(a) (1) The department shall establish procedures for program data collection and reporting.

(2) The department shall consult with Indian tribes that enter into agreements with the department pursuant to Section 10553.1 of this code or Section 1919 of Title 25 of the United States Code to develop procedures for program data collection and reporting for Indian tribes, consortia of tribes, or tribal organizations.

(3) Participating counties shall collect and report program data in accordance with written instructions issued by the department, which shall be determined in consultation with the County Welfare Directors Association of California, the Chief Probation Officers of California, child and youth advocacy organizations, and the representatives of county child welfare workers. These data shall include, but not be limited to, information regarding training completion, strategies and models utilized by participating counties, and services provided. This information shall include activities, as described in subdivision (e) of Section 16546.5, for which participating counties provide information to the department for allocations, as described in subdivision (i) of Section 16546.5.

(b) (1) The department shall establish procedures for tracking and reporting program outcomes measures, in consultation with the County Welfare Directors Association of California, the Chief Probation Officers of California, child and youth advocacy organizations, and the representatives of county child welfare workers.

(2) The department shall consult with Indian tribes that enter into agreements with the department pursuant to Section 10553.1 of this code or Section 1919 of Title 25 of the United States Code to develop procedures for tracking and reporting program outcome measures for Indian tribes, consortia of tribes, or tribal organizations.

(3) The department shall work with counties and tribes to identify the most efficient manner to track outcomes utilizing the statewide child welfare information system. Any additional program outcomes shall be reported in accordance with written instructions issued by the department.

(4) Outcomes to be measured shall be developed in consultation with the County Welfare Directors Association of California, the Chief Probation Officers of California, child and youth advocacy organizations, and the representatives of county child welfare workers, and shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following:

(A) Changes in the percentage of children initially or subsequently placed with a relative or nonrelative extended family member.

(B) Changes in the percentage of children placed in a family setting.

(C) Changes in placement stability experienced by children in out-of-home care.

(D) Changes in length of time to permanency for children in out-of-home care through reunification, guardianship, or adoption.

(E) Changes in racial disproportionality of children who experience placements in congregate care.

(F) Changes in racial disproportionality of children who experience placement disruption.

(G) Changes in the percentage of children placed with relatives or nonrelative extended family members after having been in out-of-home foster care for 24 months or longer in a nonrelative placement and subsequently been subject to family finding and engagement.

(Added by Stats. 2022, Ch. 573, Sec. 24. (AB 207) Effective September 27, 2022.)