Tracking Child Outcomes over Time.

(a) With a focus on changes over time, and to the extent data are available, the updates described in Section 16523.5 shall include status updates on all of the following child outcome measures:

(1) The number and percent of children in out-of-home care, stratified by placement type, LOCP, and whether the supervising department is the county child welfare or probation agency.

(2) The average number of placements per child, and the average length of stay per placement episode by placement type.

(3) The proportion of placements that constitute a move to a less restrictive setting, and the proportion of placements that constitute a move to a permanent home.

(4) The number and percent of children in residential placement without an identified home-based caregiver for transition, stratified by county.

(5) Information on the evaluation of the LOCP tool and changes that may result from evaluation findings.

(6) Ongoing information on state and county efforts to ensure consistent and valid statewide outcomes of the new LOCP tool for children across counties.

(7) (A) By county, the number and percent of children entering intensive services foster care placements and therapeutic foster care specialty mental health services.

(B) As they become available, data on which other services, including the broader array of behavioral health services, that children in these placements are determined to require, and the status of their service access and utilization rates.

(8) As information becomes available, summarized results from the youth satisfaction survey.

(9) (A) By county, the number and percentage of children in foster care receiving specialty mental health services on a quarterly or monthly basis, stratified by service type, county, placement type, and LOCP.

(B) As data become available, services shall be further delineated by subcomponents, including assessment plan development, collateral contacts, rehabilitation, and therapy.

(10) (A) By county, the number and percentage of children in foster care receiving mental health services on a quarterly or monthly basis under the Medi-Cal managed care and fee-for-service systems, stratified by service type, county, placement type, and LOCP.

(B) As data become available, services shall be further delineated by subcomponents, including assessment plan development, collateral contacts, rehabilitation, and therapy.

(11) For all children in foster care who screened positive for referral for mental health services assessment, the number of days from the date of placement and from the date of screening to the receipt of a specialty mental health service assessment and ongoing services pursuant to a medical necessity determination, stratified by county mental health plan and provider.

(12) By county, the number and disposition of service complaints regarding specialty and nonspecialty mental health service delivery for foster youth.

(13) The number and percentage of children with an open child welfare case and foster care placement who receive a required mental health screen and, when screened as positive, who receive a referral and mental health services.

(14) By county, the number of youth who obtained legal permanency during each month or quarter.

(b) To the extent that information described in this section is not available to be shared, the counties and entities listed in subdivision (a) of Section 16523.5 shall describe the limitations and explore and present options for remedying the lack of available information. As part of this process, meetings may be held with stakeholders, county representatives, legislative staff, and the Department of Finance to identify acceptable solutions, alternatives, or proxies.

(Added by Stats. 2019, Ch. 27, Sec. 105. (SB 80) Effective June 27, 2019.)