CalWORKs: Home Visiting Program.

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details about the quality or evidence-based nature of the home visiting services, only that it aligns with existing requirements.

CalWORKs Home Visiting Program Changes

This law changes how long people can receive home visiting services under the CalWORKs program.

What This Bill Does

• Changes the time limit for receiving home visiting services to match the length of the specific home visiting model used.
• Allows people who leave the CalWORKs program or are removed from it to continue getting home visiting services until their program ends, but no longer than 12 months.

Who It Names or Affects

• People receiving help through the CalWORKs program who qualify for home visiting services.
• Counties providing cash assistance and other benefits to low-income families under CalWORKs.

Terms To Know

CalWORKs

A state program that gives money and help to low-income families with children.

Home Visiting Program

Services provided by trained professionals who visit homes to support pregnant people, parents, and young children.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not specify how much it will cost or where the money for these changes will come from.
• It is unclear if all counties will choose to use this program since participation is voluntary.

Official Summary Text

AB 607, Celeste Rodriguez.
CalWORKs: Home Visiting Program.
Existing law establishes the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) program, under which each county provides cash assistance and other benefits to qualified low-income families and individuals. Existing law establishes the CalWORKs Home Visiting Program for the purpose of supporting positive health, development, and well-being outcomes for pregnant and parenting people, families, and infants born into poverty, and makes participation voluntary for counties and participants. Existing law requires the program to provide high-quality, evidence-based, culturally competent services to pregnant people, parents or caretaker relatives, and children for 24 months or until the child’s 2nd birthday, whichever is later, that meet the needs of at-risk assistance units, as specified. Existing law requires a voluntary participant in the program to meet specified criteria,
including that the individual is either a member of a CalWORKs assistance unit, a parent or caretaker relative for a child-only case, or an individual who is apparently eligible for CalWORKs aid, and that the individual is pregnant or the individual is a parent or caretaker relative of a child less than 24 months of age at the time the individual enrolls in the program, except as specified. Existing law authorizes, if a parent or assisted caretaker has been removed from the assistance unit or exits the CalWORKs program, voluntary home visiting services to continue until completion of the evidence-based home visiting program or until they terminate their own participation.
This bill would
instead specify that the time on the program is not to exceed the duration of the applicable home visiting program model. The bill would also authorize, for a voluntary participant who has been removed from the assistance unit or exits the CalWORKs program, to continue receiving home visiting services until the home visiting program is completed or for up to 12 months, whichever is sooner.

Current Bill Text

Download Bill PDF