Amended IN Senate March 27, 2017 CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20172018 REGULAR SESSION Senate Bill No. 426Introduced by Senator PanFebruary 15, 2017 An act to amend Section 18994.4 of add and repeal Article 2.5 (commencing with Section 16519.75) of Chapter 5 of Part 4 of Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, relating to child abuse prevention. prevention, and making an appropriation therefor.LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTSB 426, as amended, Pan. California Families and Children Home Visit Program: implementation plans. Community-based home visitation pilot program.Existing law authorizes the juvenile court to limit the control exercised by a parent or guardian over a child who has been adjudged to be a dependent child of the juvenile court on the grounds that the child has been subject to, or is at risk of, abuse or neglect, as specified. Existing law authorizes the juvenile court to remove the child from his or her home under certain conditions, and generally requires the county welfare department to provide or arrange for reunification services in order to reunite a child separated from his or her parent because of abuse, neglect, or exploitation.This bill would, only until January 1, 2022, establish the Community-Based Home Visitation Program as a pilot program in no more than 3 counties representing a cross section of the state to provide child abuse and neglect prevention and intervention services to families through one family resource center located in each county.This bill would appropriate up to $1,500,000 annually from the General Fund to the State Department of Social Services to be allocated in the amount of $500,000 to each of up to 3 family resource centers that apply for, and are selected to conduct, a pilot program pursuant to specified criteria. The bill would require the department to administer the program, as specified.Existing law establishes the California Families and Children Home Visit Program for the purpose of providing family support services to at-risk families, as defined. Existing law requires the State Department of Social Services to implement the program only to the extent that funds are appropriated for that purpose in the annual Budget Act. Under existing law, the Office of Child Abuse Prevention in the department is responsible for award of implementation grants and continued operation of the program, as specified.Existing law requires each county that chooses to participate in the program to develop and submit to the office a 3-year plan for phasing in a home visit program for eligible families. Existing law requires each implementation plan to include, among other elements, a description of how home visit best practices are incorporated into a proposed model. Existing law requires the office to evaluate implementation plans and award implementation grants to selected voluntary home visit programs. In order to ensure that implementation proposals reflect the prevention and early intervention focus of home visits, existing law requires the office to develop proposed criteria for awarding implementation grants in accordance with each plans addressing of those elements.This bill would require particular focus on independently evaluated program models with regard to the offices development of the proposed criteria for awarding the implementation grants in accordance with each plans addressing of those elements.Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY2/3 Appropriation: NOYES Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: NO Bill TextThe people of the State of California do enact as follows:SECTION 1. Article 2.5 (commencing with Section 16519.75) is added to Chapter 5 of Part 4 of Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, to read: Article 2.5. Community-Based Home Visitation Program16519.75. The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:(a) Child abuse and neglect continue to pose serious threats to our states children.(b) In 2013, approximately 84,000 children in California were found to be victims of abuse or neglect.(c) In 2012, according to the State Department of Public Health, 85 children in California died as a result of child abuse and neglect.(d) Children who have been abused or neglected have a higher risk of developing various health problems as adults, including alcoholism, depression, drug abuse, eating disorders, obesity, suicide, and certain chronic diseases.(e) Californias children deserve to grow up in a safe and nurturing environment free from fear, abuse, and neglect.(f) Statewide, child abuse and neglect cases disproportionately involve children of color.(g) Prevention of child abuse and neglect depends on the involvement of people throughout the community.(h) Child abuse and neglect have long-term economic and societal costs.(i) Providing community-based prevention services to families whose children may be at risk of child abuse or neglect is less costly than addressing the emotional and physical damage that can result from child abuse and neglect.(j) Providing community-based prevention services to those families can reduce the costs of protective services, law enforcement, the judicial system, foster care, and the treatment of adults recovering from abuse as children.(k) Quality home visitation programs have demonstrated results in improved health, increased access to services, reduced risk of child abuse and neglect, increased breastfeeding, increased school performance, and more.(l) The federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and other federal legislation have demonstrated the benefits of home visitation to the child and whole family.(m) The State of California is utilizing federal funds to provide limited funding for home visitation. CaliforniaVolunteers, in particular, has invested in a home visitation program that utilizes AmeriCorps members recruited from the community in which they serve to provide home visitation to at-risk families. A recent quasi-experimental design evaluation of the program showed significant results. Children in families served by AmeriCorps home visitors were 173 percent less likely to enter the child welfare system than the comparison group.(n) Therefore, it is the intent of the Legislature to establish a home visitation pilot program with community-based home visitors to work with children and families in the community to prevent child abuse and neglect and strengthen families.16519.76. (a) The Community-Based Home Visitation Program is hereby established as a pilot program in no more than three counties representing a cross section of the state to provide child abuse and neglect prevention and intervention services to families through one family resource center in each county that would provide wrap-around child abuse and neglect prevention services for families.(b) (1) The sum of one million five hundred thousand dollars ($1,500,000) is hereby appropriated annually from the General Fund to the State Department of Social Services, to be allocated in the amount of five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) to each of up to three family resource centers that apply for, and are selected to conduct, a pilot program under this article.(2) Family resource centers shall be eligible for funding if evidence is submitted as part of an application that the proposed services are not duplicated in the community, are based on needs of children and families at risk, and are supported by a local public agency.(3) A family resource center application for funding shall receive priority for implementing evidence-based programs to serve children and families to prevent child abuse and neglect.(c) The State Department of Social Services Office of Child Abuse Prevention shall administer the program and may contract out for management, training, and evaluation. Family resource centers that participate in the Community-Based Home Visitation Program shall be selected based on the following criteria:(1) The county in which the family resource center resides has a high rate of child abuse and neglect cases reported as well as other factors known to impact child abuse and neglect, including poverty and substance abuse.(2) The family resource center is established within the community it serves and provides a range of services, including those designed to prevent child abuse and neglect.(3) The family resource center provides wrap-around services and utilizes individuals from the community to provide those services by providing those individuals with rigorous and consistent training.(d) The funds appropriated under this section shall not supplant or replace any existing funding for programs currently serving the needs of at-risk children and families, but may only supplement the expansion of existing programs or the collaboration of separate existing programs provided by the family resource center as part of an evidence-based, community-staffed home visitation program.16519.77. (a) The State Department of Social Services shall allocate the pilot program funds according to the provisions of this article. The department may delegate the administration of the pilot program funds to the contractor chosen to administer the program. No more than 10 percent of funds shall be used to cover the administration of the funds, management of the program, and training and evaluation.(b) The administering agency of a county that applies to participate shall, with oversight and review from the department, include and integrate the pilot program into its county system improvement plan, county self-assessments, and county plan for other federal and state child abuse prevention programs. To the extent applicable, the county shall provide similar assurances, data, and outcome assessments to the Office of Child Abuse Prevention with respect to the pilot program as are provided regarding other federal and state child abuse prevention programs.(c) Upon implementation of the family resource centers Community-Based Home Visitation Program, each participating family resource center shall agree to provide quarterly data collection to the State Department of Social Services and the program administration contractor, if one is chosen. All of the following shall be included in the data collection on a continuous basis:(1) Number of children and families receiving home visitation services.(2) The types of services provided to the children and families being served by the home visitation programs.(3) For each child and family receiving services under the pilot program, data regarding the history of contact with the local child welfare agency prior to services being provided, as available, and regarding contact made during the pilot program.(4) Other data indicating improved health and well-being of children and their families.16519.78. Each family resource center that participates in the pilot program shall do all of the following:(a) Commit to a community-based approach utilizing a concentration of individuals from within the community to serve as home visitors to provide home visitation services to children and families.(b) Provide services that are respectful of all members of the community and reflect the diversity of the population culturally and linguistically.(c) Commit to all of the following:(1) (A) Using an evidence-based parenting curriculum that is a nurturing parenting program, as guided by an initial assessment conducted to determine a parents risk level for child abuse and neglect.(B) Following the initial assessment described in subparagraph (A), requiring the home visitor and parents to develop a plan that prescribes the content and number of parent education lessons over the course of weekly home visits as determined by the identified risk level.