE COSTS FOR THE THIRD PARTY
ADMINISTRATOR OR THE FINANCIAL
MANAGEMENT COORDINATOR? DOES THE
THIRD PARTY PROCESS ESTABLISH
FOR THE STRENGTH BUILDING AND
MAINTENANCE FUNDING ADD VALUE
RELATIVE TO THE ADDITIONAL
ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS? WHAT CAN
BE DONE TO MINIMIZE
ADMINISTRATIVE BARRIERS AND
CONFIDENTIALITY CONCERNS RELATED
TO THIRD PARTY PAYMENTS TO
ACTIVITIES. VENDORS RELATED TO
THE FISCAL CAP ON EXPENDITURES
OF BUILDING AND MAINTENANCE
ALLOCATIONS. WHAT IS PLANNED TO
MINIMIZE IMPACTS OF OVER UNDER
EXPENDITURES OF THE FUNDS FOR
EXAMPLE, WHAT HAPPENS IF THE
ALLOCATION IS OVER SPENT OR OVER
EXPENDITURES? THE RESPONSIBILITY
OF THE CAREGIVER FROM CARE AND
SUPERVISION FUNDS AND CAN
OVERPAYMENTS BE CLAWED BACK IF
THE COUNTY MANAGED CARE PLANS OR
FEE FOR SERVICE DON'T OFFER
SPECIFIC IMMEDIATE NEEDS?
SERVICES IDENTIFIED BY THE CHILD
AND FAMILY TEAM? HOW DOES THE
YOUTH ACCESS AND PAY FOR THOSE
SERVICES? HOW DOES THE STRENGTH
BUILDING AND MAINTENANCE FUNDING
INTERACT WITH THE REASONABLE AND
PRUDENT PARENT STANDARD? HOW
DOES THE PROPOSAL ACCOUNT FOR
THE CURRENT INTENSE OF SERVICES,
FOSTER CARE OR ISFSI PLACEMENT
PARAMETERS FOR EXAMPLE, HOME
CAPACITY OR TRAINING
REQUIREMENTS IN THE AREA OF THE
CANS? ASSESSMENT QUESTIONS TO
CONSIDER WHAT DOES FIDELITY MEAN
IN TERMS OF THE RELATIONSHIP TO
THE KANSAS SETTLEMENT, AND HOW
WILL THAT BE REFLECTED IN
TRAINING AND COMMUNICATED TO
CAREGIVERS? ADMINISTRATIVE LAW
JUDGES WHO HEAR CASES RELATED TO
RATES AND TO CAREGIVERS AND
YOUTH? IS THE CANS UNIFORMLY
ADMINISTERED ACROSS COUNTIES AND
YOUTH POPULATIONS, INCLUDING
PROBATION SUPERVISED YOUTH,
YOUTH AND JUVENILE HALLS, AND
REPORTED TO ENSURE INFORMATION
ACCURATELY REFLECTS NEEDS. AS
MORE KANSAS ASSESSMENT DATA
BECOMES AVAILABLE, IS A
RECURRENT LATENT CLASS ANALYSIS
PLAN FOR TO REVIEW AND UPDATE
THE TIERS AND RATES AND WHAT
TIMING IS APPROPRIATE FOR THAT
REVIEW. QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER
RELATED TO THE TRANSITIONS. THE
LEVEL OF CARE PROTOCOL WAS
ROLLED OUT INCREMENTALLY. WHAT
IS THE TRANSITION PLAN FROM THE
CURRENT LEVEL OF CARE PROTOCOL
TO THIS NEW STRUCTURE, AND HOW
WILL YOUTH AND CAREGIVERS BE
SUPPORTED IN THE TRANSITION? IF
THERE'S A CHANGE IN THEIR RATES,
WHAT CAN BE DONE TO MINIMIZE THE
IMPACT OF LOSS OF IMMEDIATE
NEEDS? FUNDING WHEN A YOUTH
TRANSITIONS BETWEEN TIERS, DOES
THE PROPOSAL CREATE INADVERTENT
DISINCENTIVES TO REUNIFICATION
AND PERMANENCY THROUGH THE LOSS
OF STRENGTH, BUILDING AND
MAINTENANCE, AND IMMEDIATE NEEDS
ALLOCATIONS AND IF SO, WHAT CAN
BE DONE TO MINIMIZE THOSE
DISINCENTIVES? GIVEN THESE
OUTSTANDING IMPLEMENTATION
QUESTIONS ON THIS NEW STRUCTURE,
WE SUGGEST THE LEGISLATURE ADOPT
THE FUNDING PARAMETERS AS PART
OF THE BUDGET, BUT TAKE TIME
THROUGH THE SUMMER RECESS TO
CONSIDER THE TRAILER BILL
LANGUAGE AND PERHAPS CONSIDER
ADDING TRAILER BILL LANGUAGE
PROPOSAL FOR NEXT YEAR AS WELL.
WE ALSO SUGGEST THAT GIVEN THE
EXTENSIVE DELAY IN EXECUTING THE
PROPOSAL DUE TO TECHNOLOGY
ISSUES, INCLUDING CLAIMING THE
LEGISLATURE CONSIDER WHETHER
REGULAR UPDATES ON
IMPLEMENTATION, INCLUDING THE
TECHNOLOGY INFRASTRUCTURE
PROCESS, SHOULD BE REQUIRED.
IT'S DIFFICULT TO STATE A
POSITION, ALTHOUGH WE ARE
SUPPORTIVE OF THE OVERALL
STRUCTURE, BUT GIVEN THE OPEN
QUESTIONS, WE ARE VERY
APPRECIATIVE OF THE WORK THAT'S
BEEN GONE. GONE INTO DEVELOPING
THE PROPOSED RATE STRUCTURE AND
ARE COMMITTED TO CONTINUING OUR
ENGAGEMENT TO ENSURE OUR
CHILDREN AND YOUTH AND
CAREGIVERS WHO STEP UP FOR THEM
ARE SUPPORTED. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU. EILEEN KAMINSKY
WITH THE COUNTY WELFARE
DIRECTORS ASSOCIATION. THE SHIFT
TO A PLACEMENT BASED FROM A
PLACEMENT BASED STRUCTURE TO ONE
BASED ON THE NEEDS OF THE
INDIVIDUAL CHILD OR YOUTH,
REGARDLESS OF THE PLACEMENT
TYPE, HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BE
TRULY TRANSFORMATIONAL AND THE
SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT OF STATE
GENERAL FUND AND SERVICES IS
WELCOME. AND FROM OUR
PERSPECTIVE, LONG OVERDUE, AS
NOTED, THE FULL PROPOSAL WAS
JUST RECENTLY RELEASED. WE ARE
STILL DIGESTING THAT WITH OUR
MEMBERS, WE HAVE LOTS OF
QUESTIONS THAT WE'VE ASKED AS
WELL, AND WE ARE CONTINUING TO
ENGAGE IN CONVERSATIONS WITH THE
DEPARTMENT THROUGH STAKEHOLDER
MEETINGS AND DIRECTLY, SO WE'RE
HOPING TO PROVIDE MORE SPECIFIC
FEEDBACK AND RECOMMENDATIONS
LATER THIS MONTH. BUT IN THE
MEANTIME, I WANTED TO SHARE A
FEW HIGH LEVEL OBSERVATIONS
ABOUT THE PROPOSAL, THE FIRST
BEING THAT IT'S PREDICATED ON
THE TRANSITION TO A SYSTEM OF
HOME BASED CARE THAT DOESN'T
CURRENTLY EXIST. BROADLY, IT'S
UNLIKELY TO BE SUCCESSFUL UNLESS
INVESTMENTS ARE MADE TO BUILD
CAPACITY THROUGHOUT THE CHILD
WELFARE SYSTEM, INCLUDING
IMPLEMENTATION OF HIGH QUALITY
CHILD AND FAMILY TEAM MEETINGS.
FIDELITY'S IN THE USE OF THE
CANS TOOL, AND COORDINATION WITH
COUNTY BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
AGENCIES WHO ALSO USE THE CANS
STANDING IT UP IS GOING TO
REQUIRE A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF
UPFRONT WORK AND INVESTMENTS IN
STAFFING CAPACITY. SECOND, THE
PROPOSED RATE STRUCTURE ALSO
DEPENDS ON HAVING WIDESPREAD
AVAILABILITY OF COMMUNITY AND
FAMILY BASED CARE AND SERVICES,
AND EFFORTS TO BUILD THIS
CAPACITY ARE STILL NASCENT AND
UNDERFUNDED, BUILDING THE TYPES
OF EVIDENCE BASED SERVICES AND
PROMISING PRACTICES REQUIRES AN
INVESTMENT INTO CAPACITY
BUILDING THAT INCLUDES BUILDING,
STAFFING, EXPERTISE AND
INFRASTRUCTURE TO SUPPORT
SERVICES AND COUNTIES AND LOCAL
PROVIDERS, INCLUDING OUR FHFA'S.
THE DISPARITIES ARE PARTICULARLY
ACUTE AND CHALLENGING FOR
SMALLER AND RURAL COUNTIES.
THIRD, THE PROPOSED RATE
STRUCTURE DOES NOT FULLY SUPPORT
THE CONTINUUM OF CARE OPTIONS
NEEDED BY CHILDREN, YOUTH AND
FAMILIES, PARTICULARLY OUR OLDER
FOSTER YOUTH. WITH PROPOSED CUTS
TO FERS AND THE SILK HOUSING
SUPPLEMENT AS EXAMPLES, I DON'T
WE DON'T BELIEVE THAT THE RATE
STRUCTURE IS A FULL SUBSTITUTE
FOR THOSE REDUCTIONS AND BELIEVE
THAT WE STILL NEED THOSE
CRITICAL SUPPORTS AND SERVICES.
WE'RE CONCERNED THAT THE RATE
PROPOSAL MAY RENDER
RESIDENTIALLY BASED PROVIDERS
AND POTENTIALLY PHAS AS WELL AS
UNSTABLE. AND MANY OF THESE ARE
THE SAME PROVIDERS THAT WE'RE
GOING TO NEED TO TRANSITION TO
PROVIDE THE HOME BASED CARE AND
COMMUNITIES. AND WE KNOW THAT WE
WILL CONTINUE TO NEED SHORT
TERME RESIDENTIAL CARE AND
TREATMENT FOR A SMALL NUMBER OF
YOUTH WITH VERY INTENSIVE NEEDS.
AND THIS PROPOSAL DOES NOTHING
TO SUPPORT THE SMALLER SCALE,
INNOVATIVE MODELS OF RESIDENTIAL
THERAPEUTIC SUPPORT THAT'S BEEN
PROMOTED BY DSS, IN THE RECENT
PAST. FOURTH, THE PROPOSAL
CONTINUES TO PREDICATE
SUSTAINABLE ON ACCESS TO
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, BUT PAYMENT
REFORM BY DHS HAS BEEN
PROBLEMATIC AND LEAVING OUR
PROVIDERS CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE.
AWS AND COUNTY BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
AGENCIES NEED TO UNDERSTAND THE
VISION AND EXPECTATIONS FOR
COORDINATING AND LEVERAGING
FUNDING WITH BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
SERVICES AND MEDI-CAL FUNDING,
AND WE NEED TO ACKNOWLEDGE
FUNDING AND WORKFORCE CHALLENGES
ON OUR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SIDE,
AS WELL. FIFTH, THE RATE TIERING
CONNECTED TO CAN SCORING. IT'S
NOT EASILY UNDERSTOOD AND WILL
REQUIRE FURTHER DISCUSSION TO
DETERMINE IF THESE ARE THE
CORRECT LEVELS AND GROUPINGS AND
ENSURE THAT THEY ADEQUATELY
REFLECT THE NEEDS OF YOUTH AND
FAMILIES. WE ALSO HAVE CONCERNS
ABOUT POTENTIAL LACK OF
FLEXIBILITY TO TEAR UP QUICKLY,
FOR YOUTH WITH HIGHER NEEDS TO
AVERT WORSENING CONDITIONS AND
WANT TO HAVE MORE CONVERSATIONS
THERE, WE'RE CONCERNED THAT THE
AMOUNT OF NEW GUIDANCE,
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND DIRECT
ADMINISTRATION BY DSS IS
UNREALISTIC AND COULD CAUSE
FURTHER DELAYS IN
IMPLEMENTATION. IT'S PREDICATED
ON A NUMBER OF NEW DELIVERABLES
BY DSS BEFORE WE CAN EVEN START
IMPLEMENTING. THERE ARE SEVERAL
AREAS WHERE STANDARDS WOULD NEED
TO BE DEVELOPED. THERE'S NO
DETAIL IN THE LANGUAGE ABOUT
THOSE, OR CONTEMPLATED
CONSULTATION WITH PLACING
AGENCIES OR OTHER STAKEHOLDERS,
WE THINK THERE'S A NEED TO
SIMPLIFY SOME OF THE OPERATIONAL
OPERATIONALIZATION AND BETTER
INTEGRATED WITHIN CURRENT
PLANNING AND PAYMENT PROCESSES,
WHILE STILL ENSURING APPROPRIATE
GUARDRAILS AND ACCOUNTABILITY.
AND LASTLY, WE HAVE SOME
CONCERNS ABOUT UNINTENDED
CONSEQUENCES NEGATIVELY
IMPACTING CHILDREN, FAMILIES AND
YOUTH, THE PROPOSAL HAS THE
POTENTIAL TO INCREASE
DISPROPORTIONALITY AND
DISPARITIES BY REDUCING
INCENTIVES TO FAMILY
REUNIFICATION AND PERMANENCY.
SINCE THE STRENGTH BASED
STRENGTH BUILDING AND IMMEDIATE
NEEDS DOLLARS, WILL NOT BE
AVAILABLE POST PERMANENCY. WE
BELIEVE THERE ARE WAYS TO
ADDRESS THAT, BUT IT WILL
REQUIRE ADDITIONAL FLEXIBILITY
IN THE USE OF THE FUNDS AND
LEVERAGING OTHER FUND SOURCES AS
WELL, AND BUILDING CAPACITY.
WE'VE LEARNED THROUGH OUR
EFFORTS IN IMPLEMENTING THE MANY
FACETS OF CCR THAT IT TAKES
TIME, THOUGHTFUL PLANNING, AND
CAPACITY SUPPORT TO IMPLEMENT
CHANGE OF THIS MAGNITUDE. BUT WE
DEFINITELY LOOK FORWARD TO
CONTINUING WORK WITH THE
ADMINISTRATION AND LEGISLATURE
ON THIS IMPORTANT AND EXCITING
PROPOSAL, AND TO THE MANY MORE
CONVERSATIONS TO COME. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON,
CHAIR JACKSON. THANK YOU SO MUCH
FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK MY
NAME IS CHRIS STONER MERTZ. I'M
THE CEO OF THE CALIFORNIA
ALLIANCE OF CHILD AND FAMILY
SERVICES, AN ASSOCIATION
REPRESENTING OVER 160 NONPROFIT
MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS SERVING
CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES
THROUGHOUT THE 58 COUNTIES. OUR
MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS PROVIDE A
WIDE ARRAY OF SERVICES TO
CHILDREN AND FAMILIES AT RISK
OF, OR INVOLVEMENT IN THE FOSTER
CARE SYSTEM. THEY RUN. FAMILY
RESOURCE CENTERS, PROVIDE SCHOOL
BASED MENTAL HEALTH AND IN-HOME
SERVICES THAT KEEP FAMILIES
TOGETHER. OUR MEMBER
ORGANIZATIONS ALSO PROVIDE
FOSTER FAMILY AGENCIES THAT
RECRUIT, TRAIN, AND APPROVE
INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES,
INCLUDING KIN, WHO ARE COMMITTED
TO SUPPORTING YOUTH UNTIL THEY
CAN RETURN TO BIOLOGICAL FAMILY.
OVER 70% OF CHILDREN IN ALLIANCE
FAS PROVIDE REUNIFICATION
SERVICES, AND OVER 60% ARE
ULTIMATELY REUNIFIED WITH FAMILY
. WE APPRECIATE THE VISION THAT
UNDERLIES THIS PERMANENT RATE
PROPOSAL, FOCUSING RESOURCES ON
FOSTER YOUTH AND THEIR FAMILIES
IS ESSENTIAL, AND ALLOWING
FAMILIES AND CAREGIVERS TO
DETERMINE HOW TO BEST MEET THE
CHILDREN'S NEEDS PROVIDES A
PATHWAY TO LESS CHILDREN AND
YOUTH REQUIRING CHILD WELFARE
SERVICES OVER TIME. THAT SAID,
WE BELIEVE THAT THIS PROPOSAL,
AS CURRENTLY STRUCTURED, WILL
DECIMATE PROGRAMS WORKING WITH
OUR MOST VULNERABLE FOSTER YOUTH
AND THEIR FAMILIES. THESE ARE
OFTEN OLDER LGBTQ YOUTH AND
YOUTH OF COLOR. THESE PROGRAMS
ARE ROOTED IN COMMUNITIES AND
STAFFED BY PEOPLE OF COLOR
LIVING IN THEIR COMMUNITIES,
OFTEN WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE IN
THE FOSTER CARE AND PROBATION
SYSTEMS. OUR SPECIFIC CONCERNS
INCLUDE. THERE IS NO CLEAR
METHOD OR REQUIREMENT FOR
YOUTH'S BEHAVIORAL HEALTH NEEDS
TO BE MET, AND TO SUPPORT
FAMILIES REMAINING TOGETHER
THROUGH WRAPAROUND OR OTHER
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SUPPORTS PAID
THROUGH BY PAID FOR THROUGH
MEDI-CAL WITH INTENTIONAL
WITHOUT THAT INTENTIONAL
INTEGRATION OF THESE RESOURCES
AT BOTH STATE AND COUNTY LEVELS,
OUR MOST VULNERABLE YOUTH WILL
CONTINUE TO BE UNDERSERVED FOR
THEIR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH NEEDS.
THE IMMEDIATE NEEDS PORTION OF
THE RATE COULD BE USED TO DRAW
DOWN ADDITIONAL MEDI-CAL FUNDS.
WHEN A BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICE
IS PROVIDED, BUT THE PROPOSAL
THE PROPOSAL PROVIDES NO
MECHANISM FOR THIS. WE RECOMMEND
THAT THERE'S A STATE LEVEL
APPROACH TO THIS INTEGRATION TO
ENSURE THAT FOSTER YOUTH,
WHEREVER THEY RESIDE, HAVE
ACCESS TO BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
SERVICES THEY NEED. SECONDLY,
THE RATES FOR THE ADMINISTRATIVE
AND CARE AND SUPERVISION
COMPONENTS FOR YOUTH WHO NEED
SHORT TERME RESIDENTIAL
THERAPEUTIC PROGRAMS ARE WHOLLY
AND WHOLLY INADEQUATE TO SERVE
YOUTH DETERMINED TO HAVE NEEDS
AT THE TIER THREE PLUS LEVEL
WORKFORCE SHORTAGES DUE TO WAGE
LIMITATIONS ARE IMPACTING THESE
PROGRAMS TODAY. THE CURRENT
PROPOSAL WOULD RESULT IN STATE
RECEIVING $3,000 LESS PER MONTH
THAN THEY RECEIVE TODAY,
BEGINNING IN TWO YEARS. THIS
WILL RESULT IN CLOSURES OF
PROGRAMS AND ORGANIZATIONS
PROVIDING THESE SERVICES AND WE
WILL FIND MORE. FOSTER YOUTH IN
NEED OF HOSPITALIZATION.
THIRDLY, RATES FOR THE
ADMINISTRATIVE COMPONENTS AT ALL
TIERS ARE INADEQUATE TO ENSURE
THAT FOSTER FAMILY AGENCIES AND
FAMILY SUPPORT AGENCIES CAN
PROVIDE THE HIGHEST QUALITY OF
SERVICES AND SUPPORTS TO
FAMILIES, PAY COMPETITIVE WAGES
BENEFITS, COVER ESCALATING
INSURANCE COSTS AND
ORGANIZATIONAL COSTS FOR
PROVIDING HIGH QUALITY SERVICES.
THE ADMINISTRATIVE AND IMMEDIATE
NEEDS, COMPONENTS OF THE RATE
ALSO DO NOT INCLUDE AN ANNUAL
COST OF LIVING INCREASE. THE
ALLIANCE'S COUNTER PROPOSAL
INCLUDES AN ADDITIONAL $178
MILLION TO ENSURE THAT
ORGANIZATIONS PROVIDING OUR
SERVICES FOR OUR MOST
TRAUMATIZED YOUTH ARE ABLE TO
PAY THEIR STAFF A COMPETITIVE
WAGE. FINALLY. FOURTHLY, THERE
IS NO FUNDING IN THE PROPOSAL TO
SUPPORT CAPACITY BUILDING, WHICH
EVERYONE AT THE TABLE HAS SPOKEN
ABOUT, AND THE FISCAL STRUCTURES
FOR REIMBURSEMENT TO FHFA'S AND
STREEP'S LIMIT THEIR ABILITY TO
PROVIDE DIRECT SERVICES TO YOUTH
AS THEY TRANSITION TO BIOLOGICAL
FAMILIES OR KIN. ALLIANCE
MEMBERS ARE HIGHLY MOTIVATED TO
PROVIDE SERVICES TO FAMILIES
DIRECTLY, SUCH AS WRAPAROUND OR
OTHER IN-HOME SERVICES, OR
BECOME SERVICE PROVIDERS FOR
IMMEDIATE NEEDS, BUT THIS
REQUIRES CAPACITY BUILDING
RESOURCES AND BRIDGE FUNDING
LIKE WE'VE SEEN IMPLEMENTED
THROUGH THE GOVERNOR'S
CALIFORNIA CHILDREN AND YOUTH
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH INITIATIVE.
THE ALLIANCE'S COUNTER PROPOSAL
INCLUDES $300 MILLION OF
CAPACITY BUILDING SUPPORTS TO
ASSIST ORGANIZATIONS IN CHANGING
THEIR BUSINESS MODELS TO BECOME
FAMILY SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS,
FOSTER FAMILY AGENCIES ARE
ALREADY UNDERFUNDED AND HAVE
RECEIVED ONLY TWO ONE TIME COLAS
IN THE PAST 20 YEARS. THEY ARE
FACING AN 8% CUT THIS JULY,
UNLESS THE LEGISLATURE APPROVES
THE CONTINUATION OF A KHÓ OF A
COLA APPROVED IN THE 2324 BUDGET
PROCESS. A JUST COMPLETED SURVEY
INDICATES THAT 68% OF FAS ARE
CURRENTLY AT RISK OF DOWNSIZING
DUE TO THE LACK OF FUNDING, AND
WITHOUT THIS IMMEDIATE SUPPORT,
THERE WILL BE FAR LESS SERVICE
PROVIDERS IN 2627, ENSURING THE
LAST POINT. I KNOW WHAT TO DO. I
KNOW WHAT TO DO, ENSURING THAT
THE WAY IN WHICH THE CHILDREN,
CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENT NEEDS
AND SERVICES ASSESSMENTS ARE
IMPLEMENTED IN A SIGNIFICANT
WAY. IT IS A SIGNIFICANT ISSUE
AS OUTLINED IN ACL 1809, A CHILD
AND FAMILY TEAM MEETING IN WHICH
A CANS WOULD BE COMPLETED MUST
BE DONE WITHIN 60 DAYS OF A
CHILD ENTERING FOSTER CARE AND
THEN Ã CANS COMPLETED EVERY SIX
MONTHS. CURRENTLY THERE IS WIDE
VARIATION IN THE COMPLETION OF
THE CANS AND ALLIANCE MEMBERS
REPORT REGULARLY HAVING YOUTH
REFERRED AND PLACED IN THEIR
CARE WITHOUT A COMPLETED CANS.
WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR
SIX YEARS WITHOUT CONSISTENCY
ACROSS OUR SYSTEM, SO WE WONDER
HOW THAT'S GOING TO WORK OUT IN
THE LONG RUN. WE ALSO HAVE NOT
SEEN THE METHODOLOGY FOR THE
TIERED STRUCTURE. WE'RE WE'RE
INTERESTED AND EXCITED TO LEARN
MORE ABOUT THAT. AND AGAIN, WE
APPLAUD THIS OVERALL VISION. BUT
WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THE
IMPLEMENTATION AND THE RISKS OF
LOSING CURRENT PROVIDERS THROUGH
THE PROCESS. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH, DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE.
