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Children`s Residential Care Update October 2005
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION CHIDREN'S RESIDENTIAL CARE UPDATE
This is our third Children's Residential Care Update for 2005. It also marks the twelfth year of our efforts to keep the residential care community informed about licensing programs and services. The Updates continue to be an important method for sharing information. We appreciate your support in sharing these Updates with members in your organization and others interested in children's issues.
REGULATION PACKAGES
The following regulation packages for children's residential care facilities are currently in process or completed. If you have questions about any of the proposed regulations, please contact our Policy Development Bureau at (916) 324-4312. For copies of the proposed regulations or for more information about hearing schedules, contact the Office of Regulation Development (ORD) at (916) 657-2586 or visit their website at www.dss.cahwnet.gov/ord/default.htm . Please note that depending on the version of software that you are currently using, it might be necessary to press your control key to activate the hyperlinks found throughout this document.
Foster Youth Personal Rights Regulations: These proposed regulations implement Assembly Bill (AB) 458, Chapter 331, Statutes of 2003 and Senate Bill (SB) 1639, Chapter 668, Statutes of 2004, by granting children in foster care additional personal rights. AB 458 codifies specific anti-discrimination protections and allows foster children the right to have fair and equal access to all available services, placement, care, treatment and benefits without being subjected to discrimination or harassment. Additionally, SB 1639 allows foster children, who are 16 years of age or older, the right to have access to postsecondary educational, vocational and financial aid information. These proposed regulations amend the Personal Rights in all children's residential care facilities. The proposed regulations were sent to ORD on October 15, 2004. The Public Hearing was held on August 17, 2005. Comments were received from the hearing and a response is currently in progress. The regulations are expected to become effective in January 2006.
Crisis Nursery Regulations: These proposed regulations will implement SB 855, Chapter 664, Statutes of 2004, by creating a new facility category called Crisis Nurseries. Crisis Nurseries are defined by statute as facilities providing short-term, 24-hour non-medical residential care and supervision for children under six years of age who are voluntarily placed for up to 30 days by their parents/guardians due to a family crisis or stressful situation. Also, a county child welfare services agency may temporarily place children in these facilities for no more than 14 days. Some unique aspects of Crisis Nurseries are that they:
- can accept voluntary and, on a limited basis, county placed children.
- may count fully trained volunteers in their staff-to-child ratio.
- have a maximum licensed capacity of 14.
- are required to provide a monthly report to the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) indicating the total number of voluntarily placed children, the number of children placed by a child welfare services agency and length of stay for each child.
- may provide day care services for children less than six years of age at the same site as the Crisis Nursery.
As required by statute, CDSS has developed emergency regulations that establish minimum health and safety standards for children cared for by Crisis Nurseries. The intent of developing, adopting and implementing Crisis Nursery Program Regulations is to provide a safe and supportive environment for children as well as a non-threatening, non-punitive resource for parents who may be experiencing a family crisis or stressful situation. The draft regulations are in the internal review process.
DISASTER PREPAREDNESS FOR COMMUNITY CARE FACILITIES
Hurricanes Katrina and Rita left tremendous suffering, loss and devastation in their wake in Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. Our hearts go out to all those affected. While it is important that we comfort and assist those in need, these tragedies also remind us of the importance of disaster preparedness.
The Community Care Licensing Division (CCLD) encourages all community care facilities to review their disaster plans and conduct disaster training and drills on a regular basis. Licensees should also be aware that emergency services may not be able to reach them immediately, particularly after a large disaster. Facilities should have the means and capacity to be self-reliant for at least 72 hours following a disaster. This means that each facility should have a three day supply of food and water, toiletries and medications for all clients and staff. Licensees may also want to consider developing a Disaster Preparedness Health Passport for each client. This is a document that contains a client's medical history, pharmacy information and numbers to call in cases of emergency. A sample Disaster Preparedness Health Passport is attached to this Update.
The CCLD "Disaster Preparedness for Community Care Facilities" self-assessment guide provides information that you can use to assist you in making preparations for disasters. You can obtain copies of this Disaster Guide .
CHILDREN'S RESIDENTIAL CARE PROGRAM MANAGEMENT CHANGES
We are pleased to announce the appointment of Gary Levenson-Palmer as Regional Manager in the Northern California Children's Residential Program Regional Office. Prior to his appointment, Gary was the Bureau Chief of the Central Operations Branch, Administrative Support Bureau. Gary has been with CCLD 27 of the 31 years he has been with CDSS. Gary assumed his new position on September 1, 2005.
