- System of care is a national model of service coordination that aims to break down silos and increase collaboration across systems to support children and youth with child welfare and/or juvenile probation involvement who have complex support needs.
- A system of care approach builds partnerships across systems and views children and youth as the equal responsibility of all who are providing support.
- New resources, tools, and information for children and youth in the child welfare and/or juvenile probation systems who receive services from regional centers will be added on an ongoing basis.
- For additional information, please visit System of Care – California Health and Human Services
- Connect with us and learn more by emailing Systemofcare@dds.ca.gov
Statute and Guidance
Assembly Bill 2083:
Assembly Bill (AB) 2083 was enacted in 2018 and requires each county to develop and implement a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), outlining the roles and responsibilities of the local entities that serve children and youth in foster care and/or probation who have experienced severe trauma. This bill also calls for the establishment of an interagency joint resolution team (JRT) at the state level to assist counties in serving children and youth. The JRT developed MOU guidance and established a process for local system partners to request technical assistance from the state Children and Youth System of Care Technical Assistance Team (CYSOCTAT). For information on how to request TA, please see the state CYSOCTAT link below.
At the county level, AB 2083 requires representatives from regional centers, county child welfare, education, probation, and county behavioral health to establish an Interagency Leadership Team (ILT) that is responsible for developing, implementing, reviewing, and revising as needed, the county MOU.
At the state level, AB 2083 brings together representatives from the Department of Developmental Services (DDS), California Department of Social Services (CDSS), California Department of Education (CDE), and the Department of Healthcare Services (DHCS), into a joint resolution team. Additional state departments involved in the state system of care work include the Department of Rehabilitation (DOR) and the Office of Youth and Community Restoration (OYCR).
Assembly Bill 153:
Assembly Bill (AB) 153 (Chapter 86, Statutes of 2021) amended Welfare and Institutions Codes (WIC) section 16521.6 to require that each county establish a process, through Tribal consultation with the federally recognized Tribes, to engage and coordinate regarding the ongoing implementation of the SOC MOU initially required by AB 2083.
Children and Youth System of Care Resources:
Glossary of Acronyms:
- Aid to Families with Dependent Children-Foster Care (AFDC-FC)
- All County Letter (ACL)
- Assembly Bill (AB)
- Behavioral Health Information Notice (BHIN)
- Best Interest Determination (BID)
- California Department of Education (CDE)
- California Department of Social Services (CDSS)
- Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths (CANS)
- Child and Family Team (CFT)
- Department of Health Care Services (DHCS)
- Department of Rehabilitation (DOR)
- Educational Rights Holder (ERH)
- Enhanced Care Management (ECM)
- Extended Foster Care (EFC)
- Foster Youth Services Coordinating Program (FYSCP)
- Information Notice (IN)
- Intellectual and Developmental Disability (I/DD)
- Individual Program Plan (IPP)
- Local Educational Agencies (LEAs)
- Managed Care Plan (MCP)
- Mental Health Plan (MHP)
- Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Services (MHSUDS)
- Non-minor dependents (NMDs)
- Office of Youth and Community Restoration (OYCR)
- Qualified Individual (QI)
- Self Determination Program (SDP)
- Senate Bill (SB)
- Specialty Mental Health Services (SMHS)
- Welfare and Institution Code (WIC)
Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths (CANS) Assessment and Child and Family Team (CFT) Meetings
- ACL 18-09/MHSUDS IN 18-007 – Requirements for implementing the CANS tool within a CFT. The CANS assessment results must be shared, discussed, and used within the CFT process to support case planning and care coordination.
