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SB 370 (Chapter 1294, Statutes of 1989)
California Welfare and Institution Codes Mandating CWS/CMS
16501.5.
(a) In order to protect children and effectively administer and evaluate California's Child Welfare Services and Foster Care programs, the department shall implement a single statewide Child Welfare Services Case Management System no later than July 1, 1993.
(b) It is the intent of the Legislature in developing and implementing a statewide Child Welfare Services Case Management System to minimize the administrative and systems barriers which inhibit the effective provision of services to children and families by applying current technology to the systems which support the provision and management of child welfare services. Therefore, it is the intent of the Legislature that the Child Welfare Services Case Management System achieve all of the following:
- (1) Provide child welfare services workers with immediate access to child and family specific information in order to make appropriate and expeditious case decisions.
- (2) Provide child welfare services workers with the case management information needed to effectively and efficiently manage their caseloads and take appropriate and timely case management actions.
- (3) Provide state and county child welfare services management with the information needed to monitor and evaluate the accomplishment of child welfare services tasks and goals.
- (4) Provide all child welfare services agencies with a common data base and definition of information from which to evaluate the child welfare services programs in terms of the following:
- (A) Effectiveness in meeting statutory and regulatory mandates, goals, and objectives of the programs.
- (B) Effectiveness in meeting the needs of the families and children serviced by the program.
- (C) Projecting and planning for the future needs of the families and children served by the program.
- (5) Meeting federal statistical reporting requirements with a minimum of duplication of effort.
- (6) Consolidate the collection and reporting of information for those programs which are closely related to child welfare services, including foster care and emergency assistance.
- (7) Utilize the child welfare services functionality defined in current and planned automated systems as the foundation for the development of the technical requirements for the Child Welfare Services Case Management System.
(c) It is the intent of the Legislature that the Child Welfare Services Case Management System shall provide the required comprehensive and detailed individual county data needed by the department to implement and monitor the performance standards system specified in Section 11215.
(d) If the Child Welfare Services Case Management System is not implemented statewide by July 1, 1993, Section 15200, which provides for State Treasury appropriations equal to 40 percent of the sum necessary for the adequate care of each child pursuant to subdivision (d) of Section 11450, shall remain in effect until two years after the implementation of the Child Welfare Services Case Management System.
16501.6.
(a) It is the intent of the Legislature for the State Department of Social Services to enhance the Child Welfare Services Case Management System to include information concerning the level of care required, educational accomplishments, and health history of children placed in foster care. If appropriate, this enhancement could be made after the system is operational statewide as required in Section 16501.5.
(b) The department shall conduct a study to examine the most efficient methods of collecting and maintaining all of the following data for each child in foster care:
- (1) The names and addresses of the child's health and educational providers.
- (2) The child's grade level performance.
- (3) The child's school record.
- (4) Assurances that the child's placement in foster care takes into account proximity to the school in which the child is enrolled at the time of placement.
- (5) A record of the child's immunizations.
- (6) The child's known medical problems.
- (7) The child's medications.
- (8) Any other relevant level of care, health and education information concerning the child as determined appropriate by the department.
(c) In conducting its study, the department shall, as required, examine county health passport systems for possible replication on a statewide basis and consult with other state departments, county associations, and provider groups.
(d) By February 15, 1992, the department shall submit a report to the appropriate policy and fiscal committees of the Legislature on the results of its study. The department shall include the following in its report:
- (1) Recommendations for coordinating data collection among local child health and disability prevention programs, other health care providers, county welfare departments, schools, and other agencies providing services for foster children.
- (2) Recommendations for the interfacing with any alternative system recommended pursuant to paragraph (1) with the mental health assessment required by Section 5407, and with other requirements of law.
(e) The report required by subdivision (d) shall address the feasibility, timeframe, and estimated costs of doing either of the following:
- (1) Incorporating the data specified in subdivision (b) in the Child Welfare Services Case Management System.
- (2) Implementing an alternative system which is more appropriate for the collection and maintenance of the data specified in subdivision (b).
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
California Law: Welfare and Institutions Code: Table of Contents