(2) Using members from the community in which the family resource center is located to provide the home visitation services, deemed home visitors under the program. The family resource center may coordinate with CaliforniaVolunteers or one of its grantees to utilize AmeriCorps members to carry out this function.(3) Participating in and providing consistent, intensive training to all home visitors. Training shall include, but is not limited to, the following key components for each home visitor:(A) The service site or agency culture, the history, mission, and policies of the center, acceptable behavior, community characteristics, and available resources.(B) A code of conduct, performance measures, and the role of the home visitor services, including the role of supervisors and expectations for daily service.(C) Mandated child abuse reporting requirements and guidelines, professional boundaries and confidentiality, and sensitivity training.(D) Evidence-based parenting curriculum and the nurturing parenting program described in paragraph (1).(E) Protective factors.(F) Child development.(G) Domestic violence.(H) Trauma informed care.(4) Providing ongoing training, including regular coaching and consultation with the home visitation supervisor.(5) Participating in and collaborating in an evaluation to be conducted by an independent evaluator three years after the family resource center instituted the program to assess the effectiveness of the program in keeping at-risk children and families out of the child welfare system.16519.79. This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2022, and as of that date is repealed.SECTION 1.Section 18994.4 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is amended to read:18994.4.(a)Each county that chooses to participate in the California Families and Children Home Visit Program shall develop and submit to the Office of Child Abuse Prevention a three-year plan for phasing in a home visit program for eligible families.(b)Each implementation plan shall include:(1)The method of determining, and a description of the at-risk population served. Counties shall assess local community needs, and make modifications that are consistent with the California Safe and Healthy Families Model Program, or its successor.(2)A clearly defined mission statement, and specific goals and objectives that are consistent with the mission statement.(3)A proposed voluntary home visit service delivery model, incorporating the key components and standards of the California Safe and Healthy Families Model Program, or its successor. The essential components and standards of the California Safe and Healthy Families Program Model include:(A)A comprehensive service array that includes, but is not limited to, systematic assessment, individualized family service planning, intensive home visiting, child health and development monitoring and intervention, center-based activities that serve parents, infants, and older siblings, linkage to health care and other community resources, and an on-going problem solving case coordination.(B)Services provided by a multidisciplinary team, that includes appropriate supervision to home visitors and other team members, management of the caseload, and ensuring that service quality is maintained.(C)Caseloads that are balanced in size, not to exceed 25 cases per home visitor, and intensity (service intensity varies with client need).(D)On-going training and skill development.(E)An approach to implementation that addresses relationships with existing service systems.(4)A description of how home visit best practices are incorporated into a proposed model.(5)A description of how the applicant proposes to coordinate and collaborate with other community service providers including community-based organizations, schools, religious organizations, community police, health care districts, and welfare and social service agencies.(6)Provisions for families participating in the voluntary home visit program, to provide informed consent and to ensure the confidentiality of the records pertaining to the program.(7)Specified quality assurance and improvement processes.(8)Projected results by which positive outcomes and the success of the home visit program is to be measured.(c)The Office of Child Abuse Prevention shall evaluate implementation plans and award implementation grants to selected voluntary home visit programs. In order to ensure that implementation proposals reflect the prevention and early intervention focus of home visits, the Office of Child Abuse Prevention shall develop proposed criteria for awarding implementation grants in accordance with each plans addressing of those elements set forth in subdivision (b), with particular focus on independently evaluated program models.
Amended IN Senate March 27, 2017 CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20172018 REGULAR SESSION Senate Bill No. 426Introduced by Senator PanFebruary 15, 2017 An act to amend Section 18994.4 of add and repeal Article 2.5 (commencing with Section 16519.75) of Chapter 5 of Part 4 of Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, relating to child abuse prevention. prevention, and making an appropriation therefor.LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTSB 426, as amended, Pan. California Families and Children Home Visit Program: implementation plans. Community-based home visitation pilot program.Existing law authorizes the juvenile court to limit the control exercised by a parent or guardian over a child who has been adjudged to be a dependent child of the juvenile court on the grounds that the child has been subject to, or is at risk of, abuse or neglect, as specified. Existing law authorizes the juvenile court to remove the child from his or her home under certain conditions, and generally requires the county welfare department to provide or arrange for reunification services in order to reunite a child separated from his or her parent because of abuse, neglect, or exploitation.This bill would, only until January 1, 2022, establish the Community-Based Home Visitation Program as a pilot program in no more than 3 counties representing a cross section of the state to provide child abuse and neglect prevention and intervention services to families through one family resource center located in each county.This bill would appropriate up to $1,500,000 annually from the General Fund to the State Department of Social Services to be allocated in the amount of $500,000 to each of up to 3 family resource centers that apply for, and are selected to conduct, a pilot program pursuant to specified criteria. The bill would require the department to administer the program, as specified.Existing law establishes the California Families and Children Home Visit Program for the purpose of providing family support services to at-risk families, as defined. Existing law requires the State Department of Social Services to implement the program only to the extent that funds are appropriated for that purpose in the annual Budget Act. Under existing law, the Office of Child Abuse Prevention in the department is responsible for award of implementation grants and continued operation of the program, as specified.Existing law requires each county that chooses to participate in the program to develop and submit to the office a 3-year plan for phasing in a home visit program for eligible families. Existing law requires each implementation plan to include, among other elements, a description of how home visit best practices are incorporated into a proposed model. Existing law requires the office to evaluate implementation plans and award implementation grants to selected voluntary home visit programs. In order to ensure that implementation proposals reflect the prevention and early intervention focus of home visits, existing law requires the office to develop proposed criteria for awarding implementation grants in accordance with each plans addressing of those elements.This bill would require particular focus on independently evaluated program models with regard to the offices development of the proposed criteria for awarding the implementation grants in accordance with each plans addressing of those elements.Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY2/3 Appropriation: NOYES Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: NO
Amended IN Senate March 27, 2017
Amended IN Senate March 27, 2017
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20172018 REGULAR SESSION
Senate Bill No. 426
Introduced by Senator PanFebruary 15, 2017
Introduced by Senator Pan
February 15, 2017
An act to amend Section 18994.4 of add and repeal Article 2.5 (commencing with Section 16519.75) of Chapter 5 of Part 4 of Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, relating to child abuse prevention. prevention, and making an appropriation therefor.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
## LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
SB 426, as amended, Pan. California Families and Children Home Visit Program: implementation plans. Community-based home visitation pilot program.
Existing law authorizes the juvenile court to limit the control exercised by a parent or guardian over a child who has been adjudged to be a dependent child of the juvenile court on the grounds that the child has been subject to, or is at risk of, abuse or neglect, as specified. Existing law authorizes the juvenile court to remove the child from his or her home under certain conditions, and generally requires the county welfare department to provide or arrange for reunification services in order to reunite a child separated from his or her parent because of abuse, neglect, or exploitation.This bill would, only until January 1, 2022, establish the Community-Based Home Visitation Program as a pilot program in no more than 3 counties representing a cross section of the state to provide child abuse and neglect prevention and intervention services to families through one family resource center located in each county.This bill would appropriate up to $1,500,000 annually from the General Fund to the State Department of Social Services to be allocated in the amount of $500,000 to each of up to 3 family resource centers that apply for, and are selected to conduct, a pilot program pursuant to specified criteria. The bill would require the department to administer the program, as specified.Existing law establishes the California Families and Children Home Visit Program for the purpose of providing family support services to at-risk families, as defined. Existing law requires the State Department of Social Services to implement the program only to the extent that funds are appropriated for that purpose in the annual Budget Act. Under existing law, the Office of Child Abuse Prevention in the department is responsible for award of implementation grants and continued operation of the program, as specified.Existing law requires each county that chooses to participate in the program to develop and submit to the office a 3-year plan for phasing in a home visit program for eligible families. Existing law requires each implementation plan to include, among other elements, a description of how home visit best practices are incorporated into a proposed model. Existing law requires the office to evaluate implementation plans and award implementation grants to selected voluntary home visit programs. In order to ensure that implementation proposals reflect the prevention and early intervention focus of home visits, existing law requires the office to develop proposed criteria for awarding implementation grants in accordance with each plans addressing of those elements.This bill would require particular focus on independently evaluated program models with regard to the offices development of the proposed criteria for awarding the implementation grants in accordance with each plans addressing of those elements.
