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AB-2941 Parents and youth: helpline and online support.(2023-2024)

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Date Published: 03/20/2024 09:00 PM
AB2941:v98#DOCUMENT

Amended  IN  Assembly  March 20, 2024

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2023–2024 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill
No. 2941

Introduced by Assembly Member Grayson

February 15, 2024

An act to add Chapter 14.2 (commencing with Section 18994.91) to Part 6 of Division 9 to the Welfare and Institutions Code, relating to public social services.


LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


AB 2941, as amended, Grayson. Parents and youth: helpline and online support.
Existing law provides for various programs and services to support parents, children, and families, including the Home Visiting Program under the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) program, which provides case management and evidence-based home visiting for the purpose of family support, and family preservation services, which are services for children and families designed to help families at risk or in crisis.
This bill would, subject to an appropriation by the Legislature for this purpose, require the State Department of Social Services to contract with the a nonprofit organization, Parents Anonymous Inc., organization to operate and maintain the California Parent Youth Helpline to provide emotional support through calls, live chats, and texts 7 days a week and weekly online groups for parents, children, and youth to strengthen their families. The bill would require the nonprofit organization to meet specified qualifications and would specify the responsibilities of Parents Anonymous Inc., the nonprofit organization to also include, among other things, providing statewide marketing and outreach to parents, children, and youth and distributing parenting, child development, and resiliency program materials. The bill would make findings and declarations related to these provisions.
Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: NOYES   Local Program: NO  

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


SECTION 1.

 The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:
(a) In May 2020, California developed the California Parent & Youth Helpline (helpline), a free helpline for diverse parents, children, and youth up to 25 years of age needing immediate emotional support, and Evidence-Based Parents Anonymous groups to enhance mental health and personal growth and change.
(b) The helpline was developed in response to the growing need for additional mental health resources because of COVID-19 and offers free emotional support through innovative, evidence-based programs proven to strengthen the empowerment journey of parents, children, youth, and communities.
(c) With initial funding from the State Department of Social Services (CDSS), the helpline has provided necessary tools and resources to thousands of parents and children in need of emotional support for the last three years.
(d) Seventy-seven thousand diverse parents, children, and youth statewide received emotional support on the helpline and through the Evidence-Based Parents Anonymous free weekly support groups as a result of this program.
(e) The helpline’s internet website has garnered over 1,000,000 page views and unique visitors seeking resources and wanting to connect to all Evidence-Based Parents Anonymous programs statewide.
(f) According to Title IV-E Prevention Services Clearinghouse, Parents Anonymous is the only culturally responsive program in the nation that is proven to effectively improve parenting, enhance mental health, and reduce substance abuse while ensuring child safety for diverse families with children and youth of all ages.
(g) CDSS should continue to contract with a nonprofit organization to operate and maintain the helpline to provide emotional support to help strengthen families through calls, live chats, and texts seven days a week and weekly online evidence-based support groups for parents, children, and youth.

SECTION 1.SEC. 2.

 Chapter 14.2 (commencing with Section 18994.91) is added to Part 6 of Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, to read:
CHAPTER  14.2. California Parent and Youth Support

18994.91.
 (a) Subject to an appropriation by the Legislature for this purpose in the annual Budget Act or another act, the State Department of Social Services shall contract with the a nonprofit organization, Parents Anonymous Inc., organization to operate and maintain both of the following:
(1) The California Parent and Youth Helpline to provide emotional support through calls, live chats, and texts seven days a week.
(2) Weekly online evidence-based support groups for parents, children, and youth to strengthen their families.
(b) The nonprofit organization shall have all of the following qualifications:
(1) Formally recognized as a culturally responsive program by the California Evidence-Based Clearinghouse for Child Welfare in at least five program areas with the highest relevance to child welfare, including, but not limited to:
(A) Parent Partner Programs for Families Involved in the Child Welfare System.
(B) Parent Training Programs that Address Behavior Problems in Children and Adolescents.
(C) Parent Training Programs that Address Child Abuse and Neglect.
(D) Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (Primary) Programs.
(E) Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (Secondary) Programs.
(F) Interventions for Abusive Behavior.
(2) Formally recognized as a culturally responsive program by the Title IV-E Prevention Services Clearinghouse.

(b)

(c) In executing this grant, the responsibilities of Parents Anonymous Inc. the nonprofit organization shall include, but are not limited to, all of the following, subject to available funds:
(1) Providing evidence- and strengths-based prevention and intervention services on the California Parent and Youth Helpline and through weekly online groups for parents, children, and youth. youth for a minimum of five years.
(2) Providing statewide marketing and outreach to parents, children, and youth.
(3) Distributing parenting, child development, and resiliency program materials.
(4) Providing technical assistance and building strategic partnerships with county agencies working with child welfare, mental health, public health, health, social services, and education.
(5) Enhancing parent, child, and family well-being, and mitigating and preventing adverse childhood experiences.
(6) Providing leadership training throughout the state to maintain the California Parent Leadership Team operated by Parents Anonymous Inc.
(7) Enabling parents with lived expertise be represented in policy, program, and evaluation discussions on child welfare, mental health, and prevention services to achieve positive outcomes for all families.