Bill Text: CA AB531 | 2019-2020 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Foster youth: housing.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2019-08-30 - In committee: Held under submission. [AB531 Detail]
Download: California-2019-AB531-Amended.html
|
Amended
IN
Assembly
May 16, 2019 |
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE—
2019–2020 REGULAR SESSION
| Assembly Bill | No. 531 |
| Introduced by Assembly Member Friedman |
February 13, 2019 |
An act to amend Section 1559.110 of the Health and Safety Code, and to amend Sections 11402.2, 11403.2, 16001, and 16522.1, 16522.1 of, and to add Sections 16522.3 and 16522.7 to, the Welfare and Institutions Code, relating to foster youth.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 531, as amended, Friedman.
Foster youth: housing.
Existing law, the California Community Care Facilities Act, requires the State Department of Social Services to license and regulate transitional housing placement providers as a community care facility. A “transitional housing placement provider” is an organization licensed by the department to provide transitional housing to foster children at least 16 years of age and not more than 18 years of age, and nonminor dependents to promote their transition to adulthood. Existing law requires transitional housing units to include, among others, a host family certified by a transitional housing placement provider.
This bill would authorize a resource family, foster family home, certified foster home, approved relative caregiver or nonrelative extended family member of a participant to be automatically converted to
a host family to be certified by the transitional housing placement provider, or to be an approved resource family, a licensed foster family home or certified foster home, an approved relative caregiver, or a nonrelative extended family member of a participant, without requiring additional certification. certification by the transitional housing placement provider. The bill would require, if a nonminor dependent receiving transitional housing services lives with a host family, payment for those services to be split
equally between the transitional housing placement provider, the host family, and the nonminor dependent, unless a different apportionment is agreed to by all parties.
Existing law requires county agencies that place children in foster care to conduct an evaluation of the county’s placement resources and programs in relation to the needs of children placed in out-of-home care, and specifically requires county placement agencies to examine placements that are out of county and determine the reason the placement was necessary.
This bill would additionally require a county placement agency to examine its ability to meet the emergency housing needs of nonminor dependents. By imposing new duties on counties, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
Existing law establishes the supervised independent living placement as an independent
supervised setting that is specified in a nonminor dependent’s transitional independent living case plan and in which the nonminor dependent is living independently.
This bill would authorize a county, under certain conditions, to certify that a supervised independent living placement meets health and safety standards once every 12 months. The bill would also authorize a county, subject to an appropriation in the annual Budget Act for this purpose, to request housing navigation funding from the department to provide housing navigation services to foster youth who will soon enter extended foster care and nonminor dependents to assist in securing an eligible placement and promoting stability in their housing arrangements. The bill would authorize a county that provides housing navigation services, subject to an appropriation in the annual Budget Act for this purpose, to request funding to provide additional housing-related financial assistance to foster youth and
nonminor dependents.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
Digest Key
Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: YESBill Text
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
It is the intent of the Legislature to include provisions in this act that ensure local child welfare agencies have clear guidance and authorization to place nonminor dependents on a short-term basis when they are reentering foster care or are transitioning between placements in extended foster care.SEC. 2.
Section 1559.110 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to read:1559.110.
(a) (1) The State Department of Social Services shall license transitional housing placement providers pursuant to this chapter.(2) A transitional housing placement provider may operate any of the following programs, as described in Section 16522.1 of the Welfare and Institutions Code:
(A) A Transitional Housing Placement program for participants who are minor foster children.
(B) A Transitional Housing Placement program for participants who are nonminor dependents.
(3) Prior
to licensure, a transitional housing placement provider shall obtain program certification from the applicable county, in accordance with Section 16522.1 of the Welfare and Institutions Code. For purposes of this paragraph, “applicable county” means the county where the administrative office or subadministrative office of a transitional housing placement provider is located, or a primary placing county.
(b) Transitional housing placement providers shall provide supervised transitional housing services to foster children who are at least 16 years of age.
(c) Transitional housing placement providers shall certify that housing units are adequate, safe, and sanitary.