Existing law authorizes the juvenile court to limit the control exercised by a parent or guardian over a child who has been adjudged to be a dependent child of the juvenile court on the grounds that the child has been subject to, or is at risk of, abuse or neglect, as specified. Existing law authorizes the juvenile court to remove the child from his or her home under certain conditions, and generally requires the county welfare department to provide or arrange for reunification services in order to reunite a child separated from his or her parent because of abuse, neglect, or exploitation.
This bill would, only until January 1, 2022, establish the Community-Based Home Visitation Program as a pilot program in no more than 3 counties representing a cross section of the state to provide child abuse and neglect prevention and intervention services to families through one family resource center located in each county.
This bill would appropriate up to $1,500,000 annually from the General Fund to the State Department of Social Services to be allocated in the amount of $500,000 to each of up to 3 family resource centers that apply for, and are selected to conduct, a pilot program pursuant to specified criteria. The bill would require the department to administer the program, as specified.
Existing law establishes the California Families and Children Home Visit Program for the purpose of providing family support services to at-risk families, as defined. Existing law requires the State Department of Social Services to implement the program only to the extent that funds are appropriated for that purpose in the annual Budget Act. Under existing law, the Office of Child Abuse Prevention in the department is responsible for award of implementation grants and continued operation of the program, as specified.
Existing law requires each county that chooses to participate in the program to develop and submit to the office a 3-year plan for phasing in a home visit program for eligible families. Existing law requires each implementation plan to include, among other elements, a description of how home visit best practices are incorporated into a proposed model. Existing law requires the office to evaluate implementation plans and award implementation grants to selected voluntary home visit programs. In order to ensure that implementation proposals reflect the prevention and early intervention focus of home visits, existing law requires the office to develop proposed criteria for awarding implementation grants in accordance with each plans addressing of those elements.
This bill would require particular focus on independently evaluated program models with regard to the offices development of the proposed criteria for awarding the implementation grants in accordance with each plans addressing of those elements.
## Digest Key
## Bill Text
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:SECTION 1. Article 2.5 (commencing with Section 16519.75) is added to Chapter 5 of Part 4 of Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, to read: Article 2.5. Community-Based Home Visitation Program16519.75. The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:(a) Child abuse and neglect continue to pose serious threats to our states children.(b) In 2013, approximately 84,000 children in California were found to be victims of abuse or neglect.(c) In 2012, according to the State Department of Public Health, 85 children in California died as a result of child abuse and neglect.(d) Children who have been abused or neglected have a higher risk of developing various health problems as adults, including alcoholism, depression, drug abuse, eating disorders, obesity, suicide, and certain chronic diseases.(e) Californias children deserve to grow up in a safe and nurturing environment free from fear, abuse, and neglect.(f) Statewide, child abuse and neglect cases disproportionately involve children of color.(g) Prevention of child abuse and neglect depends on the involvement of people throughout the community.(h) Child abuse and neglect have long-term economic and societal costs.(i) Providing community-based prevention services to families whose children may be at risk of child abuse or neglect is less costly than addressing the emotional and physical damage that can result from child abuse and neglect.(j) Providing community-based prevention services to those families can reduce the costs of protective services, law enforcement, the judicial system, foster care, and the treatment of adults recovering from abuse as children.(k) Quality home visitation programs have demonstrated results in improved health, increased access to services, reduced risk of child abuse and neglect, increased breastfeeding, increased school performance, and more.(l) The federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and other federal legislation have demonstrated the benefits of home visitation to the child and whole family.(m) The State of California is utilizing federal funds to provide limited funding for home visitation. CaliforniaVolunteers, in particular, has invested in a home visitation program that utilizes AmeriCorps members recruited from the community in which they serve to provide home visitation to at-risk families. A recent quasi-experimental design evaluation of the program showed significant results. Children in families served by AmeriCorps home visitors were 173 percent less likely to enter the child welfare system than the comparison group.(n) Therefore, it is the intent of the Legislature to establish a home visitation pilot program with community-based home visitors to work with children and families in the community to prevent child abuse and neglect and strengthen families.16519.76. (a) The Community-Based Home Visitation Program is hereby established as a pilot program in no more than three counties representing a cross section of the state to provide child abuse and neglect prevention and intervention services to families through one family resource center in each county that would provide wrap-around child abuse and neglect prevention services for families.(b) (1) The sum of one million five hundred thousand dollars ($1,500,000) is hereby appropriated annually from the General Fund to the State Department of Social Services, to be allocated in the amount of five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) to each of up to three family resource centers that apply for, and are selected to conduct, a pilot program under this article.(2) Family resource centers shall be eligible for funding if evidence is submitted as part of an application that the proposed services are not duplicated in the community, are based on needs of children and families at risk, and are supported by a local public agency.(3) A family resource center application for funding shall receive priority for implementing evidence-based programs to serve children and families to prevent child abuse and neglect.(c) The State Department of Social Services Office of Child Abuse Prevention shall administer the program and may contract out for management, training, and evaluation. Family resource centers that participate in the Community-Based Home Visitation Program shall be selected based on the following criteria:(1) The county in which the family resource center resides has a high rate of child abuse and neglect cases reported as well as other factors known to impact child abuse and neglect, including poverty and substance abuse.(2) The family resource center is established within the community it serves and provides a range of services, including those designed to prevent child abuse and neglect.(3) The family resource center provides wrap-around services and utilizes individuals from the community to provide those services by providing those individuals with rigorous and consistent training.(d) The funds appropriated under this section shall not supplant or replace any existing funding for programs currently serving the needs of at-risk children and families, but may only supplement the expansion of existing programs or the collaboration of separate existing programs provided by the family resource center as part of an evidence-based, community-staffed home visitation program.16519.77. (a) The State Department of Social Services shall allocate the pilot program funds according to the provisions of this article. The department may delegate the administration of the pilot program funds to the contractor chosen to administer the program. No more than 10 percent of funds shall be used to cover the administration of the funds, management of the program, and training and evaluation.(b) The administering agency of a county that applies to participate shall, with oversight and review from the department, include and integrate the pilot program into its county system improvement plan, county self-assessments, and county plan for other federal and state child abuse prevention programs. To the extent applicable, the county shall provide similar assurances, data, and outcome assessments to the Office of Child Abuse Prevention with respect to the pilot program as are provided regarding other federal and state child abuse prevention programs.(c) Upon implementation of the family resource centers Community-Based Home Visitation Program, each participating family resource center shall agree to provide quarterly data collection to the State Department of Social Services and the program administration contractor, if one is chosen. All of the following shall be included in the data collection on a continuous basis:(1) Number of children and families receiving home visitation services.(2) The types of services provided to the children and families being served by the home visitation programs.(3) For each child and family receiving services under the pilot program, data regarding the history of contact with the local child welfare agency prior to services being provided, as available, and regarding contact made during the pilot program.(4) Other data indicating improved health and well-being of children and their families.16519.78. Each family resource center that participates in the pilot program shall do all of the following:(a) Commit to a community-based approach utilizing a concentration of individuals from within the community to serve as home visitors to provide home visitation services to children and families.(b) Provide services that are respectful of all members of the community and reflect the diversity of the population culturally and linguistically.(c) Commit to all of the following:(1) (A) Using an evidence-based parenting curriculum that is a nurturing parenting program, as guided by an initial assessment conducted to determine a parents risk level for child abuse and neglect.(B) Following the initial assessment described in subparagraph (A), requiring the home visitor and parents to develop a plan that prescribes the content and number of parent education lessons over the course of weekly home visits as determined by the identified risk level.(2) Using members from the community in which the family resource center is located to provide the home visitation services, deemed home visitors under the program. The family resource center may coordinate with CaliforniaVolunteers or one of its grantees to utilize AmeriCorps members to carry out this function.(3) Participating in and providing consistent, intensive training to all home visitors. Training shall include, but is not limited to, the following key components for each home visitor:(A) The service site or agency culture, the history, mission, and policies of the center, acceptable behavior, community characteristics, and available resources.(B) A code of conduct, performance measures, and the role of the home visitor services, including the role of supervisors and expectations for daily service.