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. MARLON
DAVIS, DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE, WE
HAVE NO FURTHER COMMENTS. LAO AS
YOU'VE HEARD FROM THIS PANEL,
THIS IS VERY MUCH A LIVE AND
EVOLVING ISSUE THAT THE
ADMINISTRATION AND STAKEHOLDERS
ACTIVELY ARE WORKING ON, WE WILL
CONTINUE TO MONITOR THIS
PROCESS, AND WE'RE WORKING WITH
THE ADMINISTRATION AND
STAKEHOLDERS TO ENSURE WE'RE
FULLY TRACKING THE VARIOUS
ISSUES, PARTICULARLY WITH THE
TRAILER BILL LANGUAGE, AS THE
PROCESS CONTINUES, ONE AREA WE
DID WANT TO FLAG THAT WE WILL BE
WORKING TO BETTER UNDERSTAND IS
THE SPECIFIC METHODOLOGY FOR THE
PROPOSED RATES, IN OTHER WORDS,
HOW DID THE ADMINISTRATION
ARRIVE AT THE SPECIFIC AMOUNTS
FOR THE VARIOUS TIERS AND FOR
THE VARIOUS COMPONENTS, SO WE'LL
BE WORKING ON THIS AND OTHER
ISSUES IN THE COMING MONTHS AND
WILL CERTAINLY RAISE ANY NEW
ISSUES FOR LEGISLATIVE
CONSIDERATION AS WE BECOME AWARE
OF THEM. THANK YOU, THANK YOU
VERY MUCH. DIRECTOR JOHNSON, I
KNOW YOU ARE VERY EXCITED ABOUT
IT. I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT IT AS
WELL, THIS IS, TRULY A
REFLECTION ON, HOW MUCH WE ARE
MAKING SURE OR TRYING TO MAKE
SURE, THAT THE YOUNG PEOPLE ARE
GETTING WHAT THEY NEED NO MATTER
WHERE THEY ARE AND NO MATTER
WHAT SETTING THAT THEY ARE IN.
AND DUE TO THE, HUMONGOUS EFFORT
THAT THIS IS, ONLY JUST REFLECTS
ALL THE DIFFERENT INPUT AND
QUESTIONS AND, YOU KNOW, ALL
THAT KIND OF STUFF, WHICH MEANS
YOU'RE ON THE RIGHT PATH TO ME.
AND THIS IS THE KIND OF BIG WORK
THAT WE SHOULD BE. WE SHOULD
ALWAYS BE DOING, AND SO,
HOWEVER, I CAN BE HELPFUL,
PLEASE LET ME KNOW, I'M SURE THE
STAKEHOLDERS, ARE READY TO BE
HELPFUL, AS WELL, AND I THINK
THAT WE SHOULD PROBABLY DO A
CHECK IN IN SOME TYPE OF WAY,
INCLUDING WITH THE STAKEHOLDERS.
SOMETIME, MAYBE RIGHT BEFORE THE
MAY REVISE, BEFORE THE CRAZINESS
BEGINS, IF THIS IS NOT ALREADY
CRAZY, BUT, YOU KNOW, BUT I
THINK OVERALL, JUST SO THAT WE
CAN MAKE SURE, WE HAVE THE TIME
TO PAY ATTENTION TO DETAILS,
MAKING SURE WE HEAR THE INTENT
OF WHAT EVERYONE IS ASKING FOR,
MAKING SURE THEY UNDERSTAND YOUR
INTENT AND ALL THAT KIND OF
STUFF. BUT THE IDEA IS, WE'VE
GOT TO MAKE THIS WORK, AND WE'VE
GOT TO TAKE THE INITIAL STEPS TO
GET US ON THIS JOURNEY THAT
YOU'RE ALL LEADING US ON, SO, SO
WELL DONE AND LOOKING FORWARD TO
THE JOURNEY. THANK YOU ALL VERY
MUCH. AND WE WILL HOLD THIS ITEM
OPEN, FOR FUTURE DISCUSSION.
ISSUE NUMBER EIGHT. ISSUE NUMBER
EIGHT, IF YOU ARE ON THE AGENDA.
MR. CHÁVEZ, IS THAT YOU? COME ON
UP. DON'T BE SHY, GOOD
AFTERNOON, CHAIR KIM JOHNSON,
CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL
SERVICES. GLAD TO SPEAK TO THE
PROMISE NEIGHBORHOOD PROGRAM
IMPLEMENTATION, FOR PROMISE
NEIGHBORHOODS WERE FUNDED FOR A
TOTAL OF $12 MILLION AS PART OF
THE 2223 GOVERNOR'S BUDGET TO
ADVANCE PLACE BASED CRADLE TO
CAREER INVESTMENTS TO HELP
FAMILIES AND THEIR CHILDREN
THRIVE. THE FOUR GRANTEES
INCLUDE CHULA VISTA IN SAN
DIEGO, CORNING WITH THE PASKENTA
BAND OF NOMLAKI INDIANS, HAYWARD
AND ALAMEDA COUNTY, AND THE
MISSION IN SAN FRANCISCO. I HAD
THE GREAT PRIVILEGE TO JOIN THE
MISSION ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
AGENCY, OR META'S, HOSTING A
TOUR OF THE PROMISE NEIGHBORHOOD
IN SAN FRANCISCO, WHICH IS JUST
A GREAT DISPLAY OF COMMUNITY
PARTNERSHIP WITH HOUSING, WITH
EARLY CHILDHOOD, WITH SCHOOLS
AND MORE. AND AGAIN, GREAT TO
SEE THE PHENOMENAL EFFORT THAT
THEY'VE GROWN IN THAT SPACE. WE
HAVE ALSO EXECUTED A $1.5
MILLION CONTRACT WITH THE
CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY EAST
BAY FOUNDATION TO SUPPORT
CAPACITY BUILDING AND TECHNICAL
ASSISTANCE, ENDEAVORING TO
INSTITUTIONALIZE THE PROMISE
NEIGHBORHOOD MODEL AS A BEST
PRACTICE FOR EVALUATION,
SYSTEMICALLY DOCUMENTING
EVIDENCE OF IMPACT AND FOR
COMMUNICATIONS. BUILDING
VISIBILITY THROUGH COMMUNICATION
CHANNELS SUCH AS SOCIAL MEDIA,
VIDEOS, BLOGS, EVENTS, AND MORE,
THE STEERING COMMITTEE FOR THE
PROMISE NEIGHBORHOODS ALSO
ENDEAVORS TO INSTITUTIONALIZE
THE MODEL AS A BEST PRACTICE.
WHILE CONTINUING TO ENGAGE IN
IMPROVEMENT EFFORTS ALONG THE
WAY, THE COMMITTEE ASKED RELATED
TO EXPENDITURES. I WILL SAY
THEY'VE TOTALED $455,000,
$455,996 FOR THE PERIOD OF
JANUARY OF 23 TO JUNE OF 23. OUR
NEXT REPORT, WE HAVE A FULL YEAR
CYCLE, SO OUR NEXT REPORTING
PERIOD WILL BE IN OCTOBER OF
THIS YEAR. FOR THE CURRENT
FISCAL YEAR. THEY HAVE THAT FULL
TIME AND ALLOTMENT TO EXPEND, IN
THE MEANTIME, WE ARE EAGER TO
LOOK AT LESSONS LEARNED ALONG
THESE INITIATIVES ALONG THE WAY
AND WHAT WE CAN APPLY KIND OF IN
REAL TIME. WE CERTAINLY HEARD ON
THAT SITE VISIT AROUND, THE
CHALLENGES TO YOUR POINT, AROUND
SILOS OF CONNECTING FAMILIES TO
THE WHOLE TOTALITY OF THE ARRAY
AND HOW THAT HOW REALLY
COMBINING THOSE EFFORTS AND
CREATING KIND OF A ONE STOP SHOP
REALLY MAKES THOSE EFFORTS EVEN
GREATER. BUT A LOT MORE LESSONS
TO LEARN IN THE EFFORT ALONG THE
WAY, AND LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING
MORE, LEARNING MORE AS WE GO
FORWARD. THANK YOU, GOOD
AFTERNOON, CHAIR JACKSON, MY
NAME IS EDGAR CHÁVEZ, AS THE
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF HAYWARD
PROMISED NEIGHBORHOODS, I
PROUDLY SERVE AND LIVE IN THE
COMMUNITY. I GREW UP IN. COMING
FROM A MIXED STATUS IMMIGRANT
FAMILY, AND AS A PROUD GRANDSON
OF CALIFORNIA FARMWORKERS, I
BECAME THE FIRST IN MY FAMILY TO
EARN DEGREES FROM STANFORD AND
HARVARD. THREE GENERATIONS
LATER, AS A CHILD, I EXPERIENCED
THE STRESS OF MOVING EVERY SIX
MONTHS, MENTAL HEALTH IMPACTS ON
FAMILY, AND THE FEAR OF
NAVIGATING SOCIAL SERVICES WHERE
I LEARNED TO OVERCOME THESE
CHALLENGES THROUGH
SELF-ADVOCACY. MY STORY IS NOT
TYPICAL IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD HERE.
CHILDREN GREW UP IN POVERTY,
STILL FACE LOW COLLEGE
ENROLLMENT RATES, AND HOUSING
INSTABILITY. I'M SPEAKING ON
BEHALF OF MORE THAN A DOZEN
CALIFORNIA PLACE BASED CRADLE TO
CAREER INITIATIVES. OUR
COMMUNITIES RANGE FROM RURAL TO
URBAN. FROM THE NORTH COUNTY
NEAR THE OREGON BORDER TO SAN
YSIDRO IN THE MEXICAN BORDER,
AND FROM THE COAST OF MONTEREY
TO THE VALLEY IN FRESNO COUNTY.
OUR REACH IS EXTENSIVE. THE LEAD
AGENCIES GUIDING THESE
INITIATIVES ARE AS DIVERSE AS
OUR COMMUNITIES, INCLUDING
NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS,
FEDERALLY RECOGNIZED TRIBES, AND
UNIVERSITIES LIKE MINE,
CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY,
EAST BAY. THREE ELEMENTS DEFINE
OUR PLACE BASED CRADLE TO CAREER
MODEL. FIRST, WE FOCUS ON PLACE.
WE KNOW THAT THE ZIP CODE OR
CENSUS TRACK A CHILD GROWS UP
CAN PREDICT THEIR SOCIOECONOMIC
LIFE OUTCOMES BASED ON THE
PROXIMITY TO WELL-FUNDED
SCHOOLS, HOMEOWNERSHIP, BASIC
NEEDS, AND PATHWAYS FOR ECONOMIC
MOBILITY. TWO WE WORK TOGETHER.
WE ENGAGE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE
AGENCIES TO COLLECTIVELY
IMPLEMENT FUNDING AND PRENATAL
TO CAREER PROGRAMS AND
DESIGNATED REGIONS AND SCHOOLS,
WORK THAT IS OFTEN SILOED BY
PROCUREMENT SYSTEMS AND LACK OF
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. AND THREE,
WE INVEST IN WHAT WORKS. WE
RESEARCH, PILOT, AND MEASURE
EVIDENCE BASED PRACTICES IN OUR
COMMUNITIES. AND WE KNOW THROUGH
NATIONAL RESEARCH BY UPENN THAT
THE EARLIER WE INVEST IN
FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN, 0 TO 8,
THE GREATER THE RETURN ON
INVESTMENT OVER TIME. HAYWARD,
CHULA VISTA, CORNING AND MISSION
PROMISE NEIGHBORHOODS
COLLECTIVELY SERVE 165,000
RESIDENTS, INCLUDING NEARLY
50,000 YOUNG PEOPLE AGED 0 TO 24
HAVE PARTNERED CLOSELY WITH CDS,
CDS TO SUCCESSFULLY MANAGE $12
MILLION IN APPROPRIATIONS.
TOGETHER, WE ARE DEVELOPING
ESSENTIAL TOOLS AND PRACTICES,
INCLUDING SCOPES OF WORK,
REPORTING TEMPLATES, AND
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TOOLKITS.
THIS YEAR, WE'RE ALSO INITIATING
AN EVALUATION AND RETURN ON
INVESTMENT STUDY TO INFORM THE
STATE FRAMEWORK. SOME EXAMPLES
OF THE ONGOING WORK IN OUR
PROMISE NEIGHBORHOODS INCLUDE
HAYWARD, AS COORDINATED WITH
VARIOUS AGENCIES TO EXPAND FOOD
ACCESS AND MONITOR CALFRESH
ENROLLMENT. SEEING THE SOUTH
HAYWARD ZIP CODE FOOD INSECURITY
INDEX DROPPED 19.1% SINCE 2020,
FALLING TWICE THE RATE OF OUR
NEIGHBORING ZIP CODES. MISSION
PROMISE NEIGHBORHOODS. SCHOOL
BASED SUPPORTS HAVE INCREASED
GRADUATION RATES AT ITS HIGH
SCHOOL. JOHN O'CONNELL. THE
LATINX GRADUATION RATE AT
O'CONNELL HIGH SCHOOL OUTPERFORM
SFUSD LATIN GRADUATION RATE BY
OVER TEN PERCENTAGE POINTS. THE
STATE'S 12 MILLION INVESTMENT
NOT ONLY AVERTED OUR FUNDING
CRISIS AT THE START OF 2023, IT
ALSO BOUGHT US TIME TO SEEK
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES PROUDLY
SECURING NEW FEDERAL
APPROPRIATIONS FUNDING THROUGH
SENATE BY THE END LATE SENATOR
FEINSTEIN MEMBERS REQUESTS IN
THE 2024 FEDERAL BUDGET.
HOWEVER, WE'RE FACING ANOTHER
FISCAL CLIFF BY JUNE 2025 AS
MORE PLACE BASED ANTI-POVERTY
INITIATIVES LIKE BRIGHT FUTURES
IN MONTEREY AND STANISLAUS
CRADLE TO CAREER CONTINUE TO BE
LEFT OUT OF CRITICAL FUNDING. WE
ALSO KNOW THAT THIS IS A TIME TO
ADD CALIFORNIA. THE MAP OF
STATES LIKE MINNESOTA, FLORIDA
AND MARYLAND WHO WHERE THE
GOVERNOR INTRODUCED THE ENOUGH
ACT AND CODIFYING PLACE BASED
STRATEGIES ADDRESSING CHILD
POVERTY THROUGH DIRECT STATE
FUNDING AND LEGISLATION, EVEN IN
A CHALLENGING BUDGET YEAR YEAR.
THIS IS THE KIND OF INVESTMENT
THAT PAYS OFF AND MAKES SENSE
BASED ON WHAT WE'VE LEARNED
ABOUT THIS WORK, OVER $400
MILLION OF EXISTING STATE
INVESTMENTS ARE COORDINATED BY
OUR NETWORKS, ENSURING THE
HIGHEST POVERTY COMMUNITIES
MEANT TO BENEFIT FROM THESE
SERVICES ARE ACCESSING THESE
RESOURCES. A RETURN ON
INVESTMENT STUDY BY THE WILDER
INSTITUTE FROM THE NORTH SIDE
ACHIEVEMENT ZONE, A PROMISE
NEIGHBORHOOD IN MINNEAPOLIS,
MINNESOTA, FOUND THAT EVERY $1
INVESTED YIELDED A $6.12 RETURN
ON INVESTMENT, THROUGH BENEFITS
LIKE HIGHER EARNINGS, REDUCED
CRIME AND LOWER HEALTH COSTS.
MINNESOTA WENT ON TO LEGISLATE
THE PROMISE NEIGHBORHOODS MODEL
AND FUND IT THROUGH THE STATE
APPROPRIATIONS. AS I'M SO PROUD
BY THE WORK THAT WE DO EVERY DAY
TO MAKE SYSTEMS WORK BETTER FOR
OUR FAMILIES AND CHILDREN IN OUR
COMMUNITY AND COMMUNITIES OFTEN
LEFT BEHIND. THANK YOU FOR YOUR
TIME. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE. THANK
YOU, CHAIR JACKSON. MARLON
DAVIS, DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE NO
FURTHER COMMENTS. LEO NO
COMMENTS TO ADD TO THIS ISSUE, I
AM A VERY, INTERESTED IN THIS
AREA. AS YOU KNOW, USUALLY ME
AND ONE OF MY THINGS I'M TRYING
TO DO IS MAKING SURE THAT WE
KNOW THAT WHEN THIS MODEL IS
DONE CORRECTLY, THAT IT TRULY
CAN TRANSFORM, LIVES AND CREATE
A PATH OR A PIPELINE OF THRIVING
PEOPLE AND THRIVING CHILDREN. I
BELIEVE THAT WE'RE AT THE POINT
NOW, AND MAYBE IF WE'RE NOT, I
WOULD LOVE TO GET YOUR FEEDBACK
ON IT, THAT IT'S TIME TO START
LOOKING AT OKAY, WHAT IS NOW
THAT BEST PRACTICE? HOW DO WE
CREATE A REPLICABLE MODEL THAT
WE CAN BEGIN TO ESTABLISH
THROUGHOUT THE STATE? SURE.
RIGHT WE KNOW THIS STARTED OFF
IN TERMS OF, PRESIDENT OBAMA'S
PROMISE NEIGHBORHOOD INITIATIVE.
CALIFORNIA WAS ALL IN. WE
CHECKED THAT BOX, AND THEN WE
KIND OF SAID, OKAY, GREAT JOB,
BUT IT'S TIME FOR US IF WE
REALLY IF WE KNOW THIS WORKS,
WHAT ARE WE DOING IT TO TAKE
THIS ON THE ROAD RIGHT. AND SO,
I AM GOING TO I AM PROPOSING AND
I HAVE PROPOSED SOME TRAILER
BILL LANGUAGE TO THE
ADMINISTRATION TO BEGIN TO LOOK
AT HOW DO WE BEGIN TO CREATE A
FRAMEWORK THAT CREATES THE
FOUNDATION FOR IT TO BE
REPLICABLE, AND AS THE BUDGET
IMPROVES, WE HAVE SOMETHING
READY TO GO SO THAT PEOPLE,
COMMUNITIES KNOW. WHAT DOES IT
REQUIRE TO BE A PART OF THE
PROMISE NEIGHBORHOOD, NETWORK
AND HOW TO RECEIVE THE FUNDING
FOR IT, WHATEVER FUNDING THAT
MIGHT BE, AND THEN WHAT ARE THE
REQUIREMENTS TO PROVE THAT YOU
THEY ARE MAINTAINING THE
FIDELITY OF THE MODEL AS WELL?
WHAT ARE THOSE KEY COMPONENTS WE
KNOW NEEDS TO BE A PART OF EVERY
MODEL? AND WHAT ARE THE
PARAMETERS DO WE HAVE IN PLACE
THAT WE CAN PUT IN PLACE TO
MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE
UNDERSTAND THAT, OKAY, IF WE'RE
GOING TO DO THIS, THIS IS WHAT
THE FIDELITY MEANS, AND THIS IS
THE REQUIREMENT IN ORDER TO BE
ABLE TO MAINTAIN OR BE ABLE TO
RECEIVE ADDITIONAL INVESTMENTS
FROM THE STATE, SO I LOOK
FORWARD TO BEING IN DISCUSSIONS
WITH YOUR OFFICE DIRECTOR TO
FIND OUT HOW WE CAN START
CRAFTING SOME LANGUAGE AND
TRAILER BILL LANGUAGE TO TALK
ABOUT WHAT IS THE FUTURE LOOK
LIKE RIGHT? RIGHT, A GREAT WORK,
A LOT OF GREAT GEMS THROUGHOUT
THE STATE. RIGHT, BUT NOW HOW DO
WE MAKE IT SYSTEMIC? THAT'S
RIGHT. RIGHT. THAT'S OUR NEXT
CHALLENGE, THANK YOU ALL VERY
MUCH FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO.
AND I WILL MOVE ON TO THE NEXT
ITEM, ISSUE NUMBER NINE.
HOW ARE YOU? HELLO AGAIN. GOOD
AFTERNOON, AGAIN. NANCY
SCHWARTZ, DEPUTY DIRECTOR WITH
THE CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES
DIVISION AT THE DEPARTMENT OF
SOCIAL SERVICES. I'VE BEEN ASKED
TO PROVIDE AN OVERVIEW ON THE
CDSS COMPONENTS OF THE
CALIFORNIA BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
COMMUNITY. BASED, ORGANIZED
NETWORKS OF EQUITABLE CARE, AND
TREATMENT, ALSO KNOWN AS
CONNECT. SO THOSE COMPONENTS
INCLUDE, FIRST, THE JOINT COUNTY
CHILD WELFARE, SOCIAL WORKER AND
MENTAL HEALTH PLAN CLINICIAN
HOME VISITS. SPECIFICALLY,
THERE'S AN ALLOCATION WITHIN THE
DSS BUDGET FOR THE SOCIAL WORKER
TIME INVOLVED IN PARTICIPATING
IN A NEW JOINT HOME VISITING
PROCESS IN WHICH A MENTAL HEALTH
PROVIDER OR A SOCIAL WORKER WILL
CONDUCT A HOME VISIT WITHIN 30
DAYS OF A CALL TO THE CHILD
WELFARE HOTLINE THAT REQUIRES AN
INVESTIGATION. IT'S AN ACTIVITY
THAT'S JOINTLY LED BY DCS COUNTY
MENTAL HEALTH PLANS, AS WELL AS
DSS AND COUNTY CHILD WELFARE.
THE ASSOCIATED FUNDING WITH THE
JOINT COUNTY CHILD WELFARE
SOCIAL WORKER AND MENTAL HEALTH
PLAN HOME VISITS AT FULL
IMPLEMENTATION IN FISCAL YEAR
2526 THROUGH 2728 IS 4.6
MILLION. STATE GENERAL FUND. THE
SECOND IS THE ACTIVITY STIPENDS.
THE MEDI-CAL FUNDED ACTIVITY
STIPENDS FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH
INVOLVED IN CHILD WELFARE.
AGAIN, THE ALLOCATION WITHIN OUR
BUDGET IS FOR THE SOCIAL WORKER
TIME ASSOCIATED WITH THE
IMPLEMENTATION AND COORDINATION
OF THE DCS. MEDI-CAL FUNDED
ACTIVITY STIPENDS THAT ALLOW
CHILDREN AND CHILD WELFARE TO
PARTICIPATE IN ACTIVITIES THAT
PROMOTE SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL
WELL-BEING. AGAIN, IT'S A
JOINTLY LED ACTIVITY BETWEEN DCS
AND COUNTY MENTAL HEALTH PLANS,
AS WELL AS DSS AND COUNTY CHILD
WELFARE. THE ASSOCIATED FUNDING
FOR THIS THIS COMPONENT AT FULL
IMPLEMENTATION IS 14 MILLION
STATE GENERAL FUND AND THE FINAL
COMPONENT IS THE CHILD AND
FAMILY TEAM MEETINGS FOR
CHILDREN WITH OPEN FAMILY
MAINTENANCE CASES. SO THOSE ARE
CHILDREN THAT ARE STILL IN THE
HOME OF THEIR PARENT. THEY'RE
NOT FOSTER CARE CASES. THIS IS
AN ALLOCATION WITHIN THE DSS
BUDGET FOR THE INCREASED SOCIAL
WORKER TIME AND WORKLOAD
ASSOCIATED WITH THE
IMPLEMENTATION, COORDINATION AND
FACILITATION OF THE CFT MEETINGS
DURING FM CASES. IT'S AN
ACTIVITY LED BY DSS AND CHILD
WELFARE, AND THE FUNDING
ASSOCIATED WITH IT AT FULL
IMPLEMENTATION IS THE 19.4
MILLION STATE GENERAL FUND. IN
TERMS OF THE QUESTION ABOUT THE
AUTHORITY THESE ACTIVITIES TAKE
PLACE AND HOW THEY WILL BE
MEASURED. AND, ALL OF THESE
INVOLVE CASES AFTER THE
SUBSTANTIATION OF THE ABUSE AND
NEGLECT THAT ARE ACTIVE CASES,
COUNTY CHILD WELFARE AGENCIES
AND MENTAL HEALTH PLANS WILL BE
COLLABORATING DIRECTLY TO
IMPLEMENT THESE INITIATIVES ONCE
POLICY GUIDANCE AND FUNDING
BECOMES AVAILABLE. IN TERMS OF
HOW IT WILL BE MEASURED, THOSE
POLICIES, OUTCOMES AND REPORTING
REQUIREMENTS ARE STILL BEING
DEVELOPED BY DSS AND DHS. WE'RE
ACTIVELY PARTNERING IN MEETING
TO DEVELOP FURTHER DETAILED
GUIDANCE POLICY OUTCOMES AND
REPORTING AND REQUIREMENTS
REGARDING THESE INITIATIVES IN
ANTICIPATION OF FEDERAL APPROVAL
OF CONNECT AND AN ANTICIPATED
IMPLEMENTATION DATE OF JANUARY
1ST, 2025. HAPPY TO ANSWER
QUESTIONS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH,
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE. THANK
YOU. CHAIR. MARLON DAVIS,
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE. NO
FURTHER COMMENTS. LEO, NO
COMMENTS TO ADD FOR THIS ISSUE.