- All County Letter (ACL) Number 25-10 – CANS Policy Letter – Outlines updated requirements for the administration of the Integrated Practice-Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths (IP-CANS) and Child and Family Teams (CFTs)
- Brief Overview of CANS(video)
- Introduction to CFTs (video)
- Using CFT and the CANS (video)
- Town Hall with John Lyons – Developer of CANS (video)
- Using CANS to Support Placement Decisions (video)
Regional Center
- WIC 4643.5 – Inter Regional Center Transfer (IRCT) requirements for children and youth in foster care
- Information on Supported Decision Making (SDM)
- FAQS About SDM – Information regarding AB 1663 which reformed California’s probate conservatorship system to help adults who have a developmental disability and need support to lead self-determined lives
- National Resource Center for Supported Decision Making – Information about supported decision making and a state-by-state search for current laws regarding guardianship
- Person-Centered Planning – An approach to determine and plan for/work toward the preferred future of a person with developmental disabilities. Regional center consumers can develop a Person-Centered Plan and enroll in the Self-Determination Program (SDP) with the help of their service coordinator
Educational Rights Holder and Developmental Decision-Maker Information
- Rule 5.650. Appointed educational rights holder – Outlines procedures for appointing an educational rights holder for children in court-ordered placements, ensuring educational service decisions are made appropriately
- WIC 361 Dependent Children – Governs the appointment of educational and developmental decision-makers for dependent children, ensuring decisions are made in their best interest
- Order Designating Educational Rights Holder (JV535) – Official order form for designating an educational rights holder for a child or youth in foster care
Education
- Foster Youth Education Rights – Summarizes the California Education Code sections pertaining to children and youth in foster care that includes right to immediate enrollment and school discipline rights, among others
- Educational Stability and Best Interest Determination (BID)
- ACIN I-05-21 – Educational Stability and BID
- AB 490 Educational Liaisons– Link to identify and contact Foster Youth Liaisons based on county and school district
- Program Coordinators – Link to identify and contact Foster Youth Services Program Coordinators
- Field Guide for Creating Integrated, School-Based Systems of Care – Link to a guide outlining current efforts toward a school-based child-serving system
- California Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) – Link to information on MTSS
- Non-Regulatory Guidance on Ensuring Educational Stability and Success for Students in Foster Care
- Foster Youth Services Coordinating Programs (FYSCP) Hub – System of Care Information Library – Resources for implementing California’s System of Care for children, focusing on foster youth and interagency collaboration
- California Foster Youth Education Resource Hub – Offers resources for foster youth, agencies, and partners supporting education and child welfare systems
Health Care and Behavioral/Mental Health
- Enhanced Care Management and Community Supports
- ACL 24-35 – Elimination of Required Mental Health Screening and Replacement with Required Referral to County Mental Health Plans for all Children with an open Child Welfare or Juvenile Probation Placement Case
- BHIN 21-073 – Criteria for beneficiary access to Specialty Mental Health Services (SMHS), medical necessity, and other coverage requirements
- BHIN 22-003 – Medi-Cal Substance Use Disorder (SUD) treatment services for beneficiaries under age 21
- BHIN 24-025, ACL 24-43 – Presumptive Transfer Related to Children and Youth in Foster Care Placed in Out-of-County Short-Term Facilities
- Overview of Medi-Cal for Child Welfare Agencies – Provides information about choosing a Medi-Cal plan that is right for each individual child our youth in foster care
- APL 24-013 – Outlines the intent and objectives for the development of Medi-Cal managed care plan (MCP) Child Welfare Liaisons
Child Welfare/Social Services
- Complex Care Resource Guide – Resources available to support youth with unmet complex care needs
- Case Consultations with Dr. Haleigh Scott – Consultations provided at no cost to support families and care teams caring for current, former, and at-risk foster youth who have a dual diagnosis of intellectual and/or developmental disabilities and trauma and/or have a mental health diagnosis
- UC Davis TEAM Program – Consultation for psychiatric diagnostic clarification for youth involved with child welfare who have complex support needs
- ACL 23-28 – Updated Supplemental Security Income application and qualification guidelines to assist foster youth and NMDs (SB 187)
- Complex Care Funding
- ACL 21-119: Complex Care Funding Opportunity, Requirements and Guidelines
- ACIN I-03-23: Modified Complex Care Child Specific Funding Request Template to Replace the Original Version Attached to ACL 21-119 on Complex Care Funding Opportunities Under AB 153
- ACL 22-21: Guidelines for Counties to Request a Program-Specific or Child-Specific Rate for an Innovative Model of Care to Support Children and NMDs with Complex Needs Unable to Be met in Existing AFDC-FC Programs or Using Alternative Funding Sources
- ACL 21-119: Complex Care Funding Opportunity, Requirements and Guidelines
AB 12, Extended Foster Care (EFC)
- FAQs Page on EFC
