Section 4418.3.

(a) It is the intent of the Legislature to ensure that the transition process from a developmental center to a community living arrangement is based upon the individual's needs, developed through the individual program plan process, and ensures that needed services and supports will be in place at the time the individual moves. It is further the intent of the Legislature that regional centers, developmental centers, and regional resource development projects coordinate with each other for the benefit of their activities in assessment, in the development of individual program plans, and in planning, transition, and deflection, and for the benefit of consumers.

(b) As individuals are identified for possible movement to the community, an individual planning meeting shall be initiated by the developmental center, which shall notify the planning team, pursuant to subdivision (j) of Section 4512, and the regional resource development project of the meeting. The regional resource development project shall make services available to the developmental center and the regional center, including, but not limited to, consultations with the planning teams and the identification of services and supports necessary for the consumer to succeed in community living.

(c) The development of the individual program plan shall be consistent with Sections 4646 and 4646.5. For the purpose of this section, the planning team shall include developmental center staff knowledgeable about the service and support needs of the consumer.

(d) Regional resource development project services may include providing information in an understandable form to consumers and, where appropriate, their families, conservators, legal guardians, or authorized representatives, that will assist them in making decisions about community living and services and supports. This information may include affording the consumer the opportunity to visit a variety of community living arrangements that could meet his or her needs. If the visits are not feasible, as determined by the planning team, a family member or other representative of the consumer may conduct the visits. Regional resource development projects may be requested to facilitate these visits. The availability of this service shall be made known by the planning team to consumers and, where appropriate, their families, conservators, legal guardians, or authorized representative.

(e) Once the individual program plan is completed and providers of services and supports are identified and agreed to, pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 4646.5, and no less than 15 days prior to the move, unless otherwise ordered by a court, a transition conference, which may be facilitated by a regional resource development project, shall be held. Participants in the transition conference shall include, but not be limited to, the consumer, where appropriate the consumer's parents, legal guardian, conservator, or authorized representative, a regional center representative, a developmental center representative, and a representative of each provider of primary services and supports identified in the individual program plan. This meeting may take place in the catchment area to which the consumer is moving. If necessary, conferees may participate by telephone or video conference. The purpose of this conference shall be to ensure a smooth transition from the developmental center to the community.

(f) The department, through the appropriate regional resource development project, shall provide, in cooperation with regional centers and developmental centers, followup services to help ensure a smooth transition to the community. Followup services shall include, but shall not limited to, all of the following:

(1) Regularly scheduled as well as on an as-needed basis, contacts and visits with consumers and service providers during the 12 months following the consumers movement date.

(2) Participation in the development of an individual program plan in accordance with Sections 4646 and 4646.5.

(3) Identification of issues that need resolution.

(4) Arrangement for the provision of developmental center services, including, but not limited to, medication review, crisis services, and behavioral consultation.

(g) To ascertain that the individual program plan is being implemented, that planned services are being provided, and that the consumer and, where appropriate the consumer's parents, legal guardian, or conservator, are satisfied with the community living arrangement, the regional center shall schedule face-to-face reviews no less than once every 30 days for the first 90 days. Following the first 90 days, and following notification to the department, the regional center may conduct these reviews less often as specified in the individual program plan.

(h) The regional center and the regional resource development project shall coordinate their followup reviews required pursuant to subdivisions (f) and (g) and shall share with each other information obtained during the course of the followup visits.

(Amended by Stats. 2002, Ch. 1161, Sec. 29. Effective September 30, 2002.)