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By Jim Frazier, Director of Public Policy, The Arc-UCP California Collaboration
AB 2360 introduced by Speaker Emeritus Anthony Rendon (Family Wellness Program) was heard April 2nd by the Heath and Human Services Committee. Testimony was provided by Dr. Claire Lazaro on the merits of providing supportive services to families of individuals with a developmental disability. The bill was voted for unanimously in support by the Committee and now will move on to the Appropriations Committee. The bill, which is sponsored by The Arc & UCP California Collaboration, will improve supports for families, requires the Department of Developmental Services (DDS) to establish a Family Wellness Pilot Program under which regional centers provide counseling and peer support group services to the families of regional center consumers.
Specifically, this bill:
1) Establishes a Family Wellness Pilot Program with the following eligibility requirements:
- Commencing with the 2024–25 fiscal year, families of regional center consumers who are 6 years of age or younger; and,
- Commencing with the 2025–26 fiscal year, families of all regional center consumers.
2) Requires DDS to evaluate and submit a legislative report on or before July 1, 2029, on the Family Wellness Pilot Program’s effectiveness by looking at all of the following outcomes:
- Reduction in psychological distress of the individual and improvement in psychosocial functioning;
- Improvement in relational functioning of the family;
- Learning coping strategies for possible use in the future when another stress is encountered; and,
- Feasibility of virtual versus in-person counseling sessions.
Coming up April 9th, two additional bills sponsored by The Arc & UCP California Collaboration will be heard: AB 2383 by Assemblymember Carrillo (Training Program: Services for Medically Fragile Children); and AB 2397 by Maienschein (Child Support Payments for Special Needs Trust). The bill file can viewed here and can be filtered by subject area.
Please send your letters of support, emails or calls to your legislators to help move these efforts forward. You can find your legislator by clicking HERE.