(C) Mandated child abuse reporting requirements and guidelines, professional boundaries and confidentiality, and sensitivity training.(D) Evidence-based parenting curriculum and the nurturing parenting program described in paragraph (1).(E) Protective factors.(F) Child development.(G) Domestic violence.(H) Trauma informed care.(4) Providing ongoing training, including regular coaching and consultation with the home visitation supervisor.(5) Participating in and collaborating in an evaluation to be conducted by an independent evaluator three years after the family resource center instituted the program to assess the effectiveness of the program in keeping at-risk children and families out of the child welfare system.16519.79. This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2022, and as of that date is repealed.SECTION 1.Section 18994.4 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is amended to read:18994.4.(a)Each county that chooses to participate in the California Families and Children Home Visit Program shall develop and submit to the Office of Child Abuse Prevention a three-year plan for phasing in a home visit program for eligible families.(b)Each implementation plan shall include:(1)The method of determining, and a description of the at-risk population served. Counties shall assess local community needs, and make modifications that are consistent with the California Safe and Healthy Families Model Program, or its successor.(2)A clearly defined mission statement, and specific goals and objectives that are consistent with the mission statement.(3)A proposed voluntary home visit service delivery model, incorporating the key components and standards of the California Safe and Healthy Families Model Program, or its successor. The essential components and standards of the California Safe and Healthy Families Program Model include:(A)A comprehensive service array that includes, but is not limited to, systematic assessment, individualized family service planning, intensive home visiting, child health and development monitoring and intervention, center-based activities that serve parents, infants, and older siblings, linkage to health care and other community resources, and an on-going problem solving case coordination.(B)Services provided by a multidisciplinary team, that includes appropriate supervision to home visitors and other team members, management of the caseload, and ensuring that service quality is maintained.(C)Caseloads that are balanced in size, not to exceed 25 cases per home visitor, and intensity (service intensity varies with client need).(D)On-going training and skill development.(E)An approach to implementation that addresses relationships with existing service systems.(4)A description of how home visit best practices are incorporated into a proposed model.(5)A description of how the applicant proposes to coordinate and collaborate with other community service providers including community-based organizations, schools, religious organizations, community police, health care districts, and welfare and social service agencies.(6)Provisions for families participating in the voluntary home visit program, to provide informed consent and to ensure the confidentiality of the records pertaining to the program.(7)Specified quality assurance and improvement processes.(8)Projected results by which positive outcomes and the success of the home visit program is to be measured.(c)The Office of Child Abuse Prevention shall evaluate implementation plans and award implementation grants to selected voluntary home visit programs. In order to ensure that implementation proposals reflect the prevention and early intervention focus of home visits, the Office of Child Abuse Prevention shall develop proposed criteria for awarding implementation grants in accordance with each plans addressing of those elements set forth in subdivision (b), with particular focus on independently evaluated program models.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
## The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1. Article 2.5 (commencing with Section 16519.75) is added to Chapter 5 of Part 4 of Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, to read: Article 2.5. Community-Based Home Visitation Program16519.75. The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:(a) Child abuse and neglect continue to pose serious threats to our states children.(b) In 2013, approximately 84,000 children in California were found to be victims of abuse or neglect.(c) In 2012, according to the State Department of Public Health, 85 children in California died as a result of child abuse and neglect.(d) Children who have been abused or neglected have a higher risk of developing various health problems as adults, including alcoholism, depression, drug abuse, eating disorders, obesity, suicide, and certain chronic diseases.(e) Californias children deserve to grow up in a safe and nurturing environment free from fear, abuse, and neglect.(f) Statewide, child abuse and neglect cases disproportionately involve children of color.(g) Prevention of child abuse and neglect depends on the involvement of people throughout the community.(h) Child abuse and neglect have long-term economic and societal costs.(i) Providing community-based prevention services to families whose children may be at risk of child abuse or neglect is less costly than addressing the emotional and physical damage that can result from child abuse and neglect.(j) Providing community-based prevention services to those families can reduce the costs of protective services, law enforcement, the judicial system, foster care, and the treatment of adults recovering from abuse as children.(k) Quality home visitation programs have demonstrated results in improved health, increased access to services, reduced risk of child abuse and neglect, increased breastfeeding, increased school performance, and more.(l) The federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and other federal legislation have demonstrated the benefits of home visitation to the child and whole family.(m) The State of California is utilizing federal funds to provide limited funding for home visitation. CaliforniaVolunteers, in particular, has invested in a home visitation program that utilizes AmeriCorps members recruited from the community in which they serve to provide home visitation to at-risk families. A recent quasi-experimental design evaluation of the program showed significant results. Children in families served by AmeriCorps home visitors were 173 percent less likely to enter the child welfare system than the comparison group.(n) Therefore, it is the intent of the Legislature to establish a home visitation pilot program with community-based home visitors to work with children and families in the community to prevent child abuse and neglect and strengthen families.16519.76. (a) The Community-Based Home Visitation Program is hereby established as a pilot program in no more than three counties representing a cross section of the state to provide child abuse and neglect prevention and intervention services to families through one family resource center in each county that would provide wrap-around child abuse and neglect prevention services for families.(b) (1) The sum of one million five hundred thousand dollars ($1,500,000) is hereby appropriated annually from the General Fund to the State Department of Social Services, to be allocated in the amount of five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) to each of up to three family resource centers that apply for, and are selected to conduct, a pilot program under this article.(2) Family resource centers shall be eligible for funding if evidence is submitted as part of an application that the proposed services are not duplicated in the community, are based on needs of children and families at risk, and are supported by a local public agency.(3) A family resource center application for funding shall receive priority for implementing evidence-based programs to serve children and families to prevent child abuse and neglect.(c) The State Department of Social Services Office of Child Abuse Prevention shall administer the program and may contract out for management, training, and evaluation. Family resource centers that participate in the Community-Based Home Visitation Program shall be selected based on the following criteria:(1) The county in which the family resource center resides has a high rate of child abuse and neglect cases reported as well as other factors known to impact child abuse and neglect, including poverty and substance abuse.(2) The family resource center is established within the community it serves and provides a range of services, including those designed to prevent child abuse and neglect.(3) The family resource center provides wrap-around services and utilizes individuals from the community to provide those services by providing those individuals with rigorous and consistent training.(d) The funds appropriated under this section shall not supplant or replace any existing funding for programs currently serving the needs of at-risk children and families, but may only supplement the expansion of existing programs or the collaboration of separate existing programs provided by the family resource center as part of an evidence-based, community-staffed home visitation program.16519.77. (a) The State Department of Social Services shall allocate the pilot program funds according to the provisions of this article. The department may delegate the administration of the pilot program funds to the contractor chosen to administer the program. No more than 10 percent of funds shall be used to cover the administration of the funds, management of the program, and training and evaluation.(b) The administering agency of a county that applies to participate shall, with oversight and review from the department, include and integrate the pilot program into its county system improvement plan, county self-assessments, and county plan for other federal and state child abuse prevention programs. To the extent applicable, the county shall provide similar assurances, data, and outcome assessments to the Office of Child Abuse Prevention with respect to the pilot program as are provided regarding other federal and state child abuse prevention programs.(c) Upon implementation of the family resource centers Community-Based Home Visitation Program, each participating family resource center shall agree to provide quarterly data collection to the State Department of Social Services and the program administration contractor, if one is chosen. All of the following shall be included in the data collection on a continuous basis:(1) Number of children and families receiving home visitation services.(2) The types of services provided to the children and families being served by the home visitation programs.(3) For each child and family receiving services under the pilot program, data regarding the history of contact with the local child welfare agency prior to services being provided, as available, and regarding contact made during the pilot program.(4) Other data indicating improved health and well-being of children and their families.16519.78. Each family resource center that participates in the pilot program shall do all of the following:(a) Commit to a community-based approach utilizing a concentration of individuals from within the community to serve as home visitors to provide home visitation services to children and families.(b) Provide services that are respectful of all members of the community and reflect the diversity of the population culturally and linguistically.