Welfare and Institutions Code section 5672

The types of programs serving children and adolescents referred to in Section 5671.5 are those described in this section. The programs should meet the criteria set forth in this section and in Section 5671 and 5671.5. Nothing in this section should be construed to waive any licensure requirement pursuant to the California Community Care Facilities Act (Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 1500) of Division 2 of the Health and Safety Code) for any community care facility.

(a)

A program for a short-term crisis residential alternative to hospitalization. The services in this program should include, but not be limited to, provision of direct services to the family, specific linkages with the child’s educational system and community educational resources, and development of a support system, including school and treatment referrals. The program should be designed for children and adolescents who would otherwise be referred to a psychiatric inpatient unit. It should be a 24-hour program, with an emphasis on stabilization and appropriate referral for further treatment or support services.

(b)

A long-term residential treatment program. This program should have an educational orientation and should reflect the principle that education be available in the least restrictive environment. The program should serve children and adolescents requiring an intensive support system for a period of six to 18 months, who would otherwise be at risk of periodic hospitalization. The program should provide coordinated intervention with the child, family unit, and community education resources, and should include aftercare services to the child and family unit to solidify gains and develop skills in linking with community services.

(c)

A transitional residential program. This program may include group homes, foster homes, or homes adapted for preparing adolescents approaching majority to adjust to emancipation.

The services in this program should include, but not be limited to, coordination with community education resources to meet the child’s individual need, family services designed to strengthen the family unity of which the child is a part, and aftercare services to reinforce the gains brought about by the program and assist in community adjustment.

(d)

A program for a semisupervised, independent but structured living arrangement. This program should apply to older adolescents, who are either emancipated or who would not be returning home from out-of-home placement. The semisupervised living arrangement should require structured living designed to impart those skills necessary for successful independent living as described in subdivision (d) of Section 5671. Adult supervision should be available 24 hours per day.

The services should include, but not be limited to, prevocational and vocational linkages in the community, financial planning which may include rent subsidy assistance, and development of a social support system.

(e)

(1)A day treatment program. This program should provide services to children and adolescents who are residing in their own homes or in out-of-home placements. Schoolsites or other noninstitutional settings are preferred for this program. A day treatment program for children should offer a multidisciplinary approach and should incorporate education, recreation, and rehabilitation activities. Services provided should be age appropriate and age specific intensive remedial programs, including education, counseling, socialization, and recreational services. To the extent feasible, the client’s family should be included in these activities.

(2)

Day treatment services should be designed to provide an alternative to residential placement, to provide preventive services in the early stages of family breakdown, and to reduce the need for more costly and lengthy treatment services. Aftercare services should be available to maintain gains and prevent family regression.

(f)

A socialization center program. This program should provide a multidisciplinary approach and seek funding from a variety of agencies responsible for providing services, including, but not limited to, school districts and recreation departments. The services should promote community acceptance of clients and the integration of their family units. Family involvement in planning activities and developing support system linkages should be encouraged.

(g)

An in-home treatment program. This program should be designed to strengthen the child’s ties with the family unit and with the greater community without removing the child from his or her home environment and community educational system.

Services provided should include, but not be limited to, crisis intervention, direct family services, development of specific treatment plans, development of ongoing plans utilizing available resources in the community educational system, and special programs which act as a support system for the child and family unit.

(h)

Augmentation of crisis intervention program. This program should provide specifically for evaluation, diagnosis, and disposition planning for children and adolescents in psychiatric crisis.

(i)

Case management services program. This program should emphasize prevention services and should be designed to divert to noninstitutional programs children and adolescents at risk of involvement with traditional mental health institutions.