Children’s Crisis Continuum Pilot Program.

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary does not provide details on how much funding will be available for the pilot program.

Children’s Crisis Continuum Pilot Program

This law allows participating entities in the Children's Crisis Continuum Pilot Program to use grant funds for other parts of their care plan if they don't have a crisis residential program, and it lets the state extend grant agreements beyond five years if needed.

What This Bill Does

• Allows participating organizations without a crisis residential program to use all awarded grant funds, including any specifically designated for a crisis residential program, to fund other components of their care plan.
• Permits the State Department of Social Services (DSS) and the State Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) to extend grant agreements beyond five years if needed, upon written request from participating entities that demonstrate they have unexpended funds and need an extension to complete activities or close out grants.

Who It Names or Affects

• Participating entities in the Children’s Crisis Continuum Pilot Program
• Foster youth served by these programs

Terms To Know

continuum of care

A system that provides a range of services and support to help people with different needs.

grant agreement

An official contract between the state and an organization, giving them money for specific projects or activities.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not specify how much funding will be available.
• It is unclear which organizations will participate in the pilot program.
• The exact criteria for extending grant agreements are not detailed.

Official Summary Text

AB 1579, as amended, Ramos.
Children’s Crisis Continuum Pilot Program.
Existing law requires the State Department of Social Services (department), jointly with the State Department of Health Care Services (DHCS), to establish the Children’s Crisis Continuum Pilot Program. Existing law requires the department, jointly with DHCS, to award grants under the pilot program and requires participating entities to develop a highly integrated continuum of care for the foster youth served in the pilot program. Under existing law, that continuum of care is required to include certain components, including, among others, a crisis residential program that is operated in accordance with all statutes and regulations governing its licensure category.
This bill would authorize a participating entity that does not have a crisis residential program as a part of its continuum of care, but that has included in its continuum of care a
comparable type of treatment component designed to serve children and youth experiencing the highest level of acute behavioral health needs in a residential setting, to utilize all awarded grant funds, including any funds specifically designated to fund a crisis residential program, to fund any other component of the continuum of care.
Existing law requires the pilot program to be implemented for 5 years from the date grant recipients are selected.
This bill would, notwithstanding that provision, authorize the department, in consultation with DHCS, and upon written request of a participating entity, to extend the term of a grant agreement if a participating entity demonstrates that it has unexpended and available grants funds and that
the extension is necessary to complete implementation or closeout activities. The bill would limit the extension to the minimum amount of time necessary to complete authorized activities and expend grant funds, and to not later than July 1, 2030.

Current Bill Text

Download Bill PDF