April 23, 2020

Accompanied by Santa Clara Supervisors Cindy Chavez and Susan Ellenberg, as well as San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo, Governor Newsom delivered one of his daily COVID-19 updates over the weekend from a newly leased Motel 6 in Santa Clara County. This backdrop was significant as Governor Newsom announced a new statewide master lease agreement/template with Motel 6 corporate. The agreement includes 5,025 new rooms across Motel 6 locations in 19 counties, and contains language on extending the leases into the future beyond the COVID-19 pandemic.

April 16, 2020

April 16, 2020

The Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) has created a new aid code for individuals to assist them in accessing testing, treatment, and care for COVID-19 related services. Approved federally as part of the CARES Act, California can now provide access to coverage for COVID-19 diagnostic testing, testing-related services, and treatment services, including all medically necessary care, at no cost to the individual.

April 16, 2020

In response to the statewide impacts of COVID-19, DHCS announced the postponement of the California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal (CalAIM) implementation activities. In addition to the postponement DHCS will request the extension to the current Medicaid Section 1115 and Section 1915(b) Specialty Mental Health waivers from the federal government.

April 9, 2020

April 2, 2020

The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) released new guidance on Employment Services provisions in the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) program, through an All County Welfare Directors Letter (ACWDL). The guidance encourages counties to minimize the fiscal impacts on families, during a time of economic uncertainty, while continuing to support them through supportive services.

April 2, 2020

April 2, 2020

The White House Coronavirus Task Force indicated last night that they are relying on a model by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington to prepare for a health care surge in coronavirus cases.

April 2, 2020

After growing concerns voiced by the general public, individuals deemed essential workers, news outlets, and others on the use of face masks, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) issued guidance on the proper uses of cloth face coverings for the general public. The guidance stops short of mandating the use of face coverings and instead can be summarized as an informational document.

March 12, 2020

The California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) announced awards totaling $427.9 million from the No Place Like Home (NPLH) program. 

The NPLH program funding was approved to invest in the development of permanent supportive housing for persons who are in need of mental health services and are experiencing homelessness, chronic homelessness, or who are at risk of chronic homelessness.

March 5, 2020

Counties are working around the clock to identify and respond to the spread of the novel coronavirus in California. Federal, state, and local governments and departments have closely monitored the developments of the novel coronavirus, dubbed COVID-19 by the World Health Organization.

February 13, 2020

The National Association of Counties (NACo), the Aetna Foundation/CVS Health, and the American Public Health Association have launched the Healthiest Cities and Counties Challenge, an initiative to accelerate systems-level approaches to improving community health.

January 23, 2020

John Burton Advocates for Youth (JBAY), will host a webinar, CalEITC 101: Expanded State Tax Credit Puts Cash into the Pockets of California’s Most Vulnerable Transition-Age Youth, on Thursday, January 30, 2020, 10:00 – 11:30 a.m.

December 19, 2019

This week the United States Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled on the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) provision, known as the individual mandate, which requires individuals to have the basic level of health coverage. In a 2-1 decision the federal judges ruled the individual mandate requirement was unconstitutional.

December 19, 2019

The California Health and Human Services Agency (CHHS), has now finalized and posted the MOU Implementation Guidance for counties.

November 14, 2019

Governor Newsom signed 870 bills into law this year. To keep counties informed of new laws that impact them, CSAC will be publishing a series of articles to spotlight those laws in each policy area. This week, the Health and Human Services policy area provides information on new laws affecting foster care, health, homelessness, and more. Stay tuned for more updates from other policy areas over the next several weeks.

The new laws listed below become effective January 1, 2020 unless otherwise noted.

October 31, 2019

October 24, 2019

September 19, 2019

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.

September 19, 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.

Requesting Signature

AB 728 (Santiago)

August 22, 2019

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.

August 22, 2019