(c) Commit to all of the following:(1) (A) Using an evidence-based parenting curriculum that is a nurturing parenting program, as guided by an initial assessment conducted to determine a parents risk level for child abuse and neglect.(B) Following the initial assessment described in subparagraph (A), requiring the home visitor and parents to develop a plan that prescribes the content and number of parent education lessons over the course of weekly home visits as determined by the identified risk level.(2) Using members from the community in which the family resource center is located to provide the home visitation services, deemed home visitors under the program. The family resource center may coordinate with CaliforniaVolunteers or one of its grantees to utilize AmeriCorps members to carry out this function.(3) Participating in and providing consistent, intensive training to all home visitors. Training shall include, but is not limited to, the following key components for each home visitor:(A) The service site or agency culture, the history, mission, and policies of the center, acceptable behavior, community characteristics, and available resources.(B) A code of conduct, performance measures, and the role of the home visitor services, including the role of supervisors and expectations for daily service.(C) Mandated child abuse reporting requirements and guidelines, professional boundaries and confidentiality, and sensitivity training.(D) Evidence-based parenting curriculum and the nurturing parenting program described in paragraph (1).(E) Protective factors.(F) Child development.(G) Domestic violence.(H) Trauma informed care.(4) Providing ongoing training, including regular coaching and consultation with the home visitation supervisor.(5) Participating in and collaborating in an evaluation to be conducted by an independent evaluator three years after the family resource center instituted the program to assess the effectiveness of the program in keeping at-risk children and families out of the child welfare system.16519.79. This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2022, and as of that date is repealed.
SECTION 1. Article 2.5 (commencing with Section 16519.75) is added to Chapter 5 of Part 4 of Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, to read:
### SECTION 1.
Article 2.5. Community-Based Home Visitation Program16519.75. The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:(a) Child abuse and neglect continue to pose serious threats to our states children.(b) In 2013, approximately 84,000 children in California were found to be victims of abuse or neglect.(c) In 2012, according to the State Department of Public Health, 85 children in California died as a result of child abuse and neglect.(d) Children who have been abused or neglected have a higher risk of developing various health problems as adults, including alcoholism, depression, drug abuse, eating disorders, obesity, suicide, and certain chronic diseases.(e) Californias children deserve to grow up in a safe and nurturing environment free from fear, abuse, and neglect.(f) Statewide, child abuse and neglect cases disproportionately involve children of color.(g) Prevention of child abuse and neglect depends on the involvement of people throughout the community.(h) Child abuse and neglect have long-term economic and societal costs.(i) Providing community-based prevention services to families whose children may be at risk of child abuse or neglect is less costly than addressing the emotional and physical damage that can result from child abuse and neglect.(j) Providing community-based prevention services to those families can reduce the costs of protective services, law enforcement, the judicial system, foster care, and the treatment of adults recovering from abuse as children.(k) Quality home visitation programs have demonstrated results in improved health, increased access to services, reduced risk of child abuse and neglect, increased breastfeeding, increased school performance, and more.(l) The federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and other federal legislation have demonstrated the benefits of home visitation to the child and whole family.(m) The State of California is utilizing federal funds to provide limited funding for home visitation. CaliforniaVolunteers, in particular, has invested in a home visitation program that utilizes AmeriCorps members recruited from the community in which they serve to provide home visitation to at-risk families. A recent quasi-experimental design evaluation of the program showed significant results. Children in families served by AmeriCorps home visitors were 173 percent less likely to enter the child welfare system than the comparison group.(n) Therefore, it is the intent of the Legislature to establish a home visitation pilot program with community-based home visitors to work with children and families in the community to prevent child abuse and neglect and strengthen families.16519.76. (a) The Community-Based Home Visitation Program is hereby established as a pilot program in no more than three counties representing a cross section of the state to provide child abuse and neglect prevention and intervention services to families through one family resource center in each county that would provide wrap-around child abuse and neglect prevention services for families.(b) (1) The sum of one million five hundred thousand dollars ($1,500,000) is hereby appropriated annually from the General Fund to the State Department of Social Services, to be allocated in the amount of five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) to each of up to three family resource centers that apply for, and are selected to conduct, a pilot program under this article.(2) Family resource centers shall be eligible for funding if evidence is submitted as part of an application that the proposed services are not duplicated in the community, are based on needs of children and families at risk, and are supported by a local public agency.(3) A family resource center application for funding shall receive priority for implementing evidence-based programs to serve children and families to prevent child abuse and neglect.(c) The State Department of Social Services Office of Child Abuse Prevention shall administer the program and may contract out for management, training, and evaluation. Family resource centers that participate in the Community-Based Home Visitation Program shall be selected based on the following criteria:(1) The county in which the family resource center resides has a high rate of child abuse and neglect cases reported as well as other factors known to impact child abuse and neglect, including poverty and substance abuse.(2) The family resource center is established within the community it serves and provides a range of services, including those designed to prevent child abuse and neglect.(3) The family resource center provides wrap-around services and utilizes individuals from the community to provide those services by providing those individuals with rigorous and consistent training.(d) The funds appropriated under this section shall not supplant or replace any existing funding for programs currently serving the needs of at-risk children and families, but may only supplement the expansion of existing programs or the collaboration of separate existing programs provided by the family resource center as part of an evidence-based, community-staffed home visitation program.16519.77. (a) The State Department of Social Services shall allocate the pilot program funds according to the provisions of this article. The department may delegate the administration of the pilot program funds to the contractor chosen to administer the program. No more than 10 percent of funds shall be used to cover the administration of the funds, management of the program, and training and evaluation.(b) The administering agency of a county that applies to participate shall, with oversight and review from the department, include and integrate the pilot program into its county system improvement plan, county self-assessments, and county plan for other federal and state child abuse prevention programs. To the extent applicable, the county shall provide similar assurances, data, and outcome assessments to the Office of Child Abuse Prevention with respect to the pilot program as are provided regarding other federal and state child abuse prevention programs.(c) Upon implementation of the family resource centers Community-Based Home Visitation Program, each participating family resource center shall agree to provide quarterly data collection to the State Department of Social Services and the program administration contractor, if one is chosen. All of the following shall be included in the data collection on a continuous basis:(1) Number of children and families receiving home visitation services.(2) The types of services provided to the children and families being served by the home visitation programs.(3) For each child and family receiving services under the pilot program, data regarding the history of contact with the local child welfare agency prior to services being provided, as available, and regarding contact made during the pilot program.(4) Other data indicating improved health and well-being of children and their families.16519.78. Each family resource center that participates in the pilot program shall do all of the following:(a) Commit to a community-based approach utilizing a concentration of individuals from within the community to serve as home visitors to provide home visitation services to children and families.(b) Provide services that are respectful of all members of the community and reflect the diversity of the population culturally and linguistically.(c) Commit to all of the following:(1) (A) Using an evidence-based parenting curriculum that is a nurturing parenting program, as guided by an initial assessment conducted to determine a parents risk level for child abuse and neglect.(B) Following the initial assessment described in subparagraph (A), requiring the home visitor and parents to develop a plan that prescribes the content and number of parent education lessons over the course of weekly home visits as determined by the identified risk level.(2) Using members from the community in which the family resource center is located to provide the home visitation services, deemed home visitors under the program. The family resource center may coordinate with CaliforniaVolunteers or one of its grantees to utilize AmeriCorps members to carry out this function.(3) Participating in and providing consistent, intensive training to all home visitors. Training shall include, but is not limited to, the following key components for each home visitor:(A) The service site or agency culture, the history, mission, and policies of the center, acceptable behavior, community characteristics, and available resources.(B) A code of conduct, performance measures, and the role of the home visitor services, including the role of supervisors and expectations for daily service.(C) Mandated child abuse reporting requirements and guidelines, professional boundaries and confidentiality, and sensitivity training.(D) Evidence-based parenting curriculum and the nurturing parenting program described in paragraph (1).(E) Protective factors.(F) Child development.(G) Domestic violence.(H) Trauma informed care.(4) Providing ongoing training, including regular coaching and consultation with the home visitation supervisor.(5) Participating in and collaborating in an evaluation to be conducted by an independent evaluator three years after the family resource center instituted the program to assess the effectiveness of the program in keeping at-risk children and families out of the child welfare system.16519.79. This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2022, and as of that date is repealed.
