AB 319: Foster youth: trauma-informed, therapeutic continuum of care.

Existing law requires each county to develop and implement a memorandum of understanding (MOU) setting forth the roles and responsibilities of agencies and other entities that serve children and youth in foster care who have experienced severe trauma. Existing law requires the Secretary of California Health and Human Services and the Superintendent of Public Instruction to establish a joint interagency resolution team consisting of representatives from specified state departments to support implementation of those MOUs, among other functions.

Existing law requires the team to develop and submit certain recommendations to the Legislature on various items, including a statewide plan for any additional development needed for a trauma-informed, therapeutic continuum of care to support youth in-state in the least restrictive setting. Existing law requires the team to track and report deidentified information of children and nonminor dependents in foster care who have been assisted to preserve, or secure new, intensive therapeutic options.

This bill would require a county to develop and submit plans to the State Department of Social Services describing the development needed for a trauma-informed, therapeutic continuum of care to support youth in-state in the least restrictive setting. The bill would require the county to submit the first plan by January 1, 2027, and to submit updated plans every 2 years thereafter.

The bill would require the county to take into consideration the above-described recommendations of the joint interagency resolution team on the statewide plan, as specified. The bill would also require the county to outline in its plans how the county will work to increase the number of available slots in short-term residential therapeutic programs within the county.

By creating new duties for counties relating to those plans, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.

This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.