Title WIC, California Welf. & Inst. Code

The patients’ rights program shall serve as a liaison between county patients’ rights advocates and the State Department of Health Care Services. (Amended by Stats. 2012, Ch. 34, Sec. 107. (SB 1009) Effective June 27, 2012.)

There shall be a five-person Patients’ Rights Committee formed through the California Behavioral Health Planning Council. This committee, supplemented by two ad hoc members appointed by the chairperson of the committee, shall advise the Director of Health Care Services and the Di…

Each local mental health director shall appoint, or contract for the services of, one or more county patients’ rights advocates. The duties of these advocates shall include, but not be limited to, the following: (a) To receive and investigate complaints from or concerning recipie…

It is the intent of the Legislature that legal representation regarding changes in client legal status or conditions and other areas covered by statute providing for local public defender or court-appointed attorney representation, shall remain the responsibility of local agencie…

County patients’ rights advocates may conduct investigations if there is probable cause to believe that the rights of a past or present recipient of mental health services have been, may have been, or may be violated. (Added by Stats. 1981, Ch. 841, Sec. 7.)

(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, and without regard to the existence of a guardianship or conservatorship, a recipient of mental health services is presumed competent for the purpose of entering into an agreement with county patients’ rights advocates for the provi…

(a) Subject to subdivision (b), a county shall verify that county patients’ rights advocates review the patients’ rights advocacy training materials provided online as described in paragraph (5) of subdivision (a) of Section 5370.2 within 90 days of employment. The county shall k…

(a) An employer, or any person acting on behalf of the employer, shall not make, adopt, or enforce any rule, regulation, or policy preventing a county patients’ rights advocate from disclosing information to a government or law enforcement agency, to a person with authority over …

(a) County patients’ rights advocates shall have access to all clients and other recipients of mental health services in any mental health facility, program, or service at all times as are necessary to investigate or resolve specific complaints and in accord with subdivision (b) …

Except as otherwise provided in this chapter or in other provisions of law, information about and records of recipients of mental health services shall be confidential in accordance with the provisions of Section 5328. (Added by Stats. 1981, Ch. 841, Sec. 7.)

(a) A specific authorization by the client or by the guardian ad litem is necessary for a county patients’ rights advocate to have access to, copy or otherwise use confidential records or information pertaining to the client. Such an authorization shall be given knowingly and vol…

County patients’ rights advocates shall have the right to inspect or copy, or both, any records or other materials not subject to confidentiality under Section 5328 or other provisions of law in the possession of any mental health program, services, or facilities, or city, county…

(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, with the authorization of the client, a county patients’ rights advocate may, to the extent necessary for effective advocacy, communicate to the client information contained in client records. The facility program, or agency, shall …

Any written client information obtained by county patients’ rights advocates may be used and disseminated in court or administrative proceedings, and to any public agencies, or authorized officials thereof, to the extent required in the providing of advocacy services defined in t…

Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to limit access to recipients of mental health services in any mental health facility, program, or service or to information or records of recipients of mental health services for the purposes of subdivision (b) of Section 5520 or when o…

The actual cost of copying any records or other materials authorized under this chapter, plus any additional reasonable clerical costs, incurred in locating and making the records and materials available, shall be borne by the advocate. The additional clerical costs shall be base…

(a) Any person participating in filing a complaint or providing information pursuant to this chapter or participating in a judicial proceeding resulting therefrom shall be presumed to be acting in good faith and unless the presumption is rebutted shall be immune from any liabilit…

This chapter shall be known, and may be cited, as the Foster Care Social Security and Supplemental Security Income Assistance Program. (Added by Stats. 2005, Ch. 641, Sec. 4. Effective January 1, 2006.)

The State Department of Social Services shall convene a workgroup comprised of the County Welfare Directors Association, county welfare directors, child advocacy organizations, current and former foster youth and other relevant stakeholders, as determined by the department, to de…

(a) When a foster youth is receiving payments from the federal Social Security Administration, the county shall do all of the following at least six months before the youth’s 18th birthday: (1) Provide information to the youth regarding the federal requirement that the youth esta…

(a) It is the intent of the Legislature that this section shall not be interpreted to preclude a nonminor dependent from accessing the same benefits, services, and supports, and exercise the same choices available to all dependents. It is further the intent of the Legislature tha…

(a) The Legislature finds that the State of California has utilized federal benefits administered by the federal Social Security Administration to offset the cost of foster care placement and that the utilization of these funds to support youth and young adults with their transit…

(a) (1) Subject to paragraph (2), every youth over 16 years of age who is in foster care under the supervision of the county child welfare department, juvenile probation department, or tribal organization, if the tribal organization requests the screening from the county, shall b…

The definitions contained in this section shall govern the construction of this chapter, unless the context requires otherwise: (a) “Department” means the State Department of Social Services. (b) “Eligible children” means children who meet both of the following conditions: (1) Ch…

(a) The department shall implement intensive treatment foster care programs for eligible children. (b) (1) The department shall implement the program in any participating county that applies for and receives the department’s approval for an intensive treatment foster care program…

Each foster family agency participating in this program shall enter into a contract or memorandum of understanding with the county and provide all of the following personnel and administrative and support services: (a) (1) Special attention to the selection and training of foster…

(a) Each foster family agency participating in the program shall develop the child’s needs and services plan, and have it agreed to by the county interagency review team, or county placing agency, and certified foster parents. Each foster family agency participating in the progra…

In addition to the requirements of Sections 18358.10 and 18358.15, any foster family agency that serves children under this program shall have a contract or memorandum of understanding with the county prior to accepting referrals of children. The contract or memorandum of underst…

In addition to the requirements of paragraph (2) of subdivision (b) of Section 18358.05, participating counties shall do all of the following: (a) Determine the placement of eligible children in intensive treatment foster care programs. All children placed in the programs shall e…

(a) Certified foster parents participating under this chapter shall ensure the well-being of emotionally disturbed children or children with a serious behavioral problem under their care. This care includes, but is not limited to, all of the following: (1) Participation in initia…

(a) Rates for foster family agency programs participating under this chapter shall be exempt from the current AFDC-FC foster family agency ratesetting system. (b) Rates for foster family agency programs participating under this chapter shall be set according to the appropriate se…

Foster family agencies implementing intensive foster care programs shall under no circumstances have any interest in the properties occupied by the certified foster parents. (Added by Stats. 1990, Ch. 1250, Sec. 3. Conditionally inoperative on or after July 1, 2028, pursuant to S…

In order to provide for continuity of services to children receiving intensive foster care services, the two foster family agencies providing services pursuant to this chapter prior to January 1, 1996, may continue to operate their programs until June 30, 1997, without the certif…

The department shall develop, in consultation with the counties, providers, and other stakeholders, cost reporting, claiming, and other procedures necessary to maximize federal financial participation. (Added by Stats. 2008, Ch. 486, Sec. 10. Effective January 1, 2009. Conditiona…

This chapter shall become inoperative on July 1, 2028, or 24 months after the effective date specified in paragraph (9) of subdivision (h) of Section 11461, whichever is later, and, as of January 1 of the following year, is repealed. (Added by Stats. 2024, Ch. 46, Sec. 55. (AB 16…