Article 2.5. Community-Based Home Visitation Program16519.75. The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:(a) Child abuse and neglect continue to pose serious threats to our states children.(b) In 2013, approximately 84,000 children in California were found to be victims of abuse or neglect.(c) In 2012, according to the State Department of Public Health, 85 children in California died as a result of child abuse and neglect.(d) Children who have been abused or neglected have a higher risk of developing various health problems as adults, including alcoholism, depression, drug abuse, eating disorders, obesity, suicide, and certain chronic diseases.(e) Californias children deserve to grow up in a safe and nurturing environment free from fear, abuse, and neglect.(f) Statewide, child abuse and neglect cases disproportionately involve children of color.(g) Prevention of child abuse and neglect depends on the involvement of people throughout the community.(h) Child abuse and neglect have long-term economic and societal costs.(i) Providing community-based prevention services to families whose children may be at risk of child abuse or neglect is less costly than addressing the emotional and physical damage that can result from child abuse and neglect.(j) Providing community-based prevention services to those families can reduce the costs of protective services, law enforcement, the judicial system, foster care, and the treatment of adults recovering from abuse as children.(k) Quality home visitation programs have demonstrated results in improved health, increased access to services, reduced risk of child abuse and neglect, increased breastfeeding, increased school performance, and more.(l) The federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and other federal legislation have demonstrated the benefits of home visitation to the child and whole family.(m) The State of California is utilizing federal funds to provide limited funding for home visitation. CaliforniaVolunteers, in particular, has invested in a home visitation program that utilizes AmeriCorps members recruited from the community in which they serve to provide home visitation to at-risk families. A recent quasi-experimental design evaluation of the program showed significant results. Children in families served by AmeriCorps home visitors were 173 percent less likely to enter the child welfare system than the comparison group.(n) Therefore, it is the intent of the Legislature to establish a home visitation pilot program with community-based home visitors to work with children and families in the community to prevent child abuse and neglect and strengthen families.16519.76. (a) The Community-Based Home Visitation Program is hereby established as a pilot program in no more than three counties representing a cross section of the state to provide child abuse and neglect prevention and intervention services to families through one family resource center in each county that would provide wrap-around child abuse and neglect prevention services for families.(b) (1) The sum of one million five hundred thousand dollars ($1,500,000) is hereby appropriated annually from the General Fund to the State Department of Social Services, to be allocated in the amount of five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) to each of up to three family resource centers that apply for, and are selected to conduct, a pilot program under this article.(2) Family resource centers shall be eligible for funding if evidence is submitted as part of an application that the proposed services are not duplicated in the community, are based on needs of children and families at risk, and are supported by a local public agency.(3) A family resource center application for funding shall receive priority for implementing evidence-based programs to serve children and families to prevent child abuse and neglect.(c) The State Department of Social Services Office of Child Abuse Prevention shall administer the program and may contract out for management, training, and evaluation. Family resource centers that participate in the Community-Based Home Visitation Program shall be selected based on the following criteria:(1) The county in which the family resource center resides has a high rate of child abuse and neglect cases reported as well as other factors known to impact child abuse and neglect, including poverty and substance abuse.(2) The family resource center is established within the community it serves and provides a range of services, including those designed to prevent child abuse and neglect.(3) The family resource center provides wrap-around services and utilizes individuals from the community to provide those services by providing those individuals with rigorous and consistent training.(d) The funds appropriated under this section shall not supplant or replace any existing funding for programs currently serving the needs of at-risk children and families, but may only supplement the expansion of existing programs or the collaboration of separate existing programs provided by the family resource center as part of an evidence-based, community-staffed home visitation program.16519.77. (a) The State Department of Social Services shall allocate the pilot program funds according to the provisions of this article. The department may delegate the administration of the pilot program funds to the contractor chosen to administer the program. No more than 10 percent of funds shall be used to cover the administration of the funds, management of the program, and training and evaluation.(b) The administering agency of a county that applies to participate shall, with oversight and review from the department, include and integrate the pilot program into its county system improvement plan, county self-assessments, and county plan for other federal and state child abuse prevention programs. To the extent applicable, the county shall provide similar assurances, data, and outcome assessments to the Office of Child Abuse Prevention with respect to the pilot program as are provided regarding other federal and state child abuse prevention programs.(c) Upon implementation of the family resource centers Community-Based Home Visitation Program, each participating family resource center shall agree to provide quarterly data collection to the State Department of Social Services and the program administration contractor, if one is chosen. All of the following shall be included in the data collection on a continuous basis:(1) Number of children and families receiving home visitation services.(2) The types of services provided to the children and families being served by the home visitation programs.(3) For each child and family receiving services under the pilot program, data regarding the history of contact with the local child welfare agency prior to services being provided, as available, and regarding contact made during the pilot program.(4) Other data indicating improved health and well-being of children and their families.16519.78. Each family resource center that participates in the pilot program shall do all of the following:(a) Commit to a community-based approach utilizing a concentration of individuals from within the community to serve as home visitors to provide home visitation services to children and families.(b) Provide services that are respectful of all members of the community and reflect the diversity of the population culturally and linguistically.(c) Commit to all of the following:(1) (A) Using an evidence-based parenting curriculum that is a nurturing parenting program, as guided by an initial assessment conducted to determine a parents risk level for child abuse and neglect.(B) Following the initial assessment described in subparagraph (A), requiring the home visitor and parents to develop a plan that prescribes the content and number of parent education lessons over the course of weekly home visits as determined by the identified risk level.(2) Using members from the community in which the family resource center is located to provide the home visitation services, deemed home visitors under the program. The family resource center may coordinate with CaliforniaVolunteers or one of its grantees to utilize AmeriCorps members to carry out this function.(3) Participating in and providing consistent, intensive training to all home visitors. Training shall include, but is not limited to, the following key components for each home visitor:(A) The service site or agency culture, the history, mission, and policies of the center, acceptable behavior, community characteristics, and available resources.(B) A code of conduct, performance measures, and the role of the home visitor services, including the role of supervisors and expectations for daily service.(C) Mandated child abuse reporting requirements and guidelines, professional boundaries and confidentiality, and sensitivity training.(D) Evidence-based parenting curriculum and the nurturing parenting program described in paragraph (1).(E) Protective factors.(F) Child development.(G) Domestic violence.(H) Trauma informed care.(4) Providing ongoing training, including regular coaching and consultation with the home visitation supervisor.(5) Participating in and collaborating in an evaluation to be conducted by an independent evaluator three years after the family resource center instituted the program to assess the effectiveness of the program in keeping at-risk children and families out of the child welfare system.16519.79. This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2022, and as of that date is repealed.
