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AB-2259 Foster youth: substance use disorders.(2021-2022)

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Date Published: 06/22/2022 09:00 PM
AB2259:v97#DOCUMENT

Amended  IN  Senate  June 22, 2022
Amended  IN  Assembly  May 19, 2022

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2021–2022 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill
No. 2259


Introduced by Assembly Member Berman

February 16, 2022


An act to add Section 16015 to the Welfare and Institutions Code, relating to foster youth.


LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


AB 2259, as amended, Berman. Foster youth: substance use disorders.
Existing law generally provides for the placement of foster youth in various placement settings. Existing law states that it is the policy of the state that all minors and nonminors in foster care have specified rights, including, among others, the right to receive substance use disorder services with reasonable promptness that meets the needs of the child, to have diagnoses and services explained in an understandable manner, and to participate in decisions regarding health care treatment and services.
This bill would require the State Department of Social Services, in collaboration with the State Department of Health Care Services, to establish a grant program to fund the development and implementation of evidence-based models and promising practices to serve foster youth with substance use disorders who are residing in family-based settings. The bill would require the State Department of Social Services, in the establishment of the grant program, to take specified actions, including, among others, developing an application process and establishing requirements for models and practices funded with a grant. The bill would require the State Department of Health Care Services to provide technical assistance to grantees, counties, and providers to support implementation of evidence-based models and promising practices. The bill would also require the State Department of Social Services to submit progress reports relating to the grant program to the Legislature during annual budget hearings. The bill would make these provisions operative upon an appropriation by the Legislature.
Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: YES   Local Program: NO  

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:


SECTION 1.

 Section 16015 is added to the Welfare and Institutions Code, to read:

16015.
 (a) The department, in collaboration with the State Department of Health Care Services, shall establish a grant program to fund the development and implementation of evidence-based models and promising practices to serve foster youth with substance use disorders who are residing in family-based settings.
(b) The department shall administer the grant program consistent with the requirements of this section and with the input of the stakeholders described in subdivision (d).
(c) In establishing the grant program described in this section, the department shall do all of the following:
(1) Develop an application process for eligible applicants, which includes county child welfare agencies, county probation agencies, county behavioral health agencies, foster family agencies, substance use disorder providers, tribal organizations within the state that serve as child welfare services agencies, and wraparound service providers.
(2) Develop criteria for awarding funding.
(3) Establish requirements for models and practices funded with a grant described in this section. The requirements shall include that the models and practices include, at minimum, trauma-informed approaches to serving foster youth, harm-reduction approaches in service delivery, posttreatment support planning, and training for clinical service providers to support foster youth with cooccurring substance use and mental health needs.
(4) Require grantees to collect data relating to the models and practices funded with a grant described in this section. Data required to be collected shall include, but not be limited to, data relating to the age of youth served, program duration, completion rates, recidivism relapse rates, and youth outcomes at 6 months and 12 months after treatment.
(5) Require grantees to submit periodic reports, including, at a minimum, progress reports every six months that address the grantee’s implementation activities, the number and characteristics of youth served, and completion rates, and an annual outcome report.
(d) The department shall convene stakeholders to advise in the development of the grant program, including, but not limited to, the Chief Probation Officers of California, County Behavioral Health Directors Association of California, County Welfare Directors Association of California, substance use disorder providers, children and youth advocacy organizations, and other stakeholders, as determined by the department. The department shall seek out and identify evidence-based models and promising practices in California and in other states to provide guidance and support to grantees in the implementation of local programs.
(e) The department and State Department of Health Care Services shall provide technical assistance to grantees, counties, and providers to support implementation of evidence-based models and promising practices, including strategies for leveraging funding through specialty mental health services and other Medi-Cal funding, consistent with federal and state laws.
(f) (1) The department shall, in consultation with the State Department of Health Care Services, provide progress reports to the Legislature during annual budget hearings, summarizing the number of applicant agencies, number of grantees, number of youth served, outcomes for those youth served, and any other information reported to the department by grantees pursuant to subdivision (c). All information submitted to the Legislature pursuant to this subdivision shall be deidentified.
(2) A report to be submitted pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code.
(g) This section shall become operative upon an appropriation by the Legislature for the express purpose of implementing the grant program established pursuant to this section.