Section 18987.6.

It is the intent of the Legislature to do all of the following:

(a) Permit all counties to provide children with service alternatives to group home care through the development of expanded family-based services programs and to expand the capacity of group homes to provide services appropriate to the changing needs of children in their care.

(b) Encourage collaboration among persons and entities including, but not limited to, parents, county welfare departments, county mental health departments, county probation departments, county health departments, special education local planning agencies, school districts, and private service providers for the purpose of planning and providing individualized services for children and their birth or substitute families.

(c) Ensure local community participation in the development of innovative delivery of services by county placing agencies and service providers and the use of the service resources and expertise of nonprofit providers to develop family-based and community-based service alternatives.

(Added by Stats. 1998, Ch. 311, Sec. 71. Effective August 19, 1998.)