Throughout the 2023-2024 Legislative Session, CSAC has kept you
informed about key legislative developments. With Governor
Newsom’s final actions now complete, CSAC will publish a series
of articles highlighting new laws and vetoed bills in each policy
area. This week, our focus is on the Health and Human Services
policy area, covering the impact of newly enacted legislation on
health services, behavioral health services, social services, and
homelessness.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
(SAMHSA) Homeless & Housing Resource Center (HHRC) will host a
webinar, “Identifying and Addressing Behavioral Health Needs in
Encampments,” on Wednesday, November 13 from 11:00 am –
12:30 pm.
The California Department of Housing and Community Development
(HCD) has released
Administrative Notice 24-05 (Notice), which amends the
program guidelines for 10 of HCD’s state-funded multifamily
rental housing programs. These amendments permit greater use of
project operating funds to provide supportive services to
residents throughout the life of the projects. The 10 programs
are:
This week, the Center for the Study of Child Care Employment
(CSCCE) at the University of California, Berkeley released their
2024
Early Childhood Workforce Index. This fourth edition of
the report, which has tracked progress since 2016, provides a
state-by-state look at policies and conditions affecting the
early care and education workforce. The new report includes:
This week, First 5 California launched a new campaign, Raise CA Strong, which aims
to build support for greater access to affordable childcare for
all California families. The launch of the Raise CA Strong comes
at the same time as the release of First 5 California’s new
report, “The Childcare
Crisis in California & 5 Pathways for Change.”
Building on California’s Homekey Program, the California
Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) and the
California Department of Veterans Affairs (CalVET) are working to
develop the Homekey+
Program. Homekey+ will be the permanent housing component of
the Behavioral Health Infrastructure Bond Act, part of
Proposition 1 approved by California voters earlier this year.
The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) and the Office
of Human Services Emergency Preparedness and Response (OHSEPR)
will convene a two-and-a-half day gathering, “Forward Together:
Shaping the Future of Disaster Human Services,” on August
20-22, 2024.
The CA for ALL Ages & Abilities: 2024 Master Plan for Aging (MPA)
Day of Action will take place on Tuesday, October 8,
2024 at the SAFE Credit Union Convention Center in
Sacramento. Registration for the event, which will offer both in
person and virtual attendance options, is now open for
the day long event.
On Friday, June 14 from 10:00 am – 11:00 am PST,
the National Association of Counties (NACo) will host a
webinar on the current state of negotiations on the federal
Farm Bill.
Counties are on the frontlines of the homelessness response
efforts and protecting Homeless Housing Assistance and Prevention
(HHAP) funding is paramount to support vital programs. Today,
CSAC Chief Executive Officer Graham Knaus joined the Senate
Budget Subcommittee No. 4 to testify on behalf of California’s 58
counties’ experience with HHAP funding.
The AT HOME (Accountability, Transparency, Housing, Outreach,
Mitigation, and Economic Opportunity) plan continues to guide
CSAC’s advocacy efforts to address California’s homelessness
crisis. Following the successful adoption of various aspects of
the Accountability pillar in last year’s homelessness budget
trailer bill, this year’s efforts focus more broadly on all
pillars of AT HOME and encompass budget advocacy, implementation
support, and bill engagement.
The AT HOME (Accountability, Transparency, Housing, Outreach,
Mitigation, and Economic Opportunity) plan continues to guide
CSAC’s advocacy efforts to address California’s homelessness
crisis. Following the successful adoption of various aspects of
the Accountability pillar in last year’s homelessness budget
trailer bill, this year’s efforts focus more broadly on all
pillars of AT HOME and encompass budget advocacy, implementation
support, and bill engagement.
The United States Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH) is
requesting examples from local governments, continuums of
care, and community organizations that spotlight efforts to
prevent homelessness.
On January 30, 2024, the Department of Health Care Services
(DHCS) and the California Department of Aging jointly published a
fact sheet for providers about Medicare behavioral health
benefits, including highlights of expanded services and provider
types available through Medicare.
Governor Newsom met the October 14 deadline to take action on measures approved by the Legislature and delivered to his desk. To keep counties informed of new laws that impact them, CSAC will be publishing a series of articles to spotlight those laws in each policy area. This week, the Health and Human Services policy area provides information on new laws affecting adult protective services, behavioral health, fentanyl misuse prevention and response, foster care, and other HHS programs.
This week, the California Department of Housing and Community
Development (HCD) announced the release of the
Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) of approximately $1.7
million in disencumbered federal funds for the Emergency
Solutions Grant (ESG) program, for Homelessness Prevention
activities only. Awarded funds will range from $75,000-$200,000
per applicant.
Homebase, a non-profit
technical assistance provider focused on building community
capacity to end homelessness and reduce poverty, is seeking
applicants to apply for their new action lab series: Bridging
Boundaries. As part of Homebase’s Criminal Legal System
Initiative, the Bridging Boundaries Action Lab is open to
pairs of leaders who work in homelessness response systems and
parole and probation agencies.
This week, the California Department of Aging (CDA) launched the
first-ever statewide needs assessment for Californians aged 55
years and older. The
Community Assessment Survey for Older Adults (CASOA) is
designed to gather critical information to help develop programs,
services, and supports that are inclusive, supportive, and
responsive to evolving needs. CASCOA measure six focus areas:
Last weekend representatives from CSAC and California’s counties
descended on Travis County, Texas for the National Association of
Counites (NACo) Annual Meeting and Expo. Our Golden State
representatives joined participants from other counties across
the nation to shape NACo’s federal policy agenda, share proven
practices and strengthen knowledge networks to help improve
residents’ lives and the efficiency of county government.
The California Interagency Council on Homelessness (Cal ICH) is
currently seeking applicants to serve on the Cal ICH Lived
Experience Advisory Board (LEAB). LEAB members will inform a
broad range of decisions of Cal ICH and other state departments
to ensure systems, programs, and decisions are informed by
individuals with lived experience of homelessness. As California
invests resources into the response to homelessness, guidance
from people with lived experience is critical for shaping
investments and ensuring the response is person-centered and
trauma informed.
The AT HOME Coalition for Accountability today
sent a letter to Governor Newsom and legislative leaders
urgently calling for the inclusion of CSAC’s accountability
framework in the 2023-24 state budget.