2005 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA GROUP HOME CONFERENCE
CCLD and the California Alliance of Child and Family Services (CACFS) will co-host the third annual Southern California Group Home Training Conference. The purpose of this year's conference is to provide workshops on legal, medical, psychiatric and regulatory issues pertaining to group homes. It will also present an opportunity for care providers and licensing staff to share general licensing information.
Continuing Education Units for this conference will be available for Group Home administrators or Licensed Clinical Social Workers/Marriage and Family Therapists for an additional $25.00 fee. This fee is payable by check or money order to CACFS only at the conference. This conference is open to licensed Group Home providers from Riverside, San Bernardino, Orange, Imperial, San Diego, Los Angeles, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Ventura counties.
The conference will take place on October 13 - 14, 2005, at the Pechanga Hotel and Conference Center which is located at 45000 Pechanga Parkway, Temecula, CA 92592. The telephone number for the hotel is (951) 693-1819. The registration fee is $140. All proceeds from registration fees and donations will be distributed to non-profit organizations that provide services to group home youth. Registration packets were sent to care providers on August 1, 2005. For more information, please contact your local licensing office. Additionally, you may call the recorded information line at (951) 680-6826.
2005 COUNTY LICENSING ACADEMY
The CCLD Children's Residential Program Office is offering a three-day County Licensing Academy designed for all new county Foster Family Home (FFH) licensing analysts, supervisors and program managers. Enrollment in this academy is limited to county FFH and Family Child Care Home licensing staff. The purpose of the academy is to provide an overview of licensing rules, regulations and policies; and to provide county staff with the information required to ensure consistent and uniform statewide implementation of licensing requirements. The academy satisfies the annual 30 hours self-contained training module requirement in the FFH Memorandum of Understanding. Registration priority will be given to counties nearest the training site. The remaining training academy will be held on the following date, time and location:
Sacramento: November 1-3, 2005 Sacramento County Health and Human Services - Foster Care Licensing
3701 Branch Center Road, Sacramento, CA 95826
Sign-up deadline is October 18, 2005
For more information, please contact County Liaison Maurie Ange at (510) 873-6409 or e-mail her at Maurie.Ange@dss.ca.gov .
CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SERVICES (DHS) GUIDELINES FOR WEST NILE VIRUS (WNV)
WNV is a virus transmitted to people through the bite of an infected mosquito. The elderly and those with underlying chronic diseases are at greater risk of serious complications and death as a result of being infected by WNV. In California, as of September 21, 2005, 53 counties have reported WNV activity this year. There have been 680 human WNV infections in 37 counties; and 14 WNV related fatalities in 13 counties. (For the most recent statistics on the spread of WNV, please see the DHS web site at www.dhcs.ca.gov .) Many counties are now engaged in widespread spraying of pesticides in an effort to control WNV.
For updated WNV guidelines prepared by DHS for long-term care facilities, please visit this web page . In addition, the following are general WNV prevention tips for licensees and clients/residents:
- Use an effective mosquito repellent containing ingredients such as DEET, Picaridin or oil of lemon eucalyptus.
- Repair tears in door and window screens.
- Drain standing water. Mosquitoes can hatch in as little as a half-inch of water.
- Wear long pants and sleeves outdoors when practical.
- Avoid being outside at dawn and dusk, when mosquitoes are most active.
Symptoms of WNV may include fever, aches and fatigue, although about 80 percent of people who get WNV have no symptoms.
RESIDENTIAL CARE STATISTICS
All of the statistics for licensed Children's Residential Care facilities are now available online. When you visit the CCLD home page at www.ccld.ca.gov , click on the link on the left side of the page that is titled, "Licensing Overview." Then click on the first bullet that says, "Number of State Licensed Facilities, by County." Scroll to the end of the document for the statewide totals. Further breakouts by category and location are also available. Please direct your requests to Sarah Fernandes, Central Operations Branch, at (916) 327-2406. Directories can also be obtained from your local licensing office.
SUMMARY
If you have questions about items included in this Update or suggestions for future topics, please contact Barbara Rooney, Acting Chief of the Technical Assistance and Policy Branch at (916) 324-4312. Also, please visit our website at www.ccld.ca.gov to obtain copies of Updates , office locations , provider letters, regulations, or to learn more about licensing services.
Sincerely,
JO FREDERICK
Deputy Director
Community Care Licensing Division
Enclosures