2009 California Welfare and Institutions Code - Section 18986.86-18986.87 :: Chapter 12.991. County Integrated Health And Human Services Program

18986.86.  (a) Humboldt County, Mendocino County, Alameda County,
and any additional county or counties, as determined by the Secretary
of California Health and Human Services, with the assistance and
participation of the appropriate state departments, within the
existing resources of those departments, may implement a program,
upon approval of the county board of supervisors for the funding and
delivery of services and benefits through an integrated and
comprehensive county health and human services system.
   (b) In providing services through an integrated system to families
and individuals, the program may, among other things, do all of the
following:
   (1) Implement and evaluate a system of universal intake for those
seeking services.
   (2) Implement and evaluate a system whereby a family or individual
eligible for more than one service may be provided those services
through an integrated, coordinated service plan.
   (3) Implement and evaluate a system of administration that
integrates and coordinates the management and support of client
services.
   (4) Implement and evaluate a system of reporting and
accountability that provides for the combined provision of services
as provided for in paragraph (2), without the loss of state or
federal funds provided under current law.
   (5) In consultation with the appropriate state departments, as
designated by the Secretary of Health and Human Services, any
participating county may develop specific goals in addition to those
specified in paragraphs (1) to (4), inclusive, to achieve an
integrated and comprehensive county health and human services system.
   (c) The integrated system may include any or all of the following:
   (1) Adoption services.
   (2) Child abuse prevention services.
   (3) Child welfare services.
   (4) Delinquency prevention services.
   (5) Drug and alcohol services.
   (6) Mental health services.
   (7) Eligibility determination.
   (8) Employment and training services.
   (9) Foster care services.
   (10) Health services.
   (11) Public health services.
   (12) Housing services.
   (13) Medically indigent program services.
   (d) (1) Part 2.6 (commencing with Section 56) of Division 1 of the
Civil Code shall apply to the programs or services providing
integrated services.
   (2) Before a program obtains an individual's medical information,
including mental health and drug treatment records, his or her
informed authorization shall be obtained, or the informed
authorization of his or her custodial parent, or his or her guardian
shall be obtained if the individual is a minor, unless the minor is
authorized to give consent.
   (3) Medical information shall not be disclosed to any individual
who is not authorized to have that information pursuant to the
authorization provided in paragraph (2).
   (4) Medical information shall not be disclosed for any purpose
that is not authorized by the authorization in paragraph (2).
   (5) The sharing of information permitted under paragraphs (2),
(3), and (4) shall be governed by memoranda of understanding among
the agencies represented on the team. These memoranda shall specify
the types of information that may be shared without a signed release
form, and the process to be used to ensure that current
confidentiality requirements, as described in subdivision (d), are
met.
   (6) Any client shall have access to his or her medical information
and shall have the right to correct any inaccurate information
contained in the medical information.
   (e) Programs or services shall be included in the program only to
the extent that federal funding to either the state or the county
will not be reduced as a result of the inclusion of the services in
the project. This program shall not generate any increased
expenditures from the General Fund.
   (f) Each participating county and the appropriate state
departments shall jointly seek federal approval of the program, as
may be needed to ensure its funding and allow for the integrated
provision of services.
   (g) This chapter shall not authorize each participating county to
discontinue meeting its obligations under current law to provide
services or to reduce its accountability for the provision of these
services.
   (h) This chapter shall not authorize a participating county to
reduce the county's eligibility under current law for state funding
for the services included in the program.
   (i) A participating county shall utilize any and all state general
and county funds that it is legally allocated or entitled to
receive. Through the creation of integrated health and social
services structures, the county shall maximize federal matching
funds.
   (j) The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall designate a
lead department to coordinate the state's participation in the county'
s program.
   (k) The appropriate state departments, as designated by the
Secretary of Health and Human Services, that are assisting,
participating, and cooperating in the implementation of the program
authorized by this chapter shall have the authority to waive
regulations regarding the method of providing services and the method
of reporting and accountability, as may be required to meet the
goals set forth in subdivision (b). However, the departments shall
not waive regulations pertaining to privacy and confidentiality of
records, civil service merit systems, or collective bargaining. The
departments shall not waive regulations if the waiver results in a
diminished amount or level of services or benefits to eligible
recipients as compared to the benefits and services that would have
been provided to recipients absent the waiver.

18986.87.  (a) A participating county shall, in consultation with
the appropriate state departments, as designated by the Secretary of
Health and Human Services, develop outcomes and performance measures
specific to the project prior to the implementation of the pilot
program. Implementation of a pilot program pursuant to this chapter
shall occur no later than January 1, 2009.
   (b) A participating county shall evaluate its program with the
participation of the appropriate state departments, as designated by
the Secretary of Health and Human Services, and prepare interim and
final evaluations and submit them to the Governor or the Governor's
designee and the appropriate policy committees of the Legislature.
The interim report shall be submitted not later than six months
following the third year of the implementation of the program. The
final report shall be submitted not later than July 1, 2008.
   (c) Each participating county shall provide for the evaluation of
the program.