Pathways to Well-Being

The Katie A. class action suit was filed in 2002 against the County of Los Angeles and the State of California, alleging violations of multiple federal laws. The suit sought to improve the provision of mental health and supportive services for children and youth in, or at imminent risk of placement in, foster care in California. The State of California settled its portion of the lawsuit in December 2011 and in March 2013 issued the Core Practice Model (CPM) Guide. The CPM describes how county child welfare service agencies, behavioral health service agencies, and service providers should work together and with children/youth and families to improve the safety, permanency and well-being of children/youth in the child welfare system. In San Diego County Behavioral Health Services, Child Welfare Services, Probation, and family and youth partners have worked collaboratively to develop a shared vision to meet the Katie A. settlement requirements and jointly decided to call the initiative “Pathways to Well-Being.” Local delivery of Pathways to Well-Being services began in August 2013 in an effort to ensure that the mental health needs of the youth involved in Child Welfare Services are met with the goals of safety, permanency, and well-being. More information, resources, forms, and links to the Core Practice Model Guide and the Medi-Cal Manual can be accessed at:

https://theacademy.sdsu.edu/programs/rihs/pathways/