CAN YOU TELL ME A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT WHAT WAS THE IMPETUS ABOUT
WHY WE, THE PROGRAM IS IMPORTANT
, BUT THEN ALSO WHAT IS WHAT IS
THE OVERALL VISION IN TERMS OF,
WHERE IS THIS GOING TO BE
HEADED? DOES THAT MAKE SENSE?
MEANING ARE WE TRYING TO MAKE
SURE THAT THIS IS PROVIDED IN
EVERY COUNTY? IS THIS SOMETHING
THAT OBVIOUSLY HOME VISITATION
IS A GREAT BEST PRACTICE, INTO A
WHOLE HOST OF THINGS, YOU KNOW,
DO YOU PLAN ON, INCLUDING ANY
COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKER TYPE
INFRASTRUCTURE? CAN YOU TELL ME
A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THESE
ARE ALL KEY COMPONENTS IN TERMS
OF WHERE THAT INTERSECTION IS
WITH CONNECT AND CHILD WELFARE,
IN TERMS OF EXPANDING, LIKE YOU
SAID, THE ACCESS TO HOME
VISITING, TO MAKING SURE THAT
WE'RE DOING CHILD AND FAMILY
TEAM MEETINGS, NOT JUST ONCE A
CHILD ENTERS FOSTER CARE, BUT
ACTUALLY AS A PREVENTATIVE
MEASURE IN ORDER TO SUPPORT
CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN THE
FAMILY MAINTENANCE CASES, AND
AVOID THEM HAVING TO COME INTO
OUR FOSTER CARE SYSTEM, AS WELL
AS MAKING SURE THAT THOSE
ACTIVITIES STIPENDS WHEN IT'S
CONNECTED TO SORT OF THAT,
MEDICAID ELIGIBILITY THAT WE
HAVE, THAT ADDITIONAL FUNDING TO
MAKE SURE THAT CHILDREN HAVE
ACCESS TO THOSE KINDS OF
ACTIVITIES, STIPENDS. SO THAT'S
THE INTENTION IS REALLY FOCUSING
ON THOSE SPECIFIC COMPONENTS
THAT RELATE TO CHILD WELFARE AND
MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE X,
EXPANDED SERVICES ACROSS THE
STATE IN TERMS OF THE DETAILS OF
THE IMPLEMENTATION. LIKE I SAID,
WE'RE STILL WORKING, ALL OF THAT
OUT IN ANTICIPATION OF THE
FEDERAL APPROVAL OF THE WAIVER.
GOT IT. OKAY. AND WHAT DO YOU
WHAT DO YOU ANTICIPATE THE
NUMBER OF COUNTIES PARTICIPATING
BE? I BELIEVE WE'RE EXPECTING IT
TO BE ACROSS ALL 58 COUNTIES.
OKAY ALL RIGHT. FANTASTIC, IF WE
CAN, I'M WONDERING IF THERE'S, A
NEED TO BE. I MEAN, TO BE, I
WONDER IF THERE'S A NEED, FOR
TRAILER BILL LANGUAGE TO BE
DONE, ON THIS PARTICULAR,
PROGRAM, BUT LET'S CONTINUE TO
DISCUSS, WHETHER THAT NEED
EXISTS. I THINK AT THIS POINT,
IT'S GOING TO BE ABOUT REALLY
ABOUT CONTINUITY, RIGHT? I MEAN,
OBVIOUSLY, THIS GOVERNOR'S
RUNNING OUT OF TIME, AND HOW DO
WE MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S GOING
TO BE CONSISTENCY AMONGST,
ADMINISTRATIONS AS WELL? AND SO
SOME TRAILER BILL LANGUAGE MIGHT
BE HELPFUL IN TERMS OF
CONTINUITY, SO THAT WE CAN MAKE
SURE AND ALSO COUNTIES CAN MAKE
SURE THAT THERE'S SOMETHING
PREDICTABLE AND RELIABLE IN
TERMS OF MAKING SURE THAT THEY
HAVE THE CONFIDENCE THAT BY THEM
GOING ALL IN ON THIS PROGRAM,
RIGHT, THAT THINGS MIGHT NOT
THINGS WON'T CHANGE DRASTICALLY
BASED UPON ADMINISTRATION. SO
SOME THINGS THAT WE WANT TO MAKE
SURE WE HAVE SOME DISCUSSIONS
ABOUT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
WE'LL MOVE ON TO ISSUE NUMBER
TEN. ALL RIGHT. STILL, ME. STILL
YOU. OH, OKAY. LET'S DO IT.
DIRECTOR. CHILDREN, FAMILY
SERVICES, IN TERMS OF THIS
ISSUE, WE'VE BEEN ASKED TO
DESCRIBE THE NEW ACTIVITIES AND
REQUESTED SIX POSITIONS AS PART
OF THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET CHANGE
PROPOSAL ON OUR CASE REVIEW
ALLOCATION ADJUSTMENT. THE SIX
NEW POSITIONS WILL BE COMPLETING
CHILD AND FAMILY SERVICE
REVIEWS, THOSE CASE REVIEWS
ASSOCIATED WITH THE KFSR AND
QUALITY ASSURANCE FOR SMALL
RURAL COUNTIES WHO ARE CURRENTLY
CONTRACTING BACK WITH US WITH
DSS, PLUS AN ADDITIONAL FIVE
COUNTIES INTERESTED IN
CONTRACTING BACK WITH CHS TO
COMPLETE THE REVIEWS ON THEIR
BEHALF. ADDITIONALLY, THESE
POSITIONS WILL DEVELOP RESOURCES
AND DESK GUIDES FOR COMPLETING
THE ON SITE REVIEWS AND WITHOUT
THE REQUESTED RESOURCES, THE
DEPARTMENT RISKS NOT BEING IN
COMPLIANCE WITH THE CHILD AND
FAMILY SERVICES REVIEW AND
RISKING FEDERAL PENALTIES. HAPPY
TO ANSWER QUESTIONS. DEPARTMENT
OF FINANCE. DEPARTMENT OF
FINANCE MARLON DAVIS NO
ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS
. HOW IS YOUR DAY GOING? GOING
GREAT. DOING A GOOD DAY. FAMILY
FRIENDS OKAY. THERE. OKAY. THANK
YOU. OKAY IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL DAY
TODAY, DON'T YOU THINK? OKAY.
MOVING ON. LAO WE'VE REVIEWED
THIS BCP AND DON'T HAVE ANY
CONCERNS TO FLAG AT THIS TIME.
OKAY. AWESOME. I ACTUALLY HAVE
NO QUESTIONS ON THIS EITHER.
WE'LL MOVE ON TO ISSUE NUMBER
11. STILL ME. STILL YOU. HELLO.
HELLO, ANGIE SCHWARTZ, DEPUTY
DIRECTOR, CHILDREN AND FAMILY
SERVICES DIVISION, AND WE'VE
BEEN ASKED TO PROVIDE AN
OVERVIEW OR AN UPDATE ON THE
FAMILY FIRST PREVENTION SERVICES
ACT. RELATED TO THE SPENDING AND
WHY LIMITED FUNDING HAS BEEN
UTILIZED SO FAR. FOUR COUNTIES
WERE ALLOCATED A TOTAL OF
198,775,000 AND HAVE EXPENDED
$11,789,654 AS OF FEBRUARY 2024.
EXPENDITURES OF THE BLOCK GRANT
ARE BELOW ANTICIPATED AMOUNTS
DUE BOTH TO THE FACT THAT THE
COUNTIES HAD TO SUBMIT
COMPREHENSIVE PREVENTION PLANS
TO THE DEPARTMENT, AND THOSE
COMPREHENSIVE PREVENTION PLANS
WERE DEVELOPED IN COORDINATION
WITH THEIR LOCAL INTERAGENCY
LEADERSHIP TEAMS, INCLUSIVE OF
TRIBAL CONSULTATION. AND I THINK
THE DEVELOPMENT OF THOSE PLANS
TOOK LONGER THAN ANTICIPATED. IN
ADDITION, COUNTIES ARE USING
THOSE DOLLARS IN ANTICIPATION OF
THE FAMILY FIRST PREVENTION
SERVICES ACT FUNDING BECOMING
AVAILABLE, WHICH IS CONTINGENT
ON THE CARE SYSTEM BEING
IMPLEMENTED, WHICH IS EXPECTED
TO OCCUR GO LIVE IN 2026. AND SO
THIS IS REALLY EXTENDING THE
TIMELINES FOR THE EXPENDITURE
AUTHORITY FOR THAT BLOCK GRANT
IN ORDER TO ALLOW COUNTIES
ADDITIONAL TIME TO EXPEND THE
FUNDS AND TO BUILD THE BRIDGE
TOWARDS WHEN THEY'LL BE ABLE TO
ACTUALLY CLAIM THE DOLLARS
THROUGH PART ONE OF THE FAMILY
FIRST PREVENTION SERVICES ACT,
WHEN CARES GOES LIVE, I'M HAPPY
TO ANSWER ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS,
EILEEN KUBINSKI, THE COUNTY
WELFARE DIRECTORS ASSOCIATION,
AS, ANGIE SAID, THE, BLOCK GRANT
EXPENDITURES HAVE BEEN DELAYED,
DUE TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE
COUNTY, THE COMPREHENSIVE
PREVENTION PLANS ONCE THE
STATE'S PLAN WAS EVENTUALLY
APPROVED, THAT TRIGGERED OUR
PLANNING EFFORTS AS WELL, BUT
WE'VE RAMPED UP QUICKLY SINCE
THE PLANS HAVE BEEN APPROVED.
SPENDING IS PICKING UP OF THESE
FUNDS. WE'VE RECENTLY SURVEYED
OUR MEMBERS ON THIS. AND BASED
ON THAT SURVEY, WE'RE ESTIMATING
ALMOST $70 MILLION WILL BE SPENT
BY THE END OF THIS FISCAL YEAR,
AND ANOTHER OR APPROXIMATELY 152
MILLION OF THE TOTAL, WILL BE
SPENT BY THE END OF THE NEXT
FISCAL YEAR, 2425. SO EXTENSION
OF THE EXPENDITURE AUTHORITY FOR
THESE, STATE GENERAL FUNDS IS
ESSENTIAL FOR COUNTIES, TO KEEP
THE PROMISES THAT THEY MADE TO
THE COMMUNITY IN DEVELOPING
THEIR KPS, AND TO PROVIDE FOR
THE CRITICAL SERVICES TO PREVENT
CHILD MALTREATMENT AND FOSTER
CARE. AND IF THE FUNDS ARE NOT
EXTENDED, WE DO HAVE CONCERNS
THAT NEWLY, EXISTING EVIDENCE
BASED PRACTICES WOULD BE
CURTAILED OR TERMINATED OR NOT
IMPLEMENTED AT ALL, PREVENTION
PLAN ACTIVITIES WOULD NOT BE
SUSTAINED AND DISCONTINUED. AND
THE INVESTMENTS THAT WE'RE
CURRENTLY MAKING NOW IN
COMMUNITY BASED SERVICES WOULD
HAVE LIMITED IMPACT, BUT THE
REALITY IS THAT WE WILL LIKELY
EXHAUST, THE STATE BLOCK GRANT
FUNDING WELL BEFORE 2028. SO
APPRECIATE THE LONG RUNWAY TO
THINK THAT THAT IS AN
EXCESSIVELY LONG RUNWAY IN TERMS
OF HOW LONG IT WILL ACTUALLY
TAKE US TO SPEND IT, WE'RE
ESTIMATING THAT TWO THIRDS OF
THE FUNDING BASED ON OUR SURVEY
WILL BE GONE BEFORE THE, WE GO
LIVE WITH CARES, AUTOMATION THAT
WOULD ALLOW US TO DRAW DOWN THE
FEDERAL FUNDS AND THAT INABILITY
TO DRAW DOWN THOSE FEDERAL FUNDS
IS CONCERNING TO US, AND WE FEAR
IT WILL JEOPARDIZE THE
AVAILABILITY OF, OR THE
SUSTAINABILITY OF THE
INVESTMENTS WE'RE MAKING NOW, AS
WE START TO RUN OUT OF THE STATE
BLOCK GRANT FUNDING, WE'VE
PROPOSED AN INTERIM SOLUTION OR
PROPOSAL ANYWAY, A CLAIMING
SYSTEM TO DRAW DOWN FOR Â IN
ADVANCE OF THE CARES,
FUNCTIONALITY BEING COMPLETED.
IF WE WERE ABLE TO DRAW DOWN FOR
TSA PART ONE FUNDING. NOW, THE
TITLE FOUR FUNDING, WE ESTIMATE
WE WOULD HAVE NEARLY $50 MILLION
IN ADDITIONAL FEDERAL FUNDING
AVAILABLE TO US BETWEEN NOW AND
WHEN CARES GOES LIVE. TO
ACTUALLY SUPPORT AND SUSTAIN
THESE PREVENTION INVESTMENTS
THAT WE'RE MAKING, WE'VE BEEN IN
DISCUSSIONS WITH DSS ABOUT THIS
APPROACH. THEY'VE BEEN VERY OPEN
TO HAVING THESE CONVERSATIONS,
AND WE'VE IDENTIFIED A NUMBER OF
BARRIERS. AND WE'RE WE'RE
WORKING THROUGH AND HOPEFUL THAT
WE CAN WORK THROUGH THOSE ISSUES
SO THAT WE CAN WE CAN START
DRAWING DOWN FEDERAL FUNDS
SOONER, BECAUSE IN THE ABSENCE
OF THAT AND RUNNING OUT OF THE
STATE BLOCK GRANT FUNDS, WE DO
BELIEVE THAT, WE WILL HAVE
DIFFICULTY IN SUSTAINING THESE
PROGRAMS, SOMEDAY THE BUDGET
PICTURE WILL BRIGHTEN AGAIN. AND
AT THAT POINT, WE WILL BE COMING
BACK AND ASKING FOR ONGOING
STATE GENERAL FUND INVESTMENT IN
PREVENTION. I THINK THAT'S
REALLY CRITICAL. I KNOW. RIGHT?
I'M JUST FORESHADOWING FUTURE,
REQUESTS THAT WE WOULD MAKE. BUT
I THINK THAT, STATE INVESTMENT
IN PREVENTION IS TRULY GOING TO
BE NEEDED IN ADDITION TO THE
COUNTY AND FEDERAL INVESTMENTS
THAT WE'RE MAKING, SO JUST A
LITTLE PREVIEW FOR THAT.
INVESTMENTS IN PREVENTION
GENERATE SAVINGS ACROSS MULTIPLE
SYSTEMS AND ARE CLEARLY BETTER
FOR YOUTH AND FAMILIES. SO, LOOK
FOR THAT SOMEDAY. ANYWAY THAT'S
THAT'S ALL FOR MY COMMENTS.
HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS,
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE,
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE, MARLENE
DAVIS. NO FURTHER COMMENTS.
ALLOW YES. REGARDING THE
PROPOSED TRAILER BILL, LANGUAGE
TO EXTEND THE EXPENDITURE
DEADLINE FOR THE STATE BLOCK
GRANTS, WE AGREE THAT THIS MAKES
SENSE AS YOU'VE HEARD, GIVEN THE
SLOWER THAN ANTICIPATED
EXPENDITURE TRENDS TO DATE. SO
NO CONCERNS WITH THAT. THANK
YOU. OKAY I AGREE WITH THAT
ASSESSMENT, ANY OTHER FEEDBACK
IN TERMS OF WHAT WE'RE HEARING
FROM COUNTIES AND OTHER
STAKEHOLDERS? EVERYONE SEEMS TO
BE ON THE SAME PAGE HERE. OKAY.
WE'LL MOVE ON. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. ISSUE NUMBER 12. CAN Y'ALL
BELIEVE HOW FAST THIS THING IS
GOING? NEED ME TO SLOW IT? MAYBE
I SHOULD DO A RECESS, NO. OKAY.
ALL RIGHT. YOU MAY BEGIN WHEN
YOU'RE READY. GOOD AFTERNOON.
CHAIR TIME TO BRING IT HOME WITH
SOME CHILD SUPPORT ISSUES, THE
CHILD SUPPORT PROGRAM. I'M
SORRY. DAVID KILGORE, DIRECTOR
OF THE DEPARTMENT OF CHILD
SUPPORT SERVICES. THE CHILD
SUPPORT PROGRAM IS A FEDERALLY
MANDATED STATE PROGRAM. STATE
PROGRAM THAT ESTABLISHES,
COLLECTS, AND DISTRIBUTES CHILD
SUPPORT PAYMENTS TO ENROLLED
PERSONS WITH CHILDREN. THESE
TASKS INCLUDE LOCATING PARENTS,
CERTIFYING PARENTAGE,
ESTABLISHING, ENFORCING, AND
MODIFYING CHILD SUPPORT ORDERS,
AND COLLECTING AND DISTRIBUTING
PAYMENTS. IN CALIFORNIA, THE
CHILD SUPPORT PROGRAM IS
ADMINISTERED BY THE COUNTY AND
REGIONAL LOCAL CHILD SUPPORT
AGENCIES, AFFECTIONATELY KNOWN
TO US AS CSAS, IN PARTNERSHIP
WITH LOCAL COURTS, THE PROGRAM
OPERATES AND ARE OVERSEEN BY THE
STATE DEPARTMENT OF CHILD
SUPPORT SERVICES. THE CALIFORNIA
CHILD SUPPORT PROGRAM IS
BUDGETED AT $1.2 BILLION, OF
WHICH 66% IS FEDERALLY FUNDED
AND 34% IS FUNDED WITH THE STATE
GENERAL FUND. LCS RECEIVE
APPROXIMATELY 77% OF THE BUDGET
TO COVER PERSONNEL COSTS FOR
APPROXIMATELY 5677 POSITIONS,
AND OPERATES A TOTAL OF 47 LOCAL
AGENCIES ACROSS THE STATE. IN
FISCAL YEAR 22, 23 DCS
DISTRIBUTED $2.5 BILLION IN
CHILD SUPPORT COLLECTIONS WITH
MORE THAN 2.1 BILLION GOING
DIRECTLY TO FAMILIES. THE
REMAINING 400 MILLION WAS
RETURNED TO THE GOVERNMENT AS
WELL. FOR RECOUPMENT, WHICH IS
SOMETHING WE'LL BE TALKING QUITE
A BIT ABOUT TODAY. STATEWIDE
CASELOAD FOR FEDERAL FISCAL YEAR
23 WAS JUST A LITTLE OVER
1,058,000 CASES, WHICH IS AN
INCREASE OF 1.2% COMPARED TO
LAST YEAR. THE DEPARTMENT IS
CURRENTLY WORKING ON SIX MAJOR
INITIATIVES FOR THE, FOR THE
STATE OF CALIFORNIA, THE FIRST
IS FORMALLY ASSISTED PASS
THROUGH. THIS IS, BASED OFF OF
AB 207, WHICH AMENDS FAMILY CODE
TO ADD NEW SECTIONS THAT ALLOWS
THE COLLECTION ON ARREARS OWED
TO GOVERNMENT TO INSTEAD BE
PASSED THROUGH TO FORMALLY
ASSISTED FAMILIES. DCS WILL
IMPLEMENT THE CHILD SUPPORT
SYSTEM CHANGES THIS MONTH, WHICH
WILL APPLY TO COLLECTIONS BEING
RECEIVED MAY 1ST. MOVING FORWARD
. SECOND ITEM IS ON FIM FINAL
RULE IN DECEMBER OF 2016, THE
FEDERAL ADMINISTRATION OF CHILD
SUPPORT FAMILIES, THE OFFICE OF
CHILD SUPPORT SERVICES ISSUED
FLEXIBILITY AND EFFICIENCY AND
MODERNIZATION IN CHILD SUPPORT
ENFORCEMENT, KNOWN AS THE FIM
FINAL RULE. THIS FINAL RULE
REQUIRES CHANGES TO STATES,
CHILD SUPPORT GUIDELINES AND
CHILD SUPPORT PLEADING
PROCEDURES TO MAKE SURE PARENTS
ABILITY TO PAY IS CONSIDERED AT
ALL STAGES OF THE CHILD SUPPORT
CASE. CALIFORNIA CODIFIED THESE
REQUIREMENTS WITH THE PASSAGE OF
CHAPTER 213, WHICH REQUIRES LCAS
AND DCS STAKEHOLDERS TO
CURRENTLY IMPLEMENT THE CHANGES.
THE GUIDELINE CALCULATOR IN THE
CSC SYSTEM, AND THEN PROVIDE
THAT TRAINING OF THE GUIDELINE
CALCULATOR TO ALL THOSE THAT ARE
USING IT. THIS IS AN ITEM THAT
GOES BEYOND THE CHILD SUPPORT
PROGRAM ITSELF. WE'RE
RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CALCULATOR,
BUT AFFECTS ALL CHILD SUPPORT
GUIDELINES IN THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA. THIRD ITEM WE ARE
FOCUSING ON IS FOSTER CARE. IN
JULY OF 2022, THE FEDERAL OFFICE
OF CHILD SUPPORT SERVICES ISSUED
AN UPDATED POLICY ENCOURAGING
CHILD WELFARE AGENCIES TO
IMPLEMENT ACROSS THE BOARD
POLICIES THAT REQUIRE AN
ASSIGNMENT OF RIGHTS TO CHILD
SUPPORT FOR CHILDREN IN FOSTER
CARE ONLY IN VERY RARE
CIRCUMSTANCES. IN SEPTEMBER OF
2022, IT WAS AMENDED AND FAMILY
CODE IMPOSING NEW REQUIREMENTS
WHICH ALIGN WITH THE UPDATED
FEDERAL POLICY. THESE AMENDMENTS
REQUIRE DCF, DC, DSS REGULATIONS
TO PRESUME THAT THE PAYMENTS OF
CHILD SUPPORT BY THE PARENTS IS
LIKELY TO POSE A BARRIER TO THE
PROPOSED FAMILY REUNIFICATION.
DCS ANTICIPATES THE CHANGES
IMPLEMENTED AT THE FEDERAL AND
STATE LEVEL WILL RESULT IN
DRASTICALLY REDUCED FUTURE
FOSTER CARE CASE REFERRALS OVER
THE CHILD SUPPORT PROGRAM.
FOURTH ITEM WE'RE FOCUSED ON IS
UNCOLLECTIBLE DEBT EFFECTIVE OF
JANUARY 2023, IT PROVIDES THAT
WE NO LONGER, NO LONGER AS A
REDUCTION TO AID IN PAYMENT OF
CUSTODIAL PARENTS WOULD RESULT
THE CSA CAN CHOOSE TO WAIVE OR
REMOVE THAT UNCOLLECTIBLE DEBT
FROM OUR SYSTEM. THIS IS
CONTRACTED WITH THE UNIVERSITY
OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO TO
DEVELOP A COLLECTABILITY
DETERMINATION METHODOLOGY BY
WHICH WE'LL BE ABLE TO FOLLOW
AND MAKE THOSE DETERMINATIONS
ABOUT WHAT CHILD SUPPORT
COLLECTIONS ARE. UNCOLLECTIBLE
DCS IS ALSO PARTNERED WITH
STAKEHOLDERS IN LCS VIA WORK
GROUPS TO DEVELOP THIS POLICY
AND PROCEDURES. IT'S BEING
IMPLEMENTED IN TWO FACTIONS IN
IN TWO DIFFERENT WAYS. THE
MANDATORY CATEGORIES BASED ON
SOLE SOURCE INCOME WAS
IMPLEMENTED JANUARY OF 2023. THE
BALANCE IS THE CIRCUMSTANTIAL
CATEGORIES, WHICH WE ARE
DEPENDENT UPON. THE STUDY,
COMPLETED BY SAN DIEGO UC SAN
DIEGO, ONCE WE RECEIVE THAT, WE
WILL PROMULGATE PROCEDURES AND
POLICIES AND GET THAT OUT TO THE
LOCAL CHILD SUPPORT AGENCIES.
FIFTH ITEM IS ON DRIVER'S
LICENSE, BASED OFF OF SB 1055.