Article 2.5. Community-Based Home Visitation Program
Article 2.5. Community-Based Home Visitation Program
16519.75. The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:(a) Child abuse and neglect continue to pose serious threats to our states children.(b) In 2013, approximately 84,000 children in California were found to be victims of abuse or neglect.(c) In 2012, according to the State Department of Public Health, 85 children in California died as a result of child abuse and neglect.(d) Children who have been abused or neglected have a higher risk of developing various health problems as adults, including alcoholism, depression, drug abuse, eating disorders, obesity, suicide, and certain chronic diseases.(e) Californias children deserve to grow up in a safe and nurturing environment free from fear, abuse, and neglect.(f) Statewide, child abuse and neglect cases disproportionately involve children of color.(g) Prevention of child abuse and neglect depends on the involvement of people throughout the community.(h) Child abuse and neglect have long-term economic and societal costs.(i) Providing community-based prevention services to families whose children may be at risk of child abuse or neglect is less costly than addressing the emotional and physical damage that can result from child abuse and neglect.(j) Providing community-based prevention services to those families can reduce the costs of protective services, law enforcement, the judicial system, foster care, and the treatment of adults recovering from abuse as children.(k) Quality home visitation programs have demonstrated results in improved health, increased access to services, reduced risk of child abuse and neglect, increased breastfeeding, increased school performance, and more.(l) The federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and other federal legislation have demonstrated the benefits of home visitation to the child and whole family.(m) The State of California is utilizing federal funds to provide limited funding for home visitation. CaliforniaVolunteers, in particular, has invested in a home visitation program that utilizes AmeriCorps members recruited from the community in which they serve to provide home visitation to at-risk families. A recent quasi-experimental design evaluation of the program showed significant results. Children in families served by AmeriCorps home visitors were 173 percent less likely to enter the child welfare system than the comparison group.(n) Therefore, it is the intent of the Legislature to establish a home visitation pilot program with community-based home visitors to work with children and families in the community to prevent child abuse and neglect and strengthen families.
16519.75. The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:
(a) Child abuse and neglect continue to pose serious threats to our states children.
(b) In 2013, approximately 84,000 children in California were found to be victims of abuse or neglect.
(c) In 2012, according to the State Department of Public Health, 85 children in California died as a result of child abuse and neglect.
(d) Children who have been abused or neglected have a higher risk of developing various health problems as adults, including alcoholism, depression, drug abuse, eating disorders, obesity, suicide, and certain chronic diseases.
(e) Californias children deserve to grow up in a safe and nurturing environment free from fear, abuse, and neglect.
(f) Statewide, child abuse and neglect cases disproportionately involve children of color.
(g) Prevention of child abuse and neglect depends on the involvement of people throughout the community.
(h) Child abuse and neglect have long-term economic and societal costs.
(i) Providing community-based prevention services to families whose children may be at risk of child abuse or neglect is less costly than addressing the emotional and physical damage that can result from child abuse and neglect.
(j) Providing community-based prevention services to those families can reduce the costs of protective services, law enforcement, the judicial system, foster care, and the treatment of adults recovering from abuse as children.
(k) Quality home visitation programs have demonstrated results in improved health, increased access to services, reduced risk of child abuse and neglect, increased breastfeeding, increased school performance, and more.
(l) The federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and other federal legislation have demonstrated the benefits of home visitation to the child and whole family.
(m) The State of California is utilizing federal funds to provide limited funding for home visitation. CaliforniaVolunteers, in particular, has invested in a home visitation program that utilizes AmeriCorps members recruited from the community in which they serve to provide home visitation to at-risk families. A recent quasi-experimental design evaluation of the program showed significant results. Children in families served by AmeriCorps home visitors were 173 percent less likely to enter the child welfare system than the comparison group.
(n) Therefore, it is the intent of the Legislature to establish a home visitation pilot program with community-based home visitors to work with children and families in the community to prevent child abuse and neglect and strengthen families.
16519.76. (a) The Community-Based Home Visitation Program is hereby established as a pilot program in no more than three counties representing a cross section of the state to provide child abuse and neglect prevention and intervention services to families through one family resource center in each county that would provide wrap-around child abuse and neglect prevention services for families.(b) (1) The sum of one million five hundred thousand dollars ($1,500,000) is hereby appropriated annually from the General Fund to the State Department of Social Services, to be allocated in the amount of five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) to each of up to three family resource centers that apply for, and are selected to conduct, a pilot program under this article.(2) Family resource centers shall be eligible for funding if evidence is submitted as part of an application that the proposed services are not duplicated in the community, are based on needs of children and families at risk, and are supported by a local public agency.(3) A family resource center application for funding shall receive priority for implementing evidence-based programs to serve children and families to prevent child abuse and neglect.(c) The State Department of Social Services Office of Child Abuse Prevention shall administer the program and may contract out for management, training, and evaluation. Family resource centers that participate in the Community-Based Home Visitation Program shall be selected based on the following criteria:(1) The county in which the family resource center resides has a high rate of child abuse and neglect cases reported as well as other factors known to impact child abuse and neglect, including poverty and substance abuse.(2) The family resource center is established within the community it serves and provides a range of services, including those designed to prevent child abuse and neglect.(3) The family resource center provides wrap-around services and utilizes individuals from the community to provide those services by providing those individuals with rigorous and consistent training.(d) The funds appropriated under this section shall not supplant or replace any existing funding for programs currently serving the needs of at-risk children and families, but may only supplement the expansion of existing programs or the collaboration of separate existing programs provided by the family resource center as part of an evidence-based, community-staffed home visitation program.
16519.76. (a) The Community-Based Home Visitation Program is hereby established as a pilot program in no more than three counties representing a cross section of the state to provide child abuse and neglect prevention and intervention services to families through one family resource center in each county that would provide wrap-around child abuse and neglect prevention services for families.
(b) (1) The sum of one million five hundred thousand dollars ($1,500,000) is hereby appropriated annually from the General Fund to the State Department of Social Services, to be allocated in the amount of five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) to each of up to three family resource centers that apply for, and are selected to conduct, a pilot program under this article.
(2) Family resource centers shall be eligible for funding if evidence is submitted as part of an application that the proposed services are not duplicated in the community, are based on needs of children and families at risk, and are supported by a local public agency.
(3) A family resource center application for funding shall receive priority for implementing evidence-based programs to serve children and families to prevent child abuse and neglect.
(c) The State Department of Social Services Office of Child Abuse Prevention shall administer the program and may contract out for management, training, and evaluation. Family resource centers that participate in the Community-Based Home Visitation Program shall be selected based on the following criteria:
(1) The county in which the family resource center resides has a high rate of child abuse and neglect cases reported as well as other factors known to impact child abuse and neglect, including poverty and substance abuse.
(2) The family resource center is established within the community it serves and provides a range of services, including those designed to prevent child abuse and neglect.
(3) The family resource center provides wrap-around services and utilizes individuals from the community to provide those services by providing those individuals with rigorous and consistent training.
(d) The funds appropriated under this section shall not supplant or replace any existing funding for programs currently serving the needs of at-risk children and families, but may only supplement the expansion of existing programs or the collaboration of separate existing programs provided by the family resource center as part of an evidence-based, community-staffed home visitation program.
