Children in foster care represent one of the most vulnerable
populations served by county social service, health and mental
health agencies. CIBHS recognizes the need to continue to improve
services to children and youth served in foster care. We have and
continue to develop projects that reach across populations that
include children and youth in foster care; however, several
projects focus or have focused specifically on this population.
The Mental Health Services for Foster Care Children Placed
Outside of Their County of Jurisdiction project, operated from
October 2005 through February 2008. This project was designed to
bring key stakeholders together to identify, develop, and to the
degree feasible begin to implement strategies to improve access
to Medi-Cal Specialty Mental Health Services for Foster Youth
placed outside of their county of jurisdiction.With active
participation of representatives from County Mental Health
Departments, County Social Service Departments, State Department
of Mental Health and the Alliance for Child and Family Services
this project resulted in a series of consensus recommendations
that led to the development and passage of
SB 785.
The documents that follow represent the work of this stakeholder
group.