Developmental services: family services: counseling.

Existing law, the Lanterman Developmental Disabilities Services Act, requires the State Department of Developmental Services to contract with regional centers to provide services and supports to individuals with developmental disabilities and their families. In order to provide opportunities for children to live with their families, existing law requires the department and regional centers to give a very high priority to the development and expansion of services and supports designed to assist families that are caring for their children at home, including respite for parents, homemaker services, counseling, and mental health services. This bill would require the department to establish a Family Wellness Pilot Program under which regional centers shall provide counseling and peer support group services to families of regional center consumers who are 3 years of age or younger. The bill would require the department to evaluate the program and submit a report on the evaluation to the Legislature on or before July 1, 2029.