(d) Transitional housing units shall include any of the
following:
(1) (A) A host family certified by a transitional housing placement provider with whom a participant lives in an apartment, single-family dwelling, or condominium owned, rented, or leased by the host family. family, with supervised transitional housing services provided by the licensed transitional housing placement provider. A host family may be certified by the transitional housing placement provider, or may include a resource family approved pursuant to Section 16519.5 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, a licensed foster family home or certified foster home as described in this chapter, an approved relative caregiver, as
described in Section 11461.3 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, or a nonrelative extended family member of a participant.
(B)Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), and as described in Section 16522.3 of the Welfare and Institutions
Code, a resource family, foster family home, certified foster home, approved relative caregiver or nonrelative extended family member of a participant may be automatically converted to a host family without additional certification.
(B) A resource family, licensed foster family home, certified foster home, approved relative caregiver, or nonrelative extended family member operating as a host family pursuant to subparagraph (A) does not require additional certification by the transitional housing placement provider pursuant to subdivision (c).
(2) A staffed site in which a participant lives in an apartment, single-family dwelling, or condominium owned, rented, or leased by a
transitional housing placement provider either with an adult employee of the provider who provides supervision or in a building in which one or more adult employees of the provider reside and provide supervision.
(3) A remote site in which a participant lives independently in an apartment, single-family dwelling, or condominium owned, rented, or leased by a transitional housing placement provider under the supervision of the provider if the department provides approval. The remote site shall only be available to nonminor dependents.
(e) (1) A transitional housing placement provider may cosign a lease with a nonminor dependent as specified by the department.
(2) A participant shall not be permitted to
solely sign a rental or lease agreement.
(f) A transitional housing placement provider’s plan of operation shall include a program statement. The program statement shall contain a description of the core services and supports, as set forth in paragraph (5) of subdivision (b) of Section 11463 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, and as prescribed by the department, to be offered to participants, as appropriate or as necessary.
(g) (1) The department shall adopt regulations to govern transitional housing placement providers licensed pursuant to this section.
(2) The regulations shall be age appropriate and recognize that nonminor dependents who are about to exit from the foster care system
should be subject to fewer restrictions than those who are foster children. At a minimum, the regulations shall provide for all of the following:
(A) Require programs that serve both minor foster children and nonminor dependents to have separate rules and program design, as appropriate, for these two groups of youth.
(B) Allow nonminor dependents to have the greatest amount of freedom possible in order to prepare them for their transition to adulthood, in accordance with paragraph (1) of subdivision (b) of Section 1502.7.
(C) Maintain a program staffing ratio for minor foster children of case manager to participant not to exceed 1 to 12, inclusive.
(D) Maintain a program staffing ratio for nonminor dependents of case manager to participant not to exceed a shared average caseload of 1 to 12, inclusive, with a designated lead case manager assigned to each youth.
(E) Allow a nonminor dependent participant to share a bedroom in a transitional housing unit with any of the following persons:
(i) Another participant as approved by the provider.
(ii) A participant in Transitional Housing Program-Plus, as defined in subdivision (s) of Section 11400 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, as approved by the provider.
(iii) A nonparticipant roommate as approved by the provider on a case-by-case basis, as
specified by the department.
(iv) The participant’s children.
(v) Any other person as specified by the department.
(F) Allow a minor participant to share a bedroom in a transitional housing unit with any of the following persons:
(i) Another participant as approved by the provider.
(ii) A participant in Transitional Housing Program-Plus, as defined in subdivision (s) of Section 11400 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, as approved by the provider.
(iii) The participant’s children.
(iv) A nonparticipant roommate as approved by the provider on a case-by-case basis, as specified by the department.
(v) Any other person as specified by the department.
(G) Any adult who is not a participant, including participants in Transitional Housing Program-Plus, as defined in subdivision (s) of Section 11400 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, and who resides with a participant shall obtain a criminal record clearance or exemption in accordance with Section 1522.
(h) (1) A program manager for a Transitional Housing Placement program for nonminor dependents shall have a master’s degree or higher from an accredited or state-approved graduate school, or equivalent education and experience,
as determined by the department.
(2) Persons who possess a master’s degree or higher from an accredited or state-approved graduate school in any of the following areas, or equivalent education and experience, as determined by the department, shall be considered to be qualified to perform program manager activities in a Transitional Housing Placement program for nonminor dependents:
(A) Marriage, family, and child counseling.
(B) Child psychology.
(C) Child development.
(D) Counseling psychology.
(E) Social psychology.
