The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) released the
Bringing Families Home (BFH) Program application criteria on
September 5, 2019. BFH was established through Assembly Bill 1603
(Chapter 25, Statutes 2016), designed to provide housing related
assistance to child-welfare involved families, but funding was
set to expire June 30, 2019.
As the Legislative bill deadline has passed, CSAC Health and
Human Services staff took support positions on the following
enrolled bills. These bills are currently being reviewed by the
Governor for signature or veto. There are no HHS bills that CSAC
is asking the Governor to veto.
As we near the end of the 2019 legislative year, CSAC continues
to engage with several bill authors and sponsors to advocate for
the best outcomes for counties. CSAC was successful in
negotiating amendments on the two below bills that will allow us
to remove our opposition.
The California Alliance of Child and Family Services is hosting a
series of community forums to spark dialogue among
community-based organizations, policymakers and government
administrators around school-based mental health, highlighting
meaningful and impactful strategies that are grounded in
evidence. The forum, will examine successful partnerships for the
delivery of school based mental health services. The forums will
be held in Sacramento and Los Angeles.
This week, the Assembly’s Accountability and Administrative
Review and Health Committees, chaired by Assembly Member Cottie
Petrie-Norris and Assembly Member Jim Wood, convened a joint
informational hearing on the oversight and accountability of
Mental Health Services Act Funds (MHSA).
The Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) has posted the
application and funding allocations for one-time Housing
Funds for Whole Person Care (WPC) Pilots. The application
was released to current Whole Person Care Lead Entities on
Monday, July 22, 2019 and updated on posted on Friday, August 9,
2019 to their site. The application contains instructions for
counties, the funding allocations, the methodology used, and a
helpful list of deadlines.
This week, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
officially released the controversial
public charge final rule. The rule expands the definition of
public charge to require consideration of current or potential
receipt of non-cash benefits, including Medicaid/Medi-Cal,
SNAP/CalFresh, and federally subsidized housing when determining
whether to extend or revise a legal immigrant’s status.
The Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) has released the
application and funding allocations for one-time Housing Funds
for Whole Person Care (WPC) Pilots. The application was
released to current Whole Person Care Lead Entities on Monday,
July 22, 2019.
As discussed in the CSAC Power Minute Video on In-Home
Supportive Services (IHSS), the revised County IHSS Maintenance
of Effort (MOE) will create a more sustainable fiscal structure
for counties to manage IHSS costs and continue to deliver vital
services on behalf of the state. CSAC partnered with counties
over the past two years to work towards achieving this outcome
and is grateful to the Governor and the Legislature for the
proposal and legislation that will accomplish this goal.
This week, the United States Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals
heard oral arguments in a case that could determine the
future of the Affordable Care Act (ACA).The Fifth Circuit Court
could make its decision on Texas v. United States by the
end of the year, but regardless of the outcome, the case is
widely expected to be appealed to the Supreme Court in 2020.
Governor Gavin Newsom signed
AB 46 into law last week. The bill, authored by
Assemblymember Wendy Carrillo, will replace out-of-date terms
used to refer to individuals living with mental illness
throughout California law.
On Monday, June 10, Governor Newsom announced the creation of a
Cabinet-level Workgroup for Aging to be convened by the Secretary
of the California Health and Human Services Agency (CHHS). As the
aging population is forecasted to rise significantly, the
workgroup, led by recently confirmed HHS Secretary Dr. Mark
Ghaly, will work to provide an actionable Master Plan on Aging
with the goal of transforming California into an age-friendly
state.
Dr. Mark Ghaly, who has extensive county experience, was
confirmed as the state’s new California Health and Human Services
Agency Secretary by the Senate Rules Committee this week. CSAC
was pleased to support Dr. Ghaly’s confirmation as Secretary, and
the Rules Committee unanimously voted to forward a recommendation
for confirmation to the full Senate.
The California Health and Human Services Agency (CHHS), the
Departments of Developmental Services, Health Care Services,
Rehabilitation, Social Services, and the California Department of
Education have prioritized improving the coordination of the
“Systems of Care” for high-needs children and youth at all levels
of engagement.
CSAC is following a number of budget-related items as the
legislative budget process proceeds toward the constitutional
deadline of June 15 for the Legislature to pass the state budget.
The health and human services-related budget subcommittees of
both houses have concluded their work, and the Senate Budget and
Fiscal Review Committee convened yesterday to approve their
version of the budget proposal. The Assembly Budget Committee
will meet tomorrow.
