Children’s Crisis Continuum Pilot Program.

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide information on the funding beyond initial grants or the outcomes if entities cannot meet requirements by July 1, 2030.

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 care components if they do not have a crisis residential program, and it permits extensions of grant agreements under certain conditions.

What This Bill Does

• Allows participating entities without a crisis residential program to include another type of residential treatment component that meets specific requirements in their care plan.
• Permits the use of all awarded grant funds for other components of the continuum of care, even if they were originally designated for a crisis residential program.
• Requires the State Department of Social Services and the State Department of Health Care Services to determine whether proposed components meet the necessary criteria.
• Authorizes an extension of grant agreements if participating entities have unspent funds and need more time to complete their activities or close out operations.
• Limits any extensions to the minimum required period and ensures they do not exceed July 1, 2030.

Who It Names or Affects

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

Terms To Know

continuum of care

A range of services and supports designed to meet the needs of individuals with mental health, substance use disorders, or other challenges.

crisis residential program

A specialized service providing short-term housing for youth experiencing severe behavioral health issues.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not specify how the pilot program will be funded beyond the initial grant awards.
• It is unclear what happens if a participating entity cannot meet the requirements by July 1, 2030.

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.
Existing law requires the department, jointly with DHCS, by April 1, 2027, to submit an interim report on the pilot program to the report to
the Assembly Committee on Human Services and the Senate Committee on Human Services.
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
care to satisfy the requirement to have a crisis residential program by including in its continuum of care by having
a comparable
type of
residential
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.
needs. The bill would require the comparable residential treatment component to satisfy certain requirements, including providing short-term, intensive, and highly individualized services to stabilize youth in crisis. The bill would require the department to determine whether a proposed component satisfies these requirements. The bill would also require the department to include specified information relating to these provisions in its interim report.
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