THIS PROHIBITS DCS FROM
INCLUDING IN THE MONTHLY STATE
LICENSE MATCH LISTS INTO THE
DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES THE
INFORMATION OF PAYING PARENTS
WHOSE ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME IS
AT OR BELOW 70% OF THE MEDIAN
THRESHOLD FOR THE COUNTY IN
WHICH THE DEPARTMENT OR THE LTC
BELIEVE THE PARENTS PAYING
SUPPORT RESIDES. THIS PROGRAM
WILL BE OPERATIVE BY JANUARY
FIRST, 2025, IS ON SCHEDULE FOR
IMPLEMENTATION AT THAT TIME. OUR
FINAL MAJOR INITIATIVE IS ON
INCARCERATION INSTANCES. THIS
REMOVES THE REQUIREMENT THAT A
CHILD SUPPORT ORDER RESUME ON
THE FIRST DAY OF THE FIRST FULL
MONTH AFTER THE PERSON THAT WAS
INCARCERATED IS LEAVES THE
INSTITUTION. THIS BILL NOW
REQUIRES THAT THE CHILD SUPPORT
ORDER RESUME ON THE FIRST DAY OF
THE 10TH MONTH AFTER
INCARCERATED OR INVOLUNTARILY
INSTITUTIONALIZED PERSON PAYING
SUPPORT IS RELEASED, GIVING THEM
THAT SPAN OF TIME TO GET BACK UP
ON THEIR FEET. THIS BILL WILL
ALSO AUTHORIZE THE PERSONS ORDER
TO RECEIVE SUPPORT, OR THE LKA
TO SEEK A COURT ORDER
REINSTATING THE CHILD SUPPORT
OBLIGATION. IF THE PERSON PAYING
SUPPORT OBTAINS EMPLOYMENT, OR
THERE IS OTHERWISE A CHANGE IN
CIRCUMSTANCES PRIOR TO THE DATE
OF REINSTATEMENT, ALLOWING US TO
ADJUST THE ORDER TO THE
APPROPRIATE AMOUNT. THAT
CONCLUDES OUR OVERVIEW OF THE
PROGRAM DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE
OMAR SANCHEZ WITH THE DEPARTMENT
OF FINANCE. NOTHING FURTHER TO
ADD. KALEO ANGELA SHORT WITH THE
LEGISLATIVE ANALYST'S OFFICE, I
DID WANT TO RESPOND TO THE
QUESTION IN THE AGENDA REGARDING
RAISING ANY SIGNIFICANT ISSUES
FOR THE LEGISLATURE, AS TO THE
CHILD SUPPORT COLLECTIONS FOR
FOSTER CARE CASES, AS YOU HEARD
FROM DIRECTOR KILGORE, THIS IS A
RELATIVELY NEW POLICY OR
GUIDANCE THAT WAS PROVIDED BY
THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL
SERVICES LAST YEAR, INDICATING
THAT ESSENTIALLY, WE WILL NO
LONGER BE REFERRING, FOSTER CARE
CASES TO THE STATE CHILD SUPPORT
PROGRAM, EXCEPT IN VERY RARE
CIRCUMSTANCES, SO THIS GUIDANCE
IS ESSENTIALLY MEANING THAT NO
NEW CASES WILL BE REFERRED,
FURTHER, THE GUIDANCE DIRECTED
THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF CHILD
SUPPORT SERVICES SHOULD WORK TO
CEASE ENFORCEMENT OF EXISTING
CASES. HOWEVER, ONE AREA THAT
THE GUIDANCE DID NOT ADDRESS IS
ANY DEBTS THAT THOSE PREVIOUSLY
EXISTING CASES HAD ACCRUED, SO
WE DID WANT TO RAISE FOR THE
LEGISLATURE, THIS MAY BE AN AREA
, WHERE THE LEGISLATURE WOULD
LIKE TO PROVIDE INPUT OR INQUIRE
WITH THE ADMINISTRATION AS TO
THE ANTICIPATED TIMELINE FOR
PROVIDING ANY FUTURE GUIDANCE
RELATED TO THIS ISSUE OF
EXISTING DEBTS. THANK YOU. OKAY,
MR. KILGORE, ANY, FEEDBACK ON
THE FORGIVING OF DEBT? WHAT IS
THE VISION OR THE INTENTION OF
THE ADMINISTRATION IN REGARDS TO
THAT ISSUE? THERE WAS A BILL
THAT WAS HEADING THROUGH THIS
PAST YEAR TO ADDRESS THAT, BUT I
ULTIMATELY DON'T THINK THAT WILL
BE NECESSARY BASED OFF OF THE,
BILL ON UNCOLLECTIBLE DEBT, I
BELIEVE IT'S OUR UNDERSTANDING
THAT THE GUIDANCE AND DIRECTION
FROM UC SAN DIEGO IS TO BE
IDENTIFYING THESE AS UNCOLLECTED
BEALL IN THEIR NATURE, ALLOWING
US TO JUST UNIFORMLY GO BACK.
AND SO LONG AS DEPARTMENT OF
SOCIAL SERVICES DOESN'T SEE THAT
THAT CASE SHOULD HAVE STILL BEEN
REFERRED TO US, WE SHOULD BE
ABLE TO REMOVE ALL OF THAT
UNCOLLECTIBLE AS UNCOLLECTIBLE
DEBT. BUT YOU AGREE THAT,
HELPING TO FORGIVE THIS DEBT
MIGHT WILL BE HELPFUL TO
FAMILIES TO I DO, YEAH. OKAY.
AND I THINK WE HAVE A MECHANISM
TO DO IT. AWESOME. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH, WE WILL CONCLUDE THAT
ISSUE. WE'LL HOLD IT OPEN, FOR
OUR, FUTURE DELIBERATIONS. ISSUE
NUMBER 13, MR. KILGORE. YES,
THIS IS ON FORMERLY ASSISTED
CASES PAST. YOU HAVE MENTIONED A
LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS FEDERAL
LAW PROVIDES STATES WITH AN
OPTION TO PASS THROUGH
COLLECTIONS OF PERMANENTLY
ASSIGNED ARREARS TO FORMERLY
ASSISTED FAMILIES AND WAIVE THE
FEDERAL SHARE OF RECOUPMENT IF
THE STATE PASSES THE ENTIRE
COLLECTION TO THE FAMILY IN
2022, CALIFORNIA PASSED THAT LAW
AUTHORIZING DCS TO IMPLEMENT
FORMER ASSISTANCE ARREARS, PASS
THROUGH OF CHILD SUPPORT
COLLECTIONS TO FORMERLY ASSISTED
FAMILIES WHEN PAYMENTS ARE MADE
TO ARREARS ASSIGNED TO THE
GOVERNMENT. THE STATUTE
LEVERAGES A FEDERAL PROVISION
THAT PROVIDES STATES AN OPTION
TO PASS THROUGH COLLECTIONS OF
PERMANENTLY ASSIGNED ARREARS TO
FORMERLY ASSISTED FAMILIES, AND
WAIVE THE FEDERAL SHARE OF THE
OF THAT RECOUPMENT. IF THE STATE
PASSES THE ENTIRE COLLECTION OF
THE FAMILY. DCS ANTICIPATES
IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS THIS
MONTH, WHICH WILL APPLY TO
PAYMENTS BEGINNING MAY 1ST OF
2024. DCS ESTIMATES THAT THE
PASS THROUGH AMOUNT WILL BE
APPROXIMATELY $160.7 MILLION TO
FORMERLY ASSISTED FAMILIES IN
THE 2425 YEAR IN FEDERAL FISCAL
YEAR 2023, APPROXIMATELY 108,000
FORMERLY ASSISTED CASES RECEIVED
Ã COLLECTIONS TOWARDS AND
ASSIGNED ARREARS, BALANCE, WHICH
WOULD HAVE BEEN PASSED THROUGH
HAD THIS BEEN IMPLEMENTED IN THE
PAST. SO BASED ON ACTUAL
COLLECTIONS IN 2223, THAT'S
WHERE WE'VE GOT THAT $160
MILLION ESTIMATE FROM,
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE OMAR
SANCHEZ TO THE DEPARTMENT OF
FINANCE. NOTHING FURTHER TO ADD.
THANK YOU. ELIO YES, WE WOULD
JUST NOTE, AS YOU HEARD, THIS IS
A POLICY CHANGE THAT WILL BE
IMPLEMENTING THIS MONTH. SO THIS
IS SOMETHING THAT WE WILL BE
MONITORING IN THE FUTURE AND
WILL CERTAINLY CIRCLE BACK WITH
ANY CONCERNS AS THEY MAY ARISE.
THANK YOU, MR. KILGORE,
EVERYTHING'S ON TRACK IN TERMS
OF TIMELINES. IT IS. YES. ANY
RED FLAGS OR ANYTHING? NO, NOT
THAT YOU WOULD TELL ME, I DON'T
THINK. BUT WE'RE READY TO GO.
OKAY. WITH THE GREAT STUFF. ALL
RIGHT, MOVING ON TO ISSUE NUMBER
14. THIS IS ON THE CONSIDERATION
OF PASSING THROUGH THE CURRENT
ASSISTANCE, CASEY IS, THIS IS
TRAILER BILL LANGUAGE. THAT'S
BASED ON BUDGETARY CONVERSATION.
WE DON'T KNOW IF THIS THE INTENT
IS TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS OR
NOT. SO WE DON'T HAVE AN UPDATE
AT THIS TIME ON ASSISTANCE.
WE'LL PASS THROUGH. OKAY. IS
MISS GONZALEZ HERE? REBECCA
GONZALEZ? OKAY. IF NOT,
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE, OMAR
SANCHEZ, THE DEPARTMENT OF
FINANCE. NOTHING FURTHER TO ADD,
ELIO. YES, WE WOULD FLAG THAT
GIVEN THE SIGNIFICANT BUDGET
DEFICIT, THAT IS PROJECTED FOR
THE BUDGET YEAR, WE WOULD
ANTICIPATE THAT AT SOME POINT
THIS SPRING, DEPARTMENT OF
FINANCE WILL MAKE THE
DETERMINATION THAT THE STATE
WILL NOT BE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD
WITH THE FULL PASS THROUGH TO
CURRENTLY ASSISTED FAMILIES,
BECAUSE THE STATUTE OR EXCUSE
ME, THE BUDGETARY LANGUAGE FROM
THE PRIOR YEAR INDICATES THAT
IMPLEMENTATION IS SUBJECT TO
THAT DETERMINATION. SO WE WOULD
JUST FLAG MOST LIKELY THIS WILL
NOT BE MOVING FORWARD,
FURTHERMORE, OUR READ OF THE
LANGUAGE IS THAT SHOULD THE
LEGISLATURE WISH TO CONTINUE TO
PRIORITIZE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE
FULL PASS THROUGH TO CURRENT
COWARTS FAMILIES IN A FUTURE
YEAR, NEW LANGUAGE WOULD BE
NEEDED BECAUSE THE CURRENT
LANGUAGE, THAT PUTS INTO PLACE
THAT IMPLEMENTATION SUBJECT TO
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE
DETERMINATION BECOMES IN
OPERATIVE JULY 1ST, 2024.
THEREFORE, NEW LANGUAGE WOULD BE
NEEDED IF THE LEGISLATURE WISHES
TO ESSENTIALLY PUT INTO STATUTE
OR TRAILER BILL A, A FUTURE
DETERMINATION BASED ON THE
BUDGET IN ORDER TO IMPLEMENT
THIS PASS THROUGH, MR. KILGORE,
ANY FEEDBACK IN TERMS OF,
IMPLEMENTATION, POSSIBLE FUTURE,
LANGUAGE OR ACTION THAT MIGHT BE
TAKEN TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN? IT'S
DIFFICULT. IT'S DIFFICULT TO
KIND OF ASSESS WHEN THAT
BUDGETARY IMPACT WILL OCCUR.
THIS IS AN 18 MONTH TO TWO YEAR
IMPLEMENTATION CYCLE FROM A
TECHNOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE FOR
BOTH DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL
SERVICES AND DEPARTMENT OF
SOCIAL SERVICES AND DEPARTMENT
OF CHILD SUPPORT SERVICES. SO
THERE'S A LARGER IMPACT TO THE
SYSTEM ON DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL
SERVICES. UNLIKE THE ARREARS
FULL PASS THROUGH. SO THERE'S
SOME COORDINATION THAT NEEDS TO
HAPPEN THERE. THE BUDGETARY
IMPACT ASIDE FROM SYSTEM
CHANGES, WILL BE PROBABLY TWO
YEARS OUT. I WOULD GUESS. OKAY.
MISS GONZALEZ, IS IT MY TURN?
YOU ARE GOING SO FAST. YOU KNOW,
YOU GOTTA STAY ON IT. I KNOW YOU
SEE THE MOUNTAIN DEW IN THE
HOUSE. I KNOW, COME ON, I MADE
IT, I MADE IT. HAVE MERCY.
REBECCA GONZALEZ. AND I'M HERE
TODAY REPRESENTING THE TRUTH AND
JUSTICE AND CHILD SUPPORT
COALITION, WHICH IS A STATEWIDE
GROUP OF 50 PLUS ORGANIZATIONS
THAT SEEK TO BRING EQUITABLE
REFORM TO OUR STATE'S CHILD
SUPPORT SYSTEM TO BETTER SUPPORT
LOW INCOME CHILDREN AND THEIR
FAMILIES AND REDUCE CHILD
POVERTY IN CALIFORNIA. ONE OF
THE COALITION'S CENTRAL
PRIORITIES IS ENDING THE
GOVERNMENT INTERCEPTION OF CHILD
SUPPORT PAYMENTS AND
IMPLEMENTING FULL PASS THROUGH.
WHILE THERE IS BROAD SUPPORT TO
END THIS PRACTICE AND IMPLEMENT
FULL PASS THROUGH, WE ARE IN
DANGER OF LOSING OUR WAY AS WE
ENTER A PERIOD OF LEANER BUDGET
YEARS. I WANT TO SHARE THE TRUE
COST OF THIS MISGUIDED POLICY,
AND WHY WE CANNOT AFFORD TO TAKE
OUR FOOT OFF THE GAS CHILD
SUPPORT SHOULD BE FOR CHILDREN.
BUT FOR ALMOST 50 YEARS,
CALIFORNIA HAS REQUIRED PARENTS
WHO RECEIVE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE TO
REPAY THE STATE BY INTERCEPTING
THEIR CHILD SUPPORT. THIS
FEDERAL POLICY IS THE RESULT OF
ANTI-WELFARE AND RACIST
STEREOTYPE ABOUT BLACK FAMILIES.
THE STATE EXTRACTS 150 MILLION A
YEAR FROM THE POOREST FAMILIES,
DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTING
FAMILIES OF COLOR COLOR BECAUSE
ALMOST ALL IMPACTED PARENTS ARE
VERY LOW INCOME. THIS SYSTEM IS
ALSO INEFFECTIVE AND HAS
RESULTED IN 6.4 BILLION IN
GOVERNMENT OWED CHILD SUPPORT
DEBT THAT IS UNCOLLECTIBLE AND
TRAPS PARENTS AND IN TURN THEIR
CHILDREN IN FINANCIAL
UNCERTAINTY. THE PAYBACK PROBLEM
A 2019 REPORT FOUND THAT
INTERCEPTING THESE PAYMENTS DOES
THE FOLLOWING DEPRIVES LOW
INCOME CHILDREN OF VALUABLE
RESOURCES. PUSHES PARENTS OUT OF
THE FORMAL ECONOMY. REDUCES
THEIR EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES,
CAUSES FINANCIAL AND HOUSING
INSTABILITY, AND
DISPROPORTIONALLY HARMS FAMILIES
OF COLOR, AND IS INEFFECTIVE
BECAUSE AS WE SAID, 95% OF THIS
DEBT IS UNCOLLECTIBLE, ACCORDING
TO AN URBAN INSTITUTE STUDY.
CALIFORNIA IS ON THE PATH TO
BECOME A NATIONAL LEADER IN
REDRESSING THIS INJUSTICE. IT IS
MORALLY THE RIGHT THING TO DO
BECAUSE INTERCEPTING CHILD
SUPPORT PAYMENTS BY THE STATE,
THE STATE IS ACTIVELY CAUSING
LASTING HARM AND FINANCIAL
STRESS TO LOW INCOME FAMILIES
AND CHILDREN. IT'S ALSO FISCALLY
THE RIGHT THING TO DO BECAUSE
NOT INVESTING IN FAMILIES NOW
WILL COST THE STATE MORE IN THE
FUTURE. IN TERMS OF SUPPORTED
SERVICES AND INTERVENTIONS,
FURTHER UNDERSCORING THE
IMPORTANCE OF THIS, THERE WAS A
PILOT PROJECT IN SAN FRANCISCO
THAT ELIMINATED NON-CUSTODIAL
PARENTS. GOVERNMENT OWED DEBT
AND ALLOWED 100% OF THE CHILD
SUPPORT PAYMENTS TO GO TO
FAMILIES. THE PILOT SHOWED THAT
PARENTS MAKE MORE CONSISTENT AND
TIMELY PAYMENTS. CHILDREN
RECEIVE MORE FINANCIAL SUPPORT,
PARENTS EMPLOY BARRIERS ARE
REDUCED, PARENTS HOUSING STATUS
AND CREDIT SCORES IMPROVE, AND
CO-PARENTING RELATIONSHIPS
IMPROVE. I WANT TO SHARE A STORY
FROM A MEMBER OF OUR COALITION,
RONALD HAMPTON, FOUNDER OF
GROWING GREATNESS. NOW WHEN
RONALD WAS GROWING UP, HIS
FATHER WROTE A $600 CHECK EVERY
MONTH TO PAY HIS CHILD SUPPORT,
BUT ONLY $50 OF THAT AMOUNT MADE
IT TO HIS FAMILY. RONALD TALKS
ABOUT HOW MUCH HIS FAMILY COULD
HAVE USED THE EXTRA MONEY. WHEN
I THINK OF THAT $550 ADDITIONAL
INTO MY HOUSEHOLD GROWING UP,
THAT WOULD HAVE HELPED OUT SO
MUCH AND INCREASED OUR OVERALL
QUALITY OF LIFE, HE RECALLS.
DAYS WITH THE ELECTRICITY TURNED
OFF, SELLING CANDY AND PUMPING
GAS TO MAKE ENDS MEET AND
MISSING OUT ON SPORTS
ACTIVITIES, TUTORING AND SCHOOL
OUTINGS. THE POLICY ALSO CREATED
DIVISION IN THE FAMILY BECAUSE
THEY WEREN'T AWARE THAT HIS
FATHER WAS CONTRIBUTING THE FULL
$600, SINCE THAT MONEY WASN'T
COMING INTO THE HOUSEHOLD. THIS
STORY ILLUSTRATES WHY WE NEED TO
KEEP THE COMMITMENT AND MOMENTUM
GOING ON, PASS THROUGH FOR ALL
FAMILIES, AND IT MEANS WE NEED
TO DO ONE THING, THREE THINGS
RENEW THE BUDGET. TRIGGER
LANGUAGE, WHICH WERE REAFFIRMS
THE STATE'S COMMITMENT AND
PRIORITIZES PASS THROUGH AS PART
OF THE 2627 BUDGET. SUPPORT
NECESSARY DCS AND DSS AUTOMATION
BY PROVIDING NECESSARY FUNDING
AND SUPPORT FOR BOTH DEPARTMENTS
TO CONTINUE THE AUTOMATION AND
SYSTEM CHANGE WORK NECESSARY TO
IMPLEMENT THIS POLICY AND PASS
LEGISLATION. IN 2025 TO ADDRESS
UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES. I THINK
IT WAS ALREADY MENTIONED THAT
THERE'S A REPORT COMING OUT ON
THAT. THE LEGISLATURE SHOULD
PRIORITIZE MAKING THESE
STATUTORY CHANGES IN 2025. IN
CONCLUSION, WE LOOK FORWARD TO
WORKING TOGETHER WITH THE
ADMINISTRATION, THE LEGISLATURE
AND BOTH DEPARTMENTS TO DEVELOP
TRAILER BILL LANGUAGE TO KEEP
CALIFORNIA WAS COMMITMENT TO
FULL PASS THROUGH OF CHILD
SUPPORT TO CALWORKS FAMILIES, SO
THAT THE TWO DEPARTMENTS CAN
CONTINUE THEIR PREPARATIONS FOR
THIS IMPORTANT POLICY CHANGE FOR
LOW INCOME FAMILIES AND CHILDREN
IN CALIFORNIA. THANK YOU, YOU
TALK ABOUT A REPORT. WHO'S
RELEASING THIS REPORT? IT'S THE
DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES.
AND WHEN DO YOU EXPECT THAT
REPORT TO COME OUT AGAIN? THAT
SHOULD BE COMING OUT IN THE
SUMMER. IN THE SUMMER? OKAY
UNDERSTANDING, LAO, CAN YOU MAKE
SURE THAT YOU SEND US A COPY OF
YOUR REMARKS SPECIFIC TO THIS
ITEM SO THAT I CAN KIND OF
DIGEST IT A LITTLE BIT MORE? WE
STARTED TALKING NUMBERS AND, YOU
KNOW, I'M A POLITICAL SCIENCE
MAJOR. WE'VE GOT TIME FOR THAT,
BUT THEN ALSO, I'M JUST TRYING
TO SEE WHETHER WE SHOULD BE
CONSIDERING DOING CHIRLA BILL
LANGUAGE NOW OR NOT UNTIL NEXT
YEAR, BUT WANT TO KIND OF HAVE
MORE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THIS
BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY WE, WE WANT TO
MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE PROVIDING,
FOLKS THAT NEED IT WITH, WITH,
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE THAT THEY
ARE ENTITLED TO IN ORDER TO BE
STABLE, SO I WANT TO CONTINUE TO
DIVE INTO THIS ISSUE, INTO THE
FUTURE, AND WE'LL DEFINITELY
HOLD THIS OPEN. AND, LET'S BRING
THIS BACK, FOR THE MAY REVISED
DISCUSSION AGENDAS. OKAY, THANK
YOU ALL VERY MUCH. APPRECIATE IT
. ISSUE NUMBER 15. WHOA. SO
WE'RE GOING TO ADJOURN FOR TWO
HOURS AND WE'LL BE BACK. ALL
RIGHT. NUMBER 15, WHATEVER EVER.
I EXPECTED TO BE HERE AFTERWARDS
ANYWAY, SO LET'S SEE. THERE YOU
GO. ALL RIGHT. THIS IS ON THE,
TRAILER BILL LANGUAGE FOR THE
CHILD SUPPORT TRUST FUND
OVERPAYMENT. FAMILY CODE SECTION
ESTABLISHES A CHILD SUPPORT
PAYMENT TRUST FUND TO DEPOSIT
CHILD SUPPORT PAYMENTS RECEIVED
BY THE STATE DISBURSEMENT UNIT
FOR PROCESSING AND PROVIDING
CHILD SUPPORT PAYMENTS TO THE
PARENTS RECEIVING SUPPORT. THE
COLLECTIONS ARE RECEIVED FROM
VARIOUS SOURCES FOR COURT ORDERS
. COURT ORDERED CHILD SUPPORT
OBLIGATIONS, MOST NOTABLY WAGE
ASSIGNMENTS, DIRECT PAYMENTS
FROM PERSONS, ORDER TO PAY
SUPPORT AND INTERCEPTS FROM IRS,
REFUNDS, ETC. TO PERFORM THESE
FUNCTIONS, THE CHILD SUPPORT
PAYMENT TRUST FUND MAINTAINS AN
ADEQUATE BALANCE OF FUNDS TO
DISPERSE COLLECTIONS WITH THE
FEDERALLY MANDATED TWO DAY
DISBURSEMENT TIME FRAME AS PART
OF THE CHILD SUPPORT, CASEWORK
AND PAYMENT PROCESSING
SITUATIONS ARISE THAT CAN RESULT
IN OVERPAYMENTS OF SUPPORT TO
CASE PARTICIPANTS IN THESE
CIRCUMSTANCES ARE INCLUDED, BUT
NOT LIMITED TO IRS NEGATIVE
ADJUSTMENTS. PAYMENTS
INADVERTENTLY APPLIED TO THE
WRONG CASE, THE PARTICIPANT
PAYMENTS COLLECTED AND DISPERSED
IN EXCESS OF THE CHILD SUPPORT
ORDER. CREDIT CARD CHARGEBACKS
ERRORS FOR WHICH THE SDU VENDOR
IS NOT RESPONSIBLE. COLLECTIONS
DISHONOR DISHONORED BY THE BANK,
RESULTING IN UNFUNDED
COLLECTIONS. SINCE THE
TRANSITION TO A STATEWIDE
PAYMENT PROCESSING CENTER IN
2008, THE AMOUNT OF
UNDISTRIBUTED COLLECTIONS HAS
GROWN SLOWLY OVER TIME. THIS IS
DUE TO A LACK OF A RECOVERY
MECHANISM FOR THOSE FUNDS, WHICH
HAS RESULTED IN A GROWING
BALANCE OF OVERPAYMENTS EACH
YEAR. THIS SITUATION POSES A
RISK OF DC'S ABILITY TO MEET
EXISTING SERVICE LEVELS AND THE
FEDERALLY MANDATED TWO DAY TIME
FRAME FOR DISBURSEMENTS. FAILURE
TO MAINTAIN THESE MINIMUM
FEDERAL STANDARDS PROVIDED FOR
IN FEDERAL TITLE 4D OF THE
SOCIAL SECURITY ACT, JEOPARDIZES
THE CONTINUED RECEIPT OF FEDERAL
FUNDING FOR THE PROGRAM. THE
STATUTE STATUTORY AUTHORITY.
