Does state track adoption disruption or post-adoption instability?

CALIFORNIA

RESPONDENT: Richard Smith, Chief

Adoption Services Bureau, California Department of Social Services

I. General Information (background on state service system)

 County-based vs. statewide system

There are 58 counties in this county-based system, with 6 district offices that provide services for rural areas of the state.

 Uniformity of services across the state

Other than the Adoption Assistance Program, there are no regulations or licensing requirements that come from the state for the provision of post-adoption services. Each county makes its own decisions and sets its priorities based on local need.

 Children on subsidy as of June 2013

84,881

 Are public child welfare adoption workers expected to provide post-adoption services?

Each county approaches this in its own manner; some counties contract out post-adoption services, while others have in-house post-adoption support workers. In the case of an out-of-home placement, the county workers assist the families in finding and accessing services.

The district offices contract out the post-adoption services.

II. Post-Adoption Services Funded by the State for Adoptive Families

District offices are funded directly by the state and contract with other providers for post-adoption services. Counties may also have additional contracts with the state. Post Adoption Services (PAS) in California are administered by the individual counties. The County Welfare Directors Association (CWDA) lists county websites and the services they provide, link: http://www.cwda.org/links/chsa.php.

The California Department of Social Services (CDSS), through its Adoptions Services Bureau (ASB) District offices, also continues to build a network of post-adoption services to meet the needs of the adoptive families who reside in the counties served by the ASB. The following website gives information on the ASB District Offices and the counties they serve: http://www.childsworld.ca.gov/PG1304.htm.

Outside organizations also provide post-adoption support services.

Information and Referral

In Sacramento County, families can find information, resources and referral information at: www.postadoptionlink.org. In other counties, the contracted post-adoption service providers maintain websites that include information about post-adoption services and supports. In some counties, families can self-refer to the PAS agency, while in others families must go first to the county DSS to request services and get a referral to a contracted agency. In counties where the services are provided in-house, families go directly to their DSS office.

Educational Programs or Materials

Many of the contract agencies offer ongoing training opportunities for families and providers. The state encourages training of families and providers together and suggests that training opportunities are open. Many of the individual agencies publish regular newsletters. These are reviewed by their contract

California

Donaldson Adoption Institute 49

managers. There are some lending libraries throughout the state. In rural areas, the district purchases relevant materials for local libraries and regularly provides the families with an updated listing.

Education-related services for children are further addressed through the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), which ensures that children with disabilities are entitled to a free, appropriate public education in the least-restrictive environment. Special education pupils may require mental health services in any of the 13 disability categories. To be eligible for services, they must have a current individualized education program (IEP) on file. The services must align with the child’s needs as identified in the IEP, and are designed so that children will benefit from their educational programs. They are free to all eligible students regardless of family income or resources. Information on California's Mental Health Services for Special Education Pupils link:

http://www.dhcs.ca.gov/services/MH/Pages/MentalHlthSvsforSpecialEducationPupils%28AB3632%29.aspx

Support Programs

There is a wide range of support groups throughout the state, with the rural regions seemingly having the most challenges in terms of establishing and maintaining groups. Several contract agencies have strong, stable support groups for parents and youth. Support groups are generally free to anyone. A listing of support groups is available at:

http://directory.adoption.com/search/Support_Groups_for_Adoptive_Parents-California.html

Therapeutic Interventions

Providing clinical Crisis Intervention services is a requirement in all post-adoption contracts. A primary program that provides intensive crisis intervention services is the WRAP program. To be eligible for this program, the adopted child must be either at risk of placement into an institution or group home, or already in such a placement and be ready to transition home. The program requires an individual contract for the child/family between the provider and the county from which the child was adopted.

It is funded through the Adoption Assistance Program funds from the child’s home county that otherwise would have been used for residential placement for the child, and may also include Mental Health Medi-Cal funding (EPSDT).

The wraparound program was developed to address families’ needs based on their own assessments of the issues and their knowledge of their children. Within this model, the provider agency can be as creative as necessary in providing services that keep the child safely at home. The amount of funding available for this is up to the amount that a residential program would have cost. With this funding structure, a wide array of services can be provided, including but not limited to: tutoring, transportation, staff in the home up to 4-5 hours a day, and more. WRAP is available for up to 18 months per episode and is funded up to $9,000/month/child (the cost of a level 14 placement). See more about wraparound services under question below about model programs.

California is trying to address the issues facing families who are challenged with accessing services for their children who have moved from one county to another as a result of their adoption. There currently is not a fluid system of reciprocity for those children who are insured through MediCal. Public mental health services for children in California are administered by the Department of Health Services, Department of Mental Health, through the state Medicaid program known as Medi-Cal. Services include the following examples: counseling, psychiatric services, medication, and mental health treatment for children and families. The person receiving services and the mental health provider work in partnership to decide the appropriate services for that person.

The Children’s Mental Health Network provides timely analysis of the children’s mental health landscape from a system of care perspective founded upon social justice and social change through collective action, information link: http://www.cmhnetwork.org/about-us.

California

The Network of Care for Mental Health is a great resource to obtain information about mental health issues and to search for a wide variety of mental health and other support services in the local community. For more information see the following links: http://networkofcare.org/splash.aspx and

http://dmh.ca.gov/docs/CMHDA.pdf and

http://www.dhcs.ca.gov/services/medi-cal/Pages/CountyOffices.aspx.

Advocacy

Families are provided with advocacy to navigate the system when their children need services. The WRAP program is one of the hallmarks of California’s advocacy on behalf of adopted children and their families.

Respite

While there are some post-adoption contract agencies that provide respite in their services, there is not a statewide respite program. Childcare is provided at trainings so that parents may attend. Many private organizations offer a variety of respite options.

Residential Treatment

 Does the state pay for residential treatment for children adopted from foster care? What is the process for obtaining this?

Yes.

 If yes, what is required to obtain this?

A recognized mental health provider must provide a letter outlining the need, the level of care required and the anticipated treatment outcomes. The state then determines what facility can best meet the needs of the child. If the family has a treatment center in mind, this is taken into consideration.

The family can privately arrange for treatment as well. In this case, the state will ensure that the facility is appropriate and the family is responsible for completing the ICPC paperwork. Only non- profit residential treatment centers are approved, not residential schools. In California, it is legislated that there be no locked facilities (i.e. level 14), so if a locked facility is needed, the child must be placed out of state.

 Does the child have to re-enter state custody?

No; however, with the Adoption Assistance Program, there is a maximum of 18 months per episode and the family must be involved in the return home of the child.

III. Qualifications for Post-Adoption Services

A. What are the eligibility criteria for receiving services?

All adopted children and youth in the state are eligible.

B. Under what circumstances, if any, are these services provided to children who were not adopted