(a) The department shall select and award grants to private nonprofit or public entities for the purpose of establishing a statewide multipurpose adult protective services workforce development and training program in accordance with this section.

(b) The purpose of the workforce development and training program is to develop and implement statewide coordinated training and workforce development activities designed specifically to meet the needs of county adult protective services social workers assigned to provide intake and intervention services to elderly and dependent adults who may be subjected to neglect, abuse, or exploitation, or who are unable to protect their own interest. In addition, the program shall provide training for persons defined as mandated reporters pursuant to Article 3 (commencing with Section 15630) of Chapter 11. The program shall provide the services required in this section to the extent possible within the total allocation. If allocations are insufficient, the department, in consultation with the County Welfare Directors Association of California, shall prioritize the efforts of the program, giving primary attention to the most urgently needed services.

(c) The workforce development and training activities provided pursuant to this section shall include initial and ongoing training for social workers, supervisors, and managers related to the provision of investigation and case management services outlined in subdivision (d) of Section 15763.

(d) The workforce development and training activities provided pursuant to this section shall include content specific to nationally recognized competencies for adult protective services, and shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following:

(1) Core training for adult protective services social workers.

(2) Ongoing and advanced training for adult protective services social workers.

(3) Core, ongoing, and advanced training for adult protective services supervisors.

(4) Core, ongoing, and advanced training for adult protective services managers.

(5) Training and support for Master or Bachelor of Social Work students to receive specialized curricula aimed at increasing their competence in working with elderly and dependent adults in adult protective services settings.

(e) To the extent that funding is appropriated by the Legislature or provided through other sources, the department may enter into agreements with other public or private entities for the provision of workforce development and training activities for individuals, other than those working in the adult protective services program, who are serving victims of elder and dependent adult abuse and neglect. This includes, but is not limited to, individuals working in the offices of public administrators, public guardians, or public conservators.

(f) Implementation of this section is subject to an appropriation of sufficient funding from state or federal sources for the purpose of this section.

(Added by Stats. 2022, Ch. 50, Sec. 68. (SB 187) Effective June 30, 2022.)