Policy

Policies and procedures support the foundation of quality practice. They help guide service coordination and decision making to promote the best outcomes for young children and families.

State Policy Letters and Notices

ACL 20-25: Providing Optimal Child Welfare and Probation Services to Children and Families During Coronavirus (COVID-19) California State of Emergency. References children under the age of three years old, pertaining to parent/child and sibling visits.

ACIN I-38-20: : Early Childhood Wraparound Resource Guide for Serving Children from Birth to Five Years

ACL 17-107: Assessing Child Safety and Appropriate Monitoring of Safety Plans. References safety plans involving infants affected by substance abuse or a fetal alcohol spectrum disorder.

ACL 17-92: Comprehensive Addiction Recovery Act Of 2016 Amendments to the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act. References information related to the needs of infants affected by substance use.

ACL 15-11: Recording Developmental and Mental Health Screening, Referral, and Plan Intervention Information in the Child Welfare Services/Case Management System

ACL 06-54: Policies and Procedures to Refer Young Children Under the Age of Three with a Substantiated Case of Child Abuse or Neglect to the Early Start Program

Federal Legislation

IDEA Part C: The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), is a federal law that mandates all states must provide children with free appropriate public education and ensures children with disabilities receive special education and related services. Part C refers to the Early Intervention Program for Infants and Toddlers with Disabilities, known as Early Start in California. This program ensures infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families are provided in a coordinated, family-centered system of services.

CAPTA: The Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) is a federally funded program to improve State’s child welfare systems. To address child abuse and neglect, States utilize the funding to support prevention, identification, and treatment activities. CAPTA also supports research, evaluation, technical assistance, and data collection activities; establishes the Office of Child Abuse and Neglect; and establishes a national clearinghouse of programs related to child abuse and neglect.