SB 1396: 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. If a family does not include a needy child qualified for aid under CalWORKs, existing law requires aid to be paid to a pregnant person as of the date of the application for aid, as specified. Existing law, subject to an appropriation in the annual Budget Act, requires the State Department of Social Services to award funds to participating counties in order to provide voluntary evidence-based home visiting services to assistance units that meet specified requirements.

Existing law establishes the CalWORKs Home Visiting Program, a voluntary program for the purpose of supporting positive health, development, and well-being outcomes for pregnant and parenting people, families, and infants born into poverty. 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 childs 2nd birthday, whichever is later, that meet the needs of at-risk assistance units, as specified.

This bill would extend those provisions to apply to children from 24 months and not to exceed the childs 5th birthday. for at least 24 months, and not to exceed the duration of the applicable home visiting program model.

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.

This bill would revise that requirement to apply to a child less than 36 months of age. The bill would authorize a voluntary participant whose participation would otherwise be terminated because the participant no longer meets CalWORKs income, eligibility, or need criteria to continue through the duration of the home visiting program or for up to an additional 12 months.