(a) Each county may enter into performance agreements with private nonprofit agencies to encourage innovation in the delivery of children’s services, to develop services not available in the community, and to promote change in the child welfare services system.

(b) In developing the agreements, counties and service providers shall pursue services that enhance the ability of children to remain in the least restrictive, most family-like setting possible and promote services that address the needs and strengths of individual children and their families.

(c) Programs developed pursuant to this section shall operate within the county, or in another county with the approval of that county.

(d) If the director issues a waiver pursuant to Section 18987.62, the agreements pursuant to subdivision (a) shall be for a period of up to three years, but may be renewed or extended consistent with any extension of the waiver granted by the State Department of Social Services pursuant to subdivision (f) of Section 18987.62.

(e) For waivers entered into before January 1, 2010, a county shall provide a report to the director due six months prior to the end of the original agreement period to report on the details of the agreement, the results achieved during its operation, and the applicability of the approach to a wider population. The director shall make these reports available to the Legislature upon request.

(f) Commencing January 1, 2010, in order to comply with the reporting requirement set forth in subdivision (e), the county or private nonprofit agency shall fund an independent evaluation of the waiver, with a report of the results due to the department six months prior to the end of the waiver period of three years. The evaluation and report shall include, but need not be limited to, the details of the agreement, the results achieved during its operation, and the applicability of the approach to a wider population. The department, the county, and the private nonprofit agency shall agree with the design and parameters of the independent evaluation prior to the approval of the waiver.

(Amended by Stats. 2009, Ch. 445, Sec. 1. (AB 488) Effective January 1, 2010.)