THIS STATUTORY AUTHORITY WOULD
GIVE DCS THE ABILITY TO
IMPLEMENT PROCEDURES FOR OFFSETS
OF OVERPAYMENTS WITH FUTURE
COLLECTIONS. THE PROPOSED
STATUTORY AUTHORITY WOULD ALLOW
DCS TO RECOVER OVERPAYMENTS IN
IN A SIMILAR MANNER TO OTHER
CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENTS THAT
DISPERSE PAYMENTS. FOR EXAMPLE,
THE WELFARE INSTITUTION CODE
SECTIONS, AND LASTLY, IT SETS
RELEVANT THRESHOLDS FOR
RECOVERING THE BASED ON ITS
DETERMINATION, COST
EFFECTIVENESS. IN ESSENCE, OVER
TIME, WE HAVE SLOWLY ACCUMULATED
ABOUT $20 MILLION OF A HOLE IN
OUR BANK ACCOUNT, WE ARE
CONCERNED IN THE FUTURE ABOUT
RUNNING A NEGATIVE BALANCE AND
NOT HAVING ENOUGH FUNDS TO
DISTRIBUTE OUT THIS,
PARTICULARLY CONCERNING AS IT
RELATES TO ARREARS, FULL PASS
THROUGH AND CURRENT SUPPORT. SO
FULL PASS THROUGH. IF WE WERE TO
IMPLEMENT BOTH OF THOSE, THAT
WOULD. THAT'S THE MONEY WE USE
TO KIND OF FLOAT IN THIS ACCOUNT
TO KEEP THINGS WHOLE. SO THIS IS
PROGRESSIVE IN MAKING SURE THAT
WE DON'T END UP IN THAT
SITUATION. IT ALLOWS US TO TAKE
A MAXIMUM OF $500,000 OF OUR
BUDGET AT THE END OF THE YEAR,
UNSPENT, AND KIND OF SOCK IT
AWAY INTO THIS ACCOUNT TO MAKE
SURE THAT WE NEVER END UP IN
THAT SITUATION AGAIN. OKAY.
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE, ONE MORE
SENTENCE. THE DEPARTMENT OF
FINANCE. NOTHING FURTHER TO ADD.
UPON REVIEWING THIS LANGUAGE, WE
DID HAVE A NUMBER OF QUESTIONS.
THOSE ARE NOTED IN YOUR AGENDA
ON PAGE 67, WE POSED THOSE
QUESTIONS TO THE DEPARTMENT AND
WE DID WANT TO SHARE. THEY DID
PROVIDE RESPONSES AND ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION TO THOSE IN RESPONSE
TO THOSE QUESTIONS. AND AS SUCH,
AT THIS POINT, WE DON'T HAVE ANY
FURTHER QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS
WITH THIS LANGUAGE. THANK YOU.
AWESOME. OKAY. WELL THANK YOU
VERY MUCH. IS THERE ANYTHING
ELSE THEN IN TERMS OF
STAKEHOLDER FEEDBACK, ANYTHING
THAT, REGARDING THIS, TRAILER
BILL LANGUAGE? NO, THIS IS THIS
IS STRICTLY PROCESSING OF
PAYMENTS AND IT DOESN'T AFFECT
STAKEHOLDERS. ALL RIGHT. WE WILL
HOLD THIS ITEM OPEN, FOR A
FUTURE, DISCUSSIONS. AND THIS
ENDS THE PANEL PRESENTATION
PORTION OF OUR HEARING FOR
TODAY. AND SO WITH THAT, WE WILL
MOVE ON TO PUBLIC COMMENT. NOW
DANG. OKAY. BEFORE WE BEGIN. HEY
EVERYBODY LISTEN UP. LISTEN UP.
REMEMBER I SAID WE WERE GOING TO
RECESS AT 530? I'VE ALSO SAID
THAT YOUR COMMENT SHOULD BE NO
MORE THAN TWO MINUTES. YOU DO
THE MATH. IF YOU CAN MAKE IT
SHORTER, I WOULD SUGGEST YOU DO
SO BECAUSE I WOULD HATE FOR THE
LAST FEW PEOPLE TO BE STUCK WITH
ME, DURING A RECESS. OKAY MY
NAME AND AFFILIATION, PLEASE GO
TO KRISTIN POWER WITH THE
ALLIANCE FOR CHILDREN'S RIGHTS.
WE WANT TO SUPPORT REJECTING THE
ADMINISTRATION PROPOSAL TO
ELIMINATE THE FAMILY URGENT
RESPONSE SYSTEM AND THE
SUPERVISED INDEPENDENT LIVING
PLACEMENT MARKET RATE
ADJUSTMENTS. ISSUES THREE AND
THREE AND FOUR ON YOUR AGENDA.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NAME AND
AFFILIATION. PLEASE JAN JENSEN,
I'M WITH MAKE IT HAPPEN FOR YOLO
COUNTY. WE'RE A NONPROFIT
ORGANIZATION PROVIDING PARDON
ME, HOUSEHOLD ITEMS AND
FURNITURE TO TRANSITION AGE
YOUTH. AND WE ARE HERE AS PART
OF A COALITION WITH THE JOHN
BURTON ADVOCATES FOR YOUTH, TO
OPPOSE ANY CHILD WELFARE CUTS,
AND ALSO PARTICULARLY INTERESTED
IN SUPPORTING THE SLP HOUSING
THAT WAS IN ISSUE NUMBER FOUR.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU. NEXT NAME
AND AFFILIATION, PLEASE. AND THE
OTHER NAME. HI I'M JUDY
MONDOLFO. I'M WITH CALIFORNIA
LIONS AT CAREGIVERS. WE
REPRESENT RELATIVE AND NON
RELATIVE CAREGIVERS. AND I HAVE
A STATEMENT, BUT I THINK WE'RE
GOING FASTER. SO I JUST AM GOING
TO SAY THAT, WE'RE HERE TO, TO
ASK THE COMMITTEE NOT TO CUT THE
BUDGET WHEN IT COMES TO FIRS
ISSUE THREE, SILLY WITH ISSUE
FOUR. AND, AND, AND ESPECIALLY
THE PERMANENT RATE STRUCTURE
PROPOSAL WHEN IT COMES TO
CAREGIVERS, WE NEED THESE
SUPPORTS, PARTICULARLY, SO IN MY
COMMUNITY, I, SUPPORT, SUPPORT.
CAREGIVERS AND I MENTOR IN MY
HOME COUNTY, I'M THE LATE NIGHT
PHONE ANSWERER IN THE MIDDLE OF
THE NIGHT, FOR ALMOST 90
FAMILIES FOR IT IS IMPERATIVE
THERE'S NO WAY FOR ME TO HELP
THESE FAMILIES, WITHOUT FIRS.
SO, WE JUST ASK THAT YOU REALLY
THINK ABOUT BEFORE YOU CUT THESE
THINGS THAT WE HAVE AS
CAREGIVERS REALLY NEED.
ABSOLUTELY. AS WE REMEMBER, THIS
COMMITTEE IS AND RIGHT NOW IN
OPPOSITION AFFAIRS AND SELF, AND
FAMILY STABILIZATION, AND SO WE
WILL CONTINUE TO BE IN
OPPOSITION. BUT OF COURSE, WE'LL
BE IN CONTACT. CONTINUED
DISCUSSIONS ABOUT IT. THE NAME
OF YOUR YOUNG PERSON, PLEASE, MY
WE FOR CONFIDENTIALITY. I CALL
HIM MISTER. OKAY, SO. AND DOES
MISTER HAVE ANY COMMENTS THAT,
MISTER IS A HANDFUL, BUT HE'S
VERY SWEET. AND WHEN IT COMES TO
THE RATE STRUCTURE, I WILL SAY
THAT, IT WOULD MAKE ALL THE
DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD FOR
LITTLE PEOPLE LIKE HIM, TOO. SO.
ABSOLUTELY MISTER IS NOW ON
RECORD. THANK YOU, THANK YOU,
THANK YOU. NAME AND AFFILIATION,
PLEASE. THANK YOU, MISTER CHAIR
DILLONLIAM, ON BEHALF OF THE
COUNTIES OF KERN AND HUMBOLDT, I
APPRECIATE YOUR CONCERN WITH
RESPECT TO ISSUES THREE AND
FOUR. THEY ARE IN OPPOSITION TO
BOTH OF THOSE, AS WELL AS AN
OPPOSITION TO ISSUE SIX. ON
BEHALF OF HUMBOLDT COUNTY, THANK
YOU, THANK YOU. NEXT UP, NAME
AND AFFILIATION, PLEASE. YEAH.
KIM LEWIS REPRESENTING ASPIRE
ANNETTE. AND WE SERVE, FOSTER
YOUTH IN 35 COUNTIES, INCLUDING
RIVERSIDE. AND ON ISSUE THREE
AND FOUR, WE STAND WITH THE
CHAIR AROUND REJECTING THE CUTS
TO FURS AND SILKS ON ISSUE
SEVEN, DESPITE SIGNIFICANT
INVESTMENTS, WE KNOW THAT THE
CURRENT SYSTEM OF CARE MEANS
THAT WE HAVE AN INADEQUATE
NUMBER OF RESOURCE FAMILIES TO
MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR CHILDREN
AND YOUTH ENTERING INTO AND
BEING SERVED BY FOSTER CARE. AND
THAT CURRENT CRISIS IS BRINGING
TO ATTENTION THE CHALLENGES OF
FINDING STABLE AND APPROPRIATE
FAMILY BASED CARE, ESPECIALLY
FOR OUR TEENS, SIBLING SETS AND
CHILDREN WITH COMPLEX TRAUMA.
THE GAPS IN FAMILY BASED OPTIONS
REQUIRED TO MEET THE VISION OF
CCR, HAS CREATED INSTABILITY IN
THE CONTINUUM OF CARE FOR OUR
CHILDREN AND YOUTH THAT THEY
DESERVE, SO THE DSS PROPOSAL WE
KNOW IS A REALLY GREAT START
WITH ADDITIONAL INVESTMENTS AND
STUFF, BUT THERE ARE MANY
OUTSTANDING QUESTIONS AND LOTS
OF IMPLEMENTATION WORK STILL
LEFT TO DO. WE SHARE THE
CONCERNS RAISED BY YOUR
PANELISTS AT CDA AND BOTH
ALLIANCES, AND ARE COMMITTED TO
STRENGTHENING THE PROPOSAL AND
PROVIDING FEEDBACK THROUGH THE
WORKING GROUPS. BUT AT A
MINIMUM, WE'D RECOMMEND THAT IN
THE GAP BETWEEN NOW AND WHEN WE
SEE THESE NEW RATES COME INTO
PLACE, THAT WE INVEST ADDITIONAL
RESOURCES INTO OUR FOSTER FAMILY
AGENCIES AND OUR STREEPS TO BE
ABLE TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE
HERE AND AVAILABLE TO SUPPORT
OUR FAMILIES WHEN THESE NEW
RATES COME INTO PLACE. AND THAT
THIS OPPORTUNITY IS REALLY,
GIVING US THE CHANCE TO REALLY
FIX INADEQUACIES IN THE CURRENT
RATE STRUCTURE, SUCH AS
ADDRESSING THE LACK OF CNIS
ACROSS ALL THE DIFFERENT
PLACEMENT PROGRAMS. AND I JUST
WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME
AND HAVING THIS HEARING. THANK
YOU VERY MUCH. HELLO NAME,
AFFILIATION. OH, I KNOW YOU. YOU
DO. REBECCA GONZALEZ WITH THE
WESTERN CENTER ON LAW AND
POVERTY. I WANT TO BE HERE TO
OPPOSE THE CUTS TO THE FIRST
PROGRAM TO CILP AND ALSO, ONCE
AGAIN, TO TALK ABOUT FULL PASS
THROUGH FOR CALWORKS AND SETTING
UP THE SYSTEM SO THAT COULD BE
IMPLEMENTED. THANK YOU, THANK
YOU. NEXT UP, NAME AND
AFFILIATION, PLEASE. HI. MY NAME
IS TANISHA JONES AND I AM A
FORMER FOSTER YOUTH ATTENDING
SACRAMENTO STATE, I'M ALSO A
YOUTH ADVOCATE FOR THE JOHN
BURTON FOUNDATION AND I DECIDED
ON A MAJOR. YET. YES. WHAT IS
IT, RIGHT NOW, MY BACHELOR'S IS
IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE, AND MY
MASTER'S IS GOING TO BE IN
SOCIAL WORK. GO ON, GIRL. YEAH.
ALL RIGHT. OH, I FORGOT WE WERE
IN A HEARING. OKAY. NAME AND
AFFILIATION, PLEASE. YES. AND SO
TODAY I ASKED THE COMMITTEE TO
REJECT ALL CUTS TO CHILD WELFARE
AND ESPECIALLY TO, PRESERVE THE
FUNDING FOR THE HOUSING
SUPPLEMENT, HEARD UNDER ISSUE
FOR TODAY, FOR MY CURRENT
SIBLINGS WHO ARE IN FOSTER CARE
AND THEY ARE, UNDER SILK. SO I'M
ADVOCATING FOR THEM TODAY
BECAUSE THEY CAN'T SPEAK FOR
THEMSELVES. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU. NEXT UP, NAME AND
AFFILIATION, PLEASE. GOOD
AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS MARA
ZIEGLER. I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF
PUBLIC COUNSEL. WE ALSO
APPRECIATE AND STAND WITH THE
CHAIR AND URGE YOU TO PRESERVE
ALL FUNDING FOR THE SILK HOUSING
SUPPLEMENT. AS WE HEARD EARLIER
TODAY, IT WILL PREVENT
HOMELESSNESS FOR OUR YOUTH.
YOUTH ARE CURRENTLY UNDER OUR
CARE WHO ARE 18 TO 20 IN THE
SYSTEM. I'D LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT
SOMETHING. WE HEARD THE YOUTH
ADVOCATE SPEAK SO ELOQUENTLY
EARLIER ABOUT HOW DIFFICULT IT
IS TO NAVIGATE LIFE WHEN YOU'RE
FACING HOUSING INSTABILITY.
WELL, FOR YOUTH IN FOSTER CARE,
THESE YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE
PARENTS, IT'S EXPONENTIALLY MORE
DIFFICULT. EVERY DAY I WORK WITH
THESE AMAZING YOUNG FOLKS AND
TOO MANY OF THE NEARLY 1000
CUSTODIAL PARENTS WHO ARE IN
CARE IN OUR STATE STRUGGLE TO
FIND SECURE AND SAFE, SAFE,
STABLE HOUSING FOR THEMSELVES
AND THEIR CHILDREN. THÀNH. AND
THEN THEY EXPERIENCE AS A LITTLE
FAMILY, EXTENDED PERIODS OF
HOMELESSNESS. WHEN I WORK WITH
THEM, I SEE TOO MANY OF THEM ARE
FORCED TO RELOCATE TO A MORE
AFFORDABLE COUNTY, OR SOMETIMES
EVEN A TOTALLY DIFFERENT STATE,
BECOMING SEPARATED FROM THEIR
COMMUNITY, WHICH INCLUDES THEIR
CHILD CARE, THEIR HEALTH CARE,
THEIR JOB, THEIR SCHOOL, AND
MOST SIGNIFICANTLY, THE BABY'S
OTHER PARENT AND FOR THE
NON-CUSTODIAL PARENTS, THOSE WHO
ARE WORKING REALLY HARD. I SEE
IT EVERY DAY TO REUNIFY WITH
THEIR CHILDREN. THESE BARRIERS
TOO OFTEN BECOME IMPOSSIBLE TO
OVERCOME. AND THEN THERE'S
ANOTHER GENERATION ENTERING THE
FOSTER CARE SYSTEM, AND I AM
LEFT OUTRAGED EVERY TIME I SEE
THIS INTERGENERATIONAL CYCLE
WHEEL SPIN AGAIN, BECAUSE
COUNTLESS TIMES, DOING THIS WORK
FOR 100,000 YEARS, I'VE SEEN
WITH JUST SOME STABILITY AND
SOME SUPPORT, STAGGERING
RESILIENCE AND THE ABILITY OF
THESE YOUNG FAMILIES TO REMAIN
TOGETHER AND THRIVE. SO PLEASE,
THANK YOU FOR LISTENING. THANK
YOU FOR SAYING YOU'RE GOING TO
OPPOSE ANY CUTS. PLEASE DO YOUR
BEST TO PRESERVE THE SILK
HOUSING SUPPLEMENT IN PARTICULAR
TO NOT ONLY TO PREVENT YOUTH
HOMELESSNESS, BUT AS A MESSAGE
TO THESE YOUNG PEOPLE THAT THEIR
POTENTIAL IS SEEN AND WE CARE
ABOUT THEIR FUTURE. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, WELL, FOR
100,000 YEARS. NEXT UP. WELL I
WON'T TRY TO SHOW UP MORE
BECAUSE THAT WAS AMAZING. I'LL
JUST SAY THAT WE ARE, ISSUES
THREE AND FOUR FIRS AND THE
SOCIAL HOUSING SUPPLEMENT. THANK
YOU SO MUCH FOR STATING YOUR
OPPOSITION TO THE CUTS AND I'LL
JUST SAY THAT WE HOPE THAT, IN
THE RATES REFORM EFFORT THAT WE
CAN ALL COME TO A GOOD SOLUTION
AS A GROUP OF STAKEHOLDERS AND
STATE DEPARTMENT THAT I KNOW
CARES A LOT ABOUT THIS ISSUE,
AND I THINK WE CAN GET THERE
TOGETHER. THANK YOU. ABSOLUTELY.
NEXT UP, ASIAN AFFILIATE AGE.
AGE. YOU DON'T REALLY WANT MY
AGE. COME ON. I ALMOST GOT IN
TROUBLE. NO. NOT REALLY, MY NAME
IS ANNA L®NG. I'M FROM THE
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH IN
LA COUNTY AND LA COUNTY OPPOSES
ALL THE CUTS TO CHILD WELFARE,
PARTICULARLY ITEM FIVE, THE
PUBLIC HEALTH NURSING EARLY
INTERVENTION PROGRAM. I KNOW YOU
HEARD SOMETHING ABOUT THAT.
EARLY TODAY. WE ACTUALLY HAVE 12
STAFF ON BOARD. WE'RE RAMPING UP
HIRING, BUT WE PUT IT ON HOLD
WHEN WE SAW THE MAKE THE BUDGET,
THIS PROGRAM WILL AIM TO REDUCE
ENTRY INTO CHILD WELFARE AND
REDUCE RECIDIVISM WHEN KIDS
LEAVE FOSTER CARE BY PAIRING A
PUBLIC HEALTH NURSE WITH
FAMILIES THAT ARE NOT ELIGIBLE
FOR THE PUBLIC HEALTH NURSING
PROGRAM THAT I'M SURE YOU'VE
HEARD ABOUT, IT IS A
DEMONSTRATION THÀNH PROGRAM. WE
THINK THAT ONCE IT'S FULLY
IMPLEMENTED, IT WILL BE A MODEL
FOR THE STATE. BUT RIGHT NOW
IT'S ONLY IN LA COUNTY. SO WE'RE
URGING YOU TO OPPOSE THOSE CUTS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT UP,
NAME AND AFFILIATION, PLEASE.
HELLO. MY NAME IS DAISY
MADRIGAL. I'M WITH LUTHERAN
SOCIAL SERVICES OF NORTHERN
CALIFORNIA, AND I'M HERE TO WIN.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR OPPOSING
THE ELIMINATION OF SILK. AND
TWO, I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT
A BIT OF INFORMATION THÀNH. IF
THIS PROGRAM WAS TO BE
ELIMINATED, OUR CURRENT,
CALIFORNIA COC BED CAPACITY CAN
ONLY ACCOMMODATE ONE OUT OF
EVERY SEVEN, SEVEN YOUTH
EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS. SO IT
IS CRUCIAL TO MAINTAIN IN THESE,
THESE THIS FUNDING IN ORDER TO
FURTHER BURDEN THE ALREADY
OVERWHELMED SYSTEMS IN
CALIFORNIA. SO I JUST WANTED TO
HIGHLIGHT THAT AND THANK YOU FOR
OPPOSING THE ELIMINATION. THANK
YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT UP, NAME AND
AFFILIATION, PLEASE. VERONICA
PAWLOWSKI, LOS ANGELES COUNTY
DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND
FAMILY SERVICES HERE TODAY TO
OPPOSE ALL CUTS RELATED TO CHILD
WELFARE BUDGETS AND THANKING THE
COMMITTEE FOR YOUR POSITION ON
ITEM ON ISSUES THREE AND FOUR.
AND JUST WANT TO EMPHASIZE ONE
MORE TIME THAT FURS IS A
INVALUABLE AND IRREPLACEABLE
TOOL IN OUR COUNTY'S EFFORTS TO
REDUCE RELIANCE ON CONGREGATE
CARE. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. NEXT
UP, NAME AND AFFILIATION,
PLEASE. HI, CðC AND I WELL, I
GUESS I'M REPRESENTING LOS
ANGELES COUNTY BOARD OF
SUPERVISOR JANICE HAHN. WE
WORKED ON A MOTION THAT KIND OF
WHEN THE BUDGET CUTS AND
PRELIMINARY CAME OUT FOR THESE
THREE PROGRAMS, THE THREE ITEMS
THAT WERE HELD TODAY AROUND
PUBLIC HEALTH NURSES IN THE
EARLY INTERVENTION AND THE
OVERALL STRATEGY AROUND PRIMARY
PREVENTION AND HOW TO DIVERT
PEOPLE FROM OUR CHILD WELFARE
SYSTEM. AND IT JUST IT'S A FUN
FACT THAT I WAS KIND OF TOUTING
TODAY WE GET OVER 200,000 CALLS
TO ALL CHILD PROTECTION THROUGH
OUR CHILD PROTECTION HOTLINE
EVERY YEAR. AND IF WE CAN
PROVIDE WRAPAROUND SERVICES WITH
PUBLIC HEALTH EXPERTS, IT WOULD
REALLY IMPACT LIVES, ESPECIALLY
FOR OUR COMMUNITIES OF COLOR AND
PEOPLE WHO ARE IMPACTED BY THE
CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM. OBVIOUSLY,
WE'RE HERE ALSO OPPOSING SOAP
AND ANY CUTS AND THANK YOU FOR
OPPOSING THAT TODAY, TOO, AND
REJECTING THE PROPOSED BUDGET
CUTS. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT AND
LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING HOW
THIS ALL PLAYS OUT. APPRECIATE
IT. LOOK FORWARD TO IT. TO NEXT
UP, MR. CHAIR, MARTHA GARO
REPRESENTING THE LOS ANGELES
COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS,
ECHO THE STATEMENTS FROM, FROM
MY COLLEAGUES, FOR THE SILK
PROGRAM. REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR
OPPOSITION TO THAT. IT'LL HELP
PRESERVE HOUSING FOR, OVER 1100
YOUTH WHO ARE BENEFITING FROM
THAT PROGRAM IN LOS ANGELES
COUNTY AND FOR THE PUBLIC HEALTH
EARLY INTERVENTION PROGRAM, AS
YOU HEAR, THIS HAS BEEN,
OPERATIONAL, NOT FOR LONG, BUT
OPERATIONAL AS A RESULT OF
RECEIVING THE FUNDING. SO WE'RE
TRYING TO KEEP IT GOING AND LOOK
FORWARD TO A CONVERSATION WITH
YOU ABOUT WHY WE NEED TO SUSTAIN
THIS PROGRAM. ABSOLUTELY. THE
SCHEDULE SOME TIME. WE'LL DO.
THANK YOU. YEP NEXT UP, EILEEN
KAMINSKY WITH THE COUNTY WELFARE
DIRECTORS ASSOCIATION, ON BEHALF
OF ALL 58 COUNTY HUMAN SERVICES
AGENCIES IN OPPOSITION TO THE
CUTS TO THE FERS PROGRAM AND
THE, SOCIAL HOUSING SUPPLEMENT.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT FOR
RESTORATION FOR THOSE PROGRAMS.
THANK YOU. NEXT UP, NAME AND
AFFILIATION, PLEASE, DOCTOR
DAVID BAKER, CEO OF SACRAMENTO
CHILDREN'S HOME. I'M JUST GOING
TO THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING, THE
CONTINUATION OF FORS. IT'S
REALLY MAKING A DIFFERENCE. FOR
THE FIRST TIME, WE SEE A REAL
REDUCTIONS IN PLACEMENT CHANGES.
