CDSS has provided information about changes to CalWORKs mental health and substance abuse services that are effective between July 1, 2017 and July 1, 2018. For that period, counties can provide mental health and substance abuse services to children of CalWORKs recipients, and can contract with community-based providers and other local agencies to provide these services.
Children are eligible for these services if the parent(s) are participating or required to participate in Welfare –to-Work (WTW), exempt volunteers or are sanctioned or removed from CalWORKs for failure to comply with WTW requirements. At the county’s discretion, services can be provided to children of adults who have a temporary WTW exemption. Services can be provided to children of timed out clients as a post aid service. Children of adults who are ineligible for CalWORKs are not eligible for services.
This funding must be used in addition to, and not as a substitute for, available mental health or substance abuse funding available from other government programs. Funding cannot be used for services covered under Medi-Cal or a county mental health plan.
A parent cannot be sanctioned because of a child’s refusal to participate in mental health or substance abuse services. Refusal or failure of an adult to participate in assigned activities does not prevent children from being referred to or receiving mental health or substance abuse services.
Counties can now send clients to community based providers, including county mental health departments, for mental health evaluations. That provider must evaluate the recipient and determine any treatment needs, including the extent to which the individual is capable of employment and under what conditions the individual can work. The evaluation must be considered in development of the WTW plan. Activities and services in the WTW plan must accommodate any restrictions associated with any mental, emotional or substance abuse condition identified in the evaluation. (ACL 18-04, January 25, 2018.)