7th of March 2017

Continuum of Care Reform

California implemented the Continuum of Care Reform (CCR) on January 1, 2017. CCR’s intent is to reduce the use of residential/group home placement settings and to increase the use of family care. The law also intends to decrease the length of time it takes for a child to achieve a permanent home.

Part of CCR includes the new Resource Family Approval process. This changes the way families become resource parents. It requires that “county homes,” relatives and foster family agency homes comply with all the same requirements. Its intent is to ensure all resource families are equipped to provide the best care for the children. It is also intended to streamline the process for approval.

What This Means for Current Foster/Resource Parents

CCR requires that all current certified families to be converted to approved Resource Families.  The process of this conversion will depend on when you were initially certified and whether or not you have adopted a child since your certification. We have until December 31, 2019 to have all families converted. Trinity Youth Services cannot begin converting families until we have approval from Community Care Licensing to do so.

If you have an approved adoption home study.

• If you were certified after October 1, 2009, you have an adoption home study. In 2009, Los Angeles County required this of all families. You were dually certified, meaning, you’re certification is approved for fostering and adopting. The conversion process for your family will include completing a Conversion of Existing Families: Release of Information form. Your office will provide you the form when we are ready to convert. The plan is to do this around your certification date.
• If you were certified before January 1, 1999, you will also be required to complete a new Child Abuse Central Index (CACI) check.

If you do not have an approved adoption home study, but have had children placed in your home in 2017.

• You will be need to fill out a Conversion Resource Family Application.
• Trinity Youth Services will need to conduct a psychosocial assessment and a Resource Family Written Report for the family. This will entail about three home visits where we interview your family members.
• If you were certified before January 1, 1999, you will also be required to complete a new Child Abuse Central Index (CACI) check.

If you do not have an approved adoption home study and have not had any children in your care in 2017.

• All certified homes that do not have any children placed at any time during calendar year 2017 shall forfeit their certificate of approval by operation of law on January 1, 2018. Trinity Youth Services will be required to decertify your home by December 31, 2017.
• On and after January 1, 2018, if you are interested in providing care again for children you will need to submit an application for Resource Family Approval to Trinity Youth Services and complete the entire Resource Family Approval process.

You will be notified by your office about the process for your family. But if you have any questions, please contact your foster care director or myself.

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Jackie Jakob, Foster Care and Adoptions Director
Having over 20 years’ experience, Jackie currently oversees Trinity Youth Services’ operations of foster care and adoptions programs throughout Southern California and in Houston, Texas. She received a bachelor’s degree in law and society from University of California Santa Barbara, a master’s degree in social work from California State University Long Beach and recently became a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. Jackie enjoys spending time with her husband and two children attending various baseball, softball and judo meets. She is on the parent board for a judo dojo and is one of the troop leaders for her daughter’s Girl Scout troop. Additionally, she really enjoys running half marathons and aims to run 4 to 5 races each year.
Tel: 909.825.5588 | Email: info@trinityys.org

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