AND YOU TALKED ABOUT HOW
IMPORTANT THAT IS IN TERMS OF,
AS WAS SHARED BY CHRIS AND
EILEEN, THE, THE CONCERNS I HAVE
AROUND, PERMANENT RATE STRUCTURE
REALLY, JUST HOPING THAT FOLKS
WILL TAKE A LOOK AND MAKE SURE
THAT THERE'S ENOUGH FUNDING IN
THERE TO PRESERVE THE HIGHEST
LEVELS OF CARE FOR THE KIDS THAT
NEED IT THE MOST. THE LAST THING
WE NEED IS FOR THOSE PROGRAMS TO
GO AWAY AND FOR KIDS TO BE AN
UNLICENSED HOMES OR OFFICES OR
FORMER DETENTION CENTERS, AS YOU
KNOW. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. ALL
RIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT
UP, NHIÀU AFFILIATION, PLEASE.
GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR JACKSON.
KEVIN CLARK WITH GOOD RIVER
PARTNERS HERE TO THANK YOU FOR
YOUR SUPPORT IN REJECTING THE
ADMINISTRATION'S PROPOSALS, TO
REDUCE THE HOUSING SUPPLEMENT IN
THE FIRST SUPPLEMENT OR THE
FIRST PROGRAM AND THE HOUSING
SUPPLEMENT IS JUST A REALLY,
REALLY IMPORTANT PROGRAM TO
REALLY SUPPORT YOUNG FOLKS AS
THEY'RE LOOKING AND
TRANSITIONING OUT OF CHILD
WELFARE AND, GETS HOUSING IN A
VERY, VERY, EXPENSIVE STATE.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
NEXT UP, NAME AND AFFILIATION,
PLEASE. THANK YOU. HELLO. MY
NAME IS MAYA MEZA. AND I'M HERE
ON BEHALF OF FIRST PLACE FOR
YOUTH AND MYSELF AS A FORMER
FOSTER YOUTH WHO UTILIZE SOAP
FOR YEARS UNTIL I HAD TO
TRANSITION OUT DUE TO THE
MINIMAL FUNDING THAT WOULDN'T
ALLOW ME TO FIND DECENT HOUSING.
HOUSING IN SACRAMENTO. I OPPOSE
THE PROPOSED CHILD WELFARE
BUDGET CUTS IN PARTICULAR THE
CUTS TO SOAP TO THE SOAP HOUSING
SUPPLEMENT AND FURS. FURS IS
ALREADY A PROGRAM THAT NOT
ENOUGH FOSTER YOUTH OR PROVIDERS
ARE AWARE OF. IF FURS WAS AROUND
WHEN I WAS IN FOSTER CARE, IT
COULD HAVE PREVENTED SEVERAL OF
MY HOUSING RELOCATIONS. I ALSO
KNOW THIS TO BE TRUE OF THE
YOUTH I WORK WITH. THANK YOU FOR
OPPOSING THE CUTS TO THE SOAP
PROGRAM IN FIRST. THANK YOU.
NEXT UP, NAME AND AFFILIATION,
PLEASE. GOOD AFTERNOON, KATE
HUTCHINSON WITH LUTHERAN SOCIAL
SERVICES. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
YOUR SUPPORT OF SILK AND FURS. I
KNOW IT'S SHOCKING TO ME THAT
50% OF FOSTER YOUTH AND LEAVE
THE SYSTEM AND ENTER INTO
HOMELESSNESS AND PAIRED WITH
THAT, THE CHAPIN HALL STUDY THAT
50% OF CHRONICALLY HOMELESS
ADULTS HAD THEIR FIRST INCIDENCE
OF HOMELESSNESS WHEN THEY WERE
YOUNG ADULTS. SO WE HAVE AN
OPPORTUNITY TO, PUT A STOP TO A
BIG PORTION OF HOMELESSNESS AND
I THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
THANK YOU. NEXT UP, NAME AND
AFFILIATION, PLEASE. HELLO
CHARGE WITH THE CALIFORNIA
ALLIANCE OF CHILD AND FAMILY
SERVICES. WE REPRESENT 160
DIFFERENT COMMUNITY BASED
ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS CALIFORNIA
THAT SERVE CURRENT AND FORMER
FOSTER YOUTH AND I JUST WANTED
TO THANK THE COMMITTEE SO MUCH
ON THE OPPOSITION TO, CUTTING,
CHILD WELFARE, CUTS AND JUST
MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE
PRESERVING FURS AND SOAPS,
MAKING SURE THAT THESE SERVICES
TO YOUTH ARE MAINTAINED TO
PREVENT YOUTH HOMELESSNESS,
WHICH WOULD END UP COSTING THE
STATE MUCH MORE IN THE LONG RUN.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU.
NEXT UP, NAME AFFILIATION,
PLEASE. HI. MY NAME IS ESPERANZA
SIERRA. I'M THE POLICY ADVOCATE
WITH SENECA FAMILY OF AGENCIES,
AND I'M HERE TO URGE THE
LEGISLATURE TO INCLUDE A
CONTINUATION OF FOSTER FAMILY
AGENCY BRIDGE FUNDING. THIS IS A
BUDGET ASSETS CHAMPIONED BY SOME
MEMBER SCHIAVO. AND WE ALSO WANT
TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ENSURE THE
PERMANENT RATE STRUCTURE
SUFFICIENTLY FUNDS FFA
ACTIVITIES LIKE FAMILY FINDING
AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE. BOTH
OF THESE THINGS ARE REALLY VITAL
TO KEEPING KIDS IN FAMILY BASED
SETTINGS. AND WE ALSO REALLY
WANT TO THANK YOU AND YOUR
LEADERSHIP AND OPPOSING THE CUTS
TO FURS AND SILKS. SO THANK YOU
SO MUCH. THANK YOU. NEXT UP,
NAME AFFILIATION PLEASE. THANKS
HI. MY NAME IS AGNES PEREZ. I'M
A CLINICAL DIRECTOR WITH PACIFIC
CLINICS. WE ARE A STATEWIDE,
PRIVATE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION.
WE SERVE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES,
SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT
FOR FERS. OUR RESOURCE PARENTS
ALSO WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW HOW
IMPORTANT FERS IS TO THEM. AND
THEY REPORT THAT THE IMMEDIATE
ON CALL SUPPORT HAS HELPED THEM
PRESERVE YOUTH IN THEIR CARE AND
HAVE REDUCED THE NEED TO CONTACT
LAW ENFORCEMENT. AND REGARDING
ISSUE SEVEN, WHILE WE UNDERSTAND
THERE'S A SIGNIFICANT BUDGET
DEFICIT, WE'RE ALSO HOPEFUL THAT
YOU WILL INVEST IN OUR MOST
VULNERABLE YOUTH, BY CONTINUING
THE FFA BRIDGE FUNDING WITHOUT
THE CONTINUED FUNDING, OUR
AGENCY, ALONG WITH MANY OTHER
FHFA'S, ARE AT RISK OF CLOSING
OUR FOSTER CARE DOORS. AND WHAT
THIS MEANS IS THAT FOR MY
AGENCY, THIS IMPACTS MORE THAN
180 YOUTH AND 150 RESOURCE
FAMILIES WHO CARE FOR THESE
YOUTH. SO THANK YOU FOR HEARING
US TODAY. THANK YOU. NEXT UP,
NAME AFFILIATION PLEASE. HI.
GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS CAROL
RAMIREZ. I'M THE CHIEF PROGRAM
OFFICER AT WAYFINDER FAMILY
SERVICES. WE ARE A STATEWIDE
ORGANIZATION SERVING OVER 160
YOUTH AND FOSTER CARE, 80% OF
WHOM ARE WITH RELATIVES, THANK
YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF FERS.
AND ALSO ASK THAT THE
LEGISLATURE PRIORITIZE NONPROFIT
SUSTAINABILITY IN THE PERMANENT
RATE STRUCTURE. AND AS AGNES
SAID, AND TO WHAT CHRIS FROM THE
CALIFORNIA ALLIANCE MENTIONED
EARLIER, IT IS ABSOLUTELY
CRITICAL WE ACKNOWLEDGE THE HUGE
BUDGET DEFICIT, BUT WE ASKED AND
URGE THE LEGISLATURE TO INCLUDE
THE CONTINUATION OF THE FFA
BRIDGE FUNDING CHAMPIONED BY
ASSEMBLY MEMBER CHÁVEZ. WE SERVE
100% OF YOUTH IN ISFSI. WE HAVE
MASTER'S LEVEL SOCIAL WORKERS.
WE HAVE 24 OVER SEVEN ACCESS AND
CARE. WE PROVIDE CARE TO THE
HIGHEST, MOST VULNERABLE YOUTH
IN CALIFORNIA AND WE ASK THAT
YOU CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE
BRIDGE FUNDING. WE WANT TO BE
HERE IN TWO YEARS AS PART OF THE
NEW RATE STRUCTURE, TO PROVIDE
IMMEDIATE NEEDS AND SERVICES. WE
WILL BE DECIMATED IF THAT BRIDGE
FUNDING DOESN'T CONTINUE. SO
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT UP,
NAME AND AFFILIATION, PLEASE.
VICTORIA KELLY, CEO FOR REDWOOD
COMMUNITY SERVICES. AND WE
SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY
COMMITTEE'S OPPOSITION TO THE
FIRST PROGRAM CUTS. MY
ORGANIZATION HAS BEEN PROVIDING
FFA AND YOUTH RESIDENTIAL
SERVICES IN CALIFORNIA FOR 29
YEARS, AND WE'VE SEEN MANY, MANY
CRITICAL POINTS, BUT NONE AS
DIRE AS THE ONES WE'RE FACING
NOW. FFA MUST BE PROVIDED
SECURITY THROUGH BRIDGE FUNDING
TO ENSURE OUR CONTINUED ABILITY
TO SERVE FOSTER YOUTH WITH
CRITICAL NEEDS THROUGHOUT
CALIFORNIA. WITHOUT THIS BRIDGE
FUNDING, AS YOU HAVE HEARD, MANY
, MANY MORE FFA WILL BE CLOSING,
RESULTING IN LESS FAMILY BASED
CARE FOR FOSTER YOUTH ON
PERMANENT RATES. I'M GREATLY
CONCERNED ABOUT THE
ADMINISTRATIVE AND REGULATORY
BURDEN, ADDITIONAL ADDITIONAL
REGULATORY BURDEN ON FFA AND
ESTÁ HTTPS. WE ALREADY THROUGH
CCR HAVE HAVE TO MEET NATIONAL
ACCREDITATION STANDARDS. IN
ADDITION TO DC'S MENTAL HEALTH
APPROVAL AND CCL LICENSURE. AND
THIS PROPOSAL WILL ADD
ADDITIONAL BURDEN TO MEET
COMPLIANCE AS AN IMMEDIATE NEEDS
PROVIDER AND WHAT INFORMATION WE
RECEIVED AROUND WHAT IMMEDIATE
NEEDS MEANS ARE SERVICES AND
SUPPORTS WERE ALREADY PROVIDING
IN THESE IN THESE SERVICES, THE
LAST THING I JUST WANT TO SAY IS
WE SERVE AS A CENTRAL COMPONENT
IN THE SAFETY NET FOR OUR
STATE'S FOSTER YOUTH, AND
WITHOUT COMMUNITY BASED
PROVIDERS LIKE OURSELVES, MORE
YOUTH WILL BE SLEEPING IN COUNTY
SOCIAL SERVICES OFFICES AND
LIVING IN UNSAFE SITUATIONS AND
ULTIMATELY ENTERING INTO
HOMELESSNESS. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. NEXT UP, NAME AFFILIATION,
PLEASE. GOOD AFTERNOON, SABRINA
DE SANTIAGO. I THINK OF US, AND
I'M HERE IN SUPPORT OF ITEM
NUMBER SEVEN. AND THE WHY IS
SIMPLE. IT'S BECAUSE WE HELP
CONNECT 3700 FAMILIES ACROSS
CALIFORNIA WITH HELP AND THEY
REACH OUT TO US WITH STORIES
LIKE ONE FAMILY, TWO FOSTER
PARENTS, THREE KIDS. TWO OF THEM
HAVE SPECIAL NEEDS. THEY WOULD
LOVE TO BE ABLE TO SIGN THEIR
KIDS UP FOR EXTRACURRICULAR
ACTIVITIES LIKE FOOTBALL,
BASEBALL, ALL THE THINGS ALL THE
KIDS IN THEIR CLASSES DO. BUT
THEY DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO THAT
KIND OF MONEY QUICKLY NOW, AND
WE THINK THAT UNDER THIS REFORM,
WE CAN MAKE THAT CHANGE. SO THAT
THESE KIDS CAN BE LIKE EVERYBODY
IN THEIR ELSE IN THEIR CLASS,
HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD
BONDS THAT HELP HEAL FROM
TRAUMA. AND WE KNOW THAT THOSE
KINDS OF EXPERIENCES ARE SO
IMPORTANT FOR CHILDREN IN THE
SYSTEM TO OVERCOME THE ACES THAT
THEY HAVE LIVED IN THEIR SHORT
LIVES. SO WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR
SUPPORT AND HOPE THAT YOU WILL
BE A CHAMPION FOR IT. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH. NEXT UP, NAME,
AFFILIATION. PLEASE TIFFANY
WHITING WITH SEIU CALIFORNIA.
APPRECIATE HEY, HEY, APPRECIATE
YOUR SUPPORT, FOR SOAP AND FOR
FURS, AND ALSO FOR THE LA COUNTY
PHN. WE WOULD JUST HIGHLY
ENCOURAGE YOU TO TAKE A SECOND
LOOK AT THAT AND KNOW THAT, YES,
IT IS A PILOT, BUT IT DEFINITELY
CAN SET THE GROUNDWORK AND HAVE
SOME BEST OUTCOMES THAT WE CAN
REPLICATE THROUGHOUT THE STATE.
AND THEN FOR ISSUE SEVEN,
RELATED TO THE RATE STRUCTURE,
HAVE MANY QUESTIONS. AND LOOK
FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOUR
COMMITTEE AS WELL AS THE
DEPARTMENT TO ADDRESS ANY
QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS WE HAVE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU.
NEXT UP, NAME AFFILIATION PLEASE
. AND KIRK JONES, LAWCENTER,
CALIFORNIA ATTORNEYS FOR
CHILDREN IN THE FOSTER CARE
SYSTEM IN LOS ANGELES, PLACER
AND SACRAMENTO COUNTIES,
APPRECIATE YOUR OPPOSITION AND
JOINING YOUR OPPOSITION TO THE
CUTS TO FORS AND TO THE SOAP
RATES. AND I HAVE A WHOLE LITTLE
BLURB, BUT I JUST WANT TO SAY
THAT I WAS REALLY MOVED BY YOUR
COMMENTS AND YOUR TRUE
COMMITMENT TO CHILDREN AND I
LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU
TO MOVE IT BETTER FOR OUR KIDS.
AND ALSO JUST ASSURE YOU THAT
I'VE ALREADY SEEN FORS HELP SOME
OF OUR KIDS IN WAYS THAT NO
OTHER CALL OR EMERGENCY LINE
COULD HAVE BECAUSE THEY
UNDERSTOOD THEIR UNIQUE
SITUATION. AND I APPRECIATE YOUR
COMMITMENT TO IT. THANK YOU.
APPRECIATE THAT NAME AND
AFFILIATION, PLEASE. GOOD
AFTERNOON. GOOD EVENING, MY NAME
IS PETE HAVILAND, REPRESENTING
OAKLAND PROMISE, A MEMBER OF THE
CALIFORNIA CRADLE TO CAREER
COALITION, TODAY I JOINED MY
COLLEAGUES FROM ACROSS THE STATE
OFFERING UNWAVERING SUPPORT FOR
THE INCLUSION OF THE IT TAKES A
VILLAGE ACT IN THE STATE BUDGET
AIMED AT BENEFITING CHILDREN AND
FAMILIES IN CALIFORNIA. THEY. IT
TAKES A VILLAGE ACT SEEKS TO
ENHANCE EXISTING AND ESTABLISH
NEW PLACE BASED ANTI-POVERTY
PARTNERSHIPS IN FRONTLINE
COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE
STATE. DESPITE BEING THE
WEALTHIEST STATE, CALIFORNIA
STILL GRAPPLES WITH THE HIGHEST
POVERTY RATES, LEAVING MANY
COMMUNITIES LACKING THE
RESOURCES, SERVICES, AND SUPPORT
NECESSARY TO THRIVE. IN OAKLAND,
WE SEE AND FEEL THESE PAIN
POINTS ACUTELY IN THE FAMILIES
WE SERVE, OFTEN FACE HARDSHIPS
AND THE STRUGGLE THROUGH NO
FAULT OF THEIR OWN. TODAY, WE'RE
HERE TO CHANGE THAT NARRATIVE
AND EMPOWER ALL CALIFORNIANS TO
TAKE CHARGE OF THEIR FUTURES,
STARTING WITH OUR YOUNG
LEARNERS. THAT IT TAKES A
VILLAGE MODEL A COMMUNITY
SPECIFIC APPROACH HAS
DEMONSTRATED SUBSTANTIAL
IMPROVEMENTS IN EARLY LITERACY,
HIGH SCHOOL COMPLETION, AND
COLLEGE ENROLLMENT. BY INVESTING
IN THIS MODEL, WE INVEST IN
CALIFORNIA'S FUTURE, EMPOWERING
CHILDREN AND FAMILIES AND PAVING
THE WAY FOR ECONOMIC MOBILITY.
WE URGE YOUR SUPPORT IN
PROVIDING CHILDREN AND FAMILIES
WITH A VIABLE PATHWAY OUT OF
POVERTY BY ALLOCATING THESE
FUNDS TO CRADLE TO CAREER
ORGANIZATIONS. THESE
ORGANIZATIONS OFFER VITAL
PROGRAMS AND COORDINATION IS
ESSENTIAL FOR ENSURING ECONOMIC
MOBILITY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR
CONSIDERATION, SUPPORT AND
LEADERSHIP ON THIS MATTER. THANK
YOU. NEXT UP, NAME, AFFILIATION.
PLEASE HELLO, MY NAME IS EMERALD
EVANS, POLICY ASSOCIATE WITH END
CHILD POVERTY CALIFORNIA. AND AS
A FORMER FOSTER YOUTH. BUT THEN
ALSO AN ADVOCATE. NOW I JUST
WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR
SUPPORT WITH STANDING WITH US TO
REJECT THE PROPOSED CUTS FOR
SOAP AND FURS. WE UNDERSTAND
THAT THIS IS A TOUGH BUDGET
SEASON, BUT THE LIVES OF YOUTH
AND FAMILIES SHOULD NOT BE AT
RISK OF INSTABILITY AND POVERTY
DUE TO A DOLLAR AMOUNT OUR
PRIORITIES AT IN CHILD POVERTY,
CALIFORNIA ARE TO REJECT ALL
PROPOSED CUTS TO VITAL PROGRAMS
SERVING FOSTER YOUTH AND
PRESERVE FUNDING FOR FURS, SOAP,
THE HOUSING, NAVIGATION
MAINTENANCE PROGRAM, AND THEN
ALSO THE L.A. COUNTY'S
INTERVENTION PROGRAM. WE ALSO
WOULD LIKE TO SEE A ONE TIME
SUPPORT INVESTMENT IN THE PLACE
BASED ANTI-POVERTY STRATEGIES.
FROM CRADLE TO CAREER. WE WOULD
LIKE TO SEE THE STATE TO PROVIDE
DCS WITH THE RESOURCES TO
PREPARE THE SYSTEM CHANGES
REQUIRED, REQUIRED, AND PROVIDE
A TIMELINE FOR FULLY FUNDED AND
IMPLEMENT IMPLEMENT 100 PASS
THROUGH OF CHILD SUPPORT TO
FAMILIES WHO ARE CURRENTLY
RECEIVING CALWORKS. WE WOULD
LIKE TO SEE THE DOUBLE CUT TO
THE SAFETY WE WOULD LIKE TO
STOP. PARDON ME THE DOUBLE CUT
TO THE SAFETY NET RESERVE AND
LIFE SAVING CAL WORK SERVICES.
AND LASTLY, WE WOULD LIKE TO
BUILD ON THE GOVERNOR'S TANF
PILOT PROPOSAL TO REIMAGINE
CALWORKS AS A FAMILY CENTERED
PROGRAM. THANK YOU FOR YOUR
LEADERSHIP AND YOUR TIME. THANK
YOU. NAME AND AFFILIATION
PLEASE. THANK YOU. DAWN KOEPKE
WITH MCHUGH KOEPKE PADRON ON
BEHALF OF THE CHILD ABUSE
PREVENTION CENTER IN CALIFORNIA.
FAMILY RESOURCE ASSOCIATION,
VOICING CONCERNS WITH THE
ELIMINATION OF FORS AND ISSUE
NUMBER THREE, AS WELL AS SLPS
ISSUE NUMBER FOUR. AND WE
APPRECIATE THE CHAIR'S COMMENTS
AND FEEDBACK WITH REGARD TO
THAT. ADDITIONALLY, THE CHILD
ABUSE PREVENTION CENTER
REGARDING, ISSUE NUMBER SEVEN,
RATE STRUCTURE, THE CAP CENTER
SHARES SOME OF THE CONCERNS OF
THE PROVIDER COMMUNITY WITH THE
PROPOSAL AND THE IMPACTS THAT
WOULD HAVE ON PROVIDERS, WHILE
AT THE SAME TIME ALSO
APPRECIATING THE DIRECT SUPPORTS
TO CHILDREN AND FAMILIES,
SIMILAR TO SOME OF THE BENEFITS
OF, YOU KNOW, PROGRAMS LIKE
GUARANTEED INCOME PROGRAMS THAT
HELP ADDRESS SOME OF THE
STRESSORS THAT CHILDREN AND
FAMILIES CAN FIND THEMSELVES
GRAPPLING WITH THAT CAN
OFTENTIMES LEAD TO CHILDHOOD
ABUSE, CHILD ABUSE, AND NEGLECT
IN THE FIRST PLACE. SO WE LOOK
FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO WORK
WITH THE ADMINISTRATION AND OUR
COLLEAGUE ORGANIZATIONS ON THAT
PROPOSAL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
NEXT UP, NAME, AFFILIATION,
PLEASE. AMANDA MILLER MCKINNEY
WITH CHILDREN. NOW, I JUST
WANTED TO SAY THAT IT'S CHILDREN
NOW WE STAND AGAINST ALL OF THE
CHILD WELFARE BUDGET CUTS AND
GREATLY APPRECIATE THE CHAIRS OF
THIS COMMITTEE'S OPPOSITION TO
THE CUTS TO AGENDA ITEM THREE
FORS AND AGENDA ITEM FOUR. THE
SLOPES GREATLY APPRECIATE THAT
STANCE AND WOULD ALSO ENCOURAGE
TO OPPOSE CUTS TO THE LÀ NÓI
PROGRAM AS WELL. I THINK THAT
WILL BE A GREAT MODEL FOR THE
STATE MOVING FORWARD. SO ALSO
ENCOURAGE OPPOSITION TO THAT.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT UP
ANY MANIPULATION PLEASE. HELLO.
MY NAME IS CAROLYN TRAVIS AND
I'M WITH CALIFORNIA YOUTH
CONNECTION. I STAND HERE TODAY
AS AN ADVOCATE AS WELL AS A
FORMER FOSTER YOUTH AND WE
STRONGLY OPPOSE THE CUTS TO THE
SILP. THE FIRS AND THE HOUSING
NAVIGATION MAINTENANCE PROGRAM.
I MYSELF RECEIVED SOAP WHILE I
WAS AGING OUT OF CARE, AND IT
WAS REALLY CRUCIAL TO BEING ABLE
TO HAVE SAFE AND STABLE HOUSING,
AS WELL AS PROVIDE FOR MYSELF
LONG AFTER I AGED OUT, AT 21. SO
I WOULD STRONGLY ENCOURAGE THE
PRESERVATION OF THIS FUNDING.
AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT UP,
NAME AND AFFILIATION, PLEASE.
HELLO, MY NAME IS MARISSA ARIAS,
AND I'M HERE WITH CALIFORNIA
YOUTH CONNECTION, TO ASK THE
COMMITTEE TO REJECT ALL CUTS
MADE TO CHILD WELFARE PROGRAMS
AND IN PARTICULAR, TO PRESERVE
FUNDING FOR THE HOUSING
SUPPLEMENT HEARD UNDER ISSUE
FOUR TODAY. THESE CUTS DIRECTLY
ENDANGER THE STABILITY AND
ESSENTIAL SUPPORT CRUCIAL FOR
FOSTER YOUTH TRANSITIONING INTO
ADULTHOOD. HAVING AGED OUT OF
THE SYSTEM MYSELF, I UNDERSTAND
THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS
ASSISTANCE. IT WAS THE LIFELINE
THAT KEPT ME AND NUMEROUS OTHERS
FROM BEING AT RISK OF
HOMELESSNESS. THIS SUPPLEMENT IS
CRUCIAL TO HELP YOUTH MEET THE
GROWING COST OF LIVING AND TO BE
ABLE TO FOCUS ON OTHER THINGS
LIKE FURTHERING THEIR EDUCATION
AND HAVE THE ABILITY TO THRIVE
WITHOUT WORRYING ABOUT HOW
THEY'RE GOING TO AFFORD THEIR
BASIC NEEDS. THESE CUTS ARE NOT
JUST FINANCIAL DECISIONS.