(F) Clinical psychology.
(G) Educational psychology.
(H) Education, with emphasis on counseling.
(I) Social work or social welfare.
(J) An area that includes the counseling or psychotherapy content required for licensure as a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor, as specified in Sections 4999.32 and 4999.33 of the Business and Professions Code.
(K) A subject area that is functionally equivalent to those listed in subparagraphs (A) to (J), inclusive, as set forth by the department.
(i) (1) (A)In addition to the degree specifications in subdivision (h), a program manager for a Transitional Housing Placement program for nonminor dependents shall have a minimum of two years’ experience in a public or private child welfare social services setting or specific experience working with transition age youth who are 16 to 24 years of age, inclusive.
(B)
(2) Documentation of the completed
education and experience requirements shall be maintained in the personnel file.
(C)
(3) A transitional housing placement provider may request an exception, as specified in subdivision (j), for a person who does not meet the requirements specified in this subdivision or subdivision (h).
(D)
(4) Persons who were hired as program managers prior to January 1, 2018, shall not be required to meet the requirements of this subdivision in order to remain employed as program managers.
(j) (1) A transitional housing placement provider shall apply to the department, using the process established by the department, to request an exception to the requirements of subdivision (h) or (i) based on completion of equivalent education and experience.
(2) The department may grant exceptions to the requirements described in subdivisions (h) and (i) if the person to whom the exception would apply has a baccalaureate degree from an accredited or state-approved college or university.
(3) The department
shall approve or deny exceptions to the requirements described in subdivisions (h) and (i) within 30 days of receiving the exception request from the provider.
(k) (1) A case manager for a Transitional Housing Placement program for nonminor dependents shall meet either of the following requirements:
(A) A minimum of a baccalaureate degree in any of the areas specified in paragraph (2) of subdivision (h).
(B) A minimum of a baccalaureate degree in an area not specified in paragraph (2) of subdivision (h) and a minimum of two years’ experience in a public or private child welfare social services setting, or specific experience working with transition age youth who are 16 to 24 years of age, inclusive.
(2) Documentation of the completed education and experience requirements shall be maintained in the personnel file.
(3) Persons who were hired as case managers prior to January 1, 2018, shall not be required to meet the requirements of this subdivision in order to remain employed as a case manager.
(4) A transitional housing placement provider shall apply to the department, using the process established by the department, to request an exception to the requirements of subparagraph (A) or (B) of paragraph (1) based on completion of equivalent education and experience shall apply to the department using the process established by the department.
SEC. 3.
Section 11402.2 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is amended to read:11402.2.
(a) Recognizing that transitions to independence involve self-initiated changes in placements, it is the intent of the Legislature that regulations developed regarding the approval of the supervised independent living setting, as defined in subdivision (w) of Section 11400, shall ensure continuity of placement and payment while the nonminor dependent is awaiting approval of their new supervised independent living setting, in accordance with paragraph (2) of subdivision (c) of Section 1524 of the Health and Safety Code.(b) A county may certify that a supervised independent living placement meets health and safety standards once every 12 months, as long as the housing option
remains listed in a database maintained by the county and the county has no reason to believe that the health and safety conditions of the housing option have changed.
SEC. 4.
Section 11403.2 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is amended to read:11403.2.
(a) The following persons are eligible for transitional housing provided pursuant to Article 4 (commencing with Section 16522) of Chapter 5 of Part 4:(1) A foster child at least 16 years of age and not more than 18 years of age, and, on or after January 1, 2012, any nonminor dependent, as defined in subdivision (v) of Section 11400, who is eligible for AFDC-FC benefits as described in Section 11401. A foster child under 18 years of age shall be eligible for placement in the program certified as a “Transitional Housing Placement program for minor foster children” pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of Section 16522.1. A nonminor dependent shall be eligible for placement in
the program certified as a “Transitional Housing Placement program for nonminor dependents” pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 16522.1.
