BILL ANALYSIS
AB 295
Page 1
Date of Hearing: April 14, 2009
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES
Jim Beall, Jr., Chair
AB 295 (Ammiano) - As Amended: March 9, 2009
SUBJECT : Children: wrap-around and adoption services
SUMMARY : Removes all references to "pilot project" status of
wrap-around services and extends the timeframe for expenditures
and reporting in a pilot program that focuses on preadoption and
postadoption services. Specifically, this bill :
1)Strikes all references to the provision of wrap-around
services as "pilot projects," and replaces them with the
designation of "wrap-around services program."
2)Extends the availability of funds for a specified preadoption
and postadoption services project until June 30, 2010 and
changes the date to May 31, 2011 that information on the
results of the project must be provided to the Legislature by
the Department of Social Services (department).
3)Makes other technical, non-substantive changes to related
provisions.
EXISTING LAW :
1)Establishes the intent of the Legislature that all counties be
authorized to provide children with alternatives to group
homes through development of family-based services programs,
including "wrap-around" services that build on the strengths
of the child and family and are tailored to their unique
needs. WIC 18250. Allows each county, at its option, to
develop a plan, as specified, to provide wrap-around services
as a pilot project. WIC 18252.
2)Defines children eligible for wrap-around services to include
dependents, wards or children voluntarily placed into foster
or out-of-home care who are or would be placed in a group home
at a rate classification level of 10 or higher and establishes
reimbursement rates for wrap-around services. WIC 18251;
18524.
3)Requires each county providing wrap-around services to
AB 295
Page 2
evaluate its pilot project and prepare interim and final
evaluations to share with the Legislature and Department of
Social Services (DSS) at specified times. WIC 18256.
4)Creates a pilot project in four counties (Los Angeles, San
Francisco and two others) and one state district office to
provide preadoption and postadoption services to children who
have been in foster care at least 18 months, are at least nine
years old and are living in foster care with non-relatives or
in a group home. Defines these services to include
recruitment efforts, behavioral health services, peer support
groups, training, mediation and other services, including any
services or supports necessary to resolve a barrier to
adoption. WIC 16124.
5)Specifies the amount or proportion of funding to be provided
to each participating entity and that those funds shall be
available for expenditure for three years. Requires the
Department of Social Services (Department) to analyze the
effects of the project and provide information on its results
by November 30, 2010. Id.
FISCAL EFFECT : Unknown
COMMENTS :
Wrap-around in California: This bill would eliminate the
designation of wrap-around as a "pilot project." "Wrap-around"
refers to a program that provides comprehensive social and other
services that are "wrapped around" a child and family.
California's program was developed to support the placement of
children in family-based settings, rather than group homes or
institutional settings. Children are eligible for a period
determined by an individualized services plan if they have been
adjudicated as a dependent or ward and would be placed in a
group home with a Rate Classification Level (RCL) of 10 or
higher, or if they would be voluntarily placed in out-of-home
care through the special education system. Anecdotal support
for the success of wrap-around programs is generally very
strong. According to the California Evidenced Based
Clearinghouse for Child Welfare Services, the documented
evidence base for wrap-around's success is "promising". By law,
wrap-around services must be cost-neutral to the state.
Although statutes still reference wrap-around as a "pilot,"
AB 295
Page 3
there are at least 39 counties currently participating in the
program. According to the Department, most counties' programs
are led by community-based agencies. Based on county reports to
the Department, there were around 3,000 children statewide
served by wrap-around (with nearly half in Los Angeles) in July,
2008. By sometime in 2009 or 2010, the Child Welfare
Services/Case Management System's online database should include
more reliable data on wrap-around participants.
The history of wrap-around in CA includes the following
milestones :
1)AB 2297 (Cunneen) Chapter 274, Statutes of 1996 first
authorized a pilot wrap-around program in Santa Clara County.
2)SB 163 (Solis) Chapter 795, Statutes of 1997 opened up
wrap-around to all counties, using state and county Aid to
Families with Dependent Children -Foster Care (AFDC-FC) funds
to serve children who would otherwise live in group homes with
a Rate Classification Level (RCL) of 12-14.
3)AB 2706 (Cunneen) Chapter 259, Statutes of 2000 extended
wrap-around to children in lower-level group homes of RCL
10-11 or at risk of placement at that level. AB 2706 also
created eligibility for children served by the Adoption
Assistance Program or placements through the special education
system. In 2001, AB 429 (Aroner) Chapter 111, Statutes of
2001; (Social services budget trailer bill) removed the sunset
for the SB 163-created pilot statutes.
4)In 2002, the Katie A. v. Bonta lawsuit was filed against the
Departments of Social Services and Health Care Services. The
suit seeks to expand wrap-around and therapeutic foster care
to dependents and children at risk of becoming dependents.
There is not yet a final statewide resolution, but Los Angeles
county has separately settled with the plaintiffs.
5)Effective in 2005, Section 10 of Proposition 63, the Mental
Health Services Act (MHSA), created a requirement that each
county mental health program submit a 3-year plan that
includes a wrap-around program for children-unless the county
provides substantial evidence that it is not feasible. WIC
5847.
AB 295
Page 4
Preadoption and postadoption services pilot : This bill would
also extend by one year the time allowed for expenditure of
funds for, and by six months the required reporting about, an
adoption services-related pilot project. The 3-year pilot was
created by AB 1808, Chapter 75, Statutes of 2006, a budget
trailer bill related to human services. The focus of the pilot
is support for adoptions of foster children ages 9 and older who
have been in foster care at least 18 months and live with foster
families who are not related to them or in group homes. The
participating counties are San Francisco, Los Angeles, Alameda
and Kern, along with the department's Adoptions District Office
in Sacramento. According to the author, the delay in the
initial implementation of the pilot projects was at least in
part due to a delay in the initial disbursement of funding by
the state to the counties at the outset of the projects.
Possible amendments : The County Welfare Directors Association
(CWDA) has expressed its desire to work with the author on
possible amendments to the wrap-around sections of AB 295.
Specifically, CWDA seeks to ensure the continuation of Medi-Cal
eligibility for participating children, alignment with other
existing child welfare outcome measures and reinvestment of
savings into the child welfare system. The City and County of
San Francisco suggests amendments similar to those raised by
CWDA, in addition to an amendment to ensure the eligibility of
youth in wrap-around placements for Independent Living Program
services.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION :
Support
American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees
(AFSCME)
County Welfare Directors Association (CWDA)
City and County of San Francisco
California Alliance of Child and Family Services
Family Law Section, State Bar of California (FLEXCOM)
Opposition
None on file
Analysis Prepared by : Jennifer Troia / HUM. S. / (916)
319-2089
AB 295
Page 5