The Safety Net provides a continuum of care across the lifespan for individuals experiencing complex medical, behavioral, and mental health conditions when urgent or additional or specialized support is required. The Safety Net provides supports to regional centers on case specific barriers and transitions, while also continuously evaluating and developing the statewide system of supports to meet the unique and diverse needs of people supported in the Developmental Service System.
The Department’s role in the Safety Net
- Evaluate the Safety Net Continuum for barriers, limitations and opportunities.
- Collaborate on the development and planning of innovative resources for individuals with high acuity needs.
- Provide technical assistance and connections within and outside the Department for complex cases.
- Monitor, review and coordinate referrals to Safety Net specialized resources.
- Support transitions for individuals with high-acuity needs between residential and treatment service settings, and across regional centers and providers.
Safety Net History
If you or your loved one requires immediate assistance, contact one of the following resources:
- For emergencies and immediate assistance please call 911
- For mental health and suicide assistance call or text the 988 Lifeline, available 24/7. For more information navigate to one of the following links:
- For county mental health services please find them by visiting the California Department of Healthcare Services.
- To discuss and request regional center services and supports, please contact your service coordinator. Find and contact your regional center on our Regional Center Lookup page.
Prevention
Care and Service Coordination
Care and Service Coordination consists of case management a persons receiving services from a Regional Center may receive to support them in identifying and coordinating community and regional center services and supports. Examples:
- Service Coordination
- 1:25 Service Coordination Ratio (WIC 4640.6(c)(6))
- Individual Family Support Plan (IFSP)* /Individual Program Plan (IPP)
*Resource available for children and youth only
Preventative Supports
Preventative supports consists of community and/or regional center services, supports and programs that can be accessed by a person receiving regional center services and supports before a crisis occurs or to prevent a crisis from escalating further.
Examples:
- 988 crisis line
- Risk, Psychological, Language, Communication, Behavioral, Developmental Assessments
- Family Coordinated Supports**
- Early Intervention*
- Respite Care
- Systemic, Therapeutic, Assessment, Resources and Treatments (START)
*Resource available for children and youth only
** Resource available to adults (18+) only
Transition Supports
Transition supports consist of services that aid in the transition from an acute crisis setting such as a locked setting, a carceral setting or an acute psychiatric setting. These supports are also seen in conjunction with residential or treatment settings for high acuity needs persons.
Examples:
Crisis Services
Mobile Crisis
Mobile crisis services are designed to provide stabilization and support to a person in their current living arrangement or other appropriate settings through intervention and prevention.
Examples:
- Regional Center Vendored Crisis Services
- Mobile Crisis Services
- Benchmark Active Consulting (FDLRC, WRC, ELARC)
- CAST
- Systemic, Therapeutic, Assessment, Resources and Treatments (START)
Acute Crisis Settings
Acute Crisis settings provide support while a person is experiencing a crisis that cannot be addressed through community resources and require specialized staffing and care.
Examples:
Residential and/or Treatment Settings
Living Options
These are regional center services and supports that assist persons in activities of daily living at various levels of needs and support.
Examples:
- Foster Family Agency*
- Independent Living Skills (ILS)**
- Supported Living Services (SLS)**
- Adult Family Home Agency**
- Small Family Home*
- Community Care Facility (CCF) vendored by regional center
Visit our Living Arrangements page for more information
*Resource available for children and youth only
** Resource available to adults (18+) only
Settings for Complex Support Needs
Settings for Complex support needs are residential facilities that provide 24-hour care to meet the high acuity needs of the individuals, such as medical, behavioral, or forensic needs.
- Specialized Residential Facility (SRF)
- Adult Residential Facility for Special Health Care Needs (ARFPSHN)
- Group Home for Children with Special Health Care Needs (GHCSHN)
- Enhanced Behavioral Supports Home (EBSH)
- Community Crisis Home (CCH)
- Step-Down Community Crisis Homes (IMD and PDC)**
- Canyon Springs**
- Porterville Developmental Center (PDC)**
** Resource available to adults (18+) only
Last modified: July 31, 2026