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(a) The department shall establish a community navigator program to promote the utilization of generic and regional center services by using community leaders, family members, or self-advocates to provide information and guidance to consumers and their families who could benefit from added support to navigate available resources.
(1) The program shall be structured to utilize individuals and families who are receiving or have received regional center services to provide education to those individuals who are or may be eligible for regional center services regarding the developmental disabilities services system, agencies available to assist them, and other available resources.
(2) The program shall focus on cultural and linguistic competency in supporting individuals and families to improve equitable access to regional center services.
(b) The department shall engage stakeholders to obtain input on key elements for the community navigator program by August 31, 2021.
(c) The department shall allocate funding to family resource centers to administer community navigator programs.
(1) To the extent possible, each funded program shall share a culture or ethnicity, or both, community, and language with the individuals and families they support when offering assistance and education to reduce barriers in accessing services.
(2) Each program funded pursuant to this subdivision shall assist individuals and families in accessing and utilizing generic and regional center services in their communities, including, but not limited to, assistance in building trust with regional center staff, education on available services, guidance on how to request needed services, and support from peers in the community who have experience with the regional center system.
(d) The department shall issue funding guidelines regarding the selection of community navigator programs and the conditions under which the funding shall be used consistent with the requirements of this section. The guidelines shall be exempt from the rulemaking process of Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code.
(e) A family resource center receiving funding for the purpose of the community navigator program shall report to the department in a manner and within a time period determined and outlined in guidance by the department on how the funding allocations were used and shall include recommendations of priorities for activities that may be effective in addressing disparities, including removing barriers to accessing and utilizing generic and regional center services. The department shall post these reports on its internet website by November 1, 2022.