THEY'RE JEOPARDIZING THE FUTURES
OF OUR YOUTH. THAT IS WHY I URGE
YOU TO STAND ALONGSIDE CIC AND
OPPOSE. THANK YOU. NAME AND
AFFILIATION, PLEASE. NICOLE
WATERMAN, ON BEHALF OF ORANGE
AND SAN BERNARDINO COUNTIES IN
OPPOSITION TO THE CUTS TO FORS
AND SLPS, WE ARE VERY
APPRECIATIVE OF YOUR COMMENTS
AND PERSPECTIVE ON THOSE
PROGRAMS AND REALLY HOPE THAT
YOUR PERSPECTIVE RUBS OFF ON
EVERYONE ELSE. THANK YOU. NEXT
UP, NAME AND AFFILIATION,
PLEASE. HELLO, MY NAME IS AMBER
HèA. I AM A CURRENT MEMBER OF
THE LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE FOR
CALIFORNIA YOUTH CONNECTION. I
AM HERE TO OPPOSE THE PROPOSED
BUDGET CUTS TOWARDS FOSTER YOUTH
. AS A FORMER FOSTER YOUTH
MYSELF, I HAVE FOUND IT VERY
BENEFICIAL TO HAVE THE SILK
PROGRAM. I AM CURRENTLY A FULL
TIME STUDENT, A FULL TIME
COLLEGE STUDENT AND WORKING TWO
JOBS. UNFORTUNATELY THERE ARE
FOSTER YOUTH THAT WORRY ABOUT
WHERE THEY WILL LAY THEIR HEADS
THE NEXT NIGHT. I AM, I AM VERY
FORTUNATE TO SAY THAT I
CURRENTLY DO NOT HAVE THIS, THIS
WORRY OR THIS SITUATION IN
HANDS. THIS. THE SILK PROGRAM
HAS HELPED ME IMMENSELY AND
LIMITED MY WORRIES OF HOUSING.
THIS IS WHY I AM HERE TO ASK THE
COMMITTEE TO REJECT ALL CUTS OF
CHILD WELFARE, AND IN
PARTICULAR, TO PRESERVE FUNDING
IN THE SILK AND THE SILK HOUSING
PLACEMENT SUPPLEMENT, HEARD
UNDER ISSUES FOR TODAY. WE ALL
STAND TOGETHER AND SAY, NOT
THESE CUTS, NOT THESE KIDS.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT UP,
NAME? AFFILIATION, PLEASE, HELLO
, I AM BRIAN HARTLEY, AND I AM
PART OF, CALIFORNIA YOUTH
CONNECTION AS A POLICY MEMBER.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO OPPOSE THE
CHILD WELFARE BUDGET CUTS AND
PARTICULARLY THE PH. AND I
PROGRAM, I WOULD LIKE NOT TO CUT
THIS PROGRAM MOSTLY FOR THE FACT
THAT I NEVER GOT A CHANCE TO BE
PART OF THIS PROGRAM, BUT IT
WOULD HAVE BEEN NICE TO HAVE THE
MENTAL HEALTH, STABILITY AND THE
CHANCE TO IMPROVE THAT IN WHICH
SOME YOUTH ALWAYS DON'T GET. AND
LIKE ALL MENTAL NEEDS ARE ALWAYS
MET. SO I WOULD STRONGLY
CONSIDER YOU TO RETHINK THIS
BUDGET AND NOT TO CUT IT, THANK
YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU.
NAME AFFILIATION. PLEASE
AWESOME. HELLO. MY NAME IS
CLARISSA PENA, I AM THE
STATEWIDE MEMBERSHIP CO-CHAIR AT
CALIFORNIA YOUTH CONNECTION, A
NONPROFIT MADE UP OF CURRENT AND
FORMER FOSTER YOUTH BETWEEN THE
AGES OF 14 AND 24, TOO MUCH
ENERGY, I KNOW. LIKE, I'LL. I'LL
COOL IT DOWN, BUT TODAY I'M HERE
TO ASK THE COMMITTEE TO REJECT
ALL CUTS TO THE CHILD WELFARE
SYSTEM, PARTICULARLY TO PRESERVE
FUNDING FOR THE HOUSING
SUPPLEMENTS, HEARD UNDER ISSUE
FOUR TODAY, AS A YOUTH WHO
CURRENTLY RECEIVES SOAP, AND HAS
RECEIVED SOAP FOR TWO AND A HALF
YEARS, I CAN SAY THAT IT HAS HAD
AN ENORMOUS POSITIVE IMPACT ON
MY LIFE. I AM A FULL TIME
COLLEGE STUDENT, ATTENDING CAL
STATE LONG BEACH, AND I HAVE
BEEN ABLE TO SECURE MY FIRST
APARTMENT, BUY MY FIRST BED,
SLEEP ON THAT BED. BUY MY FIRST
CAR, GET MULTIPLE INTERNSHIPS
AND JOBS AS, AS I SAY, AND HAVE
BEEN ABLE TO EVEN PAY FOR
FUNERAL EXPENSES RELATED TO THE
PASSING OF MY FATHER, WHICH NONE
OF THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE
WITHOUT SOAP, AND AS THE PRICES
OF RENT ARE GOING UP, SO SHOULD
SOAP AND OTHER, BUT OR SOURCES
OF INCOME FOR US, SO TO ENSURE
OR I URGE YOU ALL TO REJECT
THESE CUTS TO THE CHILD WELFARE
SYSTEM, TO FUND OUR FUTURE AND
ENSURE THE GROWTH OF ALL OF THE
FOSTER YOUTH IN THE SYSTEM, IN
THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA. SO
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NAME AND
AFFILIATION, PLEASE. GOOD
AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS AARON
POLANCO. I'M A RECENT GRADUATE
OF CAL STATE UNIVERSITY,
FULLERTON, A MEMBER AND CORE
ORGANIZER FOR SIX SOUTHERN
REGION AND A FORMER FOSTER
YOUTH. I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF UIC
TO ASK THE COMMITTEE TO REJECT
ALL CUTS TO CHILD WELFARE
PROGRAMS, SUCH AS SOAP FIRST AND
HOUSING NAVIGATION MAINTENANCE
PROGRAM, PARTICULARLY PRESERVING
FUNDING FOR THE SOAP HOUSING
SUPPLEMENT. HEARD TODAY UNDER
ISSUE FOUR. AGING OUT OF FOSTER
CARE AND SPECIFICALLY LEGAL
GUARDIANSHIP WITH NO FAMILIAR
SUPPORT OR ACCESS TO SOAP FUNDS,
I WAS SUBJECTED TO YEARS OF
FINANCIAL INSECURITY AND
HOMELESSNESS. EVEN WITH A JOB
AND SCHOOL GRANTS, I COULD STILL
NOT AFFORD TO PAY RENT IN ORANGE
COUNTY. I'M A COOKIE CUTTER
EXAMPLE OF WHAT A FOSTER YOUTH
WHO STRUGGLES TO MEET THE RISING
COST OF LIVING AND EXPERIENCING
HOUSING INSECURITIES HERE IN
CALIFORNIA LOOKS LIKE NOT HAVING
ACCESS TO THE SUPERVISED,
INDEPENDENT LIVING PLACEMENT AND
ITS SUPPLEMENT WAS A VITAL
REASON WHY I EXPERIENCED POVERTY
AND HOMELESSNESS IN MY LATE
TEENS. UNFORTUNATELY, THIS WILL
BE THE REALITY FOR MANY YOUTH
THAT DO NOT RECEIVE THE
SUPPLEMENTAL PROGRAM IF IT IS
DISMANTLED. IF YOU DO NOT WANT
TO SEE FOSTER YOUTH PERPETUATE
CYCLES OF DEPENDANCE, IF YOU DO
NOT WANT TO SEE YOUTH IN SAFE
PLACEMENTS OR ON THE STREET, IF
YOU WANT YOUTH TO HAVE STABILITY
, TO NOT ONLY SURVIVE BUT TO
THRIVE, THEN I URGE YOU TO
OPPOSE THE $18.8 MILLION CUT AND
SUSTAIN CRITICAL PROGRAMS THAT
ARE LIFELINE FOR NUMEROUS FOSTER
YOUTH. THANK YOU TO THE
COMMITTEE FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND
STANDING WITH US IN OUR CAMPAIGN
FOR NOT THESE CUTS, NOT THESE
KIDS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT
UP, NAME, AFFILIATION, PLEASE.
HELLO, MY NAME IS JULIAN JIMENEZ
AND I'M HERE AS A FORMER FOSTER
YOUTH WITH TEN PLUS YEARS OF
LIVED EXPERIENCE, REPRESENTING
CIC, FORMERLY KNOWN AS
CALIFORNIA YOUTH CONNECTION, I'M
HERE TODAY TO ASK YOU ALL TO
REJECT THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSED
CUT TO ELIMINATE THE HOUSING
MAINTENANCE, NAVIGATION PROGRAM
FUNDS. ALTHOUGH THIS IS
IMPORTANT ACROSS THE STATE, I
WANT TO FOCUS ON LA COUNTY,
THESE FUNDS ARE VITAL AND
PROVIDE CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES
WHICH ARE REQUIRED TO ACCESS FYI
VOUCHERS. CURRENTLY LÀ ISN'T
ACCESSING ENOUGH VOUCHERS WHICH
CAN, WHICH CAN, AND WILL LEAD TO
AN INCREASED PERCENTAGE OF
HOMELESS YOUTH ON THE STREETS IF
WE LOSE THESE FUNDS TODAY, I ASK
YOU ALL IN SUPPORT, WITH SIX
COMMUNITY PARTNERS AS WELL AS 24
ASSEMBLY MEMBERS IN SUPPORTING
AND NOT IN REJECTING THESE CUTS.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT UP,
NAME AFFILIATION, PLEASE. HI.
GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS
GABRIELA. I AM A YOUTH OF THE
CALIFORNIA YOUTH CONNECTION. I
WANT TO EXPRESS MY FIRM
OPPOSITION TO THE PROPOSED CHILD
WELFARE BUDGET CUTS,
PARTICULARLY THE ELIMINATION OF
FAMILY URGENT RESPONSE SYSTEM
DISCUSSED IN AGENDA ITEM THREE.
FOR ME, I EXPERIENCED BEING
KICKED OUT OF A FOSTER HOME AT
18, AND MY SOCIAL WORKER AND
TEAM WERE UNRESPONSIVE OF FIRST
FAMILY URGENT RESPONSE TEAM WAS
ABLE TO STEP IN AND CONTACT MY
TEAM AND HELP ME MOVE TO A NEW
PLACE AND MAKE SURE I WAS SAFE.
I WOULDN'T WANT THAT TO BE CUT
OFF. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, GOOD
JOB. NEXT UP, NAME? AFFILIATION,
PLEASE. HELLO, MY NAME IS AMARI
WEATHERBEE AND I AM HERE ON
BEHALF OF CALIFORNIA YOUTH
CONNECTION TO ASK THE COMMITTEE
TO RENOUNCE ALL CUTS TO CHILD
WELFARE AND IN PARTICULAR, TO
PRESERVE FUNDING FOR THE SAFE
HOUSING SUPPLEMENT HEARD UNDER
ISSUE FOUR. TODAY, MOST KIDS
COMING FROM DCFS DO NOT HAVE THE
OPTION TO GO HOME OR REQUEST FOR
HELP. THE INCREASE OF SILK MONEY
WOULD CONTRIBUTE TO LONG TIME
STABILITY ON BEHALF OF ALL
FOSTER KIDS. STABILITY IS
SOMETHING THAT I'VE ALWAYS
PRAYED FOR. YOU NEVER KNOW
TRULY, WHEN YOUR TIME IS UP AT
PLACEMENT, YOU CAN BE STABLE ONE
DAY AND THEN PACKING YOUR STUFF
UP IN A TRASH BAGS THE NEXT. WE
HAVE SOUP. NOW WE HAVE
APARTMENTS THAT WE CAN CALL OUR
OWN. I BELIEVE IT IS URGENT THAT
WE REJECT ALL CUTS FOR CHILD
WELFARE. THE COST OF LIVING WILL
CONTINUE TO GO UP. WHILE MOST OF
US ARE ALREADY IN FINANCIAL
INSECURE SITUATIONS AND OR
TRYING TO GO TO WORK OR SCHOOL,
DCFS KIDS DO NOT GET THE SAME
OPPORTUNITY TO BE NURTURED. LIKE
MANY OTHER KIDS DO. THE SCHOOL
BUDGET WOULD BE SEVERELY
DETRIMENTAL. THANK YOU, THANK
YOU. NAME. AFFILIATION. PLEASE
WHY IS IT ALWAYS UP HERE? I'M
SORRY I GOT THAT ISSUE TOO.
DON'T WORRY. DON'T YOU JUST HATE
THEM TALL PEOPLE? FOR REAL?
YEAH. OKAY, SO THESE ARE SHORT
PEOPLE TALKING. Y'ALL HAVE TO
LET US TALK, HELLO? I'M JACKSON,
AND I'M HERE WITH CALIFORNIA
YOUTH CONNECTIONS. I AM A
COLLEGE STUDENT AND A BUTTE
CHAPTER CHAIR, AS WELL AS A
VOLUNTEER CORPS ORGANIZER IN
BUTTE COUNTY. I AM A FOSTER
YOUTH AND WORK WITH OTHER FOSTER
YOUTH. I KNOW THAT THE YOUTH I
WORK WITH IN BUTTE COUNTY NEED
THESE PROGRAMS, AND THEY ARE
CRITICAL FOR THEIR SUCCESS.
THEREFORE I STAND AGAINST
CUTTING THESE PROGRAMS. I
BELIEVE THAT SOAP AND FURS ARE
VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE THEY BOTH
PROVIDE YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS
WITH SUPPORT TO BE SAFE AND
INDEPENDENT. YOU SEE, I WASN'T
ALWAYS INDEPENDENT. I WAS I
WOULDN'T BE STAYING HERE IF IT
WASN'T FOR THESE PROGRAMS. I
FACED POVERTY, I FACED
HOMELESSNESS AS WELL AS MENTAL
HEALTH CHALLENGES. HOWEVER,
THANKS TO THESE PROGRAMS, I AM
ABLE TO BE SUCCESSFUL TODAY. I
THINK THAT WITHOUT THESE
PROGRAMS, YOUTH ARE NOT ONLY
VULNERABLE, BUT COULD END UP
HOMELESS. SO I AM HERE TO ASK
THAT THESE PROGRAMS TO NOT BE
CUT BECAUSE THEY ARE CRUCIAL PAY
NOW SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO PAY
MORE LATER. THANK YOU, THANK
YOU. WELL DONE. NAME AND
AFFILIATION PLEASE. HI, MY NAME
IS PARKER AND I AM HERE ON
BEHALF OF CIC TO ASK THE
COMMITTEE TO REJECT ALL CUTS TO
CHILD WELFARE AND IN PARTICULAR,
TO PRESERVE FUNDING FOR SOCIAL
HOUSING SUPPLEMENT HEARD UNDER
ISSUE FOUR TODAY. IF THESE
PROGRAMS WERE CUT, I WOULD BE AT
RISK OF LOSING MY APARTMENT AND
BEING HOMELESS. SAME AS WELL AS
OTHER FOSTER YOUTH IN DIFFERENT
REGIONS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME
TODAY. THANK YOU. NAME
AFFILIATION. PLEASE MY NAME IS
SAM AND I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF
CALIFORNIA YOUTH CONNECTION TO
ASK THE COMMITTEE TO REJECT ALL
CUTS TO CHILD WELFARE AND IN
PARTICULAR, TO PRESERVE FUNDING
FOR THE HOUSING SUPPLEMENT UNDER
ISSUE FOUR TODAY. I BELIEVE IT
SHOULD BE REJECTED BECAUSE I
KNOW FOSTER YOUTH THAT ARE
BENEFITING FROM SOAP. AND IF IT
WERE TO BE CUT, IT WOULD AFFECT
MANY FOSTER YOUTH. IT ALSO ADDS
TO THE RISK OF FOSTER YOUTH
BEING HOMELESS. WE WILL ALWAYS
STAND TO SAY, NOT THESE CUTS,
NOT THESE KIDS. THANK YOU FOR
YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. NAME AND
AFFILIATION. PLEASE GOOD
EVENING. MY NAME IS SHEA
DELLAMAGGIORE AND I AM A CURRENT
FOSTER YOUTH. I ALSO HERE
REPRESENTING CALIFORNIA YOUTH
CONNECTION AS WELL AS FOSTER
YOUTH IN MADERA COUNTY AND
ACROSS CALIFORNIA. I. I STAND
HERE OPPOSING ALL CUTS RELATING
TO CHILD WELFARE, SPECIFICALLY
THE CUTS TO SUPERVISE
INDEPENDENT LIVING PLACEMENTS,
HOUSING, NAVIGATION AND
MAINTENANCE PROGRAMS, AND THE
FAMILY URGENT RESPONSE SYSTEM.
AS A YOUTH WHO IS WHO IS
ENTERING EXTENDED FOSTER CARE IN
THE NEXT MONTH, I AM TERRIFIED.
AS WHAT FOR? WHAT IS TO COME IN
MY NEAR FUTURE. THIS FEAR IS
ONLY REAFFIRMED BY THESE
PROPOSED CUTS. NOT ONLY WOULD
YOU BE CUTTING FUNDING TO VITAL
PROGRAMS, YOU WOULD ALSO BE
CUTTING THOUSANDS OF YOUTH
ACCESS TO STABILITY, EDUCATION,
A CAREER AND INDIVIDUAL
INDEPENDENCE AND SUCCESS. YOUTH
ACROSS CALIFORNIA ARE RELYING ON
YOU TO PROTECT AND PROMOTE THEIR
WELL-BEING. NOT THESE CUTS, NOT
THESE KIDS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU
. NAME AFFILIATION, PLEASE. MY
NAME IS ADRIANA. I DON'T KNOW IF
YOU CAN HEAR ME. I CAN HEAR YOU.
OKAY GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS
EUGENE VILLALOBOS. I AM
AFFILIATED WITH CALIFORNIA YOUTH
CONNECTION OR ALSO KNOWN AS CIC.
I'M IN FOSTER CARE AND I'M HERE
TO SPEAK ABOUT THE PROPOSED
BUDGET CUT OF 18.8 MILLION AND
SILP, WHICH STANDS FOR
SUPERVISED INDEPENDENT LIVING
PLACEMENT. AS A 17 YEAR OLD THAT
WILL SOON ENTER COLLEGE IN A FEW
MONTHS, ALONG WITH HAVING NO
FAMILIAL SUPPORT, I HEAVILY RELY
ON THIS PROGRAM SOAP THE IMPACT
OF HAVING THIS RESOURCE TAKEN
FROM NOT ONLY MY LIFE, BUT
THOUSANDS OF OTHERS IS DRASTIC.
HOUSING STABILITY, OUR SUPPORT
AND SAFETY, THE ABILITY TO
THRIVE, THESE ESSENTIAL AND
CRITICAL PARTS OF OUR LIVES ARE
BEING THREATENED AT A STATE WIDE
SCALE. I AM AGAINST THE PROPOSED
CUT. NOT THESE CUTS, NOT THESE
KIDS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
THANK YOU. NAME AFFILIATION,
PLEASE. HI, JACKIE RUTH HEIZER
WITH THE CALIFORNIA ALLIANCE OF
CAREGIVERS, AND WE REPRESENT
FOSTER PARENTS RESOURCE PARENTS,
ADOPTIVE AND GUARDIANSHIP. SO
JUST LIKE EVERYONE ELSE HERE, NO
CUTS TO FIRS, NO CUTS TO SILP.
I'M SUPER IMPRESSED, BY THE WAY,
WITH CALIFORNIA YOUTH CONNECTION
BRINGING OUT THEIR WHOLE TEAM, I
JUST WANT TO SAY, OH MY GOD.
INCREDIBLE, SO YEAH, KUDOS TO
THE TO THE YOUTH WHO ARE SHOWING
UP. AND I, YOU KNOW, I DON'T
HAVE TO GO ON AND ON ABOUT THAT.
IT'S SO IMPORTANT. BUT IT'S SO
IMPORTANT TO THE CAREGIVERS
BECAUSE FIRS IS ONE OF THOSE
PROGRAMS THAT IS REALLY SPECIFIC
TRAUMA AND FORMED TEAMS. I TALK
TO YOU AND COME OUT AND IT
REALLY IS NOT THE SAME AS, FOR
INSTANCE, CALLING 911 OR EVEN
988 BECAUSE CAUSE WHEN YOU RELY
ON OTHER SYSTEMS, THEY OFTEN USE
THE TOOLS AT HAND, AND THEY
OFTEN ARE LAW ENFORCEMENT. AND
WHEN EMERGENCIES HAPPEN WITH OUR
FAMILIES AND OUR YOUTH, THEY'RE
USUALLY IN THE EVENING IN THE
MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT, ON THE
WEEKEND, ON THE HOLIDAYS, AND SO
YOU WANT A TEAM OUT THERE THAT
CALMS EVERYBODY DOWN AND DOESN'T
USE THE TOOLS THAT LAW
ENFORCEMENT OFTEN HAS TO USE
BECAUSE THEY HAVE THEIR OWN
PROTOCOLS. SO I JUST WANT TO
REALLY SAY THANK YOU. LIKE
EVERYONE ELSE HERE SAID, THANK
YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU FOR
STRONGLY SUPPORTING NOT MAKING
THOSE CUTS. BUT I ALSO AM HERE
TO SAY I WE, NOT ME, BUT WE, MY
ORGANIZATION, OUR ORGANIZATION
STRONGLY SUPPORTS THE RATE
PROPOSAL. WE LOVE EVERYTHING
ABOUT IT PRACTICALLY. AND WHAT I
REALLY WANT TO POINT OUT IS MY
COLLEAGUE ALREADY TALKED. MY
COLLEAGUE JUDY ALREADY TALKED
ABOUT ALL THE AMAZING
INNOVATIONS THE ONCE IN A
LIFETIME, ONCE IN A GENERATION,
NOT A LIFETIME. THAT'S LIKE 100
YEARS. HOPEFULLY NOT, BUT ONE OF
THE MAJOR THINGS IS NOT JUST THE
STRENGTH BUILDING AND THE
INNOVATION BEHIND THAT AND THE
IMMEDIATE NEEDS, AND WHAT THAT
WILL DO FOR YOUTH TO OFFSET AND
MITIGATE THE EFFECTS OF TRAUMA.
AND THAT'S WHY THOSE ARE SO
CRITICAL, BUT THAT THE FUNDING
ALSO SUPPORTS EVERY ONE EQUALLY,
LIKE THE EMERGENCY CAREGIVERS
AND I KNOW SHE ALREADY TALKED
ABOUT THAT. SO I DON'T REALLY
WANT TO GO IN THERE, BUT I WANT
TO JUST MENTION IT'S THE DATA
AND OUTCOME MEASURES THAT ARE
ALSO NEEDED TO ENSURE STANDARDS
OF CARE ARE CONSISTENT STATEWIDE
AND VERY BRIEFLY IN A COUNTY
ADMINISTERED CHILD WELFARE
SYSTEM. IT'S COMMON TO HAVE
SIGNIFICANT INCONSISTENCIES IN
SERVICE DELIVERY AND GAPS, AND
YOU HAVE TO HAVE STATE OVERSIGHT
ACCOUNTABILITY MODEL CONTRACTS
WITH STANDARDS OF CARE TO HELP
PROVIDE EQUITABLE SUPPORTS AND
SERVICES TO ALL COUNTIES. AND
THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS WE
REALLY LOVE ABOUT THIS PROPOSAL.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT NAME
AFFILIATION PLEASE. HELLO. MY
NAME. SORRY HELLO. MY NAME IS
TYRA CABRERA AND I AM HERE. I AM
FROM MADERA CHAPTER OF
CALIFORNIA YOUTH CONNECTIONS,
AND I URGE YOU TO RECONSIDER ANY
PROPOSED CUTS TO CHILD WELFARE
PROGRAMS. I WANT TO SPECIFICALLY
FOCUS ON. SORRY. HOLD ON. TAKE
YOUR TIME. THE FUNDING FOR
SUPERVISED INDEPENDENT LIVING
PROGRAM, PLACEMENT CUTTING THESE
FUNDS WILL DRASTICALLY INCREASE
THE RATES OF HOMELESSNESS
AMONGST FOSTER YOUTH. AS SOMEONE
WHO WILL RELY ON THESE FUNDS IN
THE FUTURE, I WANT TO EMPHASIZE
THAT THESE FUNDS ARE VITAL TO MY
SUCCESS AS A YOUNG ADULT. BY
MAKING THESE CUTS, IT WILL CAUSE
AN UNDENIABLE HARDSHIP TO ALL
THAT CAN BENEFIT FROM THIS
FUNDING. WE STAND TO STAY. NOT
THESE CUTS, NOT THESE KIDS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK
YOU. NAME AND AFFILIATION
PLEASE. GREETINGS ASSEMBLY
MEMBER I AM ISAKO CIC ORGANIZER
FOR LOS ANGELES. I STAND BEFORE
YOU TO ASK THE COMMITTEE TO
REJECT ALL CUTS THAT SUPPORT OUR
FUTURE IN PARTICULAR. SO HOUSING
SUPPLEMENT AND HMP UNDER ISSUE
FOUR APRIL 3RD 2024. AS A FORMER
FOSTER YOUTH WHO BENEFIT SHIFTED
FROM SILK, I REMEMBER THE
IMPORTANCE OF HAVING MY RENT
COVERED AS AS THE HOUSING MARKET
FLUCTUATED IN 2021, PREVENTING
ME FROM RETURNING TO THE STREETS
OF EXPENSIVE LA IN CALIFORNIA.