(2) (A) A former foster youth at least 18 years of age and, except as provided in subparagraph (B), not more than 24 years of age who has exited from the foster care system on or after their 18th birthday and elects to participate in Transitional Housing Program-Plus, as defined in subdivision (s) of Section 11400, if the former foster youth has not received services under this paragraph for more than a total of 24 months, whether or not consecutive. If the person participating in a Transitional Housing Program-Plus is not receiving aid under Section 11403.1, the person, as a condition of participation, shall enter into, and execute the provisions of, a transitional
independent living plan that shall be mutually agreed upon, and annually reviewed, by the former foster youth and the applicable county welfare or probation department or independent living program coordinator. The person participating under this paragraph shall inform the county of any changes to conditions specified in the agreed-upon plan that affect eligibility, including changes in address, living circumstances, and the educational or training program.
(B) A county may, at its option, extend the services provided under subparagraph (A) to former foster youth not more than 25 years of age, and for a total of 36 months, whether or not consecutive, if the former foster youth, in addition to the requirements specified in subparagraph (A), meets either of the following criteria:
(i) The former foster youth is completing secondary education or a program leading to an equivalent credential.
(ii) The former foster youth is enrolled in an institution that provides postsecondary education.
(b) (1) Payment on behalf of an eligible person receiving transitional housing services pursuant to paragraph (1) of
subdivision (a) shall be made to the transitional housing placement provider pursuant to the conditions and limitations set forth in Section 11403.3.
(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), if an eligible nonminor dependent receiving transitional housing services lives with a host family, the provider shall ensure that the payment is equally divided between the transitional housing placement provider, the host family, and the nonminor dependent, unless a different apportionment is agreed to by all parties.
(3) Notwithstanding Section 11403.3, the department, in consultation with concerned stakeholders, including, but not limited to, representatives of the Legislature, the County Welfare Directors Association of California, the Chief Probation Officers of California,
the Judicial Council, representatives of Indian tribes, the California Youth Connection, former foster youth, child advocacy organizations, labor organizations, juvenile justice advocacy organizations, foster caregiver organizations, researchers, and transitional housing placement providers, shall convene a workgroup to establish a new rate structure for the Title IV-E funded Transitional Housing Placement program for nonminor dependents placement option for nonminor dependents. The workgroup shall also consider application of this new rate structure to the Transitional Housing Program-Plus, as described in paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 11403.3. In developing the new rate structure pursuant to this subdivision, the department shall consider the average rates in effect and being paid by counties to current transitional housing placement providers.
(c) The Legislature finds and declares that this subdivision was added in 2015 to clearly codify the requirement of existing law regarding the payment made on behalf of an eligible person receiving transitional housing services. The workgroup described in subdivision (b) recommended, and the department subsequently implemented, an annual adjustment to the payment made on behalf of an eligible person receiving transitional housing services. This annual adjustment has been, and shall continue to be, equal to the California Necessities Index applicable to each fiscal year. The Legislature hereby declares that its intent remains in making this annual adjustment to support the care and supervision, including needed services and supports, for nonminor dependents who are receiving transitional housing services through the Transitional Housing Placement program for nonminor
dependents.
SEC. 5.
Section 16001 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is amended to read:16001.
(a) The State Department of Social Services shall provide technical assistance to encourage and facilitate the county placement agency’s evaluation of placement needs and the development of needed placement resources and programs. County placement agencies shall, on a regular basis, conduct an evaluation of the county’s placement resources and programs in relation to the needs of children and nonminor dependents placed in out-of-home care. County placement agencies shall examine the adequacy of existing placement resources and programs and identify the type of additional placement resources and programs needed. The county placement agency shall specifically examine both of the following:(1) Placements that are out of county and shall determine the reason the placement was necessary, and identify the additional placement resources and programs which need to be developed and available to allow a child to remain within the county and as close as possible to their home.
(2) The county’s ability to meet the emergency housing needs of nonminor dependents in order to ensure that all nonminor dependents have access to immediate housing upon reentering foster care or for periods of transition between placements.
(b) The department shall also support the development and operation of a consortia of county placement agencies on a regional basis for the purpose of developing
specialized programs serving a multicounty area.
(c) It is the intent of the Legislature that the reason for each out-of-county and out-of-state placement be included in the Child Welfare Services Case Management System, and that the State Department of Social Services utilize that data to evaluate out-of-county and out-of-state placements and to assist in the identification of resource and placement needs.
(d) It is the intent of the Legislature that the State Department of Social Services review the out-of-state placement of children to determine the reason for out-of-state placement. The department shall make the information available to the Legislature upon request.
