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By Teresa Anderson, Director of Public Policy, The Arc/UCP California Collaboration
The Department of Developmental Services (DDS) published an updated Safety Net Plan that provides an overview of the progress made and the efforts to implement statewide changes and improvements to California’s continuum of safety net services for individuals with developmental disabilities, as well as plans for addressing future needs in the community. The updated plan (2023) continues to examine the safety net continuum of care and expands the focus from crisis services to emphasizing the priorities on prevention, de-escalation, and abuse awareness, as well as continued efforts to improve access and equity and respond to the system’s changing needs, i.e., the supports needed for an aging disability population, aging caregivers, individuals diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), youth in foster care who have severe trauma, individuals affected by fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS), and other individuals with complex needs.
Additionally, the updated plan includes recommendations from stakeholders to prioritize the need to expand and strengthen several areas within the Safety Net including Abuse Awareness and Prevention, Aging Caregivers, Aging Individuals with IDD, Autism Services, Children and Youth in the Child Welfare System, Crisis Services and Supports, Cultural and Linguistic Diversity, Complex Support Needs, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders, Partnerships with First Responders and Mental/Behavioral Health Professionals, Prevention and De-escalation, as well as Future Data Needs. In addition, the updated plan provide an overview of Governor Gavin Newsom’s proposed investments that continue to build on previous investments aimed at strengthening the Safety Net continuum of services. The updated plan can be found here: https://www.dds.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/DDS-Safety-Net-Plan-Update-Final-1-10-2023-posted.pdf