IT COSTS 14,002 HOUSING SUPPORT.
FOSTER YOUTH, WHICH IS SIX TIMES
LESS THAN A HOMELESS SHELTER
WITHOUT SERVICES AND 42% OF MY
COMMUNITY USES THIS PROGRAM. NOT
THESE CUTS, NOT THESE KIDS.
SINCE OCTOBER OF LAST YEAR, HMP
INCREASED THE UTILIZATION OF FII
FUP VOUCHERS IN CALIFORNIA BY BY
54. FYI VOUCHERS HAVE. SORRY, I
THINK I'M GONNA PASS OUT. HOLD
ON. YOU'RE OKAY? OKAY. FYI,
VOUCHERS PREVENT HOMELESS AMONG
FOSTER YOUTH BEFORE IT HAPPENS.
NOW, WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE IS
THE FUTURE OF FOSTER YOUTH, THE
NEXT GENERATION TO COME. AND MY
SIBLINGS WILL BE FALLING THROUGH
CRACKS AND INTO THE STREETS.
INSTEAD OF BEING CALIFORNIA'S
FUTURE PROFESSIONALS, PLEASE
OPPOSE THESE CUTS ON THESE
VALUABLE AND IMPORTANT PROGRAMS
TO MY COMMUNITY. AND THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. WELL DONE. YOU CAN
BREATHE NOW. DON'T PASS OUT. HI.
GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS
MERCEDES PARKER. I'M A STAFF
MEMBER WITH CALIFORNIA YOUTH
CONNECTION, AND I HAVE THE
PRIVILEGE OF WORKING WITH YOUNG
PEOPLE IN SACRAMENTO, YOLO AND
BUTTE COUNTY, AS WELL AS ALL
OVER THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA,
OUR MEMBERS CAME FROM ALL OVER
TODAY TO CONVEY THE URGENCY OF
THESE PROGRAMS AND HOW NEEDED
THEY ARE. SO THEY SAID IT WAY
BETTER THAN I COULD, SO I JUST
WANT TO SAY, NOT THESE CUTS, NOT
THESE KIDS. AND WE REJECT ALL
PROPOSAL, ALL PROPOSED BUDGET
CUTS TO CHILD WELFARE PROGRAMS.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NOT TO
COMPETE WITH NAME AFFILIATION,
PLEASE. NOW YOU'RE GOING TO SET
UP EVERYONE ELSE TALL PEOPLE
PROBLEMS. I'M SORRY. OH, MAN,
HI. MY NAME IS CESAR SOSA. I AM
WITH CALIFORNIA YOUTH
CONNECTION, AND I AM THE I AM
THE STATEWIDE CORE ORGANIZER,
MEMBER, ORGANIZER. GOOD
AFTERNOON. ASSEMBLY MEMBERS, AS
YOU HEARD, MY NAME IS CESAR, AND
I AM HERE ON BEHALF OF
CALIFORNIA YOUTH CONNECTION. WE
ARE ASKING THE COMMITTEE TO
REJECT ALL CUTS OF CHILD WELFARE
AND, SPEAK FROM THE HEART HERE.
I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT MAINLY
SILP AND THE 18.8 MILLION THAT
IS GOING TO BE CUT WITH IT. I'M
CURRENTLY A SILVER RECIPROCATE,
AND BECAUSE OF THAT, I'M
ACTUALLY ABLE TO ATTEND COLLEGE
FULL TIME, GOING TO CERRITOS
COLLEGE AND I'M WORKING NIGHTS
AND AS YOU ALREADY KNOW, LIKE
THE AVERAGE COST OF JUST LIVING
IN THE LA AREA IS ALMOST LIKE
2000 A MONTH. AND THAT'S IF YOU
GET LIKE A REALLY CRAPPY PLACE,
A SMALL PLACE, AMEN. SO, YEAH.
AND BUT LIKE IN, IN AND OF
ITSELF, IT'S $1,200. SO EVEN
GOING TO SCHOOL FULL TIME, I
NEED TO WORK THAT NIGHT SHIFT.
BUT IT'S KEEPING ME AFLOAT. IT'S
KEEPING ME LIKE I CAN FURTHER MY
EDUCATION AND TRY TO GET OUT OF
THAT. THAT CYCLE OF POVERTY. AND
I AND CUTTING THIS, MAKING
BUDGET CUTS TO THAT IS
DETRIMENTAL TO THE FOSTER
COMMUNITY, IT'S ALREADY IT'S
ALREADY SHOWN THAT THE PRICE OF
RENT IS GOING TO RAISE. AND IF
OUR SUPPORT DOESN'T RAISE WITH
IT, IT'S NOW WE'RE BARELY ABOVE
THE WATER. NOW THE YOUTH IS
GOING TO BE LEFT TO THEN JUST
START DROWNING AND AS STRUGGLING
AS IT IS, THESE AREN'T THE
PLACES TO MAKE THE CUTS. AND
THIS BRINGS ME TO MY SECOND
POINT ON THE FURS FOR FURS.
THAT'S ALSO A VERY DETRIMENTAL
TO, KEEPING THE WELL-BEING OF
FOSTER YOUTH. THAT IS THE FIRST
LINE OF, SUPPORT FOR A LOT OF
FOSTER YOUTH. YOU KNOW, THEY GET
OVER 5000 CALLS EVERY YEAR. AND
THESE AREN'T CALLS OF. HI, I'M
JUST A LITTLE CONFUSED. THESE
ARE CALLS LIKE, HI, I'VE $1 80IN
MY POCKET, I'M 18 YEARS OLD AND
I'M HOMELESS BECAUSE THAT WAS
ME. THAT WAS MY CALL TO THEM.
I'M LIKE, I'M HOMELESS AND I
HAVE NOTHING. AND SO THIS. AND
BECAUSE THERE IS NO THERE IS NO
PARENT YOU CAN CALL FOR THAT. IT
IS IT IS NOW THAT IS OUR SUPPORT
AS FOSTER YOUTH, SO WITH THESE
BUDGET CUTS IN, IF THESE BUDGET
CUTS DO HAPPEN WITH SILK, I
BELIEVE THAT THAT'S GOING TO
STOP THE EDUCATION OF A LOT OF
OUR FOSTER YOUTH AND INCREASE
THE PIPELINE TO HOMELESSNESS. I
WANT TO END WITH THIS. THIS IS A
VITAL USE OF FUNDS IN WHICH TO
URGE YOU TO OPPOSE ALL OF THESE
CUTS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK
YOU. HI. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME
IS JASMINE HARRIS. I'M WITH
CALIFORNIA YOUTH CONNECTION, AND
I'M HERE TO ASK THAT WE DO NOT
DO ANY CUTS THAT NEGATIVELY
IMPACT FOSTER YOUTH OR THE CHILD
WELFARE SYSTEM. WHEN WE TALK
ABOUT THE CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM,
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A SYSTEM
THAT WAS CREATED TO PROTECT
YOUNG PEOPLE. WHEN YOUTH ENTER
THIS SYSTEM, THE STATE MAKES A
PROMISE THAT THEY WILL TAKE CARE
OF THESE YOUNG PEOPLE. HOWEVER,
WE SEE ALL KINDS OF NEGLECT AND
TRAUMA HAPPENING AT THE HANDS OF
THE STATE AND THESE BUDGET CUTS
CAN CONTINUE TO PERPETUATE THAT.
ANOTHER THING WHEN WE LOOK AT
THE SYSTEM IS THAT WE ALSO SEE
RACIAL DISPARITIES. SO WHEN WE
TALK ABOUT NOT THESE CUTS AND
NOT THESE KIDS, I ALSO WANT TO
MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT
WHO THESE KIDS ARE. THESE KIDS
ARE YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE COMING
FROM, COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE BEEN
HISTORICALLY DISENFRANCHIZED AND
DISINVESTED IN. AND THIS IS A
MOVEMENT TOWARD DISINVESTING IN
THESE COMMUNITIES. ONCE AGAIN,
WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SOME OF
THESE CUTS, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
THE HOUSING, NAVIGATION AND
MAINTENANCE PROGRAM. THIS
PROGRAM WAS CREATED TO ALLOW
COUNTIES TO ACCESS FEDERAL
FUNDING THAT IS ALREADY
AVAILABLE. LOCAL HOUSING
AUTHORITIES HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY
TO OPT IN TO AT LEAST 50
VOUCHERS A YEAR, AND HAVE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO ASK FOR MORE, AS
THE NEED IS, AS THE NEED, IS
THERE, WHICH, CALIFORNIA AND ALL
ACROSS THE WE KNOW WORLD NATION,
WE KNOW THAT HOMELESSNESS IS AN
ISSUE. AND WHEN WE LOOK AT THE
NATION, SACRAMENTO IS NUMBER
THREE IN THE NATION AND LOS
ANGELES IS NUMBER TWO IN THE
NATION, WHICH MEANS CALIFORNIA
IS LEADING HOMELESSNESS IN THIS
NATION. AND HOW ARE WE
ADDRESSING THAT? APPARENTLY BY
MAKING BUDGET CUTS. I WANT US TO
LOOK BACK AT THIS BUDGET AND
LOOK AT WHERE, AGAIN, WHO THESE
YOUNG PEOPLE ARE AND WHO HOW
THESE BUDGET CUTS ARE GOING TO
IMPACT OUR COMMUNITIES. ANOTHER
BUDGET CUT IS A $30 MILLION THAT
WOULD COMPLETELY WIPE OUT THE
FERS PROGRAM. THE FIRST PROGRAM
ARE FAMILY URGENT RESPONSE
SYSTEM IS A HOTLINE THAT WAS
CREATED TO DIRECTLY CONNECT
CHILD WELFARE FAMILIES WITH A
NONVIOLENT INTERVENTION. THÀNH
OPPORTUNITY. THESE
OPPORTUNITIES, PREVENT POLICE
INTERVENTION, ALSO ALLOW FOR
PLACEMENT PRESERVATION, ALLOWING
FOR YOUTH TO STAY IN THEIR
COMMUNITIES, ALLOWING FOR
DE-ESCALATION, PREVENTING
INSTANCES OF POLICE BRUTALITY,
AND ALSO PROVIDING AN
ALTERNATIVE RESOURCE WHILE
LISTENING TO COMMUNITIES, RIGHT
COMMUNITIES, JUST A FEW YEARS
AGO, RALLIED OUTSIDE OF THESE
DOORS TO SAY, DEFUND THE POLICE.
AND THIS IS A MOVEMENT TOWARD A
SYSTEM THAT CAN LISTEN TO THE
COMMUNITY AND MEET THEIR NEEDS
IN NONVIOLENT WAYS. I ASK AGAIN
THAT YOU DO NOT CUT FIRST. WHEN
WE LOOK A LOT OF FOLKS ARE
SAYING THERE'S OTHER HOTLINES,
OTHER HOTLINES DO NOT PROVIDE
IN-PERSON CARE. PLEASE. SORRY.
THANK YOU. IN-PERSON CARE AND
MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE
ADDRESSING THE NEEDS AS THEY ARE
COMING. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
YOUR NAME AND AFFILIATION,
PLEASE. HELLO. MY NAME IS TASHA
BURNS YOUNG. I AM A FAR NORTH
CORE ORGANIZER WITH CALIFORNIA
YOUTH CONNECTIONS, I AM FROM
COMPTON, CALIFORNIA AND I'M
GRADUATING WITH MY COMPUTER
SCIENCE DEGREE AND STARTING MY
MASTER'S IN CYBER, CYBER
SECURITY AND ANALYTICS. AND MY
GIRL BENCOMO. OH, YOU AIN'T DONE
MY BACHELOR'S AND MY SECOND
BACHELOR'S IN SOFTWARE
ENGINEERING AT CAL POLY
HUMBOLDT. THIS FALL. I'M
AMBITIOUS BECAUSE I WAS ONCE
FORGOTTEN IN MY FAMILY HAS A
LONG HISTORY BEING A PART OF THE
FOSTER CARE SYSTEM, STARTING
WITH MY GRANDMOTHER. I ENCOURAGE
MEMBERS TO REJECT THESE BUDGET
CUTS BECAUSE I STAND BEFORE YOU
TODAY. I BELIEVE IN THE SUPPORT
FOR FOSTER YOUTH AND MANY YOUTH
TO COME. I AM A LIVING EXAMPLE
OF THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT THIS
BUDGET WILL BE CUTTING. MY
PURPOSE IS TO REPRESENT MY
FAMILY AND FOR ALL FOSTER YOUTH
AND JUVENILE YOUTH ALIKE, TO
BELIEVE THAT THERE IS A
POSSIBILITY TO BE SUCCESSFUL. WE
NEED TO SUPPORT AND WE NEED WE
NEED THESE SUPPORT AND RESOURCES
TO BE ABLE TO SURVIVE AND
PROSPER. PLEASE THINK ON THESE
WORDS. I ALONE CANNOT CHANGE THE
WORLD, BUT I CAN CAST A STONE
ACROSS THE WATERS TO CREATE MANY
RIPPLES. MOTHER TERESA, THANK
YOU. WELL DONE. NAME AND
AFFILIATION. PLEASE HI, MY NAME
IS BRANDY RODRIGUEZ. I AM THE
COMMUNITY ADVOCACY COORDINATOR
IN THE CENTRAL VALLEY WITH
CALIFORNIA YOUTH CONNECTION, I
DON'T THINK I COULD STATE IT AS
SAID EARLIER, ANY BETTER THAN
OUR YOUTH HAVE BEEN ADVOCATING
FOR THEMSELVES. BUT I DEFINITELY
WANT TO LET YOU ALL KNOW THAT AS
A DIRECT ADVOCATE FOR FOSTER
YOUTH, I SEE SEVERAL YOUTH
DIRECTLY IMPACTED AND EXIT CARE
WITH NO FINANCIAL SUPPORT IN
PLACE AND OFTENTIMES BECOME
HOMELESS WITH INFLATION IN
CALIFORNIA. AND IF THESE CUTS
HAPPEN, IT WOULD BECOME
DRASTICALLY MORE DIFFICULT FOR
YOUTH TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD SAFE
HOUSING ON THEIR OWN AND STILL
FOCUS ON HAVING A SUCCESSFUL
FUTURE. FOR THIS REASON, I SAY
NOT THESE CUTS, NOT THESE KIDS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK
YOU. NAME AND AFFILIATION.
PLEASE HELLO. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY
NAME IS CAITLIN PETERSON. I'M
WITH THE PSYCH SACRAMENTO COUNTY
CHAPTER AND I AM HERE TODAY TO
TELL YOU TO REBUKE ALL OF YOUR
BUDGET CUTS FOR AN NCMP SOME
SOUP AND FYI, VOUCHERS AND THE
LIKE THAT SERVE COMMUNITIES FOR
THE FORMER FOSTER YOUTH
COMMUNITY TO BE VULNERABLE. I AM
A MCKINNEY-VENTO FOSTER YOUTH. I
LEARNED THAT I HAD A VERIFIED A
FORMER FOSTER YOUTH VERIFICATION
LETTER LAST NOVEMBER, BUT FOR
THOSE SEVEN YEARS FROM 16.5 TO
23 YEARS OLD, I WAS WORKING 1 TO
4 JOBS IN REAL IN THE COUNTY, IN
SACRAMENTO COUNTY AND ELK GROVE
COUNTY, WITH TWIN RIVERS UNIFIED
WITH SAC CITY UNIFIED SCHOOL
DISTRICT AS A PARAEDUCATOR, A
SUBSTITUTE TEACHER, ANY TYPE OF
EDUCATION JOB I COULD WORK
BECAUSE IT WORKED WITH MY SCHOOL
SCHEDULE AND KEPT ME OFF OF THE
STREETS. THESE RESOURCES, THESE
PROGRAMS, ARE PICKING PEOPLE UP
FROM FALLING THROUGH THE CRACKS.
I WAS JUST THE WARD. I AGED OUT
OF THE SYSTEM BEFORE I KNEW I
WAS IN IT, AND THERE ARE
COUNTLESS YOUTH ACROSS
SACRAMENTO WHERE WE ARE RESIDING
TODAY THAT DO NOT GET THESE
RESOURCES, THAT DO NOT GET TO GO
TO COLLEGE AND FOR THE PARENTS
AND THE ANCESTORS THAT I AND
MANY PEOPLE AND FOSTER FORMER
FOSTER YOUTH GET TO HAVE THE
BLESSING TO GO TO SCHOOL AND
HONOR. I HOPE THESE RESOURCES
CAN CONTINUE TO BRING YOUTH INTO
THE HIGH FUNCTIONING PART OF OUR
ECONOMY. I HOPE THAT THESE
RESOURCES PROVIDE CHILDREN LIKE
ME, WITH THE PRIDE AND HOPE TO
BE ABLE TO BE MEMBERS OF SOCIETY
THAT GIVE BACK. THANK YOU, THANK
YOU. NAME AFFILIATION, PLEASE,
HELLO. MY NAME IS DESIREE
PATTERSON, I AM A CO-ORGANIZER
FOR THE NORTH REGION. I'M BASED
IN SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA, I AM
A GUARDIAN SCHOLAR AT SAC STATE.
I'M ALSO A THIRD GENERATION
FOSTER YOUTH TRYING TO BREAK
THAT CYCLE, AND I WOULDN'T HAVE
BEEN ABLE TO DO SO WITHOUT THESE
RESOURCES. I JUST WANT TO URGE
THAT THESE FUNDS ARE REALLY
IMPORTANT TO THESE FOSTER YOUTH
AND GOING INTO TRANSITION
PLANNING INTO ADULTHOOD. SO I
URGE YOU, NOT THESE CUTS, NOT
THESE KIDS. THANK YOU. NAME
AFFILIATION, PLEASE. GOOD
AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS DEVIN
WILLIAMS. I'M A CORE ORGANIZER
FOR CALIFORNIA YOUTH CONNECTIONS
AND I'M HERE TO REAFFIRM SYKES
POSITION, NOT THESE CUTS, NOT
THESE KIDS, AND TO HOPEFULLY
INSPIRE EACH OF YOU TO
REEVALUATE THE BUDGET PROPOSAL
BEING DISCUSSED TODAY AS A
FOSTER YOUTH MYSELF, THAT HAS
BENEFITED FROM SOME OF THE
PROGRAMS AND SERVICES AFFECTED
BY THE BUDGET PROPOSAL, THESE
PROGRAMS ARE PARAMOUNT TO THE
SUCCESS AND DEVELOPMENT OF
FOSTER YOUTH ACROSS THE STATE
AND SHOULD BE INVESTED IN
FURTHER, NOT STRIPPED OF THEIR
ABILITIES TO PROVIDE THOSE LIKE
MYSELF, NOT STRIPPED OF THEIR
ABILITY TO PROVIDE THOSE FOR
THOSE LIKE MYSELF THAT ARE IN
NEED. ELEANOR ROOSEVELT SAID THE
FUTURE BELONGS TO THOSE WHO
BELIEVE IN THE BEAUTY OF THEIR
DREAMS. WE AT CIC URGE YOU TO
TAKE A MOMENT AND CONSIDER HOW
THESE CHANGES WILL NEGATIVELY
IMPACT THE LIVES OF FOSTER YOUTH
, TO BELIEVE IN THE BEAUTY OF
THE DREAMS THAT WE HAVE AS AN
ORGANIZATION FOR THE PROSPERITY
OF FOSTER YOUTH. THANK YOU,
THANK YOU. NAME AND AFFILIATION.
PLEASE HELLO, MY NAME IS JESSICA
FUENTES, AND I PROUDLY SERVE AS
A MEMBER OF THE BAY AREA
LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE FOR
CALIFORNIA YOUTH CONNECTION. AS
A FORMER FOSTER YOUTH WHO HAS
EXPERIENCED HOMELESSNESS, HAVING
ACCESS TO SELF SUPERVISED,
INDEPENDENT LIVING PLACEMENT HAS
BEEN AN INSTRUMENTAL PART IN
ALLOWING ME TO FOCUS ON MY
EDUCATION AND ULTIMATELY
GRADUATE AS AN AIRCRAFT
MECHANIC. IT'S IMPERATIVE THAT
WE REFRAIN FROM CUTTING FUNDING,
ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING THE
SOARING COST OF LIVING WHICH
ALREADY BURDENS YOUTH PROGRAMS
LIKE FURS, SILK AND HOUSING,
NAVIGATION, PLAY A CRUCIAL ROLE
IN HELPING US TRANSITION INTO
SUCCESSFUL AND THRIVING ADULTS.
RATHER THAN BECOMING A MERE
STATISTIC, CIC SAYS. NOT THESE
CUTS, NOT THESE KIDS. THANK YOU,
THANK YOU. NAME AND AFFILIATION,
PLEASE. OKAY. RICHARDSON DAVIS
WITH THE CALIFORNIA COUNCIL OF
COMMUNITY BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
AGENCIES, WE ARE, OPPOSING THE,
CUTS THAT WE'RE DISCUSSING. THE
ISSUE, IN ITEM NUMBER THREE
TODAY. AND, THANK YOU FOR YOUR
TIME. HAVE A GOOD ONE. THANK
YOU. NAME IT. WOW HOW ARE YOU?
THE LAST ONE. HELLO NO ONE ELSE
POPPING UP OUT OF THE POPPING
OUT OF THE CHAIRS AND STUFF.
Y'ALL WERE POPPING OUT OF
EVERYWHERE. GO AHEAD. NO. THANK
YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. MY
NAME IS CHRISTOPHER HERNANDEZ. I
LEAD THE LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT
AT CALIFORNIA YOUTH CONNECTION,
YOUTH TODAY CAME ACROSS CAME
FROM ACROSS THE STATE TO EDUCATE
OFFICES AND LEGISLATORS. OUR
MEMBERS MET WITH YOUR OFFICE AND
ALL THE COMMITTEE STAFF AND THEN
DROPPED OFF OUR PACKET FOR
CAMPAIGN DETAILS, OUR CONTACT
INFORMATION IS THERE, PSYCH SAYS
NOT THESE CUTS. THESE KIDS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU.
WELL DONE. EVERYONE I WANT TO
THANK EVERYONE WHO'S
PARTICIPATED. I WANT TO THANK,
NICOLE, AS ALWAYS, AS COMMITTEE
STAFF FOR PUTTING EVERYTHING
TOGETHER, ALL THE MATERIALS,
KEEPING THE REST OF US STRAIGHT.
WANT TO THANK THE SERGEANTS, FOR
DEALING WITH MY ANTI AIR
CONDITIONING ISSUES, WANT TO
THANK, CS, AS ALWAYS ON YOUR
TEAM, DIRECTOR JOHNSON WANT TO
THANK, DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AND
LAO FOR ALL OF YOUR HARD WORK.
AND THEN, OF COURSE, CIC WELL
DONE. CAME OUT ROLLING DEEP.
GOOD JOB, AND ALL THE ONES WHO
PARTICIPATED ON THE PANELS AS
WELL. AND DIRECTOR KILGORE. AS
WELL, I NOTICED WE ARE MOUNTAIN
DEW BUDDIES. AND SO, WE'LL TALK,
THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH, AGAIN,
TOUGH DECISIONS AHEAD, BUT WE
WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT NO MATTER
WHAT WE DO, THAT WE DO IT WITH
THOUGHTFUL DISCUSSION, THAT WE
DO IT WITH A MORAL COMPASS, AND
WE DO IT IN A WAY THAT WE CAN
ALL BE PROUD OF THE PROCESS,
THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH, AND WE
ARE NOW ADJOURNED