Quality Improvement Project (QI Project)

Improving the Use of Psychotropic Medication among Children and Youth in Foster Care

The QI Project is a collaborative effort between the California Department of Social Services and the California Department of Health Care Services. The purpose of the QI Project is to improve safe and appropriate prescribing and monitoring techniques of psychotropic medication use among children and youth in foster care.

The QI Project is comprised of four stakeholder work groups, including the Clinical work group, Data and Technology work group, Youth, Family, and Education work group, and Psychotropic Medication Legislation Implementation work group. The goals of the work groups are:

• Clinical - to develop statewide guidelines for ongoing oversight and coordination of health care services for children in foster care. This will include protocols and strategies to improve the appropriate use and monitoring of psychotropic medication of children and youth in foster care.
• Data and Technology - to use technology to improve the delivery of data by connecting multiple data sources to be more readily accessible, utilize data exchanges to improve quality of services, and develop quantifiable outcome measures.
• Youth, Family and Education - to develop educational resources regarding psychotropic medication treatment for foster children, youth, and caregivers.
• Psychotropic Medication Implementation - to collaborate with stakeholders to develop training, establish methodology for group home inspections, develop content for county data reports, and support the implementation of all psychotropic medication related statutes.

Additionally, the QI Project has internal and external subject matter experts that have the responsibility of reviewing and approving all documents created by the QI Project, as well as to provide information and expertise regarding relevant subject matters. The goal of the Expert Panel is to provide input to the State Agencies regarding the development of a state-wide protocol, including reviewing final action plan items from established workgroups and strategies to improve the appropriate use and monitoring of psychotropic medication of children and youth in foster care.

Resources

Clinical

New Version: California Guidelines For The Use Of Psychotropic Medication With Children And Youth In Foster Care 2024 Edition

Historical 2018 Edition:

• California Guidelines for the Use of Psychotropic Medication with Children and Youth in Foster Care - 2018 Edition
• Appendix A - Prescribing Standards of Psychotropic Medication Use by Age Group
• Appendix B - Parameters for Use of Psychotropic Medication for Children and Adolescents
• Appendix C - Challenges in diagnosis and Prescribing of Psychotropic Medications
• Appendix D - Algorithm (Decision Tree) for the Prescribing of Psychotropic Medications

Youth, Family, and Education

• Foster Youth Wellness Website
• Foster Youth Mental Health Bill of Rights/Questions to Ask Brochure
  (Spanish Version)

Psychotropic Medication Implementation

• Psychotropic Medication Toolkit
• E-Learning for Psychotropic Medication in Foster Care
• Medications Guide for STRTPS (formerly Group Homes)
• Medications Guide for Foster Family Agencies, Certified Family Homes, Resource Families and Licensed Foster Family Homes

• SB 484 Psychotropic Medication Usage in Group Home Facilities, 2016-2017 Statewide Summary Report
• SB 484 Psychotropic Medication Usage in Group Home Facilities, 2017-2018 Statewide Summary Report
• SB 484 Summary Of Findings: Annual
  Review Of Psychotropic Medication Usage in Licensed Group Homes and Short-Term
  Residential Therapeutic Programs, 2019
  
• SB 484 Summary Of Findings: Annual Review Of Psychotropic Medication Usage in Licensed Group Homes and Short-Term Residential Therapeutic Programs, 2020
• SB 484 Summary Of Findings: Annual Review Of Psychotropic Medication Usage in Licensed Group Homes and Short-Term Residential Therapeutic Programs, 2021

CDSS Letters and Information Notices

All County Letters

• ACL No.16-37 Trainings and Oversight of Psychotropic Medication Usage for Children and out in Foster Care
• ACL No.16-48 The Role of Foster Care Public Health Nurses in The Oversight and Monitoring of Psychotropic Medication Usage for Children and Youth in Foster Care with the Passage of Senate Bill 319
• ACL No.16-96 State General Fund Appropriation For The Monitoring And Oversight Of Psychotropic Medication By Foster Care Public Health Nurses
• ACL No. 17-45 Amended California Rules Of Court, Rule 5.640 And Psychotropic Medication Forms
• ACL No. 21-59 Release of Psychotropic Medication Information for Children in Foster Care To The Medical Board Of California (MBC)
• ACL No. 23-22 Provisions of Forms JV-220(A) or JV-220(B) and Psychotropic Medication Sheets to Caregivers

All County Information Notices

• ACIN No. I-20-08 Psychotropic Medications
• ACIN No. I-69-13 Improving Psychotropic Medication Use Among Children and Youth in Foster Care:Quality Improvement Project (QI Project)
• ACIN No. I-30-15 Psychotropic Medication Authorization – Data Reconciliation Report
• I-36-15 Improving Safety for Children in Foster Care Receiving Psychotropic Medications
• I-36-15E
• I-25-16 Implementation of Senate Bill (SB) 484 The Use of Psychotropic Medication By Foster Youth Residing in Group Home Placements
• I-87-16 Psychotropic Medication Data Sharing
• I-87-16E
• I-07-17 Dissemination and Use of the “Foster Youth Mental Health Bill of Rights and Questions to Ask About Medications” Brochure
• I-66-17 New Training Available Regarding Psychotropic Medication in Foster Youth
• I-71-17 The Foster Youth Wellness Website

Additional Information

Visit the California Department of Health Care Services QI Project Website for additional information on the QI Project: Improving the use of Psychotropic Medication among Children and Youth in Foster Care.

Please contact the Placement Services and Support Unit using the information provided below with any questions, comments, or concerns.

Placement Services and Support Unit
744 P Street, MS 08-13-66
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 657-1858
QIPsychotropic@dss.ca.gov