SEC. 6.
Section 16522.1 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is amended to read:16522.1.
(a) In order to be licensed as a transitional housing placement provider pursuant to Section 1559.110 of the Health and Safety Code and be eligible for payment of AFDC-FC benefits pursuant to Sections 11403.2 and 11403.3, an applicant shall obtain certification from the applicable county specifying whether the facility will serve foster youth at least 16 years of age and not more than 18 years of age, nonminor dependents, as defined in subdivision (v) of Section 11400, or both, as follows:(1) A program serving foster children at least 16 years of age and not more than 18 years of age shall obtain a certification entitled “Transitional Housing Placement program for minor foster children.”
(2) A program serving nonminor dependents at least 18 years of age and not more than 21 years of age shall obtain a certification entitled a “Transitional Housing Placement program for nonminor dependents.”
(b) The certification for the Transitional Housing Placement program for minor foster children shall confirm that the program provides for all of the following:
(1) Admission criteria for participants in the program, including, but not limited to, consideration of the participant’s age, previous placement history, delinquency history, history of drug or alcohol abuse, current strengths, level of education, mental health history, medical history, prospects for successful participation in the program, and work
experience. Youth who are wards of the court described in Section 602 and youth receiving psychotropic medications shall be eligible for consideration to participate in the
program, and shall not be automatically excluded due to these factors.
(2) The department shall review the admission criteria to ensure that the criteria are sufficient to protect participants and that they do not discriminate on the basis of any characteristic listed or defined in Section 11135 of the Government Code.
(3) Strict employment criteria that include a consideration of the employee’s age, drug or alcohol history, and experience in working with persons in this age group.
(4) A training program designed to educate employees who work directly with participants about the characteristics of persons in this age group placed in long-term care settings, and designed to ensure that these employees are
able to adequately supervise and counsel participants and to provide them with training in independent living skills.
(5) A detailed plan for monitoring the placement of persons under the licensee’s care.
(6) A contract between the participant and the licensee that specifically sets out the requirements for each party, and in which the licensee and the participant agree to the requirements of this article.
(7) An allowance to be provided to each participant in the program. In the case of a participant living independently, this allowance shall be sufficient for the participant to purchase food and other necessities.
(8) A system for payment for
utilities, telephone, and rent.
(9) Policies regarding all of the following:
(A) Education requirements.
(B) Work expectations.
(C) Savings requirements.
(D) Personal safety.
(E) Visitors, including, but not limited to, visitation by the placement auditor pursuant to paragraph (5).
(F) Emergencies.
(G) Medical problems.
(H) Disciplinary measures.
(I)Child care.
(I) Childcare.
(J) Pregnancy.
(K) Curfew.
(L) Housing unit cleanliness.
(M) Use of utilities and telephone.
(N) Budgeting.
(O) Care of furnishings.
(P) Decorating of housing units.
(Q) Cars.
(R) Lending or borrowing money.
(S) Unauthorized purchases.
(T) Dating.
(U) Grounds for termination that may include, but shall not be limited to, illegal activities or harboring runaways.
(V) The approval of any nonparticipant roommates.
(10) Housing unit furnishings, and a policy on disposition of the furnishings when the participant completes the program.
(11) Evaluation of the participant’s progress in the program and reporting to the independent living program and to the department regarding that progress.
(12) A linkage to the federal Workforce Investment Act of
1998 (29 U.S.C. Sec. 2801 et seq.) program administered in the local area to provide employment training to eligible participants.
(13) Effective January 1, 2013, a program staffing ratio of case manager to participant not to exceed 1 to 12.
(c) The certification for the Transitional Housing Placement program for nonminor dependents shall confirm that the program provides for all of the following:
(1) That the program is needed by the county.
(2) That the transitional housing placement provider is capable of effectively and efficiently operating the program.
(3) That the transitional housing placement
provider is willing and able to accept the AFDC-FC-eligible nonminor dependents for placement by the placing agency who need the level of care and services that will be provided by the program.
(4) That the plan of operation is suitable to meet the needs of the identified population.
(5) Maintain a program staffing ratio for nonminor dependents of case manager to participant not to exceed a shared average
caseload of 1 to 12, inclusive, with a designated lead case manager assigned to each youth.