16519.77. (a) The State Department of Social Services shall allocate the pilot program funds according to the provisions of this article. The department may delegate the administration of the pilot program funds to the contractor chosen to administer the program. No more than 10 percent of funds shall be used to cover the administration of the funds, management of the program, and training and evaluation.(b) The administering agency of a county that applies to participate shall, with oversight and review from the department, include and integrate the pilot program into its county system improvement plan, county self-assessments, and county plan for other federal and state child abuse prevention programs. To the extent applicable, the county shall provide similar assurances, data, and outcome assessments to the Office of Child Abuse Prevention with respect to the pilot program as are provided regarding other federal and state child abuse prevention programs.(c) Upon implementation of the family resource centers Community-Based Home Visitation Program, each participating family resource center shall agree to provide quarterly data collection to the State Department of Social Services and the program administration contractor, if one is chosen. All of the following shall be included in the data collection on a continuous basis:(1) Number of children and families receiving home visitation services.(2) The types of services provided to the children and families being served by the home visitation programs.(3) For each child and family receiving services under the pilot program, data regarding the history of contact with the local child welfare agency prior to services being provided, as available, and regarding contact made during the pilot program.(4) Other data indicating improved health and well-being of children and their families.
16519.77. (a) The State Department of Social Services shall allocate the pilot program funds according to the provisions of this article. The department may delegate the administration of the pilot program funds to the contractor chosen to administer the program. No more than 10 percent of funds shall be used to cover the administration of the funds, management of the program, and training and evaluation.
(b) The administering agency of a county that applies to participate shall, with oversight and review from the department, include and integrate the pilot program into its county system improvement plan, county self-assessments, and county plan for other federal and state child abuse prevention programs. To the extent applicable, the county shall provide similar assurances, data, and outcome assessments to the Office of Child Abuse Prevention with respect to the pilot program as are provided regarding other federal and state child abuse prevention programs.
(c) Upon implementation of the family resource centers Community-Based Home Visitation Program, each participating family resource center shall agree to provide quarterly data collection to the State Department of Social Services and the program administration contractor, if one is chosen. All of the following shall be included in the data collection on a continuous basis:
(1) Number of children and families receiving home visitation services.
(2) The types of services provided to the children and families being served by the home visitation programs.
(3) For each child and family receiving services under the pilot program, data regarding the history of contact with the local child welfare agency prior to services being provided, as available, and regarding contact made during the pilot program.
(4) Other data indicating improved health and well-being of children and their families.
16519.78. Each family resource center that participates in the pilot program shall do all of the following:(a) Commit to a community-based approach utilizing a concentration of individuals from within the community to serve as home visitors to provide home visitation services to children and families.(b) Provide services that are respectful of all members of the community and reflect the diversity of the population culturally and linguistically.(c) Commit to all of the following:(1) (A) Using an evidence-based parenting curriculum that is a nurturing parenting program, as guided by an initial assessment conducted to determine a parents risk level for child abuse and neglect.(B) Following the initial assessment described in subparagraph (A), requiring the home visitor and parents to develop a plan that prescribes the content and number of parent education lessons over the course of weekly home visits as determined by the identified risk level.(2) Using members from the community in which the family resource center is located to provide the home visitation services, deemed home visitors under the program. The family resource center may coordinate with CaliforniaVolunteers or one of its grantees to utilize AmeriCorps members to carry out this function.(3) Participating in and providing consistent, intensive training to all home visitors. Training shall include, but is not limited to, the following key components for each home visitor:(A) The service site or agency culture, the history, mission, and policies of the center, acceptable behavior, community characteristics, and available resources.(B) A code of conduct, performance measures, and the role of the home visitor services, including the role of supervisors and expectations for daily service.(C) Mandated child abuse reporting requirements and guidelines, professional boundaries and confidentiality, and sensitivity training.(D) Evidence-based parenting curriculum and the nurturing parenting program described in paragraph (1).(E) Protective factors.(F) Child development.(G) Domestic violence.(H) Trauma informed care.(4) Providing ongoing training, including regular coaching and consultation with the home visitation supervisor.(5) Participating in and collaborating in an evaluation to be conducted by an independent evaluator three years after the family resource center instituted the program to assess the effectiveness of the program in keeping at-risk children and families out of the child welfare system.
16519.78. Each family resource center that participates in the pilot program shall do all of the following:
(a) Commit to a community-based approach utilizing a concentration of individuals from within the community to serve as home visitors to provide home visitation services to children and families.
(b) Provide services that are respectful of all members of the community and reflect the diversity of the population culturally and linguistically.
(c) Commit to all of the following:
(1) (A) Using an evidence-based parenting curriculum that is a nurturing parenting program, as guided by an initial assessment conducted to determine a parents risk level for child abuse and neglect.
(B) Following the initial assessment described in subparagraph (A), requiring the home visitor and parents to develop a plan that prescribes the content and number of parent education lessons over the course of weekly home visits as determined by the identified risk level.
(2) Using members from the community in which the family resource center is located to provide the home visitation services, deemed home visitors under the program. The family resource center may coordinate with CaliforniaVolunteers or one of its grantees to utilize AmeriCorps members to carry out this function.
(3) Participating in and providing consistent, intensive training to all home visitors. Training shall include, but is not limited to, the following key components for each home visitor:
(A) The service site or agency culture, the history, mission, and policies of the center, acceptable behavior, community characteristics, and available resources.
(B) A code of conduct, performance measures, and the role of the home visitor services, including the role of supervisors and expectations for daily service.
(C) Mandated child abuse reporting requirements and guidelines, professional boundaries and confidentiality, and sensitivity training.
(D) Evidence-based parenting curriculum and the nurturing parenting program described in paragraph (1).
(E) Protective factors.
(F) Child development.
(G) Domestic violence.
(H) Trauma informed care.
(4) Providing ongoing training, including regular coaching and consultation with the home visitation supervisor.
(5) Participating in and collaborating in an evaluation to be conducted by an independent evaluator three years after the family resource center instituted the program to assess the effectiveness of the program in keeping at-risk children and families out of the child welfare system.
16519.79. This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2022, and as of that date is repealed.
16519.79. This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2022, and as of that date is repealed.
(a)Each county that chooses to participate in the California Families and Children Home Visit Program shall develop and submit to the Office of Child Abuse Prevention a three-year plan for phasing in a home visit program for eligible families.
(b)Each implementation plan shall include:
(1)The method of determining, and a description of the at-risk population served. Counties shall assess local community needs, and make modifications that are consistent with the California Safe and Healthy Families Model Program, or its successor.
(2)A clearly defined mission statement, and specific goals and objectives that are consistent with the mission statement.
(3)A proposed voluntary home visit service delivery model, incorporating the key components and standards of the California Safe and Healthy Families Model Program, or its successor. The essential components and standards of the California Safe and Healthy Families Program Model include:
(A)A comprehensive service array that includes, but is not limited to, systematic assessment, individualized family service planning, intensive home visiting, child health and development monitoring and intervention, center-based activities that serve parents, infants, and older siblings, linkage to health care and other community resources, and an on-going problem solving case coordination.
(B)Services provided by a multidisciplinary team, that includes appropriate supervision to home visitors and other team members, management of the caseload, and ensuring that service quality is maintained.
(C)Caseloads that are balanced in size, not to exceed 25 cases per home visitor, and intensity (service intensity varies with client need).
(D)On-going training and skill development.
(E)An approach to implementation that addresses relationships with existing service systems.
(4)A description of how home visit best practices are incorporated into a proposed model.
(5)A description of how the applicant proposes to coordinate and collaborate with other community service providers including community-based organizations, schools, religious organizations, community police, health care districts, and welfare and social service agencies.
(6)Provisions for families participating in the voluntary home visit program, to provide informed consent and to ensure the confidentiality of the records pertaining to the program.
(7)Specified quality assurance and improvement processes.
(8)Projected results by which positive outcomes and the success of the home visit program is to be measured.
(c)The Office of Child Abuse Prevention shall evaluate implementation plans and award implementation grants to selected voluntary home visit programs. In order to ensure that implementation proposals reflect the prevention and early intervention focus of home visits, the Office of Child Abuse Prevention shall develop proposed criteria for awarding implementation grants in accordance with each plans addressing of those elements set forth in subdivision (b), with particular focus on independently evaluated program models.