Mental health: programs for seriously emotionally disturbed children and court wards and dependents.

Existing law generally provides for the placement of foster youth in various placement settings and governs the provision of child welfare services, as specified. Existing law, the California Community Care Facilities Act, provides for the licensure and regulation of community care facilities, including community treatment facilities (CTFs) by the State Department of Social Services. Existing law requires the State Department of Health Care Services to adopt certain regulations for CTFs, including, among others, that only seriously emotionally disturbed children, as defined, either (1) for whom other less restrictive mental health interventions have been tried, as specified, or (2) who are currently placed in an acute psychiatric hospital or state hospital or in a facility outside the state for mental health treatment, and who may require periods of containment to participate in, and benefit from, mental health treatment, shall be placed in a CTF. This bill would make technical, nonsubstantive changes to these provisions.