(6) That the provider has established a process, which includes the county if the county chooses to participate, to evaluate whether a participant may be placed with a nonparticipant.
(d) (1) A county shall continue to approve payment to a transitional housing placement provider for a period of up to 14 days in a calendar month in which the nonminor dependent is absent from the placement if the nonminor dependent provides notice to the transitional housing placement provider that they intend to return within 14 days or the transitional housing placement provider has reason to believe the nonminor dependent will be returning within 14 days.
(2) Transitional housing placement providers shall not fill a nonminor dependent’s place if the nonminor dependent is temporarily absent from the placement for 14 days or less, and the county shall continue to pay board and care costs for up to 14 days, unless the provider and the nonminor dependent’s case worker have jointly determined that the nonminor dependent is unlikely to return within 14 days.
(e) For purposes of this section, “applicable county” means the county where the administrative office or subadministrative office of a transitional housing placement provider is located or a primary placing county.
SEC. 7.
Section 16522.3 is added to the Welfare and Institutions Code, to read:16522.3.
In order to support a nonminor dependent, facilitate placement stability, and promote connections to adult support while also enabling nonminor dependents to develop independent living skills and financial literacy, a resource parent, approved relative caregiver or non-relative extended family member, foster family home, or certified family home may be converted to a host family without additional certification.SEC. 8.
Section 16522.7 is added to the Welfare and Institutions Code, to read:16522.7.
(a) Subject to an appropriation in the annual Budget Act for this purpose, a child welfare agency may request housing navigation funding from the department to provide housing navigation services to foster youth who will soon enter extended foster care and nonminor dependents to assist in securing an eligible placement and promoting stability in their housing arrangements. A child welfare agency may use the funding received pursuant to this subdivision to provide these housing navigation services directly or through a contract with other housing assistance programs in the county.(b) Housing navigation services provided pursuant to this section shall
prioritize providing services to those who are most in need of assistance in securing safe and stable housing, including foster youth who have no identified placement as they transition to extended foster care and nonminor dependents who report disruption in their living arrangements. All foster youth transitioning to extended foster care and nonminor dependents may access housing navigation services. Counties may identify additional populations that should be given priority for the provision of housing navigation services.
(c) Housing navigation services provided pursuant to this section shall be individualized and based on the needs of each foster youth or nonminor dependent.
(d) (1) Housing navigation services provided pursuant to this section shall include all
of the following:
(A) Working in coordination with the youth or nonminor dependent’s case manager and child and family team, identifying strengths and barriers to accessing the preferred housing option, and developing and supporting implementation of a plan to facilitate housing stability for the youth. A plan created pursuant to this subparagraph shall align with the youth or nonminor dependent’s case plan and transitional independent living plan.
(B) (i) Search assistance for an available and appropriate placement that is consistent with the plan created pursuant to subparagraph (A), which may include, but is not limited to, placement with a resource family, in a supervised independent living placement as defined in subdivision (w) of Section 11400, or in
a transitional housing placement program certified pursuant to Section 16522.1.
(ii) For the purposes of this subparagraph, “search assistance” includes asking the foster youth’s or nonminor dependent’s relatives, extended family members, or other adult support if they have a possible housing placement for the foster youth or nonminor dependent.
(C) Placement stabilization assistance, including engaging with entities that own or operate supervised independent living placements and educating the foster youth or nonminor dependent on strategies to maintain stable housing.
(2) Housing navigation services provided pursuant to this section may include other activities identified by the county as appropriate to
support the housing placements and housing stability of foster youth and nonminor dependents, including, but not limited to, identifying and securing additional supervised independent living placements and maintaining a repository of placement options, including rooms and apartments, that may be rented.
(e) The department shall, in consultation with the County Welfare Directors Association of California, update the Child Welfare Services/Case Management System, or develop another automated method, to track housing navigation services provided pursuant to this section and document reported outcome.
(f) Subject to an appropriation in the annual Budget Act for this purpose, a child welfare agency that provides housing navigation services, as described in subdivisions (a) to (d), inclusive, may also
request from the department funding to provide additional housing-related financial assistance to foster youth and nonminor dependents, including, but not limited to, rental assistance, security deposit assistance, utility payments, moving cost assistance, and to provide risk mitigation funds, landlord or host incentives, and interim housing assistance.
