California’s commitment to improving the well-being of children and youth, particularly those in foster care who have experienced trauma, is strongly reflected in its System of Care program. This initiative is significantly propelled by Assembly Bill 2083 (AB 2083), legislation enacted in 2018, marking a pivotal step towards a more integrated and supportive system. But what is the California Systems of Care Program and what does it aim to achieve?
What is the California Systems of Care Program?
The California Systems of Care Program is a statewide initiative designed to enhance services for children and youth in foster care, especially those who have endured severe trauma. At its heart, the program, driven by AB 2083, mandates that each county develops and implements a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). This MOU is crucial as it clearly defines the roles and responsibilities of various local agencies involved in serving these vulnerable children and youth. While the primary focus is on the child welfare system, the program recognizes the necessity to extend its reach to encompass children and youth supported by other interconnected systems, ensuring a broader safety net and support structure.
Key Objectives and Components
The overarching mission of the California Systems of Care program can be distilled into three core objectives:
- Enhancing Interagency Collaboration: The program prioritizes the fostering of seamless collaboration and open communication among different systems. This ensures a unified approach to meeting the complex needs of children, youth, and their families, breaking down silos and promoting a more holistic service delivery.
- Ensuring Timely Access to Trauma-Informed Services: Recognizing the profound impact of trauma, the System of Care is committed to providing timely and appropriate access to trauma-informed care. This approach ensures that services are delivered in a way that acknowledges and addresses the specific needs of children and youth who have experienced trauma, promoting healing and recovery.
- Providing Technical Assistance and Support: To facilitate effective implementation across counties, the program establishes a Joint Interagency Resolution Team. This team serves as a central resource, offering guidance, support, and technical assistance to counties and partner agencies. This support is crucial for navigating challenges and ensuring the program’s goals are effectively met at the local level.
Key Deliverables Mandated by AB 2083
AB 2083 outlines specific deliverables to ensure the California Systems of Care program achieves its intended impact. These include:
- MOU Guidance Development: The Joint Interagency Resolution Team is tasked with creating guidance for counties, educational bodies, and regional centers in developing the mandated MOUs. This ensures consistency and effectiveness in outlining interagency roles and responsibilities.
- Technical Assistance Process: A clear process is to be established for counties and partner agencies to request technical assistance from the State Resolution Team. This ensures that support is readily accessible when needed, facilitating problem-solving and program improvement.
- Gap Analysis and Recommendations: The program mandates a review of existing placement and service options for children and youth in foster care who have experienced severe trauma. This review aims to identify gaps in services and placement types, leading to recommendations for the Legislature to address these shortcomings.
- Capacity Building Plan: A multiyear plan is required to increase the capacity for delivering trauma-informed care. This plan focuses on strengthening the ability of short-term residential therapeutic programs and other relevant providers to deliver high-quality, trauma-informed services.
- Tracking and Reporting: To ensure accountability and transparency, the program includes a mechanism for tracking and reporting deidentified data on foster youth who receive technical assistance. This data, published annually by the California Health and Human Services Agency, helps monitor program reach, identify systemic issues, and inform ongoing improvements.
In conclusion, the California Systems of Care Program represents a significant stride towards creating a more responsive, coordinated, and trauma-informed system of care for California’s foster children and youth. By emphasizing collaboration, access to specialized services, and continuous improvement, this program seeks to make a tangible difference in the lives of vulnerable young people across the state.
