4096.6. (Amended by Stats. 2022, Ch. 50, Sec. 36.)

(a) For the purpose of this section, “family-based aftercare services” means an array of integrated services and supports that meets all of the following specifications:

(1) Are provided to or on behalf of a child for at least six months postdischarge from a short-term residential therapeutic program, a community treatment facility, or an out-of-state residential facility, as defined by paragraph (2) of subdivision (b) of Section 7910 of the Family Code. Federal financial participation under the Medi-Cal program shall only be available if all state and federal requirements are met and the service is medically necessary, regardless of the six months postdischarge requirement.

(2) Are family-based and implemented as part of an individualized, child-specific transition plan in a manner that supports the child’s permanency plan and incorporates the recommendations of the qualified individual.

(3) No later than October 1, 2022, meet the standards established pursuant to subdivision (c).

(b) (1) On and after October 1, 2021, each county child welfare agency, probation department, and mental health plan, in consultation with the local interagency leadership team established pursuant to Section 16521.6, shall jointly provide, arrange for, or ensure the provision of, at least six months of aftercare services for youth in the placement and care responsibility of the county child welfare or county probation agency who are discharged from a short-term residential therapeutic program, or from an out-of-state residential facility, as defined by paragraph (2) of subdivision (b) of Section 7910 of the Family Code, to a family-based setting. Federal financial participation under the Medi-Cal program shall only be available if all state and federal requirements are met and the service is medically necessary, regardless of the six months postdischarge requirement.

(2) On and after July 1, 2022, each county child welfare agency, probation department, and mental health plan, in consultation with the local interagency leadership team established pursuant to Section 16521.6, shall jointly provide, arrange for, or ensure the provision of, at least six months of aftercare services for youth in the placement and care responsibility of the county child welfare or county probation agency who are discharged from a community treatment facility, as defined in subparagraph (A) of paragraph (8) of subdivision (a) of Section 1502 of the Health and Safety Code, to a family-based setting. Federal financial participation under the Medi-Cal program shall only be available if all state and federal requirements are met and the service is medically necessary, regardless of the six months postdischarge requirement.

(3) No later than October 1, 2021, county agencies shall leverage existing wraparound programs and other resources to provide at least six months of family-based aftercare services, while planning and incrementally implementing the standards established pursuant to subdivision (c).

(4) No later than October 1, 2023, or 12 months from the date the department issues written policy guidance regarding subdivision (c), whichever occurs later, county agencies shall jointly provide, arrange for, or ensure the provision of, at least 6 months of family-based aftercare services consistent with the minimum requirements established pursuant to subdivision (c).

(c) (1) The State Department of Social Services and the State Department of Health Care Services shall establish, through regulation, statewide minimum standards for family-based aftercare services. Minimum standards shall be informed by stakeholder advisory groups convened by the State Department of Social Services and the State Department of Health Care Services and shall require, but shall not be limited to, all of the following:

(A) The use of a California high-fidelity wraparound model, approved by the State Department of Social Services and consistent with the California Wraparound Standards and Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 18250) of Part 6 of Division 9, for aftercare services.

(B) A process through which a provider shall be certified to provide family-based aftercare services.

(C) Guidelines for ensuring each child, minor, or nonminor dependent discharged from a short-term residential therapeutic program, a community treatment facility, or an out-of-state residential facility, as defined by paragraph (2) of subdivision (b) of Section 7910 of the Family Code, to family-based care is provided aftercare services pursuant to this section, including process guidance for circumstances in which children, minors, or nonminor dependents reside outside the county of jurisdiction.

(D) Workforce development, training, and curriculum requirements.

(E) Funding planning, which shall include, but not be limited to, controls and documentation to ensure that federal financial participation under the Medi-Cal program is only claimed if all state and federal requirements are met and the service is medically necessary.

(F) Data collection and outcome measures.

(2) No later than August 1, 2021, the State Department of Social Services, in partnership with the State Department of Health Care Services and in consultation with the County Behavioral Health Directors Association of California, the County Welfare Directors Association of California, Chief Probation Officers of California, tribes, child welfare advocates, providers, current or former foster children or youth, caregivers, and other interested stakeholders, shall issue guidance necessary to implement this section.

(d) Each county shall submit a plan to the State Department of Social Services and the State Department of Health Care Services for the provision of family-based aftercare services as follows:

(1) No later than October 1, 2021, each county shall submit a plan for the provision of family-based aftercare services in compliance with paragraph (3) of subdivision (b), including, but not limited to, how existing programs and resources will be leveraged to provide interim aftercare services until full implementation of subdivision (c).

(2) No later than October 1, 2023, or 12 months from the date the department issues written policy guidance regarding subdivision (c), whichever occurs later, each county shall update and submit its plan for the provision of family-based aftercare services in compliance with the requirements of paragraph (4) of subdivision (b) and consistent with the standards established pursuant to subdivision (c) and shall submit updates to the departments based on any modifications to its local plan.

(3) The State Department of Social Services and the State Department of Health Care Services, or its designee, shall jointly review and approve county plans and updates to plans for family-based aftercare services.

(4) A county participating in an individualized or wraparound services program shall submit the plan for family-based aftercare services as a part of the plan developed pursuant to Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 18250) of Part 6 of Division 9.

(e) For this section, federal financial participation under the Medi-Cal program shall only be available if all state and federal requirements are met and the service is medically necessary, regardless of the six-month postdischarge requirement.

(g) (1) Notwithstanding any other law, contracts awarded by the State Department of Social Services for purposes of this section shall be exempt from the personal services contracting requirements of Article 4 (commencing with Section 19130) of Chapter 5 of Part 2 of Division 5 of Title 2 of the Government Code.

(2) Notwithstanding any other law, contracts awarded by the State Department of Social Services for purposes of this section shall be exempt from the Public Contract Code and the State Contracting Manual and shall not be subject to the review or approval of the Department of General Services.

(3) This subdivision shall become inoperative on July 1, 2025, unless a later enacted statute, that becomes operative on or before July 1, 2025, deletes or extends the date on which this subdivision becomes inoperative.