Welfare and Institutions Code section 5698

It is the intent of the Legislature to encourage in each county a system of care for children and youth with serious emotional disturbance. This system of care should be based upon the following principles:

(a)

A defined range of interagency services, blended programs and program standards that facilitate appropriate service delivery in the least restrictive environment as close to home as possible. The system should use available and accessible intensive home and school-based alternatives.

(b)

A defined mechanism to ensure that services are child centered and family focused with parental participation in all aspects of the planning and delivery of service.

(c)

A formalized multiagency policy making council and an interagency case management services council. The roles and responsibilities of these councils should be specified in existing interagency agreements or memoranda of understanding, or both.

(d)

A defined interagency case management system designed to facilitate services to the defined target population.

(e)

A defined mechanism to ensure that services are culturally competent.