The Department of Health Care Services has contracted with the
California Institute for Behavioral Health Solutions to offer
technical assistance, training, and resources to support the
statewide implementation of CCR, Continuum of Care Reform. On
October 11, 2015, Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. signed legislation
that comprehensively reforms placement and treatment options for
youth in foster care. Assembly Bill 403,(Stone D-Monterey)
sponsored by the California Department of Social Services (CDSS),
builds upon years of policy changes to improve outcomes for youth
in foster care.
This effort known as the Continuum of Care Reform draws together
a series of existing and new reforms to our child welfare
services program designed out of an understanding that children
who must live apart from their biological parents do best when
they are cared for in committed nurturing family homes. AB 403
provides the statutory and policy framework to ensure services
and supports provided to the child or youth and his or her family
are tailored toward the ultimate goal of maintaining a stable
permanent family. Reliance on congregate care should be limited
to short-term, therapeutic interventions that are just one part
of a continuum of care available for children, youth, and young
adults.
CIBHS provided Specialty Mental Health Services (SMHS) Medi-Cal
101 Training throughout California in 2016-17. These trainings
were for Foster Family Agencies and Group Homes who are
interested in becoming Therapeutic Foster Care (TFC) providers,
and Short Term Residential Therapeutic Centers (STRTPS).