- ACL 11-61 – Extension of Aid to Families with Dependent Children-Foster Care for youth who were in foster care before age 18 and wish to continue beyond age 18
- ACL 11-69 – Provides instructions on the policies and procedures of the EFC Program
- ACL 11-77 – Provides instructions on the policies and procedures for the placement of NMDs in the EFC Program
- ACL 11-85 – Provides information on probation youth access to the EFC Program and includes a discussion of the new mechanism which allows for and defines how wards of the court can access the EFC Program
Tribal Youth and Engagement
- ACL 24-18 – Provides guidance to county Child Welfare Service agencies and probation departments regarding the requirements to make affirmative, active, thorough, and timely efforts intended primarily to maintain or reunite an Indian child with their family
- Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) Desk Reference– A resource for social workers and other child welfare serving partners for supporting the requirements of the federal Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA)
- CDE Tribal Consultation Toolkit– Provides guidance for California LEAs on conducting meaningful consultations with Native American Tribes, ensuring Tribal perspectives are integrated into educational programs
- CFT – Tribal Engagement Guide– Provides strategies for integrating Tribal perspectives in CFT meetings, focusing on culturally responsive practices and adherence to ICWA requirements for Indian children in California
- Tribal Leaders Directory – A website to look up federally recognized Tribes in your area
Additional Tools and Resources to Support Children and Youth in Foster Care
- Foster Youth Rights – Guidance for youth that are on probation and live in an out-of-home placement, like an STRTP, group home, or foster home, as well as children living in any licensed or certified children’s facility or home in California
- Court Companion Guide – Court Companion guide for foster youth
- Best Practices Guide – Best Practices Guide to improve educational outcomes for children and youth in foster care
- Public Funding for School-Based Mental Health Programs – Overview of mental health programs available in an education setting
- Integrated Core Practice Model (ICPM) 2024 – Updated from 2018, this ICPM provides research-based behavioral practice and principles which lead to effective outcomes for youth receiving services through public delivery systems
- Integrated Training Guide (ITG) – Provides recommendations for implementing the ICPM in the System of Care for children and youth
National SOC resources
- The Evolution of the Systems of Care Approach – Research article on the introduction of systems of care and the continuous strides of the model as needs and service delivery has changed
- Evidence Informed Practice in Systems of Care – Research article on service delivery framework and funding for effective supports
- Building a Systems of Care – A Primer (2nd Edition) – A Georgetown University publication on the structural importance of evidence-based practices within systems of care
- Building Systems of Care through Innovations Institute through UCONN – An online training course updates material from the Primer and nests systems of care within health care delivery transformation
Resources for Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (CSEC)
- CDE- CSEC Information Website Information and resources on CSEC from California Department of Education
- CDSS-Child Trafficking Response Unit (CTRU) Information and resources on CSEC from California Department of Social Services
Regional Center System of Care Coordinators:
Each of the 21 regional centers has at least one Children and Youth System of Care Coordinator for implementation of the Children and Youth System of Care. The regional center’s activities focus on strengthening collaborations with multiple county systems, assuring that cross-system linkages are established and maintained, tracking and providing support to service coordinators on complex cases that have child welfare and/or multiple system involvement, and assisting youth in foster care in completing timely intake and transition processes. The Children and Youth System of Care Coordinator is the lead regional center staff responsible for coordinating activities to implement AB 2083.
Regional Center SOC Coordinator Contact information & Desk Reference:
State System of Care Technical Assistance Team:
Assembly Bill (AB) 2083: Children and Youth System of Care (Chapter 815, Statutes of 2018), requires the establishment of a Children and Youth System of Care State Technical Assistance Team, thereafter, referred to as the CYSOCTAT consisting of representatives from California Department of Social Services (CDSS), Department of Health Care Services (DHCS), Department of Developmental Services (DDS), and the California Department of Education (CDE). The statute requires the state to develop a process for local partner agencies that are parties to the Children and Youth System of Care Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to request interdepartmental technical assistance (TA) from the CYSOCTAT. The CYSOCTAT partners with the CDSS and DHCS Offices of Tribal Affairs to provide consultation to Tribal partners. In addition, although not mandated by statute, the Department of Rehabilitation (DOR) and the Office of Youth and Community Restoration (OYCR) are both available to consult, as appropriate. The state TA model is built on the foundation of the prior Continuum of Care Reform TA process and has broadened the scope and participation in existing TA meetings, consistent with AB 2083.
TA Calls may be requested by any system partner by submitting a TA Referral Form. Please email SOCTACALLS@dss.ca.gov. to request the form.
For more information, please visit: CDSS Child-Specific Technical Assistance Calls Webpage
Resources For Youth, Parents and Caregivers:
Youth Mental Health Resource Hub – Provided by the California Health and Human Services Agency, the Youth Mental Resource Hub yields resources related to mental health, suicide prevention, and education for families and caregivers
DDS Autism Resource Hub – Provides self-advocates, families, caregivers, and other partners with information and tools related to Autism
Help is in Your Hands (en Español) – A free series of online video modules designed to teach simple strategies and activities for parents or caregivers of young children on the autism spectrum. The site also hosts a resource center with supplemental information guides and materials for providers
ASD Toddler Initiative – Provides free online modules for professionals to learn how to use evidence-based practices for teaching toddlers (ages 0-3) on the autism spectrum
Autism Internet Modules (AIM) – Funded by the Ohio Department of Education & Workforce and provides free, self-paced modules to help providers understand, identify, plan for, and support individuals with autism in their school, home, community, or organization
BrightLife Kids and Soluna – Provides free, safe, and confidential mental health support for young people and families across the state with two easy-to-use mobile apps
Reports and Data Dashboard:
Assembly Bill 2083 (Chapter 815, Statutes of 2018) and Assembly Bill 153 (Chapter 86, Statutes of 2021) require the following System of Care reports:
- Track and Report Foster Youth who Receive Technical Assistance [W&I Code Section 16521.6 (b)(2)(A)(5)]
- Identify Gaps in Placement Types, Services, or Other Issues [WIC 16521.6(b)(1)(B)(ii)(2)(A)]
- Develop a Multiyear Plan for Increasing Capacity [WIC 16521.6(b)(1)(B)(ii)(3)]
- Welfare and Institutions Code (WIC) section 11464(h), added by Senate Bill 84 (Chapter 177, Statutes of 2007), requires the California Department of Social Services and the Department of Developmental Services to annually submit to the Joint Legislative Budget Committee a report to facilitate review of the outcomes of the rate structure changes for rates paid on behalf of children who are both recipients of California Early Start services or receiving services from a California regional center due to a developmental and/or intellectual disability as defined by WIC section 4512 who also receive Aid to Families with Dependent Children-Foster Care, Kinship-Guardianship Assistance Payment, Approved Relative Caregiver benefits, or Adoption Assistance Program benefits.
- Report to the Joint Legislative Budget Committee: Data to Facilitate Legislative Review of the Outcomes of the Dual Agency Program and Payment Changes (July 2017 to December 2017)
- Report to the Joint Legislative Budget Committee: Data to Facilitate Legislative Review of the Outcomes of the Dual Agency Program and Payment Changes (January 2017 to June 2017)
- Report to the Joint Legislative Budget Committee: Data to Facilitate Legislative Review of the Outcomes of the Dual Agency Program and Payment Changes (January 2016 to June 2016)
- Report to the Joint Legislative Budget Committee: Data to Facilitate Legislative Review of the Outcomes of the Dual Agency Program and Payment Changes (July 2016 to December 2016)
- Report to the Joint Legislative Budget Committee/Children Receiving AFDC-FC, Kin-GAP or AAP and Concurrently Receiving Services from a California Regional Center (June 2012 and December 2012
- Report to the Joint Legislative Budget Committee: Data to Facilitate Legislative Review of the Outcomes of the Dual Agency Program and Payment Changes (June 2011 and December 2011)
- Report to the Joint Legislative Budget Committee/Data to Facilitate Legislative Review of the Outcomes of the Dual Agency Program and Payment Changes (February 2008)
- California Child Welfare Indicators Project (CCWIP) With collaboration between the University of California Berkeley and CDSS, this resource provides the public with access to critical outcome information on California’s child welfare system
- DataQuest (CDE) Provides meaningful data about California’s TK/K-12 public educational systems, with detailed data reports available for multiple subject areas at the school, district, county, and state